UnionPay International Launches Payment Solution Program for International Students

UnionPay International (UPI) has recently introduced an extensive program aimed at facilitating cross-border payment solutions specifically for international students. This initiative comes at a crucial time as many students and their families prepare for the academic year, emphasizing the heightened demand for seamless payment options. The company has partnered with various universities, tuition payment platforms, accommodation operators, and local banks to provide a unified approach that simplifies tuition payments, daily expenses, and applications for local payment cards across 183 countries and regions.

The need for enhanced payment services in the context of increased tuition fees has never been more apparent. The volume of tuition payments surged by 17% year-on-year in the first half of 2025, prompting UPI to leverage its resources to cater to this growing demand for affordable and efficient cross-border payment solutions. By collaborating with local acceptance partners and international payment platforms, UPI has ensured broader access to its services for students, which encompass everything from tuition fees to everyday purchases on campus.

One of the core benefits of using UnionPay products is the access to exclusive discounts available at various retailers, restaurants, transport services, airlines, hotels, and online food ordering platforms. Noteworthy partnerships with payment platforms such as Flywire, EasyTransfer, Convera (formerly known as Western Union), and PayMyTuition have enabled UPI to cover thousands of educational institutions globally. Partner universities can now accept UnionPay cards directly and offer discounts based on current exchange rates through these platforms.

Furthermore, UPI has made significant strides in increasing the adoption of UnionPay cards through collaborations with Canadian banks like CIBC, Australian partners such as BPAY and iEduPay, New Zealand's PayPlus, and South Korea's PayZoom. Local banks are working on issuing UnionPay cards in key destinations where many international students study, including Hong Kong, Singapore, Japan, South Korea, Australia, Spain, and Canada. As a result, students can acquire local cards efficiently and utilize them upon their arrival.

Additionally, UPI has aligned with UK student accommodation providers like Unite Students and Chapter-living, along with recognized student housing brands in Australia, such as Scape, Iglu, and UniLodge. Furthermore, prominent international apartment operators like Greystar have also joined UPI’s network, thereby offering students enhanced payment options in their new living environments.

With a presence in 183 countries, UnionPay’s payment services allow international students to make transactions conveniently and securely. In regions such as Hong Kong and Macau, UnionPay is accepted at nearly every ATM and merchant, including the highly frequented MTR tap-and-go services, and popular dining spots like Lan Kwai Fong. Students at universities like HKUST and HKU can also utilize UnionPay at local cafés, supermarkets, and restaurants.

In Singapore, UnionPay facilitates tuition payments for universities and private schools like NUS, JCU, and NAFA. Payment transactions are conveniently processed at nearly all ATMs, with 80% of merchants accepting UnionPay for dining, shopping, and travel expenses.

In Europe and the UK, UnionPay cards are widely accepted at most ATMs, department stores, cafés, restaurants, and tourist attractions. Prestigious institutions such as the University of Portsmouth, Edinburgh, Sussex, and Imperial College London now permit tuition payments via UnionPay, enhancing accessibility for students.

In Canada, over 500,000 merchants support UnionPay, including major retailers like IKEA, Dollarama, Tim Hortons, and Starbucks. In Australia, universities in Melbourne, Sydney, and Monash, along with Queensland universities, welcome UnionPay for both online and in-person payments. Similarly, New Zealand’s University of Auckland and Victoria University, among other private schools and language programs, accept UnionPay across campus bookstores, libraries, and cafés.

As the number of international students continues to rise, UnionPay leverages its global payment network to make cross-border transactions more secure, simpler, and cost-effective. This initiative not only offers a stable customer base of student clientele for international banks and merchants but also fosters the growth of local consumer markets. UPI welcomes new partners eager to contribute to the development of a safer and more convenient payment ecosystem for international students, thereby enhancing their overall experience while studying abroad.