Software for a design degree usually consists of tools for images, vectors, layout and interfaces. Adobe Creative Cloud, Figma and Affinity cover these areas, but they differ considerably in price, licence model and how widely they are used at universities. Knowing the differences saves time when choosing and avoids paying for subscriptions that your university may already provide.
Short answer: Adobe Creative Cloud Pro is available to students for 19.34 EUR per month in the first year (incl. VAT), and then for 34.99 EUR per month. Figma offers students a free education plan, and Affinity is free for individuals. Stand: October 2026, offers change frequently.
The most important points at a glance
- According to the provider, Adobe Creative Cloud Pro costs students 19.34 EUR per month in the first year, and then 34.99 EUR per month.
- Figma offers a free education plan with access to Professional features, provided your eligibility is confirmed.
- According to the provider, Affinity is free for individuals and can be used without a time limit.
- Many universities provide Creative Cloud through campus licences. Ask your IT service before you pay yourself.
- According to the provider, Canva for Education is aimed at schools. No offer for university students is confirmed.
Which programmes do you need for a design degree?
For pixel images and photos, people usually use Photoshop or a comparable programme. Illustrator or Affinity Designer are common for vector graphics, and InDesign or Affinity Publisher for layouts. Figma is widely used for interfaces and prototypes. Which programmes you need is determined by your modules and lecturers. If in doubt, ask before you take out a subscription. You will find an overview of free programmes in Free Software for Students: Programs at a Glance.
Which offers are available for design students?
The following overview shows the offers that were confirmed on the provider pages when retrieved in October 2026. Where no confirmed information is available, no price is stated.
| Offer | Benefit | Regular price | Student price | Term | Verification |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Adobe Creative Cloud Pro (students) | Over 20 programmes, 100 GB storage, 4,000 generative credits per month | 77.99 EUR per month (incl. VAT) | 19.34 EUR per month in the first year, then 34.99 EUR per month (incl. VAT) | Annual plan with monthly payment, cancellable free of charge within 14 days | Educational email address or proof such as a student ID, timetable or grade transcript |
| Figma Education | Education plan with access to Professional features | not confirmed (pricing page) | free according to the provider | no deadline stated | Student email address, confirmation via figma.com/education/apply |
| Affinity (photo, vector, layout) | Apps for Mac and Windows, AI features optional with Canva Premium | free for individuals | free, no time limit according to the provider | no time limit | No check required |
Stand: October 2026. Adobe prices incl. VAT according to the German Adobe page, sources see below. Prices may change.
What does Adobe Creative Cloud cost over two years?
Assumption: you pay 19.34 EUR per month in the first year and 34.99 EUR per month after that, and the prices stay unchanged as retrieved in October 2026. This gives the following calculation:
- First year: 12 × 19.34 EUR = 232.08 EUR
- Second year: 12 × 34.99 EUR = 419.88 EUR
- Total for two years: 651.96 EUR
- For comparison: 12 × 77.99 EUR = 935.88 EUR for one year at the regular price (assumption, as of October 2026).
The difference in the first year is therefore 703.80 EUR compared with the regular price. If your university provides Creative Cloud free of charge, this amount does not apply to you at all. That is why it is worth asking your IT service before you order.
How to activate the offer
- For Adobe: open Adobe’s student page and select the Creative Cloud Pro plan for students.
- Prove your status with an educational email address or a document, such as your student ID, timetable or grade transcript.
- Pay attention to the introductory price in the first year and to the date from which the regular price applies.
- For Figma: use your student email address, confirm your status via figma.com/education/apply, and create or join an education team.
- For Affinity: download the app. According to the provider, no check is required.
According to the provider, the Adobe trial period of 7 days applies to the student plan. If you do not want to continue the subscription, cancel in good time before the next month is billed.
What about Canva and Apple?
According to the provider, Canva for Education is aimed at teachers and school classes. No confirmed offer for university students was found when retrieved, so you should ask your own university. Check education prices at Apple directly on the page apple.com/de/education.
What happens after your studies?
- Adobe Creative Cloud Pro for students is tied to student status. After the introductory year, the price rises to 34.99 EUR per month, provided you keep paying.
- Figma’s education plan is linked to your student email address. Check beforehand which plan applies afterwards and whether a paid subscription is needed.
- According to the provider, Affinity stays free for individuals and can be used without a time limit. This makes it an option that works without a subscription after your studies.
- Save your portfolio files in open formats such as PDF or PNG, so that you can open them without the software.
Planning early is also worthwhile because many portfolio pieces are created at the end of the degree, exactly when student offers expire. If you export your files in time, you can still access them without an active subscription.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need Photoshop or is Affinity enough?
For many design tasks, Affinity is enough. What matters are the requirements of your university and your lecturers. Some submissions require files in a specific format, such as Adobe files. Clarify this in advance before you choose a programme.
Is Figma completely free for students?
According to Figma, the education plan is free and includes Professional features. The page does not state a deadline. The page gives no clear statement for Germany. Check this when your status is confirmed.
Can I exchange files between Adobe, Figma and Affinity?
Yes, with some limitations. For vector graphics, SVG and PDF are suitable exchange formats, and for images PNG or TIFF. Whether Photoshop files (PSD) open correctly in Affinity depends on their content. Therefore check after every export whether layers, fonts and colours have been transferred correctly.
Is the student subscription better than a campus licence?
That depends on whether your university provides Creative Cloud. If it does, you usually do not have to pay anything yourself. Your university’s IT service can clarify whether this applies to you. An overview of university licences is given in the guide Campus licences: which software your university provides.
How should I handle generative AI in Adobe Firefly?
The generative credits in the student plan create images and media with AI. Check the requirements of your examination regulations and your university on labelling AI images. Also pay attention to copyright and usage rights for images you use in your work. For further reading, see AI images and AI music in presentations: what copyright says.
How to proceed now
- Ask your university about Creative Cloud, Figma and other design programmes through campus licences.
- Note which programmes your modules require and check whether Affinity is sufficient for them.
- Check your status with Adobe and Figma and note the date on which the introductory price ends.
- Plan before the end of your studies which programmes you will still need, and save your files in open formats.
Related reading
- Student status benefits, discounts and services
- Campus licences: which software your university provides
- Software for computer science studies: GitHub Pack, IDEs and Cloud
- AI rules at universities: why every examination regulation is different
Sources: Adobe: Creative Cloud for students (Stand: October 2026); Figma: Education (Stand: October 2026); Affinity: product page (Stand: October 2026).
Stand: October 2026. This guide is general information, not individual advice.
