Suppose you’ve ever tried to play a music video while studying or queued up a lecture before bed, only to be ambushed by a 15-second unskippable ad for skin cream or a fantasy RPG. In that case, you probably know the feeling: mild irritation, followed by resignation.
That’s where YouTube Premium comes in. More specifically, the Student Plan. YouTube Premium Student subscription offers exactly the same service as Premium; it just requires some steps to verify you’re a student.
What Is YouTube Premium Student Subscription?
The Student Plan includes all the services provided by Premium, but at a reduced price.
As of now, in many regions, it’s roughly half the cost of the regular Premium plan – assuming you qualify and verify your student status through their partner platform (usually SheerID). It’s available for eligible college or university students, and with a time limitation – four years (until you graduate).
Let’s get the obvious out of the way. YouTube Premium is a paid subscription that gives you:
- An ad-free experience across all YouTube videos (Know more about how to watch YouTube without Ads)
- Offline playback
- Background play (so videos continue while you use other apps)
- Full access to YouTube Music Premium
- And on some devices, picture-in-picture playback
Tip: YouTube customizes what you see based on your location. That means certain videos, playlists, or even trending content might be completely different depending on the country you’re in.
So, that’s why many people choose to use a VPN. A reliable VPN like LightningX VPN offers over 2,000 servers across 70+ countries, including numerous options within the United States itself. No matter what content you want to explore or where it’s located, you get that freedom with LightningX VPN!
Moreover, it offers a fast and stable internet connection, so you can stream or browse without worrying about privacy or ISP throttling.
How to Get a YouTube Premium Student Discount?
First, you need to be a full-time student at an accredited college or university in a supported country. Now it is available in over 60 countries, including the U.S., UK, Canada, Australia, India, Spain, Russia, South Korea, Taiwan, and more.
Then here’s a step-by-step subscription guide:
Step 1. Go to the Student Plan landing page: youtube.com/premium/student. You’ll find a “Try for free” or “Student Plan” button. Click it to begin the process.
Step 2. Sign in and begin verification. Log in with your Google account tied to your YouTube profile. Then you’ll be redirected to SheerID, the third-party service used for verifying student eligibility.
Step 3. SheerID will ask for documentation such as:
- A valid student email address (e.g., .edu or university domain)
- A student ID, enrollment letter, transcript, or class schedule showing your name, school, and current term or recent enrollment period
In cases where your institution isn’t listed, you may need to contact SheerID support or switch to a school that is supported.
Step 4. Wait for Confirmation. Once you submit documents, verification is usually quick – 20 minutes in the U.S., up to 48 hours in other regions. You’ll receive an email when approved. Then you’ll be redirected back to YouTube’s signup page.
Step 5. After re-login, go to Paid Memberships → Student Plan, pick or confirm your payment method, and activate the subscription. If eligible, you’ll typically see a free trial, followed by a discount monthly fee: about $7.99/month in the U.S.
What Does Full Verification Need?
Besides the essential items mentioned above, like a valid student email address and official documents showing your current enrollment, there are a few additional things worth preparing or keeping in mind:
- Matching names: Make sure the name on your documents matches the name on your YouTube/Google account. If there’s a mismatch (e.g., using a nickname on YouTube), it may cause verification delays or rejection.
- Document format and clarity: Upload clear, legible files. Blurry photos, cropped screenshots, or outdated documents are often rejected. PDFs or high-resolution images (JPG, PNG) are ideal.
- Current enrollment dates: Your documents should reflect that you’re currently enrolled or recently enrolled within the current academic term. Documents from past semesters usually won’t be accepted.
- Institution recognition: Only schools accredited and listed in SheerID’s database are eligible. If your school isn’t recognized, you’ll need to manually contact SheerID support or check whether another verification method is available.
While the process is generally smooth, small mismatches or unclear documentation can easily hold things up.
What to Do After Graduation?
Eventually, the student discount will expire, either upon graduation or after reaching the four-year eligibility limit.
Once your student status can no longer be verified through YouTube’s partner service, such as SheerID, your subscription will automatically transition to the standard YouTube Premium plan, which typically costs twice as much as the student rate.
So, what are your options?
- Stick with Premium: If you’ve gotten used to an ad-free life, the full price might be worth it. Especially if you rely on YouTube Music instead of Spotify or Apple Music.
- Switch to a Family Plan: This one’s underrated. Join a family group (up to 6 members, not necessarily related) and split the cost. It often ends up being cheaper than even the student plan.
- Go back to free: You could go back to the ad-supported version, but be warned – it’s a jarring transition. Once you’ve lived in the Premium world, watching a 15-second ad before every video feels… archaic.
- Explore YouTube alternatives: If music is your main use, there are other student discounts or free trials with Spotify, Apple Music, etc. Just keep in mind: none of them offer ad-free YouTube itself.
Many users only notice their student plan has expired when ads begin appearing again during regular video playback.
To avoid unexpected interruptions, it’s a good idea to track your verification period. You can set a personal reminder or review your YouTube Premium account settings periodically to ensure your student status remains active.
FAQs – YouTube Premium Student
Q: Can I share my Student Plan with others?
No. Unlike the YouTube Premium Family Plan, the Student Plan is strictly for individual use and can’t be shared with others.
Q: Is the student discount available for postgraduate or PhD students?
Yes, if your institution is recognized by SheerID and you can provide valid proof of enrollment, postgraduate students are generally eligible.
Q: What happens if I miss the re-verification deadline?
Your plan automatically converts to the standard YouTube Premium plan, and your monthly charge will reflect the full price. You can reapply for the student rate if you’re still eligible, but you won’t be refunded for the gap month(s).
