Free Google AI Plus for African Students: 12 Months of Gemini at No Cost

Google is giving eligible university and college students in 27 African countries a free 12-month Google AI Plus subscription through its Gemini student offer. The offer was announced on 20 August 2026, and students who claimed last year's offer can renew for another year.

What you get with Google AI Plus

• Gemini Omni, Google's latest AI model, in the Gemini app
• Twice the usage limits in Gemini
• Deep Research, for detailed reports on any topic, now also in Gemini Live
• Gemini Live for real-time voice conversations
• Study tools: study notebooks, flashcards and custom practice quizzes
• Interactive 3D visualisations and simulations to understand hard topics
• 400 GB of cloud storage shared across Google Drive, Gmail and Google Photos
• A discounted bundle with YouTube Premium (up to 70% off)

Eligible countries

Angola, Benin, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Cabo Verde, Cameroon, Côte d'Ivoire, Gabon, Ghana, Guinea-Bissau, Kenya, Mali, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Niger, Nigeria, Rwanda, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Tanzania, Togo, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe.

Who can claim

• Students 18 years or older
• Currently enrolled at an accredited university, polytechnic, college of education or other higher institution in an eligible country
• A personal Google account
• Students who claimed last year's offer can renew for another 12 months after re-verifying their student status

How to claim

1. Go to Google's student offer page (one.google.com/ai-student) and sign in with your personal Google account.
2. Click "Claim your offer".
3. Verify your student status through SheerID. You may need to enter your school name and upload proof of enrolment, such as a student ID card, an admission letter or a fee receipt.
4. Activate Google AI Plus once you're verified, then open the Gemini app to start using it.

Tips

• Use a document that clearly shows your name, your school and the current academic year, so verification goes smoothly.
• If verification fails, check that your photo is clear and try again with a different document.
• Set a reminder for when your free year ends, in case Google asks you to choose a paid plan or cancel.
• The offer is from Google directly. Never pay anyone to "activate" it for you or share your Google password with anyone.

How to use it for your studies and scholarship applications

• Use Deep Research to explore universities, scholarships and research topics.
• Create practice quizzes and flashcards from your lecture notes.
• Ask Gemini to give feedback on your CV or motivation letter, but always write in your own voice.
• Store your scholarship documents safely in your 400 GB of Google Drive.