Amazon offers an extensive selection of products from across the world, competitively low prices, and plenty of digital content in the form of books, music, and movies.
However, Amazon’s offerings are sweetened for any customer who has Amazon Prime, a membership service that offers free same-day or two-day shipping on millions of products, as well as a free library of thousands of songs, movies, and TV shows.
If you’re a student, you’re offered a special price for Prime and even get unique perks to help out with your education. Keep reading to learn more about Amazon Prime for Students.
What Is Amazon Prime Student?
Amazon Prime Student is a special program offered by Amazon which heavily discounts its Prime membership. It also offers unique discounts and promotions geared toward college or graduate students.
Who Is Eligible for Amazon Prime Student?
Amazon Prime Student is available to anyone who is enrolled in at least one course at a college or university located within one of the 50 US states, Washington DC, or Puerto Rico.
Prime Student is available to you if you are at a four-year college, two-year college, or in graduate school. You can enroll in Prime Student whether you are a full-time or part-time student, as long as you are taking at least one course.
Amazon Prime Student is only available for four years, or the time you remain enrolled at a university, whichever is shorter. You cannot share your Amazon Prime Student account with anyone else, including family members or roommates. There are other ways to set up Amazon Prime for your whole household instead.
How Much Does Amazon Prime Student Cost?
With Prime Student, you get 50 percent off the cost of Prime, plus a free six-month trial. After your trial, you pay $ 6.49 a month (or $ 59 a year) until your time as a student ends.
Remember, the average Prime member pays $ 119 a year. If you use Prime Student for four years, your cost averages out to $ 4.50 a month (or $ 53.99 a year), less than half of what regular Prime members are paying.
What Do You Get with Amazon Prime?
Amazon Prime comes with plenty of benefits that make it worth having. Here are its most attractive offerings.
Super-Fast Shipping
With Prime, you get free two-day delivery on millions of items; though, it’s worth noting that your Prime shipping benefits will depend on where you are.
Certain regions in the US have significantly limited Prime shipping services. Some areas, especially cities, have one-day or even same-day Prime shipping available.
Video, Music, and Reading Libraries
In addition to Prime shipping, you also get unlimited streaming access to Amazon Prime movies and TV shows. Its library includes popular and critically-acclaimed titles such as Marvelous Mrs. Maisel and Fleabag.
You can also get unlimited Prime Music streaming and access to Prime Reading, a private library of over 1,000 books and magazines that you can read on your phone, tablet, laptop, or Kindle.
Keep in mind that while Prime Video is the same for Prime members and Prime Student members, Prime Music and Prime Reading do have a slightly limited selection for student members.
Prime Status on Twitch
For gamers, Prime offers a whole host of benefits to regular members and students alike. Prime members get free newly-released games, exclusive in-game loot, and a free subscription every month to a channel of your choice on Twitch.
You also get Prime status on your Twitch accounts, which means you get access to unique account colors and emotes, as well as the ability to chat with other Prime members in exclusive chat rooms.
Lighting Deals
All Prime members also get access to Amazon Lightning Deals, which are sent to you via an email alert 30 minutes before they’re released to non-members.
Release-Day Delivery
One under-appreciated perk of a Prime membership is that you have access to release-date delivery. This means if you preorder an eligible book, movie, or video game, you’ll receive it (shipped or downloaded) on the day it hits store shelves.
Non-members will need to wait until the launch date just to have their product shipped.
Special Prime Student Perks
Amazon Prime Student members also get a few additional perks, as outlined below.
College Shop
You have access to Amazon’s College Shop, a specialized marketplace of products curated just for college students. Most products in the College Shop are eligible for Prime shipping, and you’ll receive specialized promotions for College Shop items based on other purchases you’ve made for your dorm or classes.
Special Partnerships
Amazon regularly offers special promotions and rewards for Prime Students in partnership with certain brand partners. Amazon has offered student rewards in collaboration with the social media site TikTok, the security software Norton, and others.
How to Sign Up for a Prime Student Account
- To join Amazon Prime Student, start by heading to the Amazon Prime Student page.
- Click the Start your 6-month Trial button.
- Next, enter your school email address (must be an EDU email) and the year you expect to graduate (this will mark the end of your Amazon Prime Student membership). Note: if you already have an Amazon account, you’ll be prompted to input your username and password, and then add in your university information.
- Amazon will send a verification email to your student address. You’ll need to click on the verification email to confirm your address is active.
- Enter your credit card information and billing address. You will be billed once your free trial ends.
- Your Prime Student membership and free trial are now activated.
Signing Up for Prime Student Without an EDU Email Address
If you don’t have an EDU university email address or don’t want to use this email address for your Prime membership, you can still sign up for Prime Student. However, you will have to go through a more cumbersome process that Amazon outlines on its support page.
First, set up an Amazon account with your preferred email address. Attach a valid form of payment (credit card or debit card). This does not have to be a Prime account. Amazon will reference this account when it updates your Prime Student membership.
Then, email Amazon with proof of your enrollment. Make sure you send it from the email address associated with your Amazon account. In the email, include a scan, photo, or a screenshot of one of the below:
- Your student ID. Your ID must include a term date or your expected graduation date; showing only a student ID number is not acceptable.
- Your transcript or class list for the current term with your name and your school’s name on it.
- Your tuition bill for the current term with your name and your school’s name on it.
- An official acceptance letter for the upcoming term (must include an expected graduation date).
Last, wait for verification. Amazon will review the documentation you sent in. Within three to five business days, you’ll receive an email with a link to complete your Prime Student signup process. You must sign up within 14 days of receiving this email, or your verification will expire.
What Happens if You Sign Up for Prime Student But Aren’t a Student?
If at any point, Amazon determines that you have lied about your student status or submitted expired student information, they will send you a bill with the difference between your Prime Student payments and the full cost of a Prime membership.
How Long Do Prime Student Memberships Last?
Prime Student memberships will last for four years or until you graduate (based on the date you input when you sign up)—whichever comes first.
Is Amazon Prime Student Available in Other Countries?
Currently, Amazon has a UK version of Prime Student available for any university students in the UK or Republic of Ireland.
Time to Enjoy Your Prime Student Benefits
Once you’re signed up for your Prime Student account, make sure to take full advantage of its physical and digital perks. Deck out your dorm room or homework desk, binge the newest seasons of Amazon Prime shows, or organize a study break in the form of a Twitch watch party.
