- Who qualifies for the GitHub Student Developer Pack
- What's inside the pack
- The verification step that trips people up
- How to get the GitHub Student Developer Pack
- Worth knowing even before you're approved
- Getting the most from the pack once you're in
- If your application is rejected
- Frequently asked questions
The short version: the GitHub Student Developer Pack is a free bundle of developer tools for verified students. You qualify if you're at least 13, enrolled in a degree or diploma programme (including high school and homeschool) and can prove it. Once you're approved through GitHub Education, you get GitHub Pro while you're a student, GitHub Copilot Student and offers from partners like Notion and 1Password.
If you're studying anything that touches code, design or data, this is one of the most valuable free things you can sign up for. The tricky part isn't the tools. It's getting through verification first time.
Who qualifies for the GitHub Student Developer Pack
GitHub says you qualify for GitHub Education if you:
- Are enrolled in a degree or diploma granting programme, such as a high school, college, university or homeschool.
- Can provide documents that prove your current student status.
- Own a GitHub personal account.
- Are at least 13 years old.
What's inside the pack
| Offer | What GitHub lists |
|---|---|
| GitHub Pro | Free while you're a student |
| GitHub Copilot Student | Available to verified students |
| Codespaces | Pro level access in your account |
| Notion | Education plan for students |
| 1Password | Free for 2 years, with Developer Tools |
| .TECH domain | One standard domain free for 1 year |
| DataCamp | Three months of access |
The pack page also groups offers into Experiences, such as Intro to Web Dev, Data Science and Machine Learning, and Mobile App Development, so you can find the tools for what you're learning rather than scrolling one long list. There's also a Microsoft Azure offer specifically for students aged 13 to 17.
The verification step that trips people up
Here's what most guides skip. GitHub says its verification process is individually tailored. When recent applicants from your school have verified with an academic email address, future applicants from that school must use one too. If the application asks for an academic email, you need to add and verify it on your GitHub account before you apply.
If your school doesn't issue academic email addresses, GitHub asks for official documentation explaining that policy, such as a school web page or a letter on school letterhead, and then you reapply. If your school's email domain isn't recognised at all, you contact GitHub Education Support with the school's full name, website and the domain you're trying to use.
For proof of status, GitHub accepts things like a picture of your school ID showing a current enrolment date, or an affiliation or enrolment verification letter. A blurry photo or an undated ID is the fastest way to a rejection.
How to get the GitHub Student Developer Pack
- Create a GitHub personal account if you don't have one.
- Add and verify your academic email address in your GitHub settings.
- Get a clear photo of your school ID with a current enrolment date, or a verification letter.
- Apply through GitHub Education as a student and upload your proof.
- Once approved, open the GitHub Education portal and claim the offers you want.
Worth knowing even before you're approved
Everyone with a GitHub account can already collaborate in unlimited public and private repositories with GitHub Free, so you can start building your portfolio while you wait. If GitHub isn't the right fit, see my roundup of GitHub alternatives, and once you have Copilot, these GitHub Copilot prompts will help you get far more out of it.
If you're in a school club, a teacher can apply for GitHub Education so the whole team can use GitHub Team, which GitHub says allows unlimited users and private repositories for free.
Getting the most from the pack once you're in
Don't try to claim every offer on day one. The pack is big, and some offers start a clock as soon as you activate them, such as a domain that's free for a year or a learning platform with a set period of access. Claim the tools you'll use this term, and come back for the rest when you need them.
The Experiences are the smartest way in. They bundle partner tools, GitHub tools and learning resources around a goal, like building your first website or getting started with data science, so you learn the tools in the order you'd use them. The Copilot primer is a good first stop if you've never used an AI pair programmer.
Finally, remember that your benefits are tied to being a verified student. When you graduate, plan ahead for anything you'd still need, such as a domain renewal or the tools you've built projects around.
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If your application is rejected
A rejection usually comes down to proof. Read the reason GitHub gives, fix that one thing and reapply. The most common fixes are adding and verifying your academic email, uploading a sharper photo of an ID that shows a current enrolment date, or sending official documentation if your school doesn't issue academic emails. If the problem is that your school isn't recognised, contacting GitHub Education Support with the school's name, website and email domain is the route GitHub sets out.
Once you're in, put your best student projects in public repositories with a clear readme. A tidy GitHub profile is something employers and clients can see, and it takes nothing but a little time.
And keep your academic email verified on your account for as long as you're studying, so your GitHub account and your school record always match.
My verdict: if you're a student, apply today. Sort your academic email and a dated ID first, and you'll avoid the back and forth that catches most people out.
Frequently asked questions
Who can get the GitHub Student Developer Pack?
Students aged at least 13 who are enrolled in a degree or diploma granting programme, including high school and homeschool, who own a GitHub personal account and can prove their student status.
Is the GitHub Student Developer Pack free?
Yes. GitHub describes it as free access to developer tools from GitHub's partners for verified students.
Do I need a school email for GitHub Education?
Often, yes. GitHub says that if recent applicants from your school verified with an academic email, future applicants from the same school must use one too.
Does the pack include GitHub Copilot?
Yes. GitHub lists GitHub Copilot Student as available to verified students.
What proof of student status does GitHub accept?
GitHub lists a picture of your school ID with a current enrolment date or an affiliation or enrolment verification letter.
