LinkedIn Premium is LinkedIn’s paid subscription service that unlocks additional features beyond the free version, such as expanded search filters, unlimited InMail messages, and access to full profiles of people who are not in your network. As a student looking to maximize your LinkedIn presence and get a leg up on the job hunt, you may be wondering if you can get access to LinkedIn Premium for free.
Can students get LinkedIn Premium for free?
The short answer is yes, students can get access to LinkedIn Premium for free through LinkedIn’s student subscription offer. Here are the key details on LinkedIn’s free Premium subscription for students:
- Eligibility: You must be a current student at an accredited university or college and have a valid school-issued email address.
- Duration: Eligible students can get LinkedIn Premium for free for 12 months.
- Features: The free student Premium subscription provides access to all the same features as a paid Premium account, including expanded search filters, unlimited InMails, full profile access, and more.
- Sign-up: Students can sign up through LinkedIn’s student offer page by providing information to confirm eligibility.
- Renewal: The free student subscription cannot be renewed after the 12 months are up. You would need to purchase a paid Premium subscription after that.
So in summary, yes, verified college and university students worldwide can get a full LinkedIn Premium subscription completely free for one year before needing to transition to a paid membership.
What features do you get with LinkedIn Premium as a student?
As a student with a free LinkedIn Premium subscription, you get access to the same features that paid users get. Here are some of the key benefits unlocked with a free student Premium account:
- Expanded profile search filters – Narrow your searches by industry, company size, job function, years of experience, and more.
- Unlimited InMails – Send direct messages to anyone, even if they’re not in your network.
- Full profile access – View complete profiles of professionals outside your network.
- Advanced profile management – See who’s viewed your profile and get data-driven insights.
- Premium badge – Display a Premium badge on your profile to showcase your investment.
- Expanded network insights – Unlock more insights on your network like schools, skills, and shared connections.
Having access to these Premium features as a student can help you stand out during your job search, build your professional brand, make valuable connections, and gain key insights to advance your career.
How can LinkedIn Premium help students find jobs or internships?
The additional tools unlocked with a free student Premium account can provide key advantages when searching for jobs or internships. Here are some of the ways Premium can help students in the job hunt:
- Find relevant openings – Premium unlocks advanced filters so you can target your job searches and surface the most relevant opportunities.
- Connect with recruiters – Reach out directly to recruiters and hiring managers with InMail messages.
- Research companies – Access insights on companies you want to work for by viewing complete profiles of their employees.
- Expand your network – Grow your connections by engaging with professionals outside your existing network.
- Showcase achievements – Flaunt your Premium status on your profile to exhibit your professional investment.
In addition to the above, Premium provides data and insights on your profile views, network connections, and more to help guide your job search strategy.
What other benefits does LinkedIn Premium offer students?
In addition to job search perks, LinkedIn Premium provides other valuable benefits for students, such as:
- Business intelligence – Research companies and industries you may want to work in after graduating.
- Career coaching – Get actionable insights on how to improve your profile and job hunt.
- Network building – Expand your connections in your field by engaging professionals outside your network.
- Thought leadership – Publish long-form posts to share insights and build your brand as a thought leader.
- Group participation – Join and actively participate in exclusive industry and professional groups.
Leveraging these types of benefits can help you gain critical knowledge, build your reputation, and open up new opportunities as you navigate your education and career.
What are some tips for students to maximize LinkedIn Premium?
Here are some best practices for students looking to get the most out of a free Premium subscription:
- Complete your profile 100% to showcase your full skills and achievements.
- Engage your network by liking and commenting on content.
- Publish posts to share insights, articles, projects, and more.
- Follow companies and topics relevant to your interests and goals.
- Join campus groups and professional student organizations.
- Actively search for and connect with students, alumni, and professionals at target employers.
- Use Premium data insights to improve your profile and job search strategy.
- Message recruiters and hiring managers about open roles and internships.
- Attend Premium-only online events like professional workshops and seminars.
