Think opera is only for the elite few? Think again. With these easy tips, you can get to see world-class opera, whatever your budget.

1. Go for the cheapest seats

Yes, you can get tickets amazingly cheap prices, with tickets starting at £4 at the Royal Opera House and £5 for the Welsh National Opera. Whilst this means you are sitting a little way back or standing, who cares at this price?

2. Take a risk

For the spontaneous students out there, buying tickets in person from the box office on the day can be a financially rewarding experience. Opting for new, lesser known works or companies reduces the ticket price massively, as does seeing smaller name stars. Choosing to attend performances at less popular times, such as mid-week or matinees also impacts the price in your favour.

3. Sign up to student schemes

Theatres want you, so take advantage of their gifts! You can sign up to The Royal Opera House’s Student Standby Scheme for free online, which offers you five performances per season where the amphitheatre is dedicated entirely to students, advanced booking on slips and standing tickets, reduced last-minute unsold tickets, and discount in the bar. They are also opening their 2014/2015 season with a performance of Anna Nicole dedicated entirely to students – keep your eyes peeled for when the tickets priced £2-£25 go on sale. English National Opera’s ‘Access All Aria’s’ also gives students and anyone under the age of 30 tickets for just £30 in the stalls or £10 in the upper circle (worth it just for the pun).

4. Take advantage of discounts

Occasionally, some of the top opera companies will offer a one-off deal for those alert enough to spot it. Make sure you sign up to receive email and social media notifications from them, such as by following the Royal Opera House’s Facebook page just for Cambridge students, www.facebook.com/RoyalOperaHouseCambridge. For those looking for something a little more fixed, Glyndebourne , Scottish National Opera and Grange Park Opera all offer significant discounts to those in their 20s.

5. Go local

Whilst it may be less glamorous, supporting local organisations, schools and theatres can be massively rewarding and give you an opportunity to spot future talent, all without expensive travel costs. Take a look at the English Touring Opera, or, even closer to home, the Cambridge University Opera Society, which hosts two main shows and a number of informal concerts throughout the year.

6. Try out some free performances

These may take some dedication to find, but it’s always worth it for a good freebie. The Royal Opera House hosts free lunchtime concerts most weeks as well as the Deloitte Ignite festival in September and monthly Big Sing Fridays.

7. Visit the cinema

It may seem strange going to watch opera on a screen where music is produced by speakers, but when you can get the best seat in the house for as little as £10, why not? You can catch the Met Opera live at the Arts Picturehouse, or for a significantly lower price the following Tuesday lunchtime. The Royal Opera also screen live to the Arts Picturehouse and Vue, as well as to big screens nationally for free this summer. You can catch them performing La Traviata on 20 May, La Bohème on 15 July and Rigoletto on 17 September in venues such as Trafalgar Square, Bristol, Manchester, Belfast and Aberdeen.

8. If all else fails, try the radio, TV or YouTube

There are plenty of performances that you can reach for free at the touch of a button. Keep your eyes peeled on Radio Four, Sky Arts and BBC TV channels, or visit the YouTube channels of the Royal Opera House, Opera North, Metropolitan Opera and Sydney Opera House.

Kizzie is Cambridge’s Royal Opera House Student Ambassador, and runs the social media site www.facebook.com/RoyalOperaHouseCambridge