How to Become an Affiliate Publisher on Awin: A Smart Remote Side Hustle for UK Students
University life in the UK can be thrilling—but it’s no secret that student living comes with rising costs. Whether it’s topping up your weekly budget or gaining digital marketing skills, becoming an affiliate publisher on Awin is a flexible and rewarding remote opportunity that can slot perfectly around your studies.
Here’s everything you need to know to get started.
💡 What Is an Affiliate Publisher?
An affiliate publisher (also called an affiliate marketer) is someone who promotes a brand’s product or service online. When a visitor clicks on your unique tracking link and makes a purchase, you earn a commission.
On Awin—one of the world’s leading affiliate networks, you’ll get access to thousands of reputable brands, from fashion and beauty to finance, travel, and tech. As a student, you could promote products you already use and love through blogs, social media, or even messaging apps and newsletters.
🧑💻 Why Affiliate Marketing is Ideal for Students
Flexible, Remote, and Self-Paced
Work when you want, where you want, perfect for fitting around lectures, essays, or part-time jobs.
Low Start-up Costs
Signing up with Awin costs just £5 (refundable once you start earning), and you don’t need to buy products up front.
Skill-Building for Future Careers
Learn SEO, content creation, social media strategy, and digital analytics—skills highly valued in marketing, e-commerce, and media industries.
Work with Brands You Genuinely Love
Promote products and services that reflect your lifestyle—whether that’s student finance tools, vegan beauty brands, or sustainable fashion.
🔎 How to Join Awin as an Affiliate Publisher
Step 1: Sign Up at Awin.com
Head to Awin’s Publisher Sign-Up Page. You’ll need to provide:
Your contact details
A brief description of how you plan to promote brands
A platform (e.g., a blog, Instagram account, YouTube channel or TikTok)
📌 Pro tip: You can still apply even if you’re just getting started, just be honest about your plans.
Step 2: Pay the £5 Verification Fee
This helps prevent fraudulent accounts. It’s returned to you with your first payment.
Step 3: Choose Programmes to Join
Once approved, you can browse through thousands of advertisers (i.e., brands) and apply to join their affiliate programmes. Look out for brands with high approval rates or “auto-accept” options if you’re new.
Step 4: Generate Your Tracking Links
You’ll receive custom affiliate links via Awin’s dashboard. These are trackable and let you earn commission from any sales you drive.
Step 5: Share, Promote and Optimise
Start promoting! Post product reviews, create Instagram reels, write blog posts, or even share discount codes with your peers. Awin provides tools like a browser extension to create links on the go, and a dashboard to track clicks, sales and earnings.
🎯 What Platforms Can You Use?
You don’t need a blog to start. Students are finding success using:
TikTok (student budgeting tips, product reviews)
Instagram (lifestyle and fashion content)
YouTube (unboxings, hauls, tutorials)
Medium/Substack (student life blogs)
WhatsApp/Telegram groups (private communities, especially for student discounts)
💸 How Much Can You Earn?
Your earnings will depend on:
The number of people you reach
The commission rates of the programmes you join
The level of trust and relevance you build with your audience
Some Awin publishers make £50/month casually, while others scale to £500+ with strategic effort. The key is consistency and promoting brands that make sense for your followers.
📦 Example Brands Popular with Students on Awin
KinKind – Vegan, anti-plastic personal care
PrettyLittleThing – Fashion and student discounts
Lookfantastic – Beauty and skincare
Monzo & Revolut – Digital banking
Trainline – Travel deals
These are just a few of the thousands of advertisers listed on Awin’s UK platform.
🎓 Final Thoughts: Turn Scroll Time into Side Income
Becoming an Awin affiliate publisher is a low-risk, high-learning opportunity for students who are already active online. Whether you’re passionate about fashion, tech, sustainability, or personal finance, affiliate marketing allows you to turn your voice into value, while building in-demand digital skills.
👉 Ready to get started? Visit Awin’s Publisher Sign-Up and begin your affiliate journey today.
And if you’re a brand looking to attract top-quality affiliates—or a student who wants help maximising your content strategy—get in touch with 2Xpresso. We help publishers and partners make affiliate marketing work smarter.