Scotiabank Scene+ Visa Card (for students)

Scotiabank Scene+ Visa Card

Reviewed by Jen, founder of MoneyMint · Updated October 10, 2026

Scotiabank Scene+ Visa Card (for students)
Scotiabank®No-Fee Rewards

Scotiabank® Scene+™ Visa* Card (for students)

Our take: a no-fee student card that’s best if you shop at Sobeys-family grocers — 2 Scene+ points per $1 there (about 2% back, est.) and 1 point per $1 on most other purchases, plus a welcome bonus we value at roughly $50.

#3 Students

Welcome bonusEarn up to 5,000 bonus Scene+ points in your first 3 months, for accounts opened by Nov 1, 2026* — no annual fee
Apply on Scotiabank’s site →

  • Apply on Scotiabank’s site
  • Our review

The Scotiabank Scene+ Visa Card (for students) is the student version of Scotiabank’s no-annual-fee Scene+ card. It has the same earn rates, fees and welcome offer as the regular Scotiabank Scene+ Visa Card: 2 Scene+ points per $1 at Sobeys-family grocery banners, Home Hardware and Cineplex, and 1 point per $1 everywhere else. What changes is who it’s for and how you apply: Canadian citizens and permanent residents can apply online, international students book an appointment at a branch, and the minimum credit limit is $500. Like the regular card, it charges the standard 2.5% foreign transaction fee and has no built-in travel insurance.

3.4out of 5

MoneyMint rating

#18 of 34 no-fee rewards cards · How we rate

Rewards value
3/10
Insurance
2/10
Flexibility
8/10
Welcome bonus
1/10
Fee value
10/10
Perks
0/10

≈ $368

estimated first-year value after the annual fee, on a typical $2,050/month budget. Points are converted to dollars using MoneyMint’s own valuations — see our points value calculator for how each program is valued. See it for your spending →

At a Glance

Annual fee

$0

Rewards rate

1-2 pts/$1base / bonus categories

Welcome bonus

Up to 5,000 Scene+ pts*within first 3 months

Rewards

~2%at Sobeys-family stores (est.)

Who can apply

Studentscitizens & PRs apply online; international students in branch

Foreign transaction fee

2.5%

Purchase APR 21.99% · Cash advance APR 22.99%

Pros & Cons

Pros

  • Genuinely free to hold — no annual fee for primary or supplementary cardholders
  • 2x Scene+ points at participating grocery banners (Sobeys, Safeway, IGA, Foodland, participating Co-ops, Freshco), Home Hardware and Home Building Centre (including homehardware.ca), and Cineplex
  • Up to 4 points per $1 on hotel/car rental bookings through Scene+ Travel (powered by Expedia)
  • Scene+ points redeem flexibly across travel, dining, entertainment, and merchandise
  • Scotia SelectPay lets you split larger purchases into installments
  • Made for students: a $500 minimum credit limit, and Canadian citizens and permanent residents can apply online

Cons

  • 1 point per $1 base rate is weak compared to other no-fee cash-back or points cards
  • 2.5% foreign transaction fee applies — Scotiabank waives this only on its Passport Visa Infinite+/Privilege and Gold/Platinum Amex cards, not this one
  • No embedded travel medical, trip cancellation, or purchase/extended-warranty insurance — only an optional paid protection plan is offered
  • 21.99% purchase APR is costly if you carry a balance
  • Welcome bonus (up to 5,000 points) is modest compared to Scotiabank’s fee-based cards
  • Scotiabank says it may not be the right fit if you earn more than $12,000 a year — the regular Scene+ Visa has the same features

Rewards & Earn Rates

Participating grocery banners, Home Hardware / Home Building Centre (incl. homehardware.ca), Cineplex2 pts/$1
Hotels & car rentals via Scene+ Travel (Expedia)Up to 4 pts/$1
All other purchases1 pt/$1
This card does NOT include the foreign transaction fee waiver that some other Scotiabank cards offer — Scotiabank’s own fee disclosure page lists only its Passport Visa Infinite+, Passport Visa Infinite Privilege, and Gold/Platinum American Express cards as fee-exempt. Don’t assume this no-fee card also waives the standard 2.5% conversion fee; it doesn’t. It also carries no built-in travel insurance, unlike some competing no-fee cards. Not a student? The regular Scotiabank Scene+ Visa Card has the same earn rates, fee and welcome offer.

Who It’s For

Best for

  • Students who shop at Sobeys-family grocery banners, go to Cineplex, or buy at Home Hardware
  • Students getting their first credit card who want points without an annual fee
  • Students who already collect Scene+ points and want to earn them on everyday spending
  • International students who can visit a Scotiabank branch to apply

Not ideal for

  • Students who travel abroad or shop in foreign currencies, given the 2.5% conversion fee
  • Anyone who expects to carry a balance, given the 21.99% purchase APR
  • Students who would rather have plain cash back than Scene+ points
  • Non-students, or anyone earning more than $12,000 a year — the regular Scene+ Visa is the same card
IssuerScotiabank
Annual fee$0
Welcome bonusUp to 5,000 Scene+ pts*
Foreign transaction fee2.5%
MoneyMint rating3.4 / 5

Apply on Scotiabank’s site →

This link goes to Scotiabank’s official application page. MoneyMint earns a commission when you apply through it; it doesn’t affect our rating.

+ Compare with other cards

Not Sure? Three Cards People Compare It With

All student cards →

Scotia Momentum No-Fee Visa Card (for students)

Scotia Momentum No-Fee Visa Card (for students)

Pick this instead if you want cash back instead of points (1% on groceries, gas and recurring bills).

