Student benefits still "Awaiting Benefits" after 72 hours

[bi220006-oss]

🏷️ Discussion Type

Bug

💬 Feature/Topic Area

Verification Help & Guidance

Hi everyone,

My GitHub Education student application was approved on October 20, 2026, but my benefits still show as "Awaiting Benefits" after more than 72 hours, and my Copilot plan still shows Free.

Username: bi220006-oss
My school email is verified and set as primary.

Could someone please help activate my Copilot Pro student benefits? Thank you.

[github-actions[bot]]

💬 Your Product Feedback Has Been Submitted 🎉

Thank you for taking the time to share your insights with us! Your feedback is invaluable as we build a better GitHub experience for all our users.

Here's what you can expect moving forward ⏩

• Your input will be carefully reviewed and cataloged by members of our product teams. 
  • Due to the high volume of submissions, we may not always be able to provide individual responses.
  • Rest assured, your feedback will help chart our course for product improvements.
• Other users may engage with your post, sharing their own perspectives or experiences. 
• GitHub staff may reach out for further clarification or insight. 
  • We may 'Answer' your discussion if there is a current solution, workaround, or roadmap/changelog post related to the feedback.

Where to look to see what's shipping 👀

• Read the Changelog for real-time updates on the latest GitHub features, enhancements, and calls for feedback.
• Explore our Product Roadmap, which details upcoming major releases and initiatives.

What you can do in the meantime 💻

• Upvote and comment on other user feedback Discussions that resonate with you.
• Add more information at any point! Useful details include: use cases, relevant labels, desired outcomes, and any accompanying screenshots.

As a member of the GitHub community, your participation is essential. While we can't promise that every suggestion will be implemented, we want to emphasize that your feedback is instrumental in guiding our decisions and priorities.

Thank you once again for your contribution to making GitHub even better! We're grateful for your ongoing support and collaboration in shaping the future of our platform. ⭐

[Limzen]

Hey, approval for GitHub Education doesn't always activate Copilot automatically. You may need to claim the benefit separately.

First, check [your Education benefits page](https://github.com/settings/education/benefits) and see if Copilot is available to activate. You can also try the [direct student activation page](https://github.com/github-copilot/free_signup).

GitHub's documentation mentions that benefits can take several days to apply after approval. If you've already claimed the benefit and it's still showing Free after a few more days, I'd recommend [contacting GitHub Support](https://support.github.com/contact/education) with screenshots of your approval status and Copilot plan.

One thing to keep in mind: Education approval and Copilot activation are separate steps, so it's worth checking that first.

[cu-sanjay]

Hi @bi220006-oss, the activation of student benefits can take some time even after your application is approved. Since your account is already showing the PRO badge, your GitHub Student Developer Pack appears to be active.

You can explore your student benefits here: https://education.github.com/pack

For GitHub Copilot, follow the official setup link below to activate your student plan and complete the setup on your account:

https://github.com/github-copilot/free_signup

Happy coding! Enjoy your GitHub Student Developer Pack and its perks.