The year 2018 presented a significant landscape of promotional offers and freebies specifically targeted at new and existing college students. These initiatives, ranging from digital subscriptions to hardware discounts, were designed to ease the financial burden of higher education and attract the younger demographic to various brands and services. The available data from 2018 highlights a focus on technology, productivity tools, and entertainment, with many offers requiring verification of student status through academic email addresses or documentation.
Digital Subscriptions and Software
A major category of freebies for students in 2018 centred on digital services essential for academic and personal use. Amazon Prime stood out as a significant offer, providing students with a free six-month trial. This trial included free two-day shipping on over 100 million items, unlimited streaming of Prime movies and TV shows, unlimited photo storage via Prime Photos, and a 20% discount on pre-order and new release video games. Upon the conclusion of the six-month period, students were automatically enrolled in a Prime membership at 50% off the regular rate. Additionally, a six-month free subscription to The Washington Post online was included with the Amazon Prime Student sign-up. A specific mention was made of a "Prime Student" subscription offering 5% cashback at Amazon, although the context did not specify if this was a separate offer or part of the standard trial.
Microsoft extended a free version of its Office 365 Education suite to students at eligible institutions possessing a valid college email address. This package included Word, Excel, PowerPoint, OneNote, and Microsoft Teams. Google Sheets, part of the free web-based Google Docs Editors suite, was also noted as a popular productivity tool among students.
Entertainment and media subscriptions were also prevalent. Spotify offered a one-month free trial for students, followed by a monthly fee of $4.99. YouTube Premium provided ad-free video viewing for one month free, subsequently costing $6.99 per month. LastPass, a password management service, offered students a free premium membership for six months, allowing unlimited sync across devices.
Budgeting and financial management software was another key area. "You Need a Budget" was available free for an entire year, requiring students to email proof of status such as a student ID card, transcript, or tuition statement. Other financial tools mentioned included Current, a digital banking experience with fee-free withdrawals at 40,000 Allpoint ATMs in the United States, and Chime, which offered a fee-free account with no minimum deposit and no monthly service fees, though an out-of-network ATM fee of $2.50 applied.
Hardware and Accessory Discounts
Beyond software, 2018 saw substantial discounts on hardware and accessories. Apple provided student pricing on new Macs or iPads and a 50% discount on Apple Music, which included free Apple TV+. Microsoft also offered developer software at discounted rates. Educational discounts were available from major hardware manufacturers including Razer, Dell, Lenovo, Samsung, and HP. Accessory makers such as Logitech and Steelseries also participated in these discount programmes.
Adobe Creative Cloud was available with a 60% discount for students. Sony headphones were also listed among the items where students could save money. For those interested in coding, JetBrains offered free access for learning or teaching, contingent on enrollment in an accredited educational programme. Additionally, a "Student Developer Pack" and "Free Access to Professional Developer Software" were listed, alongside "Free Access to Design & Modelling Software."
Physical Promotional Items
Physical promotional items, or "swag," were identified as effective tools for engaging college students. Electronic gadgets were particularly valued due to the ubiquity of smartphones and tablets. Portable Bluetooth speakers were described as highly desirable items. Portable chargers and adapters were also highlighted as useful promo items given the constant usage of electronic devices. Styluses were mentioned as another potential giveaway.
Office supplies, while considered less flashy than gadgets, were noted for their constant necessity. Pens, portfolio binders, and nice notebooks were recommended as giveaways, particularly for older students preparing for the professional world. These items were viewed as providing a professional look while being practical. Other non-electronic items included toys such as Frisbees, intended for recreational use.
Specific Programme Details and Eligibility
Several specific programmes required verification of student status. For Microsoft Office 365 Education, a valid college email address was necessary. JetBrains required enrollment in an accredited educational program. "You Need a Budget" required proof of student status via email. The Amazon Prime Student trial also required verification, typically through an academic email address, though the specific verification method was not detailed in the source data.
The geographic availability of these offers varied. The "Prime Student" offer, Grubhub+ free for 6 months, student pricing on Apple products, the Student Developer Pack, 50% off Apple Music plus free Apple TV+, 69% off Secure VPN, the Student Money App, Calm free for 30 days, free access to professional developer software, AWS Educate, 80% off Secure VPN, the Wealth-Building Budgeting App, 60% off Adobe Creative Cloud, 50% off Data Science & AI courses, free .me and discounted domains, free Password Manager for 1 year, 30% off Annual Skillshare Membership, 50% off First Year of Website Builder, 15% off International eSIMs, and up to 40% off Flights for Students were all explicitly listed as available in the United States. The source material does not specify availability for UK students for these specific US-centric offers.
Conclusion
The promotional landscape for students in 2018 was heavily weighted towards digital tools and services, with Amazon Prime, Microsoft Office, and various budgeting apps offering significant value. Hardware discounts from major tech companies complemented these digital offers. While physical promotional items like speakers and office supplies remained relevant for brand engagement, the data suggests a strong shift towards software and subscription-based freebies. Eligibility for most premium offers relied on verification of student status, typically via an academic email address. However, the majority of the detailed offers listed were specifically targeted at the US market, with little information provided regarding UK equivalents in the source material.