Fee $0Rating 2.8 ★

Read review

BMO CashBack Mastercard for Students

BMO CashBack Mastercard for Students

Pick this instead if you bank with BMO and want its dedicated student card.

Fee $0Rating 3.7 ★

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Scotiabank Scene+ Visa Card

Scotiabank Scene+ Visa Card

Pick this instead if you are not a student: same earn rates, fee and welcome offer.

Fee $0Rating 3.4 ★

Read review

3.4MoneyMint rating

Scotiabank Scene+ Visa Card (for students)

Best for travel · No annual fee · ~$50 welcome bonus (est.)*

Apply on Scotiabank’s site →Find a better fit

J

Jen, founder of MoneyMint

Reviewed by Jen. Every figure on this page was checked against Scotiabank’s official card page on October 10, 2026. How we rate cards →

This is general information, not personalized financial advice — consider your own spending habits and consult a professional for decisions specific to your situation. Rates, fees, and offers are set by Scotiabank and can change without notice; always confirm current terms on the issuer’s official page before applying.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the annual fee for the Scotiabank Scene+ Visa Card (for students)?

The Scotiabank Scene+ Visa Card (for students) has an annual fee of $0.

What is the rewards rate on the Scotiabank Scene+ Visa Card (for students)?

The Scotiabank Scene+ Visa Card (for students) offers: 1 Scene+ point per $1 on most purchases; 2 points per $1 at participating grocery banners (Sobeys, Safeway, IGA, Foodland, participating Co-ops, Freshco), Home Hardware, and Cineplex; up to 4 points per $1 on hotel/car rental bookings via Scene+ Travel (Expedia)

Does the Scotiabank Scene+ Visa Card (for students) have a welcome bonus?

Yes. As of Oct 10, 2026, Scotiabank’s page shows up to 5,000 bonus Scene+ points* for new accounts opened between July 2 and November 1, 2026. You earn 2,500 points once you have at least $250 in eligible purchases in your first 3 months, and another 2,500 points once your eligible purchases reach at least $1,000 in those same 3 months — so $1,000 in total spending earns the full 5,000 points. People who have held a Scotiabank personal credit card in the past 2 years aren’t eligible. Bonus points are credited within about 8 weeks of qualifying.

Who can apply for the Scotiabank Scene+ Visa Card (for students)?

This card is designed for students. Canadian citizens and permanent residents can apply online, and international students apply by booking an appointment at a Scotiabank branch. Scotiabank does not publish a minimum credit score, and it notes the card may not be the best fit if you earn more than $12,000 a year. The minimum credit limit is $500.

Does the Scotiabank Scene+ Visa Card (for students) charge foreign transaction fees?

2.5% — confirmed via Scotiabank’s official fee disclosure page, which does NOT include this card on its short list of fee-exempt cards

Offer Terms and Conditions

*Terms and conditions apply. See Card Provider’s website and Card Application for complete card details, terms and current offers. Reasonable efforts are made to maintain accuracy of information.

* Offer Description and Conditions: The 5,000 Bonus Scene+ Points Offer (the “Offer”) applies only to new Scotiabank Scene+ Visa credit card accounts (“Account”) opened between July 2, 2026 and November 1, 2026 (regardless of the date you apply for the Account) and is subject to the below terms and conditions. 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. Eligible purchases include purchases (less any refunds, returns or other similar credits) but do not include payments, cash advances (including balance transfers or cash-like transactions), interest, fees or other charges.

Point Bonus Fulfillment: The applicable point Bonus(es) will be credited to the Scene+ account within approximately 8 weeks after qualifying for a Bonus, provided the Account is open and in good standing. For Joint Accounts with a Primary Borrower and Co-borrower, the applicable point Bonus will be credited as follows: (i) the 2,500 Point Bonus and Additional 2,500 Point Bonus will be credited to the Scene+ account linked to the Account of the borrower that completed the last transaction to meet the qualifying amount of eligible purchases (i.e., $250 or $1,000) in the appropriate time frame (i.e., first 3 months). If a supplementary cardholder completes the last qualifying transaction to meet the qualifying amount of eligible purchases for the 2,500 Point Bonus or the Additional 2,500 Point Bonus, the applicable point Bonus will be credited to the Primary Borrower’s Scene+ account linked to the Account. Points can be transferred between Primary and Co-Borrower or Supplementary Cardholder’s Scene+ accounts by contacting Scene+. The Account is considered in good standing if it is not past due or over limit and the Cardholder(s) is not in breach of the Revolving Credit Agreement that applies to the Account. All other terms and conditions of the Program Terms continue to apply during the Offer period. Offer may be changed, cancelled or extended without notice at any time and cannot be combined with any other offers.

Eligibility and Exclusions: Individuals who are currently or were previously primary or secondary cardholders of a Scotiabank personal credit card in the past 2 years, including those that switch from an existing Scotiabank personal credit card, as well as employees of Scotiabank, are not eligible for the Offer. Subject to the above exclusions, Scotiabank small business credit cardholders are also eligible for the Offer.

Rates and Fees: There is currently no annual fee for the primary card and no fee for each additional card (including those issued to co-borrowers and supplementary cardholders). The current preferred annual interest rates for the Account are: 21.99% on purchases and 22.99% on cash advances (including balance transfers and cash-like transactions). All rates, fees, features and benefits are outlined in the Application Disclosure Statement and are subject to change.