Based on my experience and research, this guide will walk you through the process of applying for the GitHub Student Developer Pack, verifying your student status, and accessing all the professional tools and resources available to you. If you have questions or want to share your experience, feel free to join our Discord community!
What is the GitHub Student Developer Pack?
The GitHub Student Developer Pack is a comprehensive collection of free tools and services offered to verified students. It includes over 80 professional-grade resources from leading technology companies, providing everything you need to learn and build software projects. From development tools and cloud services to design software, domain names, AI tools, and learning platforms - the pack gives students access to the same tools professionals use daily.
In my experience, the key benefits of the Student Developer Pack include:
- • Free GitHub Pro account with unlimited private repositories
- • GitHub Copilot Pro access for AI-powered coding assistance
- • 3,000 GitHub Actions minutes and 180 Codespaces hours monthly
- • Cloud computing credits (Azure, DigitalOcean, Heroku, etc.)
- • Professional development tools like JetBrains IDEs and GitKraken
- • Learning platforms including DataCamp, Educative, and FrontendMasters
- • Design tools, domain name services, and much more
80+ Tools
Professional developer tools and services
$200,000+ Value
Combined value of all offers
Completely Free
Free while you're a student
Global Access
Available to students worldwide
Eligibility Requirements
To qualify for the GitHub Student Developer Pack, you must meet the following criteria:
Who Qualifies
- • Currently enrolled students at accredited educational institutions
- • High school, college, university, or bootcamp students
- • Homeschool students with verifiable enrollment
- • Students in coding bootcamps or trade schools
Required Documentation
- • School-issued email address (.edu, .ac.uk, etc.) OR
- • Current student ID card with visible dates
- • Official enrollment letter or transcript
- • Class schedule or registration confirmation
⚠️ Mandatory Requirements (Must Complete)
Critical: These Steps Are Required for Approval
GitHub Student Developer Pack applications will be rejected if these mandatory requirements are not met. Follow these steps carefully before applying.
👤 1. Profile Name Must Match Your ID Exactly
How to Set Up Your Profile:
- Go to GitHub Settings → Public Profile
- In the "Public name" field, enter your name exactly as it appears on your student ID or enrollment documents
- If your ID shows "grace.v" (no last name), use "grace.v" for both first and last name
- Click "Update profile" to save your changes
⚠️ Important Naming Convention:
For cases like "grace.v" on ID: Use "grace.v" for both first name and last name fields. Do NOT split it into "grace" and "v". This is the official GitHub requirement.
💳 2. Billing Information Must Match Your ID
How to Set Up Billing:
- Go to GitHub Settings → Billing and Licensing
- Click "Payment information" or "Billing information"
- Enter your name exactly as it appears on your student ID in the "Name" field
- For "grace.v" cases: Use "grace.v" for both first and last name
- Add any valid address (can be your school address)
- Click "Update billing information" to save
✅ Pro Tip:
You can use your school address for billing. The important part is that the name matches your ID exactly.
🔐 3. Enable Two-Factor Authentication (MANDATORY)
⚠️ This is Required - No Exceptions:
GitHub Student Developer Pack applications will be automatically rejected if 2FA is not enabled. This is a security requirement that cannot be bypassed.
How to Enable 2FA:
- Go to GitHub Settings → Password and Authentication
- Scroll down to "Two-factor authentication" section
- Click "Enable two-factor authentication"
- Choose "Set up using an app" (recommended) or "Set up using SMS"
- Follow the setup instructions for your chosen method
- Download and save your backup codes in a secure location
- Verify 2FA is working by logging out and back in
📚 4. Official GitHub Documentation
For the most up-to-date information, always refer to the official GitHub documentation:
Step-by-Step Application Guide
Based on my research and experience helping other students, here are the steps to successfully apply for and start using your GitHub Student Developer Pack:
Prepare Your Documents & Profile
Gather documentation and ensure your GitHub profile matches your ID
You'll need proof that you're currently enrolled as a student at an accredited educational institution. The easiest verification method is using your school-issued email address (ending in .edu, .ac.uk, or similar academic domain). CRITICAL: Your GitHub profile name must exactly match your ID card or proof of enrollment.
Set Up GitHub Profile Correctly
Ensure your profile name matches your official documents exactly
Go to GitHub Settings → Public Profile. Your public name must match your student ID or enrollment documents exactly. If your ID shows 'grace.v' (no last name), use 'grace.v' for both first and last name fields. This is mandatory for approval.
Configure Billing Information
Set up billing details that match your official documents
Go to GitHub Settings → Billing and Licensing → Payment Information. Your billing name must match your student ID exactly. For cases like 'grace.v' on ID, use 'grace.v' for both first and last name. This is required for verification.
Enable Two-Factor Authentication (MANDATORY)
Set up 2FA on your GitHub account - this is required
Go to GitHub Settings → Password and Authentication → Two-factor authentication. You MUST enable 2FA using an authenticator app or SMS. This is a mandatory requirement for GitHub Student Developer Pack approval.
Apply for the Student Pack
Submit your application through the GitHub Education portal
Visit education.github.com/pack and click 'Get your pack' or go directly to github.com/education/benefits. Sign in with your GitHub account, then complete the application form with your verified student email.
Verify Your Student Status
Wait for GitHub Education to review your application
The verification process timeline varies based on your verification method. School email verification is fastest (typically 24-48 hours), while document verification can take 5-7 business days.
Access and Redeem Benefits
Start using your exclusive student developer benefits
Once approved, you can access all the offers through your GitHub Education dashboard. Each partner offer will have specific redemption instructions.
Build Your Projects
Leverage these professional tools for your academic work
Use these tools to enhance your coursework, personal projects, and prepare for future career opportunities in software development.
Common Issues and Solutions
Application rejected or pending for too long
Make sure your documents clearly show your name, school name, and current enrollment dates. Resubmit with higher quality images if documents are blurry.
I'm verified but can't access my benefits
Benefits can take up to 24-48 hours to activate after approval. Check your GitHub Education dashboard and ensure you're logged into the correct GitHub account.
Individual partner benefits not working
Each partner has their own redemption process. Follow the specific instructions for each offer and contact the partner directly if you have issues with their service.
Ready to Start Your Journey?
Join thousands of students who are already using these professional developer tools to build amazing projects and advance their careers.