Microsoft 365 Student Discount 2026: Rules and How to Verify
Microsoft 365 gives students students and educators with an eligible education email address get Office 365 A1 for free, including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, OneNote and Teams. Microsoft is also running a limited-time college offer of 12 months of Microsoft 365 Premium free when you sign up with a college email. You verify through the brand itself. Here is exactly what you need and how long it lasts.
- What you get
- Students and educators with an eligible education email address get Office 365 A1 for free, including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, OneNote and Teams. Microsoft is also running a limited-time college offer of 12 months of Microsoft 365 Premium free when you sign up with a college email.
- Verify with
- Sign up with your school-issued email address. Verification is usually instant and automated; where the institution itself has to be checked it can take up to a month, and Microsoft gives a 30-day trial in the meantime.
- Who qualifies
- Students and educators enrolled at or working for a qualified educational institution with an eligible education email address.
- How often to renew
- You keep the plan as long as you are enrolled at or working for the qualifying institution. Microsoft may re-verify your status at any time. If the plan expires you can extend it by re-verifying, or move to a personal Office 365 plan; services tied to the institution email stop working.
How to get it (3 steps)
- 1Sign up with your school-issued email address. Verification is usually instant and automated; where the institution itself has to be checked it can take up to a month, and Microsoft gives a 30-day trial in the meantime.
- 2Check that you qualify. Students and educators enrolled at or working for a qualified educational institution with an eligible education email address.
- 3Use it. Students and educators with an eligible education email address get Office 365 A1 for free, including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, OneNote and Teams. Microsoft is also running a limited-time college offer of 12 months of Microsoft 365 Premium free when you sign up with a college email.
Good to know
If you are not eligible you can still use Word, Excel and PowerPoint free in the browser with Microsoft 365 for the web. The free A1 plan is donated by Microsoft to eligible institutions.
Frequently asked questions
How do I verify for the Microsoft 365 student discount?
Sign up with your school-issued email address. Verification is usually instant and automated; where the institution itself has to be checked it can take up to a month, and Microsoft gives a 30-day trial in the meantime. (read on the Microsoft 365 page on Sep 8, 2026.)
Who qualifies for the Microsoft 365 student discount?
Students and educators enrolled at or working for a qualified educational institution with an eligible education email address.
How long does the Microsoft 365 student discount last?
You keep the plan as long as you are enrolled at or working for the qualifying institution. Microsoft may re-verify your status at any time. If the plan expires you can extend it by re-verifying, or move to a personal Office 365 plan; services tied to the institution email stop working. If you are not eligible you can still use Word, Excel and PowerPoint free in the browser with Microsoft 365 for the web. The free A1 plan is donated by Microsoft to eligible institutions.
Already verified with Microsoft 365? These use it too
One verification unlocks all of them, so these cost you nothing extra to claim.
Amazon Prime: 6 months free, then Prime at half price ($7.49/month)Not affiliated with Microsoft 365. Rules read on the Microsoft 365 page on Sep 8, 2026; programs change without notice and checkout always wins.
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