As students across Europe wake up today, they will find a new Back to School Offer on Apple's Education store, as first spotted by Everything Apple. But is the offer worth it, and how does it compare to last year?

The 2026 Offer

Apple is offering an Apple Gift Card worth up to £120, depending on the device you purchase.

You have a limited selection to choose from, to make use of the offer, with the choice of just two Mac models and two iPad models.

Here's the list:

  • MacBook Pro - claim a £120 Apple Gift Card
  • MacBook Air - claim a £80 Apple Gift Card
  • iPad Pro - claim a £80 Apple Gift Card
  • iPad Air - claim a £80 Apple Gift Card

No accessories are on offer in European markets, though some customers in Asia can claim free AirPods, AirTags and more.

Apple's 2025 UK Offer

Last year, Apple's offerings were much more generous, and the devices themselves were cheaper.

In July of last year, students could purchase an M4 MacBook Air for £899, or MacBook Pro from £1,599, and claim a free Magic Mouse, Magic Keyboard, Magic Trackpad, AirPods 4 (ANC) or AirPods Pro 2 at a discounted rate.

The offer also applied to iMac, with a free pair of AirPods 4 (ANC) or discounted AirPods Pro 2.

iPad Air and iPad Pro buyers could also claim a free Apple Pencil Pro, free AirPods 4 or discounted iPad Magic Keyboards and higher-end AirPods models.

This year's offer is underwhelming when compared to last years.

Apple Price Hikes

Apple hiked the price of all its Mac and iPad models on the Apple Store in June, including their education and refurbished stores.

A MacBook Air today costs £1,199 with the student discount (£1,299 retail price) - £200 higher than the retail price last year. Even with the £80 Apple Gift Card, you are still spending more than in previous years.

The Gift Card will allow you to buy a Magic Mouse - only in white - but won't stretch very far on the Apple Store.

Other Student Offers

Before making the purchase from the Apple Store, check third-party retailers as many offer significant discounts on Apple products.

For example, Curry's are currently selling the M5 MacBook Pro for £1,249 - that's less than a MacBook Air. The device also has free next day delivery, a luxury you may struggle to find on the Apple Store due to current supply constraints.

Apple Authorised Premium Reseller, KRCS, are also currently running a 10% off promotion on Mac, and offer their own student discount programme.

Everything Apple's View

This year's offer is not a particularly compelling one, especially when compared to third-party retailers and the promotion that Apple ran last year.

As someone who personally took advantage of the Amazon Prime Student offer last year, and purchased an M4 MacBook Air for £799, I would not be rushing to the Apple Store today.

However, if you have already budgeted for an eligible device and were planning to buy directly from Apple, the gift card is a nice bonus that can be used towards a future purchase.