Students cant' sign up for Free Power BI Accounts

[Rifter]

This is a big problem for us.  We teach Power BI.  For a "free" product, we really do have to jump through a LOT of hoops.  

The latest, is now students have to sign up using a Fabric Account.  Our university doesn't allow Fabric accounts, and this is giving us a lot of problems.   We seem to have fights every couple of semesters with Power BI (Well, bigger ones than a few ongoing issues that have been a major painpoint for years now).  

This is what I get: 

You've selected Microsoft Fabric free

(1) Let's get you started

We can't finish signing you up because Microsoft Fabric free isn't currently available for your work or school account associated with "rifter"@u.University.edu

Is there some work around for this? 

[Rifter]

This could end up being a BIG problem for Microsoft.  The reason we are using Power BI, is that it is free for students to use.  So they can use it as part of their portfolio and continue to use it into the future.

We have one professor that is saying we should just use Tableau, beacuse of this.  We teach around 700 students a year between Fall, Spring, Summer courses.  That would be 700 potential users that would learn on Tableau and be inclined that direction.  This seems like a pretty bad decision from Microsoft.  In trying to find a fix, I am seeing this error a lot, and that means there are a lot more not actively trying to find a fix.  

[GilbertQ]

Hi @Rifter 

As far as I know there is no work around for this.

What you might be able to do, is to sign up for a Developer Account in Office 365, which would give you 25 Power BI Pro licenses for 90 days?

Developer Program | Microsoft 365 Dev Center

[Rifter]

There are around 300 students across all accounts, so, unfortunately, that won't work.  Thank you for the idea. 

Kevin