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 |
|---|---|---|
| Undergraduate student | None | Apply through GitHub Education |
| Postgraduate student using Copilot for Business | Arrange department or project funding | Set up paid billing, then request a license |
| 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 |
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.
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.
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.
-
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.
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.
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.
Page last modified: 30 Sep 2026.