Microsoft applications, such as Microsoft Word or Microsoft Excel, have been the most popular applications for work and study for many years.
However, Microsoft apps come at a price (and it’s not cheap). Right now, the entire Microsoft 365 suite will cost you $99 per year.
If you’re a student, it’s understandable that you think almost $100 seems too much, especially when companies like Google Workspace offer similar features for free.
However, Microsoft is offering a special price for full-time students, which includes free access to Office 365 apps. Here’s everything you need to know.
How to download Microsoft Word for free on your computer.
Can I get Office 365 for free as a student?
Yes, although you must meet two criteria. First, your school, college, or university will need to pay to access Office 365 apps, although most usually do. Next, you will need to have an active and valid school email address, whether you are a student or a teacher.
Once the verification process is complete, you will get full access to all major Microsoft Office applications. We’re talking Word, Excel, PowerPoint, OneNote, Outlook, and Microsoft Teams, plus other tools designed for education. You’ll also get unlimited OneDrive cloud storage.
This outline, known as A1, is all most students will need. However, there are also subscriptions prime at discounted price.
For the A3 plan, which costs $2.50 per user per month, you can also get Microsoft Publisher and Access apps, plus a booking tool.
The A5 plan, at $6 per user per month, offers additional security management, compliance, and analytics, but that’s overkill for most people. Check out the full range of plans on Microsoft’s website.
How to Get Office 365 for Free as a Student
As long as you meet all the requirements, signing up for an Office for Education subscription is relatively simple:
- Go to the Office 365 page on the Microsoft Education website – it’s available in the UK, US, Australia and many other countries around the world
- Enter your education email address and click “Get Started”
- On the next screen, fill in your name and date of birth
- Check your email for a verification code, then copy and paste it on this screen
- After a few seconds, you should be redirected to office.com, where you can access all relevant applications via the web. If you prefer, you also have the option of downloading the desktop versions of each of them
