Student Travel

Why travel as a student?

Although there is never a bad time to see the world, travelling when you're a student is particularly rewarding for a whole host of reasons. On this page we'll run you through the key ones, and also give you advice on what to do, where to do it and, most importantly, how you can make it all happen for the best possible price. We always have brilliant discounts and deals running, whether on flights or hotels.

Travelling as a student is awesome on so many levels. We could easily list 100 reasons here, but here are our top five!


Discounts & deals

There are HEAPS of deals to be snapped up when you're a student or 18-25, both in the planning stages (i.e. booking your flights) and also once in-destination (i.e. using your student ID card to get discounted entry into amazing places). At StudentUniverse we always have cheap student flights available, and discounts on accommodations.


Break from studies

Studies are super important - we know you know that - but it's important to find a balance, too. The last thing you want to do is burn yourself out, spending endless nights up to the early hours of the morning, gulping down energy drinks (and other types...). Travel gives you a literal breath of fresh air, and provides really valuable perspective on things.


Personal growth

There's nothing like travelling to send your confidence into overdrive, and no matter what career you ultimately pursue, nothing will get you further than confidence and a healthy mindset. Whether you're hostel-hopping around Europe, road tripping across the USA or navigating the Trans-Siberian Express, you'll return home a totally different person.


Real world experience

It's all well and good learning things in theory in a classroom, but nothing can substitute actual real life experience when it comes to taking things in on that vocational level. This is why travelling as a student is such a great time to do it - you can merge these two types of education. If you're training at uni to be a teacher, why not try actually teaching for real on a TEFL placement in Thailand?


Employers love it!

Travel experience frequently pushes candidates to the top of the pile when applying for jobs. Think about it: if everyone's taken the same courses and has reasonably similar grades, employers will be looking for that extra something to make people stand out. Travel is often the answer to that. Plus, you'll have all that confidence mentioned earlier - it goes a long way!

Things to do when travelling as a student

There are certain types of travel experiences that are perfectly suited for students, and we’ll whisk you through them here.


Gap year

The big one. Gap years are a fantastic way to see the world. Build your year-long adventure with a balance of planned rich experiences and freedom to go off the beaten path to find unique gems! The toughest thing is choosing what to do. Canoeing down the Mekong River in China? City-hopping around Europe? Scaling Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania? The choice is yours...


Study abroad

Clearly perfect for student travel, study abroad placements are great for those who don’t necessarily want to pause their education, but at the same time are craving the thrill of living in new destinations and making friends from different cultures.


Internships

Similarly to studying abroad, doing an internship overseas is a smart way to combine your current or chosen path with real life experience in new cultures. If you’re studying to be a veterinarian, for example, you could do an animal-care internship in South Africa, working with exotic beasts.


Flight and wing it

Maybe… just maybe… you’re fed up of being told what to do by everybody, and what to think, and where to stand, and how to do it. Maybe what you need is to break free, to have an adventure, experience true spontaneity, see what it’s like to have a total lack of a plan. In that case, you can just book a one-way ticket to wherever, and the world’s your oyster!

Best destinations for student travel

As with deciding what to do, there are some really great options when it comes to figuring out where you want to go, and we can get you there with our discounted student flights. Check out some of our guides below to some top student travel destinations. These include places like Thailand, which with its historic temples, cooking classes, Thai boxing and floating markets; the USA, with its options for epic road trips and tours; and Europe, with its unique mix of culture, history, delicacies and languages.

Student travel services

So, we’ve shown you why travelling as a student is a great time to do it, and hopefully you’re sufficiently inspired by all the amazing things you can do, and the mind-blowing places you can see!

But we’re not done yet. For all this to become an epic reality, there are a few practical concerns to think about, and we can help with these too! Apart from booking your flights at a great price, we can advise on things like visas, and help you find great accommodation within your budget. You’ll have 24/7 access to our customer support team who is dedicated 100% to finding you the best deals with our partnered airlines, and of course answering any questions you have once you’ve booked.