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Microsoft

Microsoft has launched a limited-time promotion giving eligible college students in the US, Canada, and the UK a full year of Microsoft 365 Personal – including premium Copilot AI features – at no cost.

Valued at $99.99 annually, this deal upgrades the typical three-month student trial and targets higher education users looking for advanced productivity tools tied to their personal accounts.

Announced in September 2025 as part of broader AI education initiatives, the offer remains active as of November 2025, but redemption deadlines vary by region (October 31 in the US; reports suggest November 30 in some markets).

This personal subscription complements free school-provided Microsoft 365 Education plans by providing desktop apps, unlimited Copilot access, and data that stays with you after graduation.

What Is Included In The Free Year?

Microsoft 365 Personal delivers the complete premium experience for one user:

Full desktop and mobile apps: Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, OneNote, Teams, and more – installable on up to five devices simultaneously.
1TB OneDrive cloud storage: Ample space for notes, projects, photos, and backups with built-in ransomware protection.
Premium Copilot AI integration: Unlimited use in Office apps, plus advanced features like Deep Research, Podcasts, Vision (image/video analysis), and multimodal tools – far beyond the limited free Copilot tier.
Extra perks: Ad-free Outlook, advanced security, and Microsoft Designer for AI-powered graphics.

Unlike the web-only Microsoft 365 Education (free with a school email), this is the full Personal plan with offline access and no institutional restrictions.

Eligibility And Key Restrictions

Enrolled undergraduate or graduate students at accredited colleges/universities or community colleges (post-high school).
Available in the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom.
Requires verification via school email, student ID, class schedule, or other proof.
Not available if you are already on a Microsoft 365 Personal student-discounted plan.
One per person; non-transferable and for personal use only.

After the free year, verified students get 50% off ongoing, dropping the monthly rate to $4.99 (regular $9.99).

Visit Microsoft’s Copilot for Students page or the dedicated redemption portal (search “Microsoft 365 free for students” on microsoft.com).
Click “Redeem free offer” in the “Study smarter with Copilot and Microsoft 365” section.
Sign in with (or create) a personal Microsoft account – not your school account.
Verify student status (school email preferred; documents accepted if needed).
Add a payment method (required for post-free continuity, but nothing is charged now).
Activation is instant – start using premium features immediately.

Pro Tip: Claim soon – some sources indicate a November 30 cutoff, while US-specific reports cite October 31.

Why This Matters For Students In 2025

With AI tools reshaping academics – from drafting essays to analyzing data – competitors like Google (Gemini Advanced, free for students) and OpenAI have similar perks.

Microsoft’s offer stands out for deep Office integration, making Copilot a true study companion rather than a standalone chatbot.

For cash-strapped students juggling multiple devices and massive files, the 1TB storage and offline apps alone justify claiming it.

This is not charity; it is strategic.

By hooking the next generation on Copilot-enhanced workflows, Microsoft builds long-term loyalty in a Google-dominated campus landscape.

Still, its genuine value: a $100+ saving plus discounted renewal.

Do not wait – verify eligibility and redeem today to lock in your free year of premium productivity.