How to buy

Updated: December 3, 2007

Step 1: Choose licensing option

At Microsoft, we are committed to providing the best licensing solutions for our education customers. Designed to reduce the costs of acquiring, upgrading, maintaining, and managing software for multiple computers, the latest Academic Volume Licensing programs provide simple yet flexible volume-based pricing.

Types of Academic Volume Licensing programs

We offer our education customers the option of both subscription and transactional licensing.

Through our subscription licensing programs, Campus Agreement and School Agreement, you can run a selection of products, and any upgrades or downgrades of those products, on an annual basis. Even if the number of computers or users grows, you remain fully licensed for the year. You can also license students for use of selected products on a personally-owned computer or an institution-owned computer checked out to a student for the school year. Plus, you automatically receive the benefits of Software Assurance Membership.

With our transactional licensing programs, Microsoft Open License for Academic and Microsoft Select License for Academic, you acquire perpetual licenses (that is, you own the licenses), while eliminating the costs and packaging of retail software. You also have the option of enrolling your licenses in Software Assurance, which entitles you to product upgrades that release during the agreement term, E-Learning courses, and more.

Academic licensing comparison

Program nameCampus AgreementSchool Agreement Open License for AcademicSelect License for Academic

Customer profile

Higher educational institutions looking for a simple, flexible subscription licensing agreement

K-12 schools and districts and preschools looking for a simple, flexible subscription licensing agreement

Academic institutions of any size that want easy, one-time transactions and the flexibility of acquiring licenses in small quantities

Medium-to-large institutions with approximately 250+ computers and the ability to forecast license acquisitions

Available products

View the Volume Licensing Product List

View the Volume Licensing Product List

View the Volume Licensing Product List

View the Volume Licensing Product List

Agreement term

The master Campus and School Agreement has no expiration date

Campus subscription enrollment designates a one- or three-year licensed period

Software orders are placed annually and as needed throughout the year

The master Campus and School Agreement has no expiration date

School subscription enrollment designates a one- or three-year licensed period

Software orders are placed annually and as needed throughout the year

Two years from the time of initial order

Three years with the option to renew for one or three additional years

Software Assurance benefits

Software Assurance Membership included, which provides product updates and upgrades, Home Use Program, support resources and tools, E-Learning courses, and more.

Software Assurance Membership included, which provides product updates and upgrades, Home Use Program, support resources and tools, E-Learning courses, and more.

Include Software Assurance with license purchases and receive product upgrades released during the agreement term and E-Learning courses.

Include Software Assurance with individual license purchases and receive product upgrades released during the agreement term and eLearning courses.

Include Software Assurance Membership on a product pool and receive additional benefits.

Student licensing

Student Option licenses all students to use products on their personal computer

Student Option licenses a specific number of students to use products on their personal computer

Not currently available

Student licenses available through Student Select

How to buy

Through all Authorized Education Resellers (AERs)

Through all Authorized Education Resellers (AERs)

Through all Authorized Education Resellers (AERs)

Through Authorized Education Large Account Resellers (LARs)

For more information

Visit the Campus Agreement page

Visit the School Agreement page

Visit the Academic Open page

Visit the Academic Select page

How to buy home    Step 2: Acquire licenses


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