GitHub Student Developer Pack: Free Tools for Students

Updated 9 November 2026. Offer details were checked against GitHub’s current documentation and Student Developer Pack directory.

The GitHub Student Developer Pack can save you money on the tools you need for a college project, a portfolio or your first web app. Verified students get access to developer subscriptions, selected cloud credits and learning resources.

There is no fixed cash payout. The value depends on which offers you qualify for and actually use. Start with a project you want to build, then pick the tools that help you finish it.

Who can apply?

You need a personal GitHub account, must be at least 13, and must be enrolled in a degree- or diploma-granting programme. High school, college and university students can qualify. GitHub’s student overview explains the basic requirements.

Have current proof of enrollment ready: a dated student ID, class schedule, transcript or enrollment letter. GitHub may require a verified academic email for your school. If your institution does not issue one, GitHub asks for official documentation explaining that policy. A personal email alone does not guarantee approval. Check the application requirements before uploading anything.

What do they offer to students?

These are a few useful offers listed when this guide was updated:

• GitHub Pro: free access while you are a student.
• GitHub Copilot Student: free access for verified students, with plan-specific usage allowances. It needs a separate activation step.
• JetBrains: a free student subscription for IDEs such as IntelliJ IDEA and PyCharm, renewed annually.
• Microsoft Azure: $100 in credit and access to selected cloud services for students aged 18+. A separate offer covers ages 13–17.
• Heroku: $13 in monthly credit for 24 months.
• .TECH: one standard .TECH domain for one year.

Open the official Pack directory before claiming an offer. Availability and partner terms can change, and a free first year is different from a permanently free subscription.

Steps to apply

1. Sign in to the personal GitHub account you intend to keep using for your projects.
2. Open your Education benefits settings and choose Start an application.
3. Complete the student application. Add and verify the academic email if requested, and upload clear, current enrollment evidence.
4. Review your details and submit. After approval, return to your Education benefits page to activate the offers you need.

The prompts can vary by institution. Follow the requirements shown in your application rather than an old screenshot of the form.

If your application or Copilot access is stuck

For a rejected application, read the reason before reapplying. A blurry photo or a document without a date may not establish current enrollment. GitHub’s troubleshooting guide covers school-email and document issues.

Education approval and Copilot activation are separate. If your account still shows Copilot Free, open Education benefits and follow the Copilot Student activation prompts. GitHub says the benefit can take several days to apply. If you only see a paid checkout, wait and retry instead of purchasing the benefit you are trying to claim. The student Copilot setup guide has the current steps.

How long do the benefits last?

GitHub’s student verification lasts two years, after which you need to revalidate. Partner offers follow their own schedules: some are renewable, others are a one-time credit or trial. Revalidating your student status does not reset a used partner offer. GitHub lists these conditions in its Student Developer Pack terms.

Copilot has its own eligibility checks; GitHub says it reevaluates student eligibility monthly. Check the status shown in your account rather than assuming every benefit expires on the same date.

What to claim first

For a first project, an editor and a GitHub repository are a sensible starting point. Add a domain when you have something to publish. Activate cloud credits when you are ready to deploy, after reading the offer’s limits and expiry conditions. Most timed partner offers start when you set them up, so claiming everything on day one can waste useful access.

Pick one small project and get it working. You can add more tools when you run into a problem they solve.