Exploring Google Cloud Access for University Students Without a Credit Card Information

[mokit]

Hello,

I’m currently a Google Cloud Certified Professional (11 certifications) and also pursuing my graduate studies. As part of my academic journey, I’m planning to teach Google Cloud to undergraduate students at my university. However, I’ve encountered a challenge related to opening a Google Cloud account for the students which I hope some of you can help with.

The Issue: To use Google Cloud, it is required to open an account which usually involves providing credit card information linked to an international payment gateway. In my country, most of the undergraduate students do not have access to credit cards making it difficult for them to create and utilize Google Cloud accounts for learning purposes.

In contrast, I learned that Microsoft Azure offers a way for university students to access the cloud platform using their university email addresses which is fantastic for those who are restricted from using personal credit cards.

My Question: Does Google Cloud provide any similar facilities for university students such as a program that allows students to access Google Cloud services through their university email addresses or any other alternative methods? Are there any student discounts, free credits or ways to bypass the credit card requirement in such scenarios?

If anyone has experience or knowledge regarding such student-friendly programs for GCP, your insights would be highly appreciated.

[jamespatrickm]

Hi @mokit,

Welcome to Google Cloud Community!

You might want to check out Google Cloud Higher Education Programs and Google Cloud for Faculty. 

Was this helpful? If so, please accept this answer as “Solution”. If you need additional assistance, reply here within 2 business days and I’ll be happy to help.

[mokit]

Thank you @jamespatrickm for sharing these valuable resources with me. I’m reviewing them, but I'm still unsure whether they will work as expected.