You are a student, or know someone who is? If so, you will want to check out this page. Microsoft offers a free version of their office software for students. This is great because college students typically do not have a lot of money. Often they need to rely on their friends or family to help pay for things. Wouldn’t it be great if they could get working version of an office suite for free while in school? They can!
As a student, you are supposed to rely on cheap microsoft office suite which is free. This way, you save money for your other activities without having to skip your studies or exams. Microsoft Office is an incredible tool for students who require writing reports, bulletins, essays, and many more papers. Students can download the software for free right from the official website of the company.
Most students – and those working in education with an academic email address – can get Microsoft’s entire Office suite of programmes, and other freebies, for absolutely nothing.
To see if you’re eligible, enter your academic email address on the Microsoft Office website.
You’ll be asked to sign in through your course provider’s online portal, and if you’re eligible, you’ll be redirected to a page where you can download the software. You can also get 1TB of free online storage with OneDrive.
It’s not just Microsoft either – here are some other useful software freebies.
For typing, spreadsheets, and presentations
The LibreOffice software suite includes a word processor, spreadsheet, presentation, database, and design package. Handily, it’s compatible with many Microsoft documents, and is available for PC, Mac, and Linux.
For image editing
If you’re after something for basic cropping and editing, Paint.net is easy to use and PC-compatible. For a more advanced Photoshop equivalent, GIMP is a powerful tool with free add ons (PC and Mac), while Inkscape is a handy graphics editor and works on PC, Mac, and Linux.
For music and videos
VLC Player is one of the most widely compatible media players available, and can cope with pretty much any music or video format you throw at it. For recording, Audacity lets you add effects and create soundscapes from scratch. Again, both are available for PC, Mac, and Linux.Always check any software you put on your computer is suitable and compatible with your existing setup first.
Microsoft software for schools
The current Microsoft agreements provides schools with software licenses that include the Microsoft 365, Windows operating system and Minecraft Education Edition.
| LEVEL OF COMPLIANCE | MAIN AUDIENCE | OTHER |
|---|---|---|
Inform | Principals and TumuakiTeachers and KaiakoSchool ICT Specialist | BoardsAdministratorsExternal ICT Providers |
Microsoft software is a useful tool for schools that supports teaching and learning. The software licence is Ministry-funded, and free for schools to access.
Duration of the Microsoft Agreement
The current Ministry’s Microsoft New Zealand School Agreement is in effect until 31 December 2021. The renewed Agreement, with the A5 and Defender for EndPoint licences, will be in effect from 1st January 2022 until the 31st December 2024.
Software included in the agreement
Schools are licensed to use the latest versions of Windows OS, Microsoft Office 365, M365 Apps, Enterprise Mobility & Security, Minecraft Education Edition, and limited access to Microsoft Windows server software. This limited access will be reassessed annually. The agreement also includes a ramp up model for a number of M365 A5 licences and Defender for Endpoint licences per year, for all school-owned devices who are utilising A3 licences.
For more information about the Microsoft 2022-2024 agreement please visit the Microsoft Schools Agreement:
Schools Agreement – Microsoft website(external link)
The key new services available under the agreement are A5 and Defender for EndPoint. More details below:
- Office365 provides a cloud-hosted suite of Office Productivity software. It allows choice for students’ and teachers’ devices to run Office in the cloud, on the desktop/laptop/device or in a hybrid mode, where content is synchronized between the school/user’s device and cloud.
- M365 Office Apps includes the latest versions of Access, Excel, Word, Microsoft Teams, OneNote, Outlook, PowerPoint, Publisher and Forms. Users can get the client software download onto their own devices and can run up to 5 copies on their computer (PC/Mac) and 5 on their mobile device (Android/iPhone).
- Enterprise Mobility & Security enables schools to support mobile computing and Bring your own device (BYOD). It provides tools to manage mobile, laptop and desktop devices, applications, security, identity and access rights. It includes: Intune Mobile Device Management (MDM), Azure Active Directory Premium 1, Azure Rights Management and Advanced Threat Analytics.
- Student Use Benefits (SUB) are retained in this renewed Agreement.
- Minecraft Education Edition is an open-world game that promotes computational thinking, creativity, collaboration and problem solving in an immersive environment. With education specific features such as teacher classroom controls, coding connection and hundreds of curriculum lessons, schools can easily integrate game-based learning into their classrooms. Minecraft Education Edition currently runs on Windows 10 and MacOS.
- M365 A5 Licences which includes all services in A3 plus more advanced security management, additional analytics tools (through Power BI) and advanced compliance. A5 makes security a priority with Microsoft Defender for Endpoint, a cloud-based solution that helps protect your school identities, devices and apps from multiple types of advanced targeted cyberattacks.
- Microsoft Defender for Endpoint is a product feature of A5 and provides an enterprise endpoint security platform designed to help school networks prevent, detect, investigate and respond to advanced threats.
Updated versions of all Microsoft’s key software are available including:
- Windows 10/11
- Office 2019 (Outlook, Word, Excel, Powerpoint, Forms)
- SharePoint 2019
- Exchange 2019
- Windows Server 2019 (for the year 2022)
- Microsoft Teams
How to get Microsoft software
If you’re a state or state-integrated school, you don’t need to do anything to continue using your current Microsoft software. For newer applications under the 2022-2024 agreement such as A5 and Defender for Endpoint, schools must contact Datacom for assistance to install them.
If you want to be able to access cloud-delivered software (such as M365 Apps) and you haven’t already registered in the agreement, contact Datacom.
If your IT contact person changes, contact Datacom.
Email: nzschools@datacom.co.nz
Teachers and students can also access M365 where the full suite is available online in a browser and the M365 Apps desktop. Software can also be downloaded for Windows 10/MacOS. For smartphones/tablets install the Office apps from the relevant app store and activate using your school email address and password.
Office 365 Education
Get started with Office 365 for free
Students and educators at eligible institutions can sign up for Office 365 Education for free, including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, OneNote, and now Microsoft Teams, plus additional classroom tools. Use your valid school email address to get started today.
Affordable devices starting at $219
Choose from a range of ruggedized Windows 11 laptops and 2-in-1s that are easy to configure, built for rigorous education use, and last all day – with free online training and support.
Remote learning
Build collaborative classrooms, connect in professional learning communities, and connect with colleagues when you get Office 365 – which includes Microsoft Teams and is free for your entire school. Access all the training and support you need to create a safe, secure, and collaborative learning environment.
Conclusion:
Microsoft Student is specially designed for students. This product allows them to get introduced to the world of technology easily. It has many learning resources which make learning easy and fun filled. There are many products under Microsoft office. They are word, excel, powerpoint, onenote, publisher etc. You can use them free of cost by downloading it from the internet. The download links are given below