Cloud Computing Services for Students

Disclaimer: UC Berkeley does not manage or endorse student access to these services.

UC Berkeley does not manage or endorse student access to cloud service providers for computing infrastructure, such as virtual servers and storage. However, Amazon Web Services, Microsoft Azure, and Google Cloud Platform independently provide free credits or tiered payment options for students who meet certain criteria.  See below for details about each provider. 

Students who are working directly with UC Berkeley faculty who wish to convert to a paid subscription should consult with bIT for assistance. (A departmental Chartstring is required for this process).

Benefits

  • Innovation: Access industry-standard tools used in tech, design, and research.

  • Speed: Build and deploy projects rapidly using virtual resources.

  • Flexibility: Work from anywhere, anytime.

  • Learning: Gain real-world experience with professional-grade platforms.

  • Support: Most services provide extensive documentation and community forums.

Use Cases

  • Launch virtual servers for computing tasks.
  • Store, analyze, and run data sets and simulations.

  • Explore machine learning and artificial intelligence capabilities.

  • Practicing DevOps, version control, and infrastructure management.
  • Develop & test software applications such as class projects (NOT long-term projects).

Cost

There is no charge for the program if you remain within the spending limit set by the Cloud provider. Limits depend on each provider, and are outlined on each provider's page.

If you need to convert your account to a paid program, please consult with bIT for assistance. (A departmental Chartstring is required for this process).

Getting Started

We've provided a brief overview of each platform below. Caution that each overview is very high level and we encourage students to do their own research to find a platform suitable to their needs!

Choose from the platforms below and follow their steps to activate your student account:

Amazon Web Services - AWS Educate 

  • Free tier and credits for cloud computing services.
  • Includes EC2, S3, Lambda, and more.
  • Student-specific learning modules and project templates.

Microsoft - Azure for Students

  • Free $100 credit annually.
  • Includes Azure Virtual Machines, databases, and AI tools.
  • No credit card required.

Google - Google Cloud for Students

  • Up to $300 in credits via the GitHub Student Developer Pack.
  • Access Compute Engine, Firebase, BigQuery, and more.
  • Designed for academic and independent learning use.

Important Notes

  • These resources are not managed or endorsed by UC Berkeley.

  • You are responsible for account setup, billing awareness, and security.

  • Always monitor your credits or free tier usage to avoid being charged.
  • These programs are good for learning in a sandbox atmosphere, NOT for long-term projects such as launching your own business.

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