What is SOLIDWORKS Student Edition?
Created specifically for students, SOLIDWORKS Student Version is nearly identical to the SOLIDWORKS software used by professionals, save for a few restrictions that render it unsuitable for commercial use. It was created solely for those who wish to learn SOLIDWORKS but not use it in the professional environment. SOLIDWORKS Student Version is available only to high school students, degree-seeking students, and full-time faculty members using SOLIDWORKS for personal learning, and/or academic use. It is not intended for use among institutions and businesses.
What features does SOLIDWORKS Student Edition have?
As mentioned earlier, SOLIDWORKS Student Version isn’t that different from the commercial product, so many of the features will be the same (the better for learning the program like a pro). Features of SOLIDWORKS Student Version include:
- SolidWorks Premium software
- Animation Functionality
- Library of Standards
- Photorealistic rendering
- eDrawings
- SolidWorks Simulation Premium, finite element analysis tools (FEA)
- SolidWorks Motion, kinematic and motion simulation analysis tools
- SolidWorks Flow Simulation, computational fluid dynamics (CFD) analysis tools
- SolidWorks Plastics
- Complete online documentation and tutorials
- 14 language options: English, French, German, Spanish, Italian, Japanese, Traditional Chinese, Simplified Chinese, Polish, Korean, Czech, Brazilian, Portuguese, and Russian
- 12 month term-of-use license
Remember: SOLIDWORKS Student Version is here to teach aspiring design engineers how to use the platform, so most of the platform features will be available. You just won’t be able to use them in the same way that a professional would.
How much is SOLIDWORKS Student Edition?
The SOLIDWORKS Student Version ranges in cost from $86 to $139 for a 12-month license, depending on the reseller you’re purchasing from. Here’s a list of resellers you can go through to purchase your SOLIDWORKS Student Version:
The SOLIDWORKS Student Store also sells the SOLIDWORKS Student Version.
How to get SOLIDWORKS Student Edition?
To purchase SOLIDWORKS Student Version from the SOLIDWORKS Student Store, you first need to prove that you are a student or faculty member. To do so, simply download and fill out the eligibility form, and scan it back in. With the completion of the form, you also need to provide a valid student or faculty ID that includes your name, a valid date (not expired), and a photo. If you are a student and don’t have your student ID (we’ve all lost ours at least twice), you can provide a valid photo ID along with one of the following:
- Official, current non-photo student ID with name and date
- Official, current school transcript indicating name of school and student
- Official, current school tuition bill indicating name of school and student
- Official, current report card indicating name of school and student
- Other official dated proof of enrollment
Faculty members who do not have a valid faculty ID available can provide a photocopy of their valid photo ID plus one of the following:
- Faculty or staff paycheck stub
- Official letter from the registrar of the educational institution
SOLIDWORKS Student Edition free download
The good news: You might not need to purchase SOLIDWORKS Student Version at all! Many schools buy Student Access Licensing, which allows a designated number of students to download SOLIDWORKS Student Version for free on their personal computers. To see if you can get access to a SOLIDWORKS Student Edition free download, contact your school’s CAD administrator, as they will oversee all things SOLIDWORKS. If you can’t find your school’s CAD administrator, get in touch with your on-campus library; they should be able to point you in the right direction. The CAD administrator will tell you if there are open licenses available and if you qualify for one. If you do qualify for a free license, your CAD administrator will give you a student access code. Visit the SOLIDWORKS Community Download page to start installing the program on your computer. These licenses are temporary, expiring either one year after activation or on Nov. 30 of the following academic school year, depending on what occurs first.
How do I renew my SOLIDWORKS students license?
Whether you purchased SOLIDWORKS Student Version on your own or you’re using your school license, you will have access to the program for 12 months. If you want to renew your license, either contact your school’s CAD administrator or contact the SOLIDWORKS sales team.
