Apple is rolling out two changes to the Education Store in the United States and other countries. First, Apple now requires verification for all purchases made through the Education Store…so it’s no longer on the “honor system.”
Meanwhile, Apple added Apple Watch to the Education Store for the first time…
Apple Education Store now requires verification
Starting today, Apple requires buyers in the United States to complete verification when making a purchase through the Education Store. This change also applies to Australia, Hong Kong, Turkey, Canada and Chile. In many other markets around the world, such as the UK, Apple already required verification.
As a reminder, those eligible for Apple’s Education Store include current and newly accepted students and their parents, as well as faculty, staff, and homeschoolers of all grade levels.
Apple partners with UNiDAYS to manage the verification process. Students and educators will be prompted to create a UNiDAYS ID and then verify their academic status by logging into their school’s academic portal. Alternatively, users can upload a photo of their student or faculty ID.
Homeschool teachers, on the other hand, will be required to provide identification such as a driver’s license, state ID card or passport. They will also need to provide a homeschool document, such as a Letter of Intent (LOI) or Letter of Recognition.
Most customers will be verified instantly, and those who require manual verification will receive a response within 24 hours.
The same verification process applies both in-store and online for Apple Education Store buyers.
Purchase limits on the Apple Education Store remain unchanged:
- Desktop: one (1) can be purchased per year
- Mac mini: one (1) can be purchased per year
- Notebook: One (1) can be purchased per year
- iPad: two (2) can be purchased per year
- Accessories: Two (2) accessories with the Education rate can be purchased per year.
Apple Watch availability
Second, Apple Watch is now available with discounts on the Apple Education Store. This includes the Apple Watch Series 11, Apple Watch SE, and Apple Watch Ultra 3.
This is the first time the Apple Watch has been available through Apple’s Education Store. It is available in the following markets:
- Australia
- China (via Alipay)
- Hong Kong
- Japan
- Malaysia
- Singapore
- South Korea
- Taiwan
- Thailand
- Vietnam
- France
- Germany
- India
- Italy
- Saudi Arabia
- Spain
- Türkiye
- UNITED KINGDOM
- WE
- Canada
- Chile
You can check prices and more on the Apple website in your respective country.
Take from 9to5Mac
This is the second time Apple has attempted to require verification for the Education Store in the United States. In January 2022, Apple rolled out verification, also in partnership with UNiDAYS, but backtracked just two days later.
I’m personally surprised that Apple has allowed unrestricted access to the Education Store for this long in the US. This basically meant that anyone could visit Apple’s website and get a discount on most products.
Apple has not provided any explanation as to why it is now rolling out verification to the Education Store.
Apple launched the MacBook Neo in March at an incredible starting price of $599… or an even more impressive $499 for educational buyers. Reading between the lines, I assume there is at least some correlation between this and the new verification requirements.
Apple’s initial attempt to require verification in the United States was also marred by problems with UNiDAYS, particularly for homeschoolers. Apple seems to have resolved these issues with this second attempt.
What do you think about Apple’s decision to require verification for the Education Store in the US and other countries? Let us know in the comments.
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