Azure for Students is Microsoft’s student offer for cloud services. The page gives full-time students a credit, several services with free monthly allowances, and renewal as long as student status continues. This guide shows what the page confirmed on 26 October 2026, which requirements apply and what happens after your studies.
Short answer: Last updated: October 2026, offers change often. According to Microsoft’s page, Azure for Students gives full-time students 100 US dollars of credit for 12 months, with no credit card required. You need the email address of your school or university. Renewal is possible each year as long as you remain a student.
The essentials at a glance
- The credit is 100 US dollars and, according to the page, usable for 12 months.
- The offer is for full-time students only, and the page says one person may hold one account.
- No credit card is needed, but you need your school or university email address.
- More than 20 services have monthly allowances for 12 months, for new customers only.
- More than 65 services are, according to the page, permanently free.
What do you actually get?
The page describes three building blocks that you should look at separately. The credit is time-limited and covers services of your choice. The monthly allowances for more than 20 popular services last twelve months, but only for new customers. The permanently free services are, according to the page, not time-limited, although the conditions vary by service.
| Service | Regular price | Student price | Duration | Verification |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Azure credit (100 USD) | pay-as-you-go once the credit is used up (not part of this check) | 0 euros, 100 USD credit | 12 months, renewable yearly while you are a student | school or university email, no credit card |
| Monthly allowances for more than 20 services | pay-as-you-go | free within the allowance | 12 months, new customers only | as for the credit |
| Permanently free services (more than 65) | pay-as-you-go | free within the scope of the page | permanent according to the page | as for the credit |
For the regular price, the page points to the usual pay-as-you-go model. Check the prices of individual services in Microsoft’s pricing calculator, not in this guide.
How to activate the offer
- Open azure.microsoft.com/de-de/free/students and start the student sign-up.
- Sign in with a personal Microsoft account or create one.
- Enter the email address of your school or university and confirm it through the link Microsoft sends.
- Confirm your full-time status if the sign-up asks for it. The page names it as a requirement.
- Check cost management to see whether 100 USD of credit is shown before you start paid services.
The individual screens change often, so follow Microsoft’s instructions at the time you sign up.
Does the offer apply in Germany?
The page lists no countries and excludes none. Germany appears only as a language option. The page does not confirm that a German university email address is accepted without restriction. The sign-up itself will show this. The Microsoft page for Germany is a useful second check.
How far does the credit go?
The credit depends on how much you use outside the free allowances. An example:
- Assumption: you use services outside the free allowances for an average of 40 US dollars a month. The credit then covers 100 / 40 = 2.5 months.
- Assumption: you use only services within the free allowances. Then you barely use the credit, but you still need to watch the allowances.
These examples are assumptions, not offers. Check your usage in cost management before you leave a service running. A forgotten project also uses up credit.
What happens after your studies?
According to the page, renewal only applies while you are a student. Once the credit is used up or the period ends, Microsoft asks by email whether you want to switch to pay-as-you-go. If you decline, the subscription and its products are disabled. Secure your data in good time and plan the switch before your student status ends.
What to watch for during sign-up
Pay attention to two things. First, which Microsoft account you sign in with, because the credit belongs to that account. Second, whether an Azure subscription already exists under your account. According to the page, the monthly allowances are for new customers only. If you already have an Azure subscription, the offer may look different from what this guide describes. Read the terms Microsoft shows you before you start, and have your university email address ready.
Data protection and exam rules
Cloud services store data on remote servers. Do not store access data, customer data or unpublished research data in Azure without first checking the data protection rules. For projects with AI services, your university’s examination regulations decide whether you may use these tools in submitted work.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a credit card?
No. The page explicitly states that no credit card is required for the offer. If your account asks for a payment method, check that you are in the correct offer.
May I open two accounts?
No, the page says one person may hold one account. Several accounts based on the same student status would contradict the terms.
Is the offer available to people working alongside their studies?
The page describes the credit for full-time students. If you study part-time or alongside a job, check the conditions yourself before you sign up.
How current is this overview?
It is based on Microsoft’s page as checked on 26 October 2026. Credit, allowances and verification can change. Check the provider’s site before you sign up.
What to do next
- Check on Microsoft’s page whether you meet the full-time requirement and which email address you will use.
- Sign in with your personal account and verify the email address.
- Set a budget in cost management before you start any services.
- Put the end of the 12 months in your calendar and plan renewal or the switch.
Related guides
- Student discounts for software and apps 2026
- Cloud credits for students: Azure, AWS, Google Cloud
- Software for computer science studies
- Programming with AI at university
Sources: Microsoft Azure for Students (Germany) (as of 26 Oct 2026).
Last updated: October 2026. This guide is general information, not individual advice.
