About education pack application from China

[gujun1225]

Hi everyone,

Dear GitHub Education Support Team,
I am writing to inquire about the verification process for GitHub Education, as I have made several attempts to complete verification but have not been successful.

I fully understand and respect the need for careful scrutiny to prevent misuse of GitHub Education benefits. However, the current verification process has created significant practical difficulties for users based in China, and I would like to explain my situation in detail for your consideration.

4. Accessibility issue with education.github.com
   In previous years, the verification process was relatively straightforward. This year, however, the system requires applicants to verify their current institutional position through education.github.com. While this requirement is understandable, the domain education.github.com is currently inaccessible from mainland China due to network restrictions.

Although GitHub itself is accessible, reaching education.github.com requires the use of a VPN, which places applicants in a difficult position and may interfere with verification workflows.

5. Rejected documentation without clear explanation
   The employment proof I submitted has been rejected multiple times without specific feedback. The document is officially issued, institutionally stamped, and bilingual (Chinese and English on the same page). Without clearer guidance on the reason for rejection, it is difficult for me to determine how to improve or supplement the documentation.

6. Profile identity verification concerns
   I was informed that my name could not be verified on my GitHub profile. My name is displayed on my profile, and I have also linked additional professional identifiers, including my ORCID. If there are specific formatting or content requirements for profile verification, I would greatly appreciate explicit guidance.

If language or contextual familiarity is a barrier in reviewing Chinese institutional documents, may I respectfully suggest that the case be reviewed by a staff member with relevant expertise.

I sincerely appreciate your time and effort in reviewing this matter and would be grateful for any clarification or alternative verification options you could provide. GitHub Education has been an invaluable resource for my teaching and academic work, and I hope this issue can be resolved.

Thank you very much for your attention.
Kind regards,

[suyashj1231]

Hi
I think your best bet is to message them at https://support.github.com/; they respond quickly!
Hope it helps!

[gujun1225]

Thanks mate. Will have a try.

[aminur-syd]

Hi @gujun1225,

I understand the challenges you're facing with the GitHub Education Pack verification from China. In addition to contacting GitHub Support (which is definitely a good step), here are some specific suggestions that might help:

For the Documentation Issues:

1. Document Format: Make sure your employment proof is:

   • A clear, high-resolution scan or photo (not blurry)
   • Shows your full name exactly as it appears on your GitHub profile
   • Includes clear institutional letterhead and official stamp
   • Has visible dates showing current employment
   • If bilingual, ensure both languages are clearly legible

2. Additional Documentation: Consider also uploading:

   • Your faculty/staff ID card (both sides if applicable)
   • An official letter from your department head
   • Recent pay stub or employment contract

For the Profile Verification:

1. Make sure your GitHub profile name field matches your official documents exactly (including character spacing and name order)
2. Add your institutional email address to your GitHub account and verify it
3. Consider adding your institution name to your GitHub bio

For the education.github.com Access Issue:

Since you mentioned VPN issues, when you do access the verification page:

• Try to complete the entire process in one session without switching VPN servers
• Use a stable connection to avoid timeout issues
• Clear your browser cache and cookies before starting

Alternative Approach:

If repeated attempts fail, in your support ticket, specifically mention:

• You're applying as faculty/staff (not a student)
• The specific error messages or rejection reasons you've received
• That education.github.com has accessibility issues from your location
• Request if there's an alternative verification method for users in similar situations

GitHub Support is generally understanding of regional access challenges. Be patient with the process, as verification from certain regions may require additional review time.

Good luck with your application!

[aminur-syd]

Additional Tip from Personal Experience:

If you're applying for the Student Developer Pack (not faculty/staff), I highly recommend trying to submit your application from your university or college computer/network.

I faced similar verification issues before, and when I applied directly from my university's computer, the verification process went through much more smoothly. The university network connection may help GitHub verify your institutional affiliation more easily.

This might not apply to faculty/staff applications, but it's worth trying if you're a student having repeated verification failures.