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Student

Get a 4 year tastecard. Offer T&Cs apply.
Get an interest-free overdraft while you're studying.

Student bank account offers

Get an annual tastecard, worth £79.99 per year*. Get 25% off the total bill, 2 for 1 meals or 50% off food as well as the newest addition 25% off barista made drinks, available at thousands of restaurants and coffee shops across the UK. Also, with exclusive offers for students with discounts on movie streaming, attractions, membership perks with a tastecard membership. Valid for 4 years.
We'll send your tastecard redemption code to your email address. Offer T&Cs apply (PDF, 48 KB).

This offer can be withdrawn at any time due to limited availability.

If you have received a student offer from Royal Bank of Scotland at any time from 1st July 2021, you will not be eligible.

*Correct as of May 2025.

Eligibility: Apply online only. You must be 17+ and have been living in the UK for at least 3 years. If you’ve lived in the UK for less than 3 years you’re recognised by us as an international student and are not eligible for our Student account. To confirm you’re a Student and eligible for this account, you must provide your unique 16-digit UCAS code. Courses without a UCAS code are not eligible for our student account. See our current accounts hub for other options.

Study details: You need to be a full time undergraduate student (on at least a 2 year course at a UK University/College) or nursing course lasting a year or more. You can apply within 6 months of your course start date.

Student Status: To confirm you're a student and eligible for this account, we require your unique 16 digit UCAS code. Courses without a UCAS code are not eligible for our student account.

Interest-free overdraft: If you’re approved, get an overdraft of up to £2,000 from year one (Limited to £500 in term one year one). Students can apply for up to £3,250 interest-free from year three onwards. Eligible students in third year onwards can apply for up to £3,250.

Overdraft details: You need to be 18+ to apply for an overdraft. Subject to lending criteria.

You can apply for an overdraft on your account at anytime once your course has started with an instant online decision.

Lifestyle benefits

tastecard membership

If you enjoy eating out or relaxing with a hot drink, you’ll love this offer: get 25% off the total bill, 2 for 1 meals or 50% off food as well as the newest addition 25% off barista-made drinks, available at thousands of restaurants and coffee shops across the UK.

What you should know:

Always check the details on the individual listing in the tastecard app before visiting, as some venues may have limitations, including maximum number of diners.
Where restaurants offer 2 for 1, this does not include side dishes or extras.
Remember to take your digital membership with you.
Bookings must be made by the account holder, and some restaurants may ask that you book in advance when using your tastecard.

Other features

Arranged overdrafts

An overdraft is a form of short term borrowing and is repayable on demand. If you don't repay what is owed, you could harm your credit score and borrowing capability. Understand the cost and impact of overdrafts and use our eligibility checker to find out if you’re likely to be approved below.

How do overdrafts work?

There are two different types of overdraft:

An arranged overdraft, which allows you to go overdrawn up to an agreed limit. This is the type of overdraft you could apply for here. During your application for an arranged overdraft, we'll run a full credit check to determine how much we can offer you.
An unarranged overdraft. This is when you spend more money than you have in your current account without already having an arranged overdraft, or when you exceed your current arranged overdraft limit.

We charge interest on both types of overdraft. Going in to an unarranged overdraft limit can lead to payments being rejected.

How much will an overdraft cost?

This account offers an overdraft facility (subject to eligibility). You can check if you're likely to be accepted for an overdraft using our eligibility tool.

Looking to understand the costs of an overdraft of more or less than £500 over different periods of time? Use our handy cost calculator.

More about Overdrafts

Switching to Royal Bank

The Current Account Switch Service will do all the work when it comes to switching, moving everything across from your old account within 7 working days, including Direct Debits and standing orders.

How does the switch work?

All you need to do is tell us the details of your old bank account and when you want the switch to start.

We can't switch savings accounts or ISAs through this service. Any other products you have with your old bank won't be moved at the same time.

Current Account Switch Guarantee (PDF, 39 KB)

A Guide to Switching Current Accounts (PDF, 3 MB)

Third Party Permissions

If you have given permissions to Third Party Providers to make payments on your behalf, or to access your financial data, access to these services won’t be transferred automatically to your new account as part of the Current Account Switch Service.

Before you close your old account, check whether you have any Third Party Provider permissions set up and if so, who with.

Once your new account is open you can give your permission to the Third Party Provider to access your new account by providing them with your new account details. You will need to contact the Third Party Provider directly yourself to set this up.

If you are unsure whether we will support the third party provider permissions on your account, you can contact us for further information and support.

Please check our account terms and conditions for more information about Third Party Providers.

Important information

Please take some time to review, print and/or save the important information.

Your Current Account Terms (PDF, 258 KB)

Financial Services Compensation Scheme Information Sheet (PDF, 75 KB)

Fee Information Document (PDF, 2 MB)

What You Need To Know (PDF, 64 KB)

Student offer T&Cs (PDF, 48 KB)

It's important for you to understand how we use and share your information. Please read this short summary before you continue with your application.

By continuing you're confirming you've been provided with, and have acknowledged our important documents, including the FSCS information sheet.

All okay? You’re nearly ready to start.

To speed up your application for our Student account, we need to do a few final checks with you. They'll only take a minute.

Continue

Do you have a current account with us?

Yes

Continue

Previous question

Changing to a Student account

You’ll need to change your existing account to a Student account. To do this, follow the steps below.

Head back to your mobile app home screen.
Select the account you wish to change.
Once selected, go to ‘Change my account type’ to find options for changing.

You will need the most up to date version of the app, to make changes to your account.

Have you lived in the UK for:

3 years or more

Less than 3 years

Continue

Previous question

You're all set

Your application will be completely online, as part of our checks we'll ask our partner Mitek to confirm your identity using;

A Liveness check, a short video to compare your photo ID
Photo ID, which must be a Passport, UK or EU/EEA Driving Licence or an EU/EEA National ID card
Proof of your address, such as a utility bill, bank statement or driving licence
Proof of your UK student status, which must be your unique 16 digit UCAS code.

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