Unable to access the subscription though being a genuine student

[vijaym2k6]

Hi everyone,

I am unable to get the GitHub Copilot Pro subscription though being a genuine student. The reason it states when they rejected my application is because of my name, Vijay M. Under the Billing section, I am unable to give M as the last name, since it is too small and in my College ID, it states Vijay M. Could anybody please help me with this.

[gowthamrdyy]

Hi Vijay,

This usually happens because GitHub’s verification system expects a full legal last name, while many college IDs (especially in India) use an initial instead of a surname. Since “M” is only one character, the billing form validation rejects it, and the verification system cannot properly match your student identity.

Here’s what you should do step-by-step:

1. Use your expanded surname (if available)
   Enter your full family name in the Billing/Name fields instead of just “M”.
   Example:

   • First name: Vijay
   • Last name:(your actual expanded initial)

   GitHub accepts the legal/full name even if your ID shows an initial.

2. If you do not officially use a surname
   Enter:

   • First name: Vijay
   • Last name: M (add a period or space if required, e.g., “M.” or “MN”)
     Some users resolve validation issues this way because the system requires more than one character.

3. Update your GitHub profile name
   Go to:
   GitHub → Settings → Public profile → Name
   Make sure it matches the name you submit for student verification.

4. Reapply through GitHub Education

   • Visit GitHub Education → Student Developer Pack

   • Upload your college ID again

   • If possible, also upload one additional proof:

     • Bonafide certificate OR
     • Fee receipt OR
     • College portal screenshot showing your full name

5. If rejection continues
   Contact GitHub Education support directly and explain that your institution uses initials instead of surnames (very common in India). Attach:

   • College ID
   • Government ID (optional but helpful)
   • Short explanation of naming convention

Example explanation you can include:

“My institution follows an initial-based naming convention where ‘M’ represents my family name. My official records display my name as ‘Vijay M’, which may not meet form validation requiring a longer surname.”

This is a known issue for students with initial-based names, and support usually approves it manually after clarification.

Hope this helps you get Copilot Pro activated soon.

[vijaym2k6]

Alright, thank you! I'll try it out.