Error loop: "We require applicants to use a school-issued email address" - Dar-e-Arqam School (Pakistan)

[ZeeshanKhan15-pro-at-code]

🏷️ Discussion Type

Question

💬 Feature/Topic Area

School Email/Domain Issues

Hi everyone,

Hello,

I am trying to apply for the GitHub Student Developer Pack as a student at Dar-e-Arqam School (Ghazi Road DHA branch) in Pakistan.

The automated system keeps rejecting my application with the error: "We require applicants to use a school-issued email address to apply." However, in our school system, individual email addresses on the school's domain (@das.edu.pk) are never issued to students, and they are not given to teachers either. The domain is strictly used for core administrative purposes. I attempted to add the administrative domain contact to my settings, but because it cannot receive external student mail, it remains unverified and causes an error loop.

I have my official school fee challan fully ready as physical proof of enrollment. Since manual support tickets are no longer accepted for application reviews, could a community manager please help me bypass this automated check so I can securely submit my official documentation for manual approval?

Thank you.

[Artdi222]

Hi @ZeeshanKhan15-pro-at-code,

To be realistic, Community Managers on this forum cannot manually bypass the automated check or approve your application directly through this discussion. GitHub's current system heavily restricts individual manual interventions to prevent abuse.

The reason you are hardlocked into this error loop is because GitHub’s database recognizes the @das.edu.pk domain and assumes all applicants from your institution must use it, unaware that the school only issues it to staff.

Since you only have a physical fee challan, you need to trick the automated UI into showing you the "Upload Document" option. Here are the working workarounds to break the loop:

1. Use the Direct Document Upload Link

Instead of going through the standard application homepage, clear your browser cookies, open an Incognito Window, and try accessing this hidden direct link directly:
https://education.github.com/documents
If accessible, this page skips the initial email check and lets you upload files immediately.

2. The "Ghost Email" Trigger

If the system refuses to let you proceed without selecting a school email, try this approach:

• Go to your personal GitHub Settings > Emails.
• Add a dummy email under your school's domain (e.g., yourname@das.edu.pk). You won't be able to verify it, and that’s fine.
• Return to the Education benefits application. Select this unverified school email from the dropdown.
• Once the automated verification fails to send/verify, look for a hidden link that says "Verify another way" or "I don't have access to this email". This will usually force the system to reveal the document upload portal.

3. Important Note for Your Fee Challan

When you finally get to the upload screen, keep in mind that GitHub's automated AI scanner rejects non-English documents.

• Ensure your fee challan is completely in English.
• If it contains Urdu text, you must take a photo of the original document alongside a clean, typed English translation on a single page.
• The document must explicitly show your full name (matching your GitHub profile), the school name, and a valid date for the current 2026 academic term.

Give the Incognito/Direct link method a try first to break the UI loop.

[ZeeshanKhan15-pro-at-code]

🚀 Important Update: How to Pass the Verification (Even Without a School Email)
I wanted to share a major update for any students in Pakistan (or anywhere else) who are struggling to get approved because they don't have a school-issued email address or specific school details. You can still get approved!

The secret is to pay close attention to the asterisks (*) that appear before the form fields:

Fields with an asterisk BEFORE them (e.g., * Your email): These are mandatory. You must fill these out (like your personal email or uploading your student ID/tuition receipt).

Fields WITHOUT an asterisk before them: These are optional and can be completely left blank!

For example:

School-issued email: If there is no asterisk before it, leave it blank.

School website: If your school doesn't have one and there is no asterisk before it, skip it.

Street address / Extra details: If there is no asterisk before it, you do not need to fill it out.

My Advice: Before you get frustrated and give up, closely check every single field. If it doesn't show an asterisk right before the text, it is not required. Just fill out what is mandatory, submit it, and give it a try! Don't let the optional boxes stop you from getting your student benefits.

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