Taking proactive steps like these to fully leverage LinkedIn Premium as a student can help boost your experience, exposure, connections, and opportunities during your time in school.
Can graduate students also get LinkedIn Premium for free?
Yes, LinkedIn’s student Premium offer extends to graduate students in addition to undergraduates. Here are the key points on eligibility for graduate students:
- You must be enrolled in a full-time or part-time graduate program, including any Master’s, MBA, PhD, law, or medical school program.
- Your graduate school must be an accredited institution that issues official school email addresses.
- You must verify your student status with a school-issued email address and provide proof of enrollment upon request.
Assuming these criteria are met, both graduate and undergraduate students can take advantage of the same 12-month free Premium offer from LinkedIn. This can be especially valuable for graduate students looking to network, research, and land internships or jobs in their chosen field.
What happens when the free student Premium expires?
LinkedIn’s free student Premium subscription lasts for 12 months before expiring. Here is what students need to know about the expiration of the free Premium offer:
- You will not be automatically charged or converted to a paid plan when your free trial ends. Your Premium access will simply expire after 12 months.
- You will receive renewal reminders as your expiration date approaches, but can also check your expiration date under your account settings.
- After expiration, you will revert to a free regular LinkedIn account and lose access to Premium features.
- To continue with Premium, you will need to purchase one of LinkedIn’s paid Premium subscription plans.
- Graduating students are eligible for an additional one year Premium subscription for a discounted student rate after graduation.
Being aware of the expiration timeline allows you to maximize the value of the free student offer and seamlessly transition to a paid membership if you wish to continue with Premium access after your school status changes.
Can you get an extension on the free student Premium?
Unfortunately, LinkedIn does not currently offer extensions on their 12-month free student Premium trial. The Premium access is intended as a student-specific offer. Some key facts on the terms of the offer:
- All eligible students receive 12 months of Premium upon initial sign-up and verification.
- There is no option to prolong the free access beyond the initial 12-month period.
- The free student offer cannot be renewed or reactivated after expiration.
- Students attempting to re-verify their .edu emails after expiration may have their accounts flagged.
If you want continued access to Premium features after your free trial, you will need to purchase one of LinkedIn’s paid subscription plans. Make the most of the 12-month student access window when you have it!
Can high school students get free Premium too?
Unfortunately LinkedIn’s free Premium offer is limited to students enrolled in accredited colleges and universities and does not extend to those in high school. Here are some key facts regarding high school student eligibility:
- You must have a valid school-issued .edu email address, which high schools do not provide.
- The terms state users must be current college or university students, with no mention of high school students.
- Premium verification requires official proof of enrollment in post-secondary education.
- The features are designed for those entering the workforce, less relevant to high school students.
For these reasons, high school and other K-12 students are not able to sign up for LinkedIn’s free Premium access. But they can still build an impressive profile with a free regular account as they prepare for college and career.
Can former students keep Premium access after graduation?
Unfortunately, LinkedIn Premium access does expire upon graduation and termination of your student status, even if time remains in your free 12-month access period. Here are some key details on what happens when students graduate:
- The Premium subscription is tied to your active student status, not just the 12-month timeframe.
- Once you graduate, you lose eligibility even if you have months left in your free trial.
- You will receive an email notifying you that your Premium subscription has expired.
- Some features may remain temporarily available before full access is revoked.
- You will revert to a free regular account with basic features after access terminates.
While students do forfeit Premium upon graduation, LinkedIn offers discounted Premium rates for graduating students wishing to maintain access. But the free student Premium offer itself does not continue post-graduation.
Conclusion
LinkedIn Premium provides students with valuable networking and career-building tools through its free 12-month student subscription offer. Any active undergraduate or graduate student can unlock the full Premium experience at no cost simply by verifying their school-issued .edu email address. This provides access to benefits like InMail messages, profile research, and expanded search filters to help students find jobs and take their profiles to the next level. Just be aware that this free student Premium access does expire after 12 months and cannot be extended or renewed. But leveraging the perks while they are available can give a helpful boost to students entering the workforce.
