Microsoft 365 for Students: Offer, Price and Use in Your Studies

Microsoft 365 for students usually comes in two ways: through your university or through Microsoft’s time-limited student offer. Which route fits you depends on whether your university provides licences and which programs you actually need. This guide explains both routes and shows which terms Microsoft states on its German student page. For more student discounts on software, see the overview of student discounts for software and apps.

Key points

• Microsoft 365 Premium is free for 12 months according to Microsoft, and it requires a university email address.
• Office 365 A1 is a free licence for eligible institutions. It includes the web versions of Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint and OneNote.
• Publisher and Access are only available as PC versions. Desktop Office is not part of the A1 package.
• Microsoft does not state a price for the time after the offer ends. Check it before you activate anything.
• Ask your university first. Many already provide a licence, so you may not need a separate subscription.

Offer at a glance

The table compares both routes. Empty cells mean that Microsoft does not state the value on the page checked.

What is the difference between Premium and A1?

Microsoft 365 Premium is a personal offer that Microsoft grants directly to students. Access runs through your university email address and ends after twelve months. Office 365 A1 is a licence that your university sets up for its members, so the institution decides whether you can use it. For other licences that universities provide, read Campus licences: which software your university provides.

In practice, check your university’s IT service first. If the A1 package covers your work, you may not need Premium at all. It can still make sense if the web apps are not enough for you.

How do you activate the offer?

1. Open Microsoft’s German page for the student offer and look for Microsoft 365 Premium for students.
2. Sign in with your university email address. Without it, the offer is not available.
3. Read the linked terms of use. They explain how eligibility is checked.
4. Put the end of the twelve months in your calendar so you can decide in time whether to continue.
5. If possible, use your university email address for the account too, so you do not manage two accounts in parallel.

Which rules and data protection questions apply to Copilot?

In the United States, Microsoft advertises a student offer for Microsoft 365 with Copilot at a 50 percent discount. This is not documented for Germany on the pages checked. If you use Copilot or other AI features in Word or Outlook, the examination regulations and guidelines of your university apply, not the advertising of a provider.

On data protection: do not enter personal data of others or unpublished research data into AI features. Always check AI output yourself before you use it, because it can contain errors or invented sources.

What happens after your studies?

When your studies end, your entitlement through the university ends too. Premium runs for twelve months at most. Microsoft’s terms and your university’s rules determine when each access ends, so secure your files before an account is closed. For how to protect your university email and accounts after you leave, read Uni email after exmatriculation: what happens to accounts and licences.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need a university email address for Microsoft 365?

For the twelve-month student offer, Microsoft requires a university email address. For a free Office licence through your university, the eligibility of your institution applies. A university email address helps in both cases because it proves your status.

Is Microsoft 365 chargeable after the twelve months?

Microsoft’s German page does not state a price for the period after the free year. The US page does not state a follow-up price either. It advertises a 50 percent discount on Microsoft 365 with Copilot for the US, without a price. Check the German page before you add payment details.

Do I get Word, Excel and PowerPoint for free?

According to Microsoft’s page, the web versions of Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint and OneNote are part of the free A1 package, provided your institution is eligible. Desktop versions are not included. Access and Publisher are only available as PC versions.

Can I still use the offer during semester breaks?

Microsoft’s page does not say how semester breaks or a leave of absence affect the offer. If you are unsure, ask your university before you rely on it.

Is the offer available in other countries?

The German page describes the student offer but does not list countries. Whether your university qualifies is checked during sign-in.

Next steps

1. Check whether your university provides Microsoft 365 or Office 365 A1. Its IT service can tell you.
2. If it does, activate the licence with your university email address and use it before you pay for anything.
3. If not, activate the student offer on Microsoft’s German page and note the end date.
4. Before the term ends, decide which files you will keep and whether you want your own subscription.

Related guides

• Student discounts for software and apps 2026
• Microsoft Copilot for students
• Campus licences: which software your university provides
• Student verification explained: SheerID, UNiDAYS, Student Beans and university email

Sources: Microsoft Education: Office for students and institutions (German page, as of October 2026), Microsoft Education: Students (US page, as of October 2026).

Last updated: October 2026. This guide is general information, not individual advice.