Starting today, Apple will require customers in the United States, Canada, and Chile to verify their status as a student or teacher to receive “educational discounts.” Apple is adopting the UNiDAYS verification system it uses in other countries, with a new process to accommodate homeschooling families .
Apple is also adding the Apple Watch Series 11, Apple Watch SE, and Apple Watch Ultra 3 to Education Store , meaning students and educators can now take advantage of up to 10% off.
How to use the UNiDAYS system
Students and teachers will be able to use the UNiDAYS app or website to verify their academic status with an email address from an educational institution , a student or staff photo ID , or other valid educational document .
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Homeschooling customers can also be verified by UNiDAYS. Verification requires an ID document, such as a driver's license or passport, and a homeschooling document, such as a Letter of Intent or Letter of Acknowledgement. Most customers will be verified immediately, with UNiDAYS providing a decision in less than 24 hours (when manual review is required).
Once verified through UNiDAYS, students and educators in the U.S., Canada, and Chile will be able to purchase the Apple Watch and other Apple devices at educational discounts. Apple’s Education Store offers special prices on Macs, iPads, and the Studio Display, along with accessories like the Magic Keyboard and Apple Pencil.
Apple previously had no established system for verifying student status in the U.S. or Canada. As a result, anyone could technically make purchases from the Education Store. Apple’s sales policies stated that a review of customer purchases to ensure that the company met the terms of the purchase. Apple briefly used UNiDAYS in the U.S. in 2022 to verify student status, but it was removed after a few days due to complaints about issues with the verification process.
Who can benefit from the discounts?
Apple Education Store discounts are available to K–12 employees, higher education faculty and staff, students attending or accepted to higher education, and parents purchasing on behalf of children attending or accepted to higher education institutions.
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In addition to the US, Canada and Chile, Apple has added the Apple Watch to the Education Store in Australia, China, Hong Kong, Japan, Malaysia, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand, Vietnam, France, Germany, India, Italy, Saudi Arabia, Spain, Turkey and the United Kingdom.
Apple has also expanded UNiDAYS verification requirements to Australia, Hong Kong, and Turkey.
Apple’s new policy marks a more rigorous and organized approach to the distribution of educational discounts, ensuring that Education Store benefits are only available to the rightful beneficiaries. At the same time, the integration of the UNiDAYS system in the US, Canada and Chile markets brings the company into line with the practices it already applies internationally, enhancing transparency and control in the verification process.
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At the same time, the addition of new Apple Watch models to the Education Store expands the options for students and educators, further strengthening the company’s education ecosystem. This move demonstrates Apple’s strategic intent to further solidify its presence in the education space by offering access to more devices at preferential pricing, while also setting clearer limits on the use of its discount programs.
