The ultimate student shopping guide

From the best dupes to student discounts…

Heading to uni? Whether you’re at Sheffield Uni or Sheffield Hallam, Meadowhall is your go-to place for student discounts, fashion, tech and phone plans, beauty and homewares, food and nights out. Plus, we’ve got an exclusive student event with everything from candy floss to a ball pit and a jobs fair to help you boost your finances.

To get you started this term, we’ve put together the essential stores, student offers and insider knowledge you need to know (sign up to our newsletters here for extra info too).

Join us for the ultimate student shopping experience

On Thursday 28th September, we’ve got an unmissable student event giving you offers and discounts from 3pm-9pm and games and activities from 6pm. For freebies, games and glitter, come along and dive into our giant ball pit, get in the selfie booth and enjoy free ice-cream rolls, a chocolate fountain, candy floss and popcorn.

There will also be offers at Dr Marten’s, Footasylum, Pretty Green, Frankie & Benny’s, The Vintage Store, Boux Avenue, Vans, schuh, Size?, Jollibee, Levi’s, Next Beauty, All Saints, Superdry, River Island and much, much more!

Bag a part-time job at Meadowhall

Head to the Upper Level of the Oasis Dining Quarter on Tuesday 26th and Wednesday 27th September from 10am-7pm and discover hundreds of jobs available across Meadowhall with brands including Fridays, Next, Flannels, Urban Outfitters, Clubhouse, Boots, Marks & Spencer and more. Find out more here.

The best student discounts and offers

Image provided by Pizza Express

Sign up to UNiDays and Student Beans for discounts at Meadowhall stores and restaurants including Apple, Michael Kors, Flannels, Dr Martens, Mac, JD Sports, Foot Locker, YO!, Pizza Express, Levi’s, Wilko and more.

Don’t miss our offers page (you can filter by student) which lists all the latest discounts from Kurt Geiger, Lacoste, Timberland, Fridays, Vision Express, Supersavers, Supercuts, Tommy Hilfiger and more. There are ever-changing offers so it’s worth bookmarking.

Get all the discount vouchers out there

Image provided by The Body Shop

Clear out unwanted clothes and shoes, save the planet and get vouchers or money off your purchases at H&M, Marks & Spencer (donate an old M&S item at an Oxfam store), schuh and River Island. Lush encourages you to bring back five empty pots for either a free face mask or discount in-store and Currys also do trash for cash – recycle any tech product with them and get a £5 voucher.

Maxing out your birthday has become TikTok legend so get organised by signing up to loyalty schemes everywhere… Then head to The Body Shop to spend your free £5 birthday vouchers or get 25% off one item at H&M, £5 off at Hotel Chocolat, 10% off at Pandora, extra points at Boots plus Hollister and Superdrug birthday surprises.

Image provided by Krispy Kreme

Hungry? Greggs will cheerfully give you a free sweet treat, Krispy Kreme will give you a free donut, Costa a free slice of cake or pick up a special treat from Zizzi, build-your-own caipirinha at Las Iguanas or enjoy a free cocktail at Fridays.

Food, drink and evenings out

Image provided by Clubhouse

Plan some unforgettable nights out with friends and course mates. Air Haus offer £5 student night tickets on Tuesdays and Thursdays (7-8pm); Clubhouse has endless chicken wings on Wing-It Wednesdays; Jump Inc has a special student offer with 20% off and Vue always offers student prices. If you get your insurance via comparethemarket.com, you’ll be able to get two-for-one Meerkat Movie tickets on Tuesday or Wednesdays for the whole year.

Amazing student tech deals

Get verified with UNiDAYs and you can save on Macs and iPads with their education discount plus gift cards worth up to £130 at Apple. They’ll also offer discounts on Apple Pencils, Magic Keyboards and 20% off AppleCare+. Meanwhile Argos and currys have special deals on laptops from HP, Bluetooth headphones and speakers, Logitech, printers, Sony and Canon.

O2 have 20% off plans and accessories, Three offer a whopping 50% for students via UNiDAYs and Save The Student while Vodafone has 10% off.

Insider fashion and beauty and the best trending dupes

Image provided by Primark

As much as we’d all like a designer wardrobe, we’re working on a budget here so let’s all celebrate the rise of the dupe. Accessories-wise River Island, Primark and New Look are leading the way with handbags, totes and shoppers that conjure up the aesthetic of everyone from Balenciaga to Vivienne Westwood; H&M has some gorgeous muted shapewear and bodysuits while schuh has pleasing flatform sandals in a rainbow of colours.

Image provided by Primark

Marks & Spencer’s breakout fragrances include Pink Pepper and Velvet Amber (£6) plus their Ultimate Cleanse Rose Cleansing Balm (£12) is the thinking alternative to beauty hall icons. Primark is dupe heaven with its Wonderlash Mascara and Tinted Moisturisers currently trending.

Also, don’t forget elf at Boots and Superdrug which has everything from bronzers and brow gels giving the major names a run for their money; Avène’s Cicalfate+ Restorative Protective Cream, £7 at Boots, has been likened to luxe brand La Mer and Collection Gorgeous Glow Filter Finish, £7.99, is giving flawless finishes.

Stationery and books galore

Image provided by Typo

Waterstones plus student lets you earn points as you shop (every 10 plus stamps you earn gives you £10) with 5% of every purchase so it’s an essential for text books and research. For notebooks, pens and post-its, head to Typo (their student diary is an essential), Mooch, Flying Tiger, Kenji and The Works.

Student living made chic

Image provided by Primark

For throws, bedding, cushions, cutlery, storage and laundry bags, head to Marks & Spencer, TK Maxx, Primark, H&M, Next, Baytree Interiors, Curated Makers, Flying Tiger and Urban Outfitters. Fairy lights, photo collages, jewellery storage, over door hooks and rugs can transform your space from bland to bespoke.

Keep food and drink in your bedroom with a mini fridge (from £44 at Argos); get pots and pans, plates and cutlery from TK Maxx; quickly and easily dry your washing with a handy clothes airer (see Wilko or pick up a heated one at Argos from £55) and make sure your phone/laptop are charged wherever you go with a portable battery (Argos and Menkind). Argos is also brilliant for small space living with bed-desks, foldable washing baskets and more…

Hair and beauty appointments

You can get walk-in appointments at Supercuts (prices range from £13 for eight and under and they also do student discount) and brows, lashes and nails at Beauty Boutique, BROWS. and Mint Nail & Brow Bar.

The freshers’ essentials

Earplugs for those first few weeks; Vitamin C to ward off freshers’ flu plus ibuprofen (always invest in the own labels from Boots and Superdrug); dressing gown, onesies, slippers and crocs at Primark, schuh and Hollister (get a lounge set for less than £20 with their incredible house rewards); a hot water bottle, plasters and a big water bottle will see you through everything (Tiger, Primark, Poundland and Wilko have you covered) and don’t forget some self-care from Bath and Body Works and Rituals.

Image provided by Primark

The best ways to get to Meadowhall

It’s super easy to get here and find directions to Meadowhall. Sheffield’s Supertram runs through Meadowhall up to every ten minutes – and you can grab a DayRider ticket – or if you’re travelling from further afield, hop on the train to Meadowhall station. Take advantage of the Cycle Hub which features 120 spaces and simply store your bikes during your visit. The hub also has e-bike charging points, bike repair and pump stations, and lockers to store your helmet while you shop.

Happy new term!