Like many tech giants, Microsoft wants to make a difference in the world, so it is offering some products and services at discounted prices for select categories of people. This article discusses five current Microsoft student discounts, how and where to access them, and who is eligible to receive them.
FYI: if you do a lot of research during your school day, check out the best education search engines.
1. Free Office 365 for Schools and Students
Office 365 Education comprises several applications and productivity services offered at discounted prices for students, teachers, and schools. Students and teachers at accredited academic institutions apply by signing up on the Office 365 Education site using a valid school email.
If your school is eligible, you’ll receive a verification code and gain access to a set of products and services, depending on the pricing option your school has chosen. Without your school’s eligibility, you would have to purchase a plan for personal use.
The base version, free for approved students and teachers, includes Word, Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint, and OneNote. To add Access and Publisher, you must pay for one of the higher tier options, starting at just $2.50 monthly.
How to Get the Discount
Open the Office 365 Education webpage (linked above) in your browser. Enter your school’s email address, and click Get Started.
If your school is eligible, you will receive a form to fill out.
2. Free Microsoft 365 Education
Microsoft 365 Education provides free access and licenses for desktop apps, Windows, advanced security, management, and analytical tools to students through their schools. The school pays for this package with its students as beneficiaries and offers free Office 365, but with additional licenses, depending on the school’s pricing option.
When schools (K-12 or higher) purchase Microsoft 365 (any of the three packages) for teachers, faculty, or staff, it works on all devices and comes at no cost to the students.
Not all academic institutions will be eligible for Microsoft 365 Education subscriptions. However, students enrolled in Title IV accredited U.S. colleges and universities can still get Microsoft 365 Personal at a 50% discount, paying just $2.99 monthly. Microsoft must verify your enrollment with details that include your school email and student ID before granting you this discount.
How to Get the Discount
Microsoft Office 365 Education doesn’t offer a self-service signup for students. To become recipients of this discount, students should confirm their school’s eligibility from the school’s IT administrator or department and ask for free access to the package.
3. Microsoft Student and Military Discount
The Student and Military discount grants eligible students, parents, teachers, and military personnel (active, former, or retired) discounts on specific products and application packages in the Microsoft store.
This includes:
- Free Office 365
- 5% off Surface Go devices
- Up to 10% off selected computers, devices, and accessories
This particular discount cannot be combined with other discounts, but when products are on sale, students with this discount will be charged the lower amount of the two prices. Eligible individuals will get to access free virtual workshops to enhance study skills, free shipping, and 60-day returns. Microsoft extends a promise to students who purchase a product or application package at a discounted price within 30 days of purchase. The difference will be refunded.
How to Get the Discount
Sign in with your personal Microsoft account to confirm your eligibility. Click Sign in to check for eligibility. If you’re eligible at the end of the process, you’ll see a message on your screen that says, “Congratulations! You’re eligible for special pricing.”
Click Okay and begin shopping for incredible deals at the Microsoft Store.
4. Office Home & Student 2021
Office Home & Student 2021 is available to students whose schools are ineligible for the free Office 365 or whose schools haven’t acquired any Microsoft Education packages. This one-time purchase of $149.99 offers 2021 versions of Word, Excel, and PowerPoint on only one PC or Mac.
This package doesn’t include OneNote, Outlook, Publisher, Access, or other services that come with a Microsoft 365 subscription, like 1TB of OneDrive storage and 60 Skype minutes per month. It is also not upgradable, so you can only obtain upgraded versions of applications by repurchasing the package at full price.
How to Get the Discount
Visit the discount webpage (linked above). Click Buy Now, and the site will load the checkout page. Sign in if you’re signed out of your account.
Follow the prompts to add a payment method and place an order.
5. Device Discounts for Students
Students, parents, and teachers are eligible for discounts up to 45% on select Microsoft devices, including:
- Stain-resistant keyboards
- 127-watt power supplies
- 10.5” to 13” touchscreen surface tablets
- Surface laptops
- Surface noise-cancellation headphones
- Earbuds and touch pens
Tip: Chrome users who just purchased a new device may want to install one of these extensions to help students complete their schoolwork.
How to Get the Discount
Visit the Microsoft Store page. Click Show Deals for Students beneath the information about scoring a 10% student discount.
At this point, you should have an array of discounted products on your screen. Note that deals have a yellow tag plastered on them that displays the amount you’ll be saving if you purchase the product.
Select your preferred device, and follow the payment prompts until you’ve completed the order.
Microsoft Is Made for Education
Microsoft Office has remained a top choice for educational institutions for years. It’s easy to see why, given the variety of applications and features the company offers. If you’re a teacher, you can use Word to create lesson plans, thanks to these lesson plan templates. Also, students who need to create presentations will enjoy these free timeline templates for PowerPoint.
Image credit: DepositPhotos
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