Scotiabank® Scene+ Visa Card for Students Review
The Scotiabank Scene+ Visa Card for Students allows students to optimize everyday purchases and start contributing to a credit history.
Jul 29, 2026 6:36 PM
The Bottom Line
If you're in school and looking to reward grocery, entertainment, and travel purchases, all while building a financial profile, consider the Scotiabank Scene+ Visa Card for Students.
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on Scotiabank's website
Welcome Bonus
Earn up to 5,000 bonus Scene+ points within your first 3 months.
Annual Fee
$0
Interest Rates
21.99%* / 22.99%*
RECOMMENDED CREDIT SCORE
Welcome Bonus Details
- Earn up to 5,000 bonus Scene+ points within your first 3 months.1
- To be eligible for 2,500 bonus Scene+ points (the “2,500 Point Bonus”), you must have at least $250 in eligible purchases posted to your new Account in the first 3 months of the Account open date.
- To be eligible for an additional 2,500 bonus Scene+ points (the “Additional 2,500 Point Bonus”), you must have at least $1,000 in eligible purchases posted to your new Account in your first 3 months of Account open date.
- Offer Validity: July 2, 2026 – November 1, 2026
Card Details
Interest Rates
Purchase APR
21.99%*
Cash Advance APR
22.99%*
Balance Transfer APR
22.99%*
Fees
Annual Fee
$0
Additional Cards
$0
Eligibility
Minimum Individual Income
N/A
Minimum Household Income
N/A
Credit Score Estimate
Poor
Pros & Cons
Pros
- No annual fee
- Rewarding starter card
- Shell fuel savings
- Flexible redemptions
Cons
- Limited bonus categories
- Limited partner grocer rewards
- Lacks travel insurance
Our Detailed Review
How to Earn Rewards with the Scotiabank Scene+ Visa Card for Students
There are a handful of ways to pocket Scene+ points with the Scotiabank Scene+ Visa Card for Students.
Cardholders can expect:
- 2x Scene+ points on every $1 you spend at Sobeys, Safeway, IGA, Foodland, participating Co-ops, Freshco and more
- 2x Scene+ points for every $1 you spend on Home Hardware, Home Building Center, Home Furniture locations in Canada and online at homehardware.ca
- 2x Scene+ points for every $1 you spend at Cineplex theatres or online at cineplex.com
- Plus 1 Scene+ point for every $1 spent on all other eligible everyday purchases
- Earn additional benefits + up to 4x Scene+ points for every dollar you spend on hotel bookings, car rentals, and things to do with Scene+ Travel, Powered by Expedia
With such solid rewards, students are motivated to use their card and start building a credit history.
How to Redeem Rewards with the Scotiabank Scene+ Visa Card for Students
Scene+ points are some of the most versatile rewards on the Canadian market, with high cent-per-point values on popular redemption categories.
Cardholders can put their Scene+ points towards:
- Entertainment
- Travel
- Groceries
- Restaurants
- Merchandise
- Gift Cards
- Statement Credits
To learn more about each redemption category and their respective values, check out our Scene+ Points Value Calculator.
Benefits and Perks
5 Benefits of the Scotiabank Scene+ Visa Card for Students
There are several benefits that make the Scotiabank Scene+ Visa Card for Students one of the best student credit cards in Canada.
For starters, this card avoids any annual fees, allowing students to focus all their earnings on their studies.
The Scotiabank Scene+ Visa Card for Students is also extremely accessible, avoiding any annual income requirements.
Not only does this card earn generous Scene+ points on everyday purchases, it also allows students to redeem those points towards several high-value redemption categories.
Students save 25% off base rates at participating Avis and Budget locations across both Canada and the US. To activate this discount, simply pay for your set of wheels using your Scotiabank Scene+ Visa Card for Students.
Likewise, students also receive up to 10¢/L in value at Shell Canada gas stations once they link their Scotiabank Scene+ Visa Card for Students to their Shell Go+ account.
Drawbacks and Considerations
2 Downsides to the Scotiabank Scene+ Visa Card for Students
There are also a couple of drawbacks to consider before submitting an application.
While it's great that the Scotiabank Scene+ Visa Card for Students optimizes grocery purchases, to receive Scene+ points on your cart, you'll need to shop at specific partner grocers.
