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Microsoft Academic

How To: Sign Up for the Academic Knowledge API

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February 20, 2018 update:

The Academic Knowledge API has moved to Microsoft Cognitive Services Labs. Please use the new API page (opens in new tab) to get started. Once you go through the 2-step sign in process, you will see your API keys.

If you are currently using the Academic Knowledge API under a free trial, you current keys will remain valid until the end of your trial.

If you are currently using the paid preview tier of the Academic Knowledge API, you can continue using it until May 24, 2018. After this date, please generate a new key for free tier usage using the API’s page (opens in new tab) on the Microsoft Cognitive Services Labs portal. There will no longer be a paid tier for Academic Knowledge. Please contact us if the free tier is insufficient for your needs.


Interested users can access the knowledge graph that powers Microsoft Academic (opens in new tab) search directly via our API (opens in new tab). To access the API, you first need to create a free Azure account, and then add the Academic Knowledge API to your dashboards. Follow the steps below to set up your API access.

start screen for creating a free Azure account

Create a free Azure account.

Sign in with your Microsoft account

Sign in with your Microsoft account.

Verify your identity with a credit card. No payment will be extracted.

Azure get started screen

Begin using your Azure subscription.

Azure ssubscription start screen

Proceed to the Azure management portal.

Click new in the top left to add a new dashboard

Add a new dashboard.

Select Academic Knowledge API in the results.Select Academic Knowledge API in the results.

Select Academic Knowledge API in the results.

Search for Academic Knowledge API

Search for Academic Knowledge API.

Click create.

Click create.

Name your dashboard, and select location West US and Pricing tier F0 (free)

Name your dashboard, and select location West US and Pricing tier F0 (free).

Screen of Azure subscriptions showing the new dashboard.

See your new dashboard in your account.

Note your Subscription ID under the Keys menu.

Note your Subscription ID under the Keys menu.