Cannot Apply for GitHub Student Pack – No College Email Provided

[88sachincyber]

Hi everyone,

I’m a full-time B.Tech CSE student at R. R. Institute of Modern Technology, Lucknow, affiliated with AKTU.

My college does not provide any official student email IDs, but GitHub’s system requires a domain @rgi.in, which blocks me from applying.

I have a valid student ID card and can provide any necessary documentation. Please guide me on how to proceed.

Thank you 🙏

[ishraqkhann]

Hey, I totally get the frustration. A lot of colleges don’t issue student emails, and it can make these verifications harder than they should be.

The good news is GitHub does allow manual verification. Here’s what you can do:
1. Go to https://education.github.com/pack
2. Click “Get benefits” and choose the “Student” option.
3. When it asks for your student email, select “I don’t have a school-issued email” (or similar wording).
4. Upload a clear photo or scan of your student ID card, fee receipt, or any document that shows:
• Your full name
• Your institution’s name
• Validity (like current academic year or semester)

Make sure the document is recent and legible. It usually takes a few days for them to review it.

Hope that helps, and good luck! Let me know if you need help with the wording or uploading part.

[yash-cs-ai]

@ishraqkhann there is no option for "I don't have school issued email" and the process won't continue otherwise.

[Awesome-carrier]

저도 미치겠네요. 방통대 이메일 왜 없데 이 학교가 맞냐는 글을 뜨면서

[davevad93]

Hi @88sachincyber,

In the past, it was possible for students whose schools don’t provide email addresses to apply for the pack using their dated student ID; but now to apply for the Student Developer Pack you are required to have a verifiable school-issued email.

Try contacting support by opening a ticket here, select "Other" and ask them if there's any workaround.

[AmanRai8]

You can apply for the GitHub Student Pack without a school email. On the application page, choose “I don’t have a school-issued email” and upload your student ID or other valid proof (like fee receipt). GitHub will review it in 5–7 days.

[88sachincyber]

You can apply for the GitHub Student Pack without a school email. On the application page, choose “I don’t have a school-issued email” and upload your student ID or other valid proof (like fee receipt). GitHub will review it in 5–7 days.

However, when I try to apply, there is no option to choose “I don’t have a school-issued email”.

[AmanRai8]

Here is another route you may consider.

• Create a GitHub account using whatever email address you have.
• Visit the GitHub student developer pack page (https://education.github.com/pack) and click on the “Get your pack” button.
• Fill out the application form. When it asks for proof of enrollment, upload the documentation you’ve prepared (student ID, official enrollment, registration letters or any document issued by your university that has your name).

While an .edu email might speed up the application process due to easier verification, Github do accept other forms of proof.

Good luck!

[cherryy1126]

i cant apply for github student developer pack because my college doesn't provide college email address. however i can submit proof of documnents but the application is not cooperating???

[yash-cs-ai]

Yeah been facing this issue where I can't proceed without giving a student mail id, if you do find a work around this do let me know.

[igor-kan]

Current Policy and Challenges

• Official Requirement: GitHub prefers a verifiable school-issued email for automatic verification, as it speeds up the process. However, manual verification is possible without one, per GitHub's Education docs (updated 2025)—you can upload alternative proof like a student ID, fee receipt, or enrollment letter showing your name, school, and current academic year.
• Common Problems: As you and others (e.g., yash-cs-ai, cherryy1126, and recent 2025 discussions) noted, the application form sometimes lacks the "I don’t have a school-issued email" option, leading to redirects or blocks. This seems like a UI glitch or regional restriction (e.g., for certain countries like India or China). Community posts from July 2025 describe "redirect loops" when clicking "Start an application," looping back to the education homepage without showing the upload form.
• Is It Still Possible Without Email? Yes, but it's not always straightforward. In the past (pre-2025), it was easier, but recent changes require more manual review. GitHub does accept other proofs, but you might need to bypass the loop.

How to Proceed

• Standard Application Steps (Try This First):
  1. Log in to your GitHub account.
  2. Go to https://education.github.com/pack.
  3. Click "Get benefits" > Select "Student."
  4. If prompted for email, look for (or search the page for) an option like "I don’t have a school-issued email" or "Upload proof instead." Upload a clear scan/photo of your student ID (showing name, school, validity) or other docs.
  5. Submit and wait 5–7 days for review (as suggested by ishraqkhann and Unik69420).
• If Stuck in a Loop or No Option Appears:
  • Alternative Route: Create a new GitHub account with any email, then revisit https://education.github.com/pack and try applying. Some users report this breaks the loop.
  • Contact Support Directly: This is the most reliable fix, as recommended by davevad93. GitHub support can manually process or provide a workaround:
    1. Go to https://support.github.com/contact.
    2. Select "GitHub Education" > "Student Developer Pack" > "Other."
    3. Explain your situation: No school email, stuck in redirect loop, and attach your docs (student ID, etc.).
    4. They often approve manually if your proof is valid. Response time is usually 3–5 business days.
• Tips for Success:
  • Ensure docs are recent, legible, and include key details (e.g., current semester/year).
  • If rejected, reapply with more proof (e.g., add a letter from your college).
  • Avoid using non-school emails that look suspicious—use a personal one like Gmail.
    If support confirms it's not possible without an email (which contradicts some docs but matches a few 2025 reports), ask about alternatives like school verification partnerships. Hang in there—many students in similar situations get approved after contacting support.

[88sachincyber]

@cherryy1126 You can try through
Contact Support Directly: This is the most reliable fix, as recommended by davevad93. GitHub support can manually process or provide a workaround:
Go to https://support.github.com/contact.
Select "GitHub Education" > "Student Developer Pack" > "Other."
Explain your situation: No school email, stuck in redirect loop, and attach your docs (student ID, etc.).
They often approve manually if your proof is valid. Response time is usually 3–5 business days.
Since my college does not provide an official email address, I contacted support directly and submitted my issue along with the required documents. They approved it within a few days.

[lelouchxampp]

hi