Requesting access

How you request access to GitHub Copilot depends on whether you are a student or a member of staff.

User group	Funding action	Access action
Centrally funded staff	None initially	Request a license
Centrally funded staff who need additional usage	Set up paid billing	Complete the license request form after the Azure subscription is created
Externally funded staff	Set up paid billing	Complete the license request form after the Azure subscription is created
Undergraduate student	None	Apply through GitHub Education
Postgraduate seeking free access	None	Apply through GitHub Education
Postgraduate seeking a Business license	Set up paid billing	Complete the license request form after the Azure subscription is created

Students

Undergraduates

Undergraduate students can access GitHub Copilot for free through GitHub Education. Once approved, Copilot is included as part of the GitHub Student Developer Pack.

To apply, follow the GitHub documentation: Apply to GitHub Education as a student.

Postgraduates

Postgraduate students can access GitHub Copilot for free through GitHub Education. Once approved, Copilot is included as part of the GitHub Student Developer Pack.

To apply, follow the GitHub documentation: Apply to GitHub Education as a student.

If you are a postgraduate student working on a research project, you can also request a GitHub Copilot for Business license - but only if your department or project is willing to fund it.

Set up paid billing by following the process in Setting up paid GitHub Copilot billing. This includes submitting the license request form after your Azure subscription has been created.

Staff

All staff members access GitHub Copilot through a GitHub Copilot for Business license. How you request access depends on your employment type.

Centrally funded staff

The ICT department funds your usage centrally under a fair usage policy.

Centrally funded staff are defined as those with a funding source of G(20) or higher. If you’re unsure what your funding source is, please check with your line manager.

Sign in to the ImperialCollegeLondon GitHub organisation.
Request a license by completing Imperial’s GitHub Copilot license request form.

You’ll need to be a member of the ImperialCollegeLondon organisation on GitHub to access the request form. If you’re not a member, you can sign-up by following How do I gain access to the Imperial College London organisation on GitHub.

If you require additional usage beyond the fair usage limit, follow the instructions in Setting up paid GitHub Copilot billing. Complete the license request form after your Azure subscription has been created.

Externally funded staff

You have no fair usage allowance and must fund all Copilot usage yourself via a cost code.

Externally funded staff are defined as those who do not have a funding source of G(20) or higher. If you’re unsure what your funding source is, please check with your line manager.

Set up paid billing by following the process in Setting up paid GitHub Copilot billing. This includes submitting the license request form after your Azure subscription has been created.