Verified education offer
GitHub Copilot Student Plan: Free Access
Free for verified GitHub Education students
Yes. GitHub gives verified students on GitHub Education free access to GitHub Copilot's premium features. Students apply to GitHub Education, activate Copilot Student from their education benefits page, and keep access only while GitHub continues to verify eligibility. GitHub says it reevaluates student eligibility every month, so this is an education entitlement rather than a permanent license.
What the GitHub Copilot student plan includes
The offer is called Copilot Student and is tied to verified GitHub Education status. GitHub's official setup guide describes free access to Copilot features and directs students to the education benefits area for activation. The offer is stronger than a percentage discount because the student price is $0 while eligibility remains active. GitHub does not promise lifetime access: verification can be reviewed monthly, and plan capabilities follow GitHub's current individual Copilot plan definitions.
| Student price | $0 while GitHub Education verification remains active |
|---|---|
| Verification | GitHub Education student application |
| Activation | GitHub Settings → Education benefits → Copilot Student |
| Eligibility review | GitHub reevaluates eligibility every month |
Who qualifies
- You must qualify as a verified student through GitHub Education.
- Your GitHub account must show the approved education benefit before Copilot Student can be activated.
- Continued access depends on GitHub's recurring eligibility checks.
How to verify or claim it
- 01 Sign in to the GitHub account you use for school and development work.
- 02 Open GitHub Settings and visit Education benefits.
- 03 If you are not verified, start the GitHub Education application and submit the requested proof.
- 04 After approval, select the Copilot Student benefit and follow the activation prompts.
Limits to know before you choose
- Free access is conditional on verified student status and can end when eligibility ends.
- GitHub reevaluates eligibility monthly; approval is not a permanent entitlement.
- Organization policies can still restrict Copilot use in school or employer repositories.
- Feature names and usage limits follow GitHub's current Copilot plan documentation.
Verified alternatives
Only alternatives with a first-party education offer or free tier are listed here.
First-party sources
Offer terms can change. Each citation records exactly what it supports and when CostBench checked it.
- GitHub Docs — Access Copilot for free as a student Free Copilot access, GitHub Education verification, activation steps, and monthly eligibility review.
Frequently asked questions
01 Is GitHub Copilot free for students?
Yes. Verified students on GitHub Education can activate Copilot Student for free.
02 Do I need a .edu email for free GitHub Copilot?
You need GitHub Education verification. GitHub's application decides eligibility and may request school evidence; a particular email suffix alone is not the benefit.
03 How often does GitHub verify student eligibility?
GitHub says it reevaluates Copilot Student eligibility every month.
04 Where do I activate Copilot Student?
Open GitHub Settings, go to Education benefits, and follow the Copilot Student activation prompts after verification.