Use cases
Office for students — best value in 2026
Word, Excel and PowerPoint cover 95% of coursework. Students don't need Outlook, Teams or Access on day one — buying the right edition saves €80+ vs Microsoft 365.
Who it's for
Undergraduates, postgraduates, returning students and parents buying for a school-age child.
Why this works
- Lifetime activation — works for the entire degree, not 12 months
- Installs on Windows or Mac with one key
- No subscription that auto-renews after graduation
- All major file formats — .docx, .xlsx, .pptx — match what professors expect
Recommended licenses
- office-2024-home-student
Word, Excel, PowerPoint, OneNote — lifetime, one PC.
- office-2021-home-student
Same apps, 2021 generation — usually €15 cheaper.
Alternatives
- microsoft-365-personal — Only if you need 1 TB OneDrive and email-class Outlook.
Things to know first
- Mac users: confirm the edition is Office for Mac — same key works on either platform after the M1 install image.
- Some universities give Microsoft 365 A1/A3 free with your student email. Try logging in at office.com first — if it works, you don't need to buy anything.
FAQs
- Do I need Microsoft 365 for university?
- No. Word + Excel + PowerPoint in Office 2024 Home & Student handle every assignment file type. M365 only adds Outlook, OneDrive 1 TB and Teams chat.