Upon commencing their studies at a university or university college, students receive a certificate confirming their enrollment at the institution. They also receive a receipt confirming payment of the semester fee, which must be paid each semester. Both documents must be presented to claim student discounts.

Previously, this process was time-consuming and paper-intensive, and students often forgot to bring the required documents. The travel card is invalid without a student ID, and a fine for not having it on a tram can be costly.

Students have praised the app as ingenious, while universities and university colleges have benefited from time and cost savings – it’s a win-win situation for all parties involved.

Marte Holhjem, product owner, Ministry of Education

Results

The initial version of the application was completed in 2014 for Oslo and Akershus University College (HiOA). With mobile devices becoming an integral part of daily life, housing applications such as travel cards, mobile banking, and recipe books, it was exciting to introduce two essential documents into a digital wallet. Since its launch in 2016, the app has been adopted by over 30 universities and university colleges. Today, the Student ID app, powered by CERES, is available to more than 180,000 students across Norwegian higher education institutions.

“Students love it, management is satisfied, and the technology works flawlessly”, says Ole Lycke – Service Owner at HiOA’s IT department. By transitioning from paper receipts to a digital app, institutions have achieved significant cost reductions in postage expenses each semester, as well as substantial savings in administrative work. Additionally, they have contributed to environmental sustainability by reducing paper consumption.

The app simplifies student life, ensuring students always have their ID readily available. Available in Bokmål, Nynorsk, and English, the app supports the display of the student ID’s barcode. This feature expands the app’s functionality beyond simple presentation for verification. To prevent fraud, the app incorporates various animations and a large student photo. This makes it easy for bus drivers, for example, to verify the validity of the ID and confirm that it is being used by the correct person. Images and data are stored locally on the device, ensuring the app functions even without an internet connection. Students log in securely and can view information about their most recent fee payment.