Quick Brief
- Microsoft offers 12 months free of Microsoft 365 Premium ($240 value) and LinkedIn Premium Career ($480 value) to verified students
- Eligible students access highest Copilot AI usage limits, 1 TB cloud storage, and exclusive career tools through February 28, 2026
- After the promotional period, subscriptions renew at $19.99/month (Microsoft) and $39.99/month (LinkedIn) unless canceled
- Limited quantities available on first-come basis verification requires valid college or university email address
Microsoft launched its most aggressive student promotion in January 2026, combining Microsoft 365 Premium with LinkedIn Premium Career for 12 months at no cost. The offer targets higher education students globally, delivering $720 in combined software value through a single verification process. Limited quantities remain available through February 28, 2026, marking a significant shift from Microsoft’s previous discount model.
What Students Receive in This Combined Offer
Microsoft 365 Premium delivers productivity apps integrated with Copilot AI, while LinkedIn Premium Career provides networking and job search advantages. The dual-subscription model addresses both academic workload and career preparation simultaneously.
Microsoft 365 Premium Components
The Premium plan includes Word, Excel, PowerPoint, OneNote, and Outlook with Copilot built into each application. Students gain the highest AI usage limits available in consumer plans. Features include Actions agents (10 tasks monthly), Deep Research capabilities, 15 minutes daily of Vision functionality, and 60 minutes daily of Voice features.
Security features encompass Microsoft Defender antivirus, ransomware protection, and anti-phishing tools across Windows, Mac, iOS, and Android devices. OneDrive provides 1 TB of cloud storage with Personal Vault two-factor authentication. The regular monthly price stands at $19.99 after the promotional period.
LinkedIn Premium Career Benefits
LinkedIn Premium Career enhances profile visibility, provides unlimited People Browse functionality, and delivers InMail credits for direct recruiter contact. Students access video courses through LinkedIn Learning, receive insights on job application competition, and gain 12 months of professional networking tools valued at $39.99 monthly.
The LinkedIn subscription arrives separately via email within seven days of Microsoft 365 verification. Both subscriptions operate independently, requiring separate cancellation through respective account dashboards.
What is the total value of the Microsoft student offer?
Students receive $240 worth of Microsoft 365 Premium (12 months × $19.99) and $480 worth of LinkedIn Premium Career (12 months × $39.99), totaling approximately $720 in software value. This represents the largest student technology bundle Microsoft has offered.
Eligibility Requirements and Verification Process
Microsoft restricts this promotion to new Microsoft 365 Premium subscribers enrolled in higher education institutions. Students qualify regardless of full-time or part-time status, but existing Microsoft 365 Personal or Family subscribers must upgrade to access the offer.
Accepted Verification Methods
Students verify eligibility through college or university email addresses. The verification system requires a valid Microsoft Account with student status confirmed during signup.
Microsoft processes verification and sends confirmation within the enrollment flow. The LinkedIn Premium Career email with signup instructions arrives within seven days of completing Microsoft 365 verification and checkout.
Geographic and Institutional Requirements
The offer extends to eligible higher education students, with availability confirmed in the United States and India through regional Microsoft pages. Students must be enrolled in qualifying higher education institutions.
How do students sign up for the Microsoft 365 Premium free offer?
Visit Microsoft’s college student pricing page at microsoft.com/microsoft-365/college-student-pricing, click “Sign up,” and enter your college email address to begin verification. Microsoft requires a payment method on file, though charges only apply after the 12-month promotional period expires.
Copilot AI Capabilities Within Premium Plan
Microsoft 365 Premium grants students the highest Copilot usage limits available in consumer plans. The integration spans all core productivity applications rather than functioning as a separate chatbot.
Application-Specific Copilot Functions
In Word, Copilot drafts documents from prompts, rewrites sections for tone adjustment, and generates summaries of lengthy texts. Excel receives Copilot’s data analysis functions, including automated chart creation and formula suggestions.
PowerPoint’s Copilot converts notes into presentation slides, suggests design improvements, and creates speaker notes from slide content. Outlook integration provides email drafting assistance and inbox management recommendations.
Premium AI Features
Actions agents process tasks and queries, consuming usage from the 10 monthly task allocation available to Premium subscribers. Deep Research tackles multi-step queries requiring extensive web exploration.
Vision functionality allows 15 minutes of daily image analysis and description generation. Voice features provide 60 minutes of daily transcription and voice command processing. Designer integration enables AI-powered image creation and editing within Office applications.
What AI usage limits apply to Microsoft 365 Premium for students?
Premium subscribers receive 10 Actions agent tasks per month, 15 minutes daily of Vision features, and 60 minutes daily of Voice capabilities. Microsoft describes these as the highest usage limits available in consumer Microsoft 365 plans.
