GitHub Copilot Student Discount 2026: How to Get It Free
Last updated September 2026
The short answer
GitHub Copilot is free for verified students through the GitHub Student Developer Pack. You get unlimited code completions plus 200 GitHub AI Credits a month for chat and agents, alongside 90+ other developer tools. Verify with a school email at education.github.com/pack.
GitHub Copilot is the AI pair-programmer built into your editor, and it normally costs $10/month for individuals. For students it is one of the best deals in tech, because it is completely free through the GitHub Student Developer Pack, which also bundles 90+ other tools. Unlike some tools on this list, this one is free with no catch beyond verifying you are a student, which is why "GitHub Copilot student" and "GitHub Copilot free" are searched so heavily.
What GitHub Copilot costs students in 2026
| Plan | Standard price | For students |
|---|---|---|
| Copilot Free | $0 | Limited free tier for everyone |
| Copilot Individual | $10/mo | Free for verified students |
| Student Developer Pack | $0 | Copilot + 90 other tools, free |
Every way to save on GitHub Copilot as a student
GitHub Student Developer Pack (the free route)
Go to education.github.com/pack and click "Sign up for Student Developer Pack". Verified students get Copilot free, plus GitHub Pro and 90+ partner tools (Azure credits, JetBrains IDEs and more).
What Copilot Student includes
Unlimited code completions in your IDE plus 200 GitHub AI Credits a month for chat, coding agents, code review, the Copilot CLI and Spaces. Models are available through auto model selection.
How to verify
Prove your status with a school-issued email (.edu or equivalent) and, if asked, a photo of a valid student ID, transcript or class schedule. Add one honest sentence about how you will use GitHub. Do not paste AI-generated paragraphs, reviewers flag them.
Approval time
Most students with a school email are approved within minutes. Without one, manual review can take a few days to a couple of weeks.
Step by step: getting GitHub Copilot as a student
- 1Go to education.github.com/pack.
- 2Click Sign up for Student Developer Pack.
- 3Verify with your school email (fastest) or upload a student ID, transcript or class schedule.
- 4Add one honest sentence about how you will use GitHub.
- 5Once approved, Copilot and 90+ tools are free while you stay a student.
Free vs paid: is GitHub Copilot worth it as a student?
There is little to calculate here. Copilot is free for verified students, versus $10/month for everyone else, so if you qualify, take it. The only real question is what happens after you graduate: Copilot reverts to the paid Individual plan at $10/month. If you are shipping code daily by then, that is easily worth it. If not, the free Copilot tier still gives you limited completions, and you keep the other Student Pack tools for as long as your verification lasts. For a student who writes any code at all, there is no downside to claiming it.
GitHub Copilot student access outside the US
The GitHub Student Developer Pack is available to verified students worldwide, not only in the US. A school-issued email speeds approval anywhere, and without one you can upload a student ID, transcript or class schedule. Copilot and the 90+ bundled tools are identical regardless of country, which makes this the most universally accessible deal on this list. If your first application is rejected, a clearer proof of enrollment usually fixes it on the second try.
Are you a founder, not just a student?
Copilot free through the Student Pack is unbeatable while you study, but once you are running a company you will want more than the student allowance. GitHub for Startups and Azure credits go well beyond what the pack includes. SaaSOffers lists GitHub and developer-tool deals plus 495 verified startup offers worth $500,000+ in credits. Founders should look at those startup programs for larger Copilot seats, Azure credits and CI minutes rather than relying on a student verification that expires when you graduate.
Is the GitHub Copilot student discount worth it?
If you are a student who codes, this is a no-brainer, apply for the Student Developer Pack and Copilot is free, along with GitHub Pro, Azure credits and JetBrains IDEs. Use a school email for near-instant approval, or upload proof if you do not have one. It is the single highest-value free AI deal for student developers in 2026.
Building something? Get the tools cheaper.
SaaSOffers lists 495 verified startup deals worth $500,000+ in credits, from AI tools to cloud and beyond.
Browse startup dealsGitHub Copilot student discount FAQ
Is GitHub Copilot free for students in 2026?
Yes. Verified students get Copilot free through the GitHub Student Developer Pack: unlimited code completions plus 200 GitHub AI Credits a month.
How do I get GitHub Copilot as a student?
Apply for the Student Developer Pack at education.github.com/pack, verify with your school email (or a student ID/transcript), and Copilot is included once approved.
Do I need a .edu email?
A school-issued email speeds approval to minutes, but you can also verify by uploading a student ID, transcript or class schedule if you do not have one.
What else is in the GitHub Student Pack?
Over 90 tools and services, including GitHub Pro, Azure credits, JetBrains IDEs and many partner offers, all free for verified students.
Does GitHub Copilot cost anything for students?
No. Verified students get Copilot free through the GitHub Student Developer Pack, versus $10/month for regular individual users.
How long does GitHub Copilot student access last?
It stays free while you remain a verified student. You re-verify periodically to keep the Student Developer Pack (and Copilot) active.
What happens to GitHub Copilot after I graduate?
It reverts to the paid Individual plan at $10/month once your student verification lapses. The free Copilot tier with limited completions remains available to everyone.