History

The early years

The International Student Identity Card (ISIC) was launched over 50 years ago as a student ID card, giving full-time students around the world access to special discounted air fares.

This supported the ISIC Association’s ground-breaking mission statement: “Increasing international understanding through the promotion of travel and exchange opportunities among students, young people and the academic community”.

Students automatically bought an ISIC card to give them access to discounted air fares. These included Student Air Travel Association tickets specifically for full-time students.

The ISIC card, now and the future

Whilst ISIC continued to be internationally recognised as the student ID, the growth of internet usage meant that students had new and easy access to low-cost air fares. Inevitably, this has lead to some decrease in travel-related ISIC card sales in the last few years.

On the flipside, ISIC has seen an increase in sales of the card for non-travel purposes – including offers relating to shopping and entertainment – during the same period.

This has ensured continued growth of ISIC sales worldwide.

In many countries, today’s ISIC card has gone through a transition. Next to it’s long standing and solid reputation as the only internationally recognised student ID, the ISIC is now also considered an all-round student lifestyle card. Its members still enjoy discounts and services on flights and public transport. On top of that, they also benefit from discounts related to museums, shopping and entertainment – at home and abroad.

This change in use certainly promises a bright future for the ISIC card.