GitHub Copilot Student: What the Free Plan Includes

Verified students can use GitHub Copilot for free through the GitHub Copilot Student plan. At Layer3Labs, we build and run AI systems for small and mid-sized businesses. The plan has two published limits: auto model selection only, and 200 AI credits a month.

GitHub moved students to this dedicated plan in early 2026. The plan provides an allowance of GitHub AI Credits alongside unlimited code completions.

Access requires academic proof through GitHub Education. Approval and Copilot activation are separate steps. If only paid options appear, GitHub's setup guidance says not to buy.

What the GitHub Copilot Student Plan Gives You

Yes, GitHub Copilot remains free for verified students through the dedicated GitHub Copilot Student plan. GitHub lists the plan at $0 and makes it available to verified students only.

GitHub limits this tier to auto model selection only. You cannot manually switch the underlying large language model (LLM) powering the system. GitHub has not published which specific models the automatic router selects.

The plan includes 200 monthly usage AI credits as of June 1, 2026. GitHub pairs those credits with unlimited code completions. GitHub has not published what a single credit buys in tokens or requests.

GitHub Copilot Student Compared to Copilot Pro

GitHub Copilot Student and GitHub Copilot Pro are separate plans. The student tier costs nothing. Copilot Pro costs $10 United States dollars (USD) per month. Students do not receive free access to Copilot Pro. At $10 a month, Copilot Pro costs $120 a year, while the Student plan costs $0 as long as you stay eligible.

The published difference is model access: GitHub limits Copilot Free and Copilot Student to auto model selection, and Copilot Pro is not on that list. You can review full tier structures in our GitHub Copilot pricing guide.

Free access to Copilot Pro exists for specific groups outside the student body. According to the official GitHub plans documentation, verified teachers and maintainers of popular open-source software (OSS) projects may qualify for free Copilot Pro. Students must use the dedicated Student tier or pay for an upgrade. Over a four-year degree, Copilot Pro at $10 a month would come to $480.

How to Apply for GitHub Education Verification

Applying for student benefits requires submitting educational proof directly through GitHub Education. Applicants must be at least 13 years old to qualify. Enrollment must be in a degree-granting or diploma-granting program, including high school and homeschool.

You must provide dated proof of current enrollment. GitHub accepts a dated school identification (ID) card, an official class schedule, or an academic transcript.

Approval and Copilot activation are separate steps. After GitHub approves your student status, you must still activate your benefits on the Copilot Student setup page. If only paid plans appear, do not enter payment details. Follow the steps on that setup page instead.

• 1. Open the GitHub Education student application.
• 2. Confirm you are at least 13 and enrolled in a degree- or diploma-granting program, including high school or homeschool.
• 3. Upload acceptable dated evidence, such as a dated school ID, class schedule, or official transcript.
• 4. Wait for verification confirmation from GitHub Education.
• 5. Open the Copilot Student management documentation to complete the separate activation step.

Changes to GitHub Copilot Student in 2026

GitHub changed Copilot for students four times in 2026. On March 13, 2026, GitHub announced that students with GitHub Education benefits were placed onto the new GitHub Copilot Student plan.

On April 20, 2026, GitHub published a changelog update pausing new signups for Student, Pro, and Pro+ tiers. The pause lasted nearly two months.

On June 1, 2026, GitHub established that the Copilot Student plan receives 200 monthly included usage AI credits alongside unlimited code completions. Sign-ups reopened gradually from June 17, 2026, per the official reopening changelog. If you only see paid options during registration, follow the Copilot Student setup guidance rather than purchasing a paid seat.

• March 13, 2026: Students transitioned to the dedicated GitHub Copilot Student plan.
• April 20, 2026: GitHub temporarily paused new signups for Student, Pro, and Pro+ plans.
• June 1, 2026: GitHub assigned 200 monthly AI credits and unlimited completions to Student accounts.
• June 17, 2026: Sign-ups began reopening gradually over the following weeks.

How Long GitHub Student Eligibility Lasts

GitHub publishes no fixed expiration date for student access. Instead, GitHub reevaluates your eligibility every month to verify that you still qualify as an active student. In practice, the plan lasts while you keep qualifying as a student.

GitHub has not published what happens to accounts immediately after graduation or once an account fails monthly reevaluation.

The Copilot Student setup page states the monthly reevaluation rule. Until GitHub publishes more, plan on the free plan lasting only while you remain an eligible student.

The GitHub Student Developer Pack and Included Tools

The GitHub Student Developer Pack includes access to GitHub Copilot Student alongside third-party software offers. The other offers come from partner companies.

The pack provides benefits like $100 in Microsoft Azure credits for student cloud hosting. GitHub does not state a total monetary value for the pack on its official portal.

Joining the pack does not switch Copilot on by itself. Approval and Copilot activation are separate steps, so finish activation on the Copilot Student setup page.

When to Pay for Copilot or Choose Alternatives

Upgrading to a paid plan makes sense if auto model selection or 200 AI credits a month is not enough for you. GitHub Copilot Pro costs $10 USD per month and is not limited to auto model selection. For heavier workloads, Copilot Pro+ costs $39 USD monthly, and Copilot Max costs $100 USD per month on the GitHub Copilot plans page.

The Student plan covers individual verified students only, so teams buying seats need a paid business plan. Copilot Business costs $19 USD per granted seat per month, and Copilot Enterprise costs $39 USD per granted seat per month.

Cursor represents an alternative editor with integrated AI capabilities. Cursor has no student discount program, which you can verify in our Cursor student discount guide. You can compare workflows in our Cursor vs GitHub Copilot comparison or review broader options in our Copilot alternatives roundup. If you want other discounted platforms, review our AI student discounts index.

Our recommendation flips if GitHub eliminates free AI credits or mandates paid tiers for basic completions. Until that happens, the Copilot Student plan is the cheapest way for a verified student to use GitHub Copilot. Apply through the GitHub Education student application to verify your student status, then activate your free GitHub Copilot Student account.