Apple is rolling out two changes to the Education Store in the United States and other countries. First, Apple now requires verification for all purchases made via the Education Store in the US … so it’s no longer on the “honor system.”

Meanwhile, Apple has added Apple Watch to the Education Store for the first time …

Apple’s Education Store now requires verification

Starting today, Apple requires shoppers in the United States to complete verification when making a purchase via the Education Store. This change also applies to Australia, Hong Kong, Turkey, Canada, and Chile. In many other markets around the world, such as the UK, Apple already required verification.

As a refresher, people eligible for Apple’s Education Store include current and newly accepted college students and their parents, as well as faculty, staff, and homeschool teachers across all grade levels.

Apple is teaming up with UNiDAYS to handle the verification process. Students and educators will be asked to create a UNiDAYS ID and then verify their academic status by logging in to their school’s academic portal. Alternatively, users can upload a photo of their student or faculty IDs.

Homeschool teachers, meanwhile, will need to provide an identity document such as a driver’s license, state ID card, or passport. They’ll also need to provide one homeschool document, such as a Letter of Intent (LOI) or Letter of Acknowledgment.

Most customers will be verified instantly, and those requiring manual verification should hear back within 24 hours.

The same verification process applies both in-store and online for Apple Education Store shoppers.

Apple’s Education Store purchase limits are unchanged:

• Desktop: One (1) may be purchased per year
• Mac mini: One (1) may be purchased per year
• Notebook: One (1) may be purchased per year
• iPad: Two (2) may be purchased per year
• Accessories: Two (2) accessories with Education Pricing may be purchased per year

Apple Watch availability

Second, Apple Watch is now available with discounts through the Apple Education Store. This includes the Apple Watch Series 11, Apple Watch SE, and Apple Watch Ultra 3.

This marks the first time the Apple Watch has been available via Apple’s Education Store. It’s available in the following markets:

• Australia
• China (via AliPay)
• Hong Kong
• Japan
• Malaysia
• Singapore
• South Korea
• Taiwan
• Thailand
• Vietnam
• France
• Germany
• India
• Italy
• Saudi Arabia
• Spain
• Turkey
• UK
• US
• Canada
• Chile

You can view pricing and more on Apple’s website in your respective country. In the United States, Apple Watch pricing is as follows:

• Apple Watch Series 11: from $359 (down from $399)
  • Amazon: from $299
• Apple Watch Ultra 3: from $719 (down from $799)
  • Amazon: from $779
• Apple Watch SE 3: from $229 (down from $249)
  • Amazon: from $219

9to5Mac’s Take

This is the second time Apple has attempted to require verification for the Education Store in the United States. In January 2022, Apple rolled out verification, also in partnership with UNiDAYS, but backtracked just two days later.

I’m personally surprised that Apple allowed unfettered access to the Education Store for this long in the United States. It essentially meant that anyone could visit Apple’s website and get a discount on most products.

Apple hasn’t provided any explanation for why it’s now rolling out verification to the Education Store.

Apple debuted the MacBook Neo in March at an incredible $599 starting price … or an even more impressive $499 price point for education shoppers. Reading between the lines, I’m assuming there’s at least some correlation between that and the new verification requirements.

Apple’s initial attempt to require verification in the U.S. was also marred by issues with UNiDAYS, particularly for homeschool teachers. Apple seems to have ironed out those problems with this second attempt.

What do you think of Apple’s decision to require verification for the Education Store in the United States and other countries? Let us know down in the comments.

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