Already verified student (since Feb 2026) stuck on Copilot Free due to activation pause

[javidanjavadov]

🏷️ Discussion Type

Question

💬 Feature/Topic Area

Benefit Activation/Waiting

Hi everyone,

I have a question regarding my GitHub Copilot access under the Student Developer Pack.

My academic benefits were successfully verified and approved back on February 15, 2026, and my student coupon is active until February 15, 2028. Therefore, I am not a brand-new applicant to the GitHub Education program.

However, when I check my settings, my account is currently placed on the standard, metered "Copilot Free" plan (showing 0% of inline suggestions used) instead of the dedicated student tier. I do see the banner warning that "New activations of Copilot Student plans are currently paused."

Since my student status was already fully verified months ago, is falling back to the standard "Free" tier the expected behavior simply because I didn't explicitly activate the Copilot feature before the pause went into effect? Additionally, once the sign-up pause is eventually lifted, will my account automatically transition to the full student benefits, or will I need to manually re-apply or trigger something?

Thank you in advance for the guidance!

[chater-marzougui]

I've been a student for the last 3 years and i'm facing the same issue now, copilot free is too limited it literally finished 200 credits in 3 prompts (didn't even finish the 3rd) waiting for answers

[javidanjavadov]

Totally agree. Copilot is the main reason most of us apply for the Student Pack anyway. Restricting verified students to a 'Free' tier that runs out in a few prompts completely defeats the purpose of the program. I hope GitHub fixes this soon.

[HarolTorrado73]

Por lo que describes, parece que tu verificación como estudiante sigue siendo válida, pero el beneficio de Copilot Student nunca llegó a activarse antes de que GitHub pausara temporalmente las nuevas activaciones.

Si ese es el caso, GitHub probablemente está diferenciando entre:

1. Estudiantes que ya tenían Copilot Student activado antes de la pausa.
2. Estudiantes que ya estaban verificados, pero que nunca activaron el beneficio.

Según el mensaje que ves, parece que tu cuenta pertenece al segundo grupo, por lo que actualmente permanece en Copilot Free aunque tu estado de estudiante siga siendo válido hasta 2028.

No creo que necesites volver a solicitar el GitHub Student Developer Pack, ya que tu verificación sigue aprobada. La verdadera duda es si los estudiantes que fueron verificados antes de la pausa serán migrados automáticamente cuando GitHub vuelva a habilitar las activaciones.

Sería útil que alguien del equipo de GitHub Education pudiera aclarar:

• Si los estudiantes verificados antes de la pausa serán activados automáticamente.
• Si será necesario realizar algún paso manual.
• Si usar Copilot Free mientras tanto afecta de alguna forma la elegibilidad para los beneficios estudiantiles.

Es posible que otros estudiantes verificados estén enfrentando exactamente la misma situación.

[javidanjavadov]

Hello.My discussion, question is in English, I think you have to reply in English also. :/