You’re broke. Or maybe you're just smart with your money. Either way, if you are currently enrolled in a university and paying the full retail price for a music streaming subscription, you are essentially lighting five bucks on fire every single month. It’s a waste. The apple student discount music plan is one of those rare "too good to be true" offers that actually stays true, provided you can jump through the verification hoops.
Apple isn't doing this out of the goodness of their heart. They want you locked into the ecosystem. If they get you hooked on your curated playlists and Replay stats while you're pulling late-night study sessions, you’re less likely to jump ship to Spotify or Tidal when you graduate and start making "real" money. It’s a calculated move.
But for you? It’s just a massive discount.
How the Apple Student Discount Music Deal Actually Works
Let’s get the numbers out of the way first. Typically, an individual Apple Music subscription sits at $10.99 per month. The student tier slices that down to $5.99. That’s roughly a 50% discount. Honestly, in an era where every single streaming service is hiking prices annually, seeing a price point stay this low for students is a bit of a relief.
But there is a catch. You can't just tell Apple you're a student. They don't take your word for it.
Apple uses a third-party service called UNiDAYS to verify your enrollment. This is where most people get stuck. If your school doesn't have a standard .edu email address or if you’re a freshman who hasn't received your credentials yet, you might have to upload scans of your student ID or your current class schedule. It’s a bit of a pain, but for five dollars a month in savings, it’s worth the ten minutes of clicking around.
The Secret Bonus: Apple TV+ is Included
This is the part most people overlook. When you sign up for the apple student discount music plan, you also get a subscription to Apple TV+ for free. No extra charge. Apple doesn't advertise this nearly as much as they should.
Think about that for a second. You’re getting a massive library of high-fidelity music—Lossless Audio and Spatial Audio included—plus award-winning shows like Severance or Ted Lasso, all for the price of a mediocre latte. It’s arguably the best value in the entire streaming landscape right now. However, keep in mind that this is a "limited time" offer technically, though Apple has kept this bundle active for years. They could pull the TV+ perk at any moment, but for now, it’s the ultimate sweetener.
The Eligibility Reality Check
Who actually qualifies? It’s not just for 18-year-olds at Ivy League schools.
If you are a student at a degree-granting university or college, you’re in. This includes post-graduate students. Getting your Masters? You qualify. Working on a PhD? You qualify. In some regions, even technical colleges and junior colleges are covered under the UNiDAYS umbrella.
However, there is a hard limit. You can only enjoy this discounted rate for a total of 48 months. That’s four years—the standard length of an undergraduate degree. These months don't have to be continuous. If you take a gap year to go find yourself in Europe, you can pause the subscription and resume the student rate when you head back to campus. Once those 48 months are up, your account automatically flips to the standard individual price.
What If UNiDAYS Rejects You?
It happens. Maybe your school isn't in their database. Maybe your name on your ID doesn't perfectly match your Apple ID. If you run into a wall, don't just give up and pay full price.
You can contact Apple Support directly. They have the manual power to override verification if you can provide sufficient proof of enrollment. I’ve seen people use tuition receipts or official letters from the registrar to get approved when the automated system fails. It takes a little more legwork, but again, we’re talking about saving sixty dollars a year.
Why Choose This Over Spotify Student?
This is the big debate. Spotify’s student plan used to be the undisputed king because it bundled Hulu and Showtime. But things changed. Hulu’s inclusion has become more complicated with the Disney+ merger, and many students find the Apple Music interface cleaner, especially if they are already using an iPhone and Mac.
Then there’s the audio quality.
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If you’re a bit of an audiophile, or even if you just have a decent pair of headphones, Apple Music wins on paper. They offer ALAC (Apple Lossless Audio Codec) which preserves every bit of the original studio recording. Spotify has been promising "Hi-Fi" for years and still hasn't delivered it to the masses. Plus, Spatial Audio with Dolby Atmos is a legitimate game-changer for certain genres. Hearing a drum fill move behind your head while you're studying is a weirdly immersive experience.
Setting It Up Without Losing Your Mind
If you're ready to switch, here is the most efficient way to do it.
- Open the Music app on your iPhone, iPad, or Mac.
- Go to "Listen Now" or "For You."
- Tap the trial offer (even if you’ve had Apple Music before, sometimes the student tier triggers a new trial period).
- Choose "Student" as your plan.
- Tap "Verify Eligibility." This will redirect you to the UNiDAYS website.
- Log in with your university portal or your .edu email.
Once you’re verified, you’ll be kicked back to the Music app. You pay. You listen. You save.
Managing Your 48-Month Clock
Since the apple student discount music plan is capped at 48 months, you should track your time. You can check your subscription status in your Apple ID settings. If you’re getting close to graduation but haven't used all 48 months, make sure you don't accidentally cancel and lose that "grandfathered" status if you plan on going to grad school immediately after.
The Graduation Transition
What happens when the party's over?
Eventually, UNiDAYS will ping you for a re-verification. If you can't prove you're still in school, Apple will send you an email saying your subscription is moving to the standard rate. You don't lose your playlists. Your library stays intact. The only thing that changes is the hit to your bank account.
If you've reached this stage, it might be time to look into an Apple One bundle. If you’re paying for iCloud storage and the now-not-free Apple TV+, the bundle usually ends up being cheaper than paying for everything individually.
Actionable Steps to Take Right Now
Stop overpaying. If you are a student, follow these steps immediately:
- Check your current plan: Open Settings > [Your Name] > Subscriptions. If it says "Individual" and you're in school, change it.
- Verify your .edu access: Make sure you can still log into your university email. You’ll need it for the UNiDAYS verification link.
- Download the Apple TV+ app: Since it’s included, you might as well get your money’s worth. Start Masters of the Air or Silo this weekend.
- Audit your 48 months: If you’ve been a student for five years (it happens!), be prepared for the price jump and budget accordingly.
The apple student discount music offer is one of the few genuine wins for student budgets. It’s easy to set up, provides high-end audio quality, and throws in a premium movie streaming service for free. There is zero reason to pay the "adult" price until you absolutely have to.