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How to setup Your GitHub Student Pack

Osaigbovo Idiaghe's photo
Osaigbovo Idiaghe
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5 min read

This article is for persons who are students, just getting introduced to the software development environment who are willing to learn how to enroll for the GitHub student pack. I am writing this to majorly clarify the process of getting access to the GitHub student pack for my friends from the best tech school in the whole world — AltSchool Africa. Sit down and enjoy this write up along with me. You can share your experience using the comment section below.

The GitHub student pack is a collection of excellent tools you need as a student to scale through the journey to becoming a skilled developer because it comes with fantastic benefits that will be useful in your learning. It helps all students and newbie programmers to advance their tech careers by allowing them to showcase their learning and build great product using the tools in the student pack. In a nutshell, they offer top tier products and services for free and subscriptions based services are given to student for a limited duration to help students do the basic things — learn, build their first website with a personalized domain, create assets, buy a domain, and access a lot of paid services.

Git and GitHub

Before discussing how to get the GitHub student pack, let’s first discuss Git and GitHub and how you can properly set up your page.

First, Git is a version control system that helps keep track of our codes and collaborate with people. With a personal account on GitHub, you can import or create repositories, collaborate with others, and connect with the GitHub community at large. You can download Git bash by clicking this link and then going on to set up your profile on github.com.

To get Git and GitHub connected, you must link the global configuration on your git bash or any terminal of choice, depending on what you like using. To add your user name and email address, you use the following commands:

git config --global user.name=”GitHub username”


#The name should be the name you use on GitHub. 


git config --global user.email=”email.user.com”

How to set up your student GitHub account

To set up your GitHub student developer pack, it is first important for GitHub to verify that you are a student of an institution and that AltSchool Africa is one of the institutions on the GitHub student developer campus community. You need an enrollment verification letter or your student ID card to prove that you’re currently a student and studying in an institute. Your AltSchool admissions letter carries your Student ID Number, and you can also use your student ID card. Create your ID card with this link.

The following criteria is important for you to meet as stated on GitHub student pack website:

  • Have a GitHub account.

  • Be at least 13 years old.

  • Be currently enrolled in a degree or diploma granting course of study from a recognized educational institution.

  • Be able to provide documentation from your school which demonstrates your current student status.

Before you begin the process, make sure you check all the information

  1. Check that you are using a supported browser, and that location services are not blocked by your browser or platform.

  2. Complete your GitHub account billing information with your full legal name as it appears on your academic affiliation documentation. (You do not have to add a payment method.)

  3. Verify your academic email address on your GitHub account, if your school provides one.

  4. Secure your GitHub account with two-factor authentication. (We recommend using the GitHub Mobile app.)

  5. Personalize your public GitHub Profile with your photo, your name, your pronouns, and more.

  6. Generate a README for your public GitHub Profile, customize it with your interests, and publish it for the world to see.

HOW TO GET STARTED

The application is simple: (You must have a GitHub account) Use the simple steps:

PS: I found out trying to sign up that I had to set up my 2FA before I could do anything.

/Head over to https://education.github.com/pack/

  • Click on the get benefits button on the top-right

  • You may want to click on the Get School benefits.

On this page, there will be one form that will ask for the email address you used to register to the College/University and the Name of your institution. One question is: How will you use the GitHub Student Developer Pack? After answering this question, click on continue, and then you will be asked to upload the proof of your studentship with the institution.

  • You’ll be directed to a simple application page, fill in the details, and then wait for approval

Fill in your details, your names, and institutions, including proof that you are a student of that institution. In my case, I opened the GitHub student developer pack page with my phone and then opened the AltSchool admission letter on my laptop and scanned the letter, after which I submitted the application and within 24 hours after my application was accepted.

Benefits

The GitHub student developer pack comes with a lot of benefits which include:

  • Free GitHub Pro Account

The pro-GitHub account comes with unlimited private repositories and advanced features for periods you remain a student.

  • Learning Resources

You can benefit from online courses and tutorials from platforms like Udacity, DataCamp, and Frontend Masters, including machine language and more. This is my best part.

  • Developer Tools and Services
    You can access code editors like Atom and JetBrains IDEs, project management tools like Asana and Trello, and collaborative platforms like Slack. These tools can significantly streamline your development process and improve team collaboration. You can also use “CANVA” premium pro for free.

The student developer pack is an excellent deal for me. Let me know how this has helped you in learning. If you enjoyed reading this article, kindly tweet about it and share your experience in the comment section.

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