Comparison With Alternative Student Pricing Models
Microsoft previously offered Microsoft 365 Personal to students at discounted rates after initial promotional periods. The 2026 promotion upgrades students to Premium tier at no cost, delivering substantially more AI capability.
| Plan | Monthly Cost | AI Features | Storage | LinkedIn Included |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Microsoft 365 Personal | Standard pricing | Limited Copilot access | 1 TB | No |
| Microsoft 365 Premium (Regular) | $19.99 | Highest Copilot limits | 1 TB | Not included |
| Student 12-Month Offer | Free for 12 months | Highest Copilot limits | 1 TB | Yes ($480 value) |
The Microsoft 365 Personal student discount remains available in India and other regions for those ineligible for the Premium promotion.
Post-Promotional Pricing and Cancellation
After 12 months, Microsoft charges $19.99 monthly for Microsoft 365 Premium continuation. LinkedIn Premium Career renews at $39.99 monthly unless canceled through the LinkedIn account settings. Combined monthly cost reaches $59.98 if students maintain both subscriptions.
Managing Subscription Renewals
Students must cancel each subscription independently through separate platforms. Microsoft account holders manage recurring billing via their Microsoft account, while LinkedIn cancellations process through LinkedIn account settings. Payment methods remain on file but process charges only after the promotional period concludes.
Microsoft sends renewal reminders before transitioning to paid subscription status. Students can evaluate whether to continue Premium features or explore alternative Microsoft 365 plans after the promotional year.
What happens to the LinkedIn Premium subscription after 12 months?
Both Microsoft 365 Premium and LinkedIn Premium Career automatically renew at standard pricing ($19.99 and $39.99 monthly respectively) unless canceled in your Microsoft and LinkedIn accounts. Students must manage cancellations separately for each service.
Technical Requirements and Device Compatibility
Microsoft 365 Premium operates across Windows, macOS, iOS, and Android devices. Desktop applications require download and installation, while web versions function through modern browsers without local software.
Copilot features require internet connectivity for AI operation, though offline editing persists for core Office apps. Mobile devices access Copilot functionality when using Microsoft 365 applications.
Microsoft Defender downloads separately as a mobile application for iOS and Android, requiring sign-in with the same student email used for subscription activation. Cloud storage syncs automatically when devices connect to the internet.
Limitations and Considerations
The promotion allocates limited quantities on a first-come basis through February 28, 2026. LinkedIn’s help documentation specifically warns that “there are limited quantities available of LinkedIn Premium Career as part of this promotion”.
LinkedIn Premium Career eligibility excludes students with current or recent LinkedIn Premium subscriptions, including Business, Sales Navigator, or Recruiter Lite plans. The offer specifically targets new LinkedIn Premium subscribers.
Students must maintain active enrollment to verify eligibility. The promotional offer requires verification of higher education student status through a valid Microsoft Account.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Can students use both personal Microsoft 365 and school-provided Office 365?
Yes, students can sign into Office applications with their personal Microsoft account (for Premium features) and their school account (for institution-provided resources) simultaneously. The accounts operate independently without conflict.
How quickly does LinkedIn Premium Career activate after Microsoft 365 signup?
LinkedIn sends the Premium Career invitation via email within seven days of completing Microsoft 365 student verification and checkout. Students must separately accept and activate the LinkedIn subscription through the emailed link.
Do students need credit cards to sign up for the free 12-month offer?
Yes, Microsoft requires a payment method on file during signup, though charges only process after the 12-month promotional period expires. Students can manage payment methods through their account settings.
Does Microsoft 365 Premium include Teams for student collaboration?
Yes, Microsoft 365 Premium includes Teams for video conferencing, chat, and file collaboration alongside core Office applications. Teams provides standard collaboration functionality across all Microsoft 365 plans.
What makes this student offer different from previous Microsoft discounts?
This promotion provides 12 months of Microsoft 365 Premium (not Personal) completely free, plus LinkedIn Premium Career at no cost representing approximately $720 in combined value. Previous offers typically provided discounts rather than full free access to premium tiers.
When does the limited quantity offer expire?
The promotional offer remains available through February 28, 2026, or while quantities last. LinkedIn Premium Career has specifically limited quantities as part of this promotion.
What happens after verification is complete?
After completing student verification and checkout for Microsoft 365 Premium, students receive immediate access to Microsoft 365 Premium features. The LinkedIn Premium Career signup instructions arrive via email within seven days.
Can existing Microsoft 365 Personal subscribers access this offer?
Students with existing Microsoft 365 Personal or Family subscriptions can upgrade to access the Premium promotional offer. The process requires verification of higher education student status.