Partners include:
- Sobeys
- Safeway
- IGA
- Foodland
- Freshco and more
Unfortunately, this card also lacks insurance coverage, leaving students vulnerable when purchasing or travelling, unless they opt into third party protections.
Compare to Similar Cards
Comparison to Other Top Student Credit Cards in Canada
Before you commit to the Scotiabank Scene+ Visa Card for Students, you'll want to weigh out all of your options.
Below, we've compared the Scotiabank Scene+ Visa Card for Students against other leading student credit cards in Canada.

Tangerine
4.4
Annual Fee
$0
$0
$0
$119.88
$0
Interest Rates
Purchase
21.99%*
Cash advance
22.99%*
Balance transfer
22.99%*
Rate details
Purchase
21.99%
Cash advance
23.99%
21.99%
Balance transfer
23.99%
21.99%
Purchase
20.95%*
Cash advance
22.95%*
Balance transfer
22.95%*
Rate details
Purchase
19.99% - 29.99%
19.99% - 24.99%
Cash advance
22.99% - 31.99%
22.99% - 25.99%
Balance transfer
22.99% - 31.99%
Purchase
20.99
Cash advance
22.99%
Balance transfer
22.99%
Welcome Bonus
Earn up to 5,000 bonus Scene+ points within your first 3 months.
5% cash back for the first 3 months, up to $2,500 in spend
10% Cash Back (up to $100 value) + 1.95% balance transfer promo rate for 6 months
$25 bonus upon approval for new clients
Earn 5% Cash Back on all purchases for the first 3 months (up to $2,000 in total purchases).1
Rewards
$291.92
First year rewards
$335.93
First year rewards
$382.86
First year rewards
0% - 1%
$252.42
First year rewards
on Scotiabank's website
on BMO's website
on Tangerine's website
on Neo Financial's website
on Scotiabank's website
Welcome Bonus Details
Earn Rates
Insurance Coverage
Extra Benefits
Requirements
Scotiabank Scene+ Visa Card for Students vs BMO Student Cash Back Mastercard
If you prefer cash back over points, the BMO Student Cash Back Mastercard is one of the top student credit cards in Canada. This contender earns students solid cash back on grocery purchases, plus decent cash back on recurring purchases like bills or subscriptions. Unlike the Scotiabank Scene+ Visa Card, the BMO Students Cash Back Mastercard comes with basic extended warranty and purchase protection insurance. For added perks, cardholders can expect several discounts on rental cars, hotel bookings, Instacart, and Cirque du Soleil performances.
Verdict: The BMO Student Cash Back Mastercard is a valuable cash back alternative for students, boasting insurance coverage and better perks.
Scotiabank Scene+ Visa Card for Students vs Tangerine Money-Back Mastercard
Why should the element of choice stop at course selection? With the Tangerine Money-Back Mastercard, students have the opportunity to select two earn categories out of the 13 offered by Tangerine. You can even pick a third category when you deposit your cash back earnings into a Tangerine Savings Account. Now let's say your spending habits are constantly changing. With the Tangerine Money-Back Mastercard, students can switch up their selected earn categories every 90 days. Unfortunately, this competitor lacks added perks, but luckily it comes with basic insurance coverage.
Verdict: The Tangerine Money-Back Mastercard is a great option for customizable cash back.
Scotiabank Scene+ Visa Card for Students vs Neo Secured Mastercard
For guaranteed approval, students can consider the Neo Secured Mastercard. This contender earns cardholders some cash back on grocery and gas purchases, plus additional cash back when you shop at Neo Partners. That said, this card lacks any added perks or coverage.
Verdict: The Neo Secured Mastercard is a safe option for those worried about approval. It's also a lucrative option for those who shop at partner retailers.
Scotiabank Scene+ Visa Card for Students vs Scotia Momentum No-Fee Visa Card for Students
Students who meet a small annual income requirement can also apply for the Scotia Momentum No-Fee Visa Card for Students. This competitor collects a little bit of cash back on gas, grocery, drug store, transit, ride share, food delivery, and recurring purchases. While this card also lacks coverage, it comes with similar car rental discounts and nearly as many savings on Shell fuel.
Verdict: The Scotiabank Scene+ Visa Card for Students is still more valuable for students overall with better rewards and no income requirements.
About the author

Sara Skodak
Lead Writer
Since graduating from the University of Western Ontario, Sara has built a diverse writing portfolio, covering topics in the travel, business, and wellness sectors. As a self-started freelance content ...
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