Cannot activate Azure for Students - tried creating account with school email first (failed), now GitHub Student Pack verification doesn't work either

Question

Hello,

I am a student at The National School of Applied Sciences of Al Hoceima (ENSA Al Hoceima), Morocco (UAE).

Here is my problem step by step:

STEP 1 - My first attempt (failed):

I first tried to create an Azure for Students account directly using my school email. I went to azure.microsoft.com/free/students and clicked "Activate now". When I entered my school email, Microsoft told me: "Looks like you already have an account with us. The email belongs to your work or school." I tried to sign in but I don't have a password because my university uses single sign-on (SSO). I was completely blocked.

STEP 2 - I tried the GitHub Student Pack solution:

Since I couldn't create an Azure account directly, I applied for the GitHub Student Developer Pack. My application was approved on April 4, 2026. My benefits are confirmed as available.

STEP 3 - Still cannot activate Azure:

Even with my verified GitHub Student Pack, I still cannot activate Azure for Students. Here is what happens:

• On GitHub Education → My benefits → Microsoft Azure: There is NO "Get your benefit" button and NO verification code displayed
• When I try to go directly to Azure and click "Sign in with GitHub", Microsoft still recognizes my school email as an existing work/school account and blocks me
• I cannot get any verification code from GitHub to activate Azure manually

Summary of what I have tried:

• Creating Azure account directly with school email → FAILED (work/school account block)
• Using GitHub Student Pack to activate Azure → FAILED (no button, no code)
• Different browsers (Chrome, Edge, Firefox) → FAILED
• Incognito/private mode → FAILED
• Disabling all ad blockers → FAILED
• Waiting more than 72 hours after approval → FAILED

My situation:

• I have a VALID GitHub Student Pack (approved and active)
• My school email is legitimate (@etu.uae.ac.ma)
• My university already has Microsoft 365, so my email exists as a "Work or School" account in Microsoft's system
• I just want to activate the free Azure for Students benefit ($100 credit + 25+ free services)

Question:

How can I activate Azure for Students with my verified GitHub Student status, given that my school email is already locked as a work/school account in Microsoft's system?

Please help me resolve this issue.

Thank you.

Answer 1

Hi Ilhame

This usually happens because Azure for Students and GitHub Student Pack verification are related, but they are not the same activation step. Microsoft still performs its own eligibility and account-type checks when creating the Azure for Students subscription, even if your GitHub Student Developer Pack is already approved.

Based on Microsoft’s guidance, Azure for Students is intended to be activated using your school email, and in cases where the student identity is not already set up the expected way, the email used for verification and the email/account used to claim the offer must stay consistent. Microsoft Q&A guidance also notes that if you redeem with a different account, activation can fail.

Since your university email is being detected as an existing work or school account, the issue is likely an account-type or tenant mismatch rather than a GitHub approval problem. Similar Microsoft guidance says this can happen when the email is tied to an Entra ID tenant or an unmanaged tenant state, which blocks the Azure signup flow.

I hope you find this helpful

♠ ♠ Ace ♠ ♠