Is GitHub Copilot free for students?
Yes. Verified students get GitHub Copilot Pro for free — a plan that otherwise costs $10/month. You must be enrolled in a degree- or diploma-granting program and verify your student status through GitHub Education. GitHub rechecks eligibility about once a month, so keep your verification current.
Why — the first-principles explanation
GitHub gives students Copilot Pro for free as a long-game loyalty investment. Developers form tool habits early and rarely switch. By putting a professional-grade AI assistant in students' hands during the years they learn to code, GitHub (and its owner, Microsoft) builds a generation that defaults to Copilot when they enter the workforce and start paying — or bring it to employers who will.
The free access is not a stripped-down version. Verified students receive Copilot Pro, the same $10/month plan working professionals buy, with unlimited completions and a monthly AI Credit budget. The only difference is the price: zero, for as long as you remain an eligible student.
Eligibility is verified through GitHub Education. You prove you are enrolled at a degree- or diploma-granting school, usually by uploading proof of enrollment or using a school-issued email. Because student status changes, GitHub re-evaluates eligibility roughly every month; if you graduate or your verification lapses, the free Pro benefit ends and you would need to pay to continue.
The practical takeaway: the benefit is real and generous, but it is tied to active enrollment. Set your verification up correctly, keep it valid, and enjoy a paid-tier tool at no cost throughout your studies.
An example that makes it click
Think of a student bus pass. The city hands you unlimited free rides — not a cheaper ticket, the full pass — because it wants you riding the bus for life. But every semester you have to show your student ID at the office, and the day you graduate, the free pass stops.
Copilot for students works the same way. You get the complete Pro plan, not a lite version, entirely free. You just have to prove you're a student through GitHub Education, and GitHub quietly re-checks that about once a month. Stay enrolled and verified, and the ride stays free.
How to do it
- Go to github.com/settings/education/benefits.
- If you're not yet verified, select 'Start an application' and complete the GitHub Education student verification (proof of enrollment or a school email).
- Once verified, find the Copilot benefit under student developer resources and select 'Learn more.'
- Follow the prompts to activate Copilot Student (Pro), agreeing to the Copilot use policies.
- Keep your verification current — GitHub re-evaluates eligibility about every month.
Key facts
- Verified students receive Copilot Pro (normally $10/month) at no cost.
- Eligibility requires enrollment in a degree- or diploma-granting program, verified via GitHub Education.
- GitHub re-evaluates student eligibility approximately once per month.
- Activation is done at github.com/settings/education/benefits.
- The benefit ends when you graduate or your verification lapses, after which paid pricing applies.
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Is GitHub Copilot free for students? Yes — and not a watered-down version. Verified students get the full Copilot Pro plan, which normally costs ten dollars a month, completely free. Here's how it works and why. GitHub gives students the pro tier because it's a smart bet: learn to code with Copilot now, and you'll keep using it when you land a job. To claim it, head to your GitHub settings, open the Education benefits page, and apply for student verification — usually with proof of enrollment or a school email. Once you're verified, activate Copilot Student and agree to the use policies. One important detail: GitHub rechecks your eligibility about once a month. So as long as you stay enrolled and your verification is current, the free Pro access keeps renewing. The day you graduate or your verification lapses, it switches to paid. So if you're a student, don't pay a cent — go verify through GitHub Education and unlock the full plan for free.
What authoritative sources say
People also ask
Which plan do students get?
Copilot Pro — the same paid plan professionals use, with unlimited completions and a monthly AI Credit budget — at no charge.
How do I prove I'm a student?
Apply through GitHub Education at github.com/settings/education/benefits using proof of enrollment or a valid school-issued email.
Does the free access expire?
It ends when you graduate or your verification lapses. GitHub re-checks eligibility roughly monthly, so keep your status current.
Can teachers get it free too?
Yes. Verified teachers also qualify for free Copilot through GitHub Education, alongside students and popular open-source maintainers.