Student programs are aimed at bringing like-minded and passionate folks together and give them a oppurtunity to network and learn and give back to the community! Here I have listed down the top five student programs every student should know and apply to.

1. Microsoft Learn Student Ambassador Program

MLSA previously called the Microsoft Student Partner (MSP) program is a student program offered by one of the world’s leading tech giant, Microsoft under the supervision of Global Program Director, Pablo Veramendi.

This program enpowers you to learn and uplift other folks in the community. You can help students with their coding skills online with Microsoft Learn, organise hackathons to solve real-world challenges or even create a digital community of your own.

Why become a MLSA?

1. get a chance to connect with experts and mentors at Microsoft

2. Get a hands-on experience at conducting workshops and managing a community

3. Use Microsoft Learn, to upskill yourself give back to the community by helping other folks

4. Earn Reputation and get recognised as a tech insider

5. Uplift folks by creating opportunity and sharing expertise-not just locally but globally

Perks of being a Microsoft Learn Student Ambassador

There are basically three milestones a MLSA has to complete and each milestone has their own perks.

Eligibility to apply for MLSA

To apply, you must be at least 16 years old, have valid identification and be actively enrolled in an accredited, higher education academic institution.

Students in Cuba, Iran, North Korea, Sudan, Syria, and the Region of Crimea are not eligible for the Microsoft Learn Student Ambassadors program. U.S. export regulations prohibit the export of goods and services to these countries/regions and therefore students of these countries/regions are not eligible to participate.

When and where to apply ?

Application for MLSA program is always open but new students are accepted into the program quarterly.

If you are interested and willing to became a Microsoft Learn Student Ambassador program can apply here : Microsoft Learn Student Ambassador

2. Github Campus Expert

Campus Experts are student leaders that strive to build diverse and inclusive spaces to learn skills, share their experiences, and build projects together.

Why become a GCE ?

As local leaders, Campus Experts know the challenges students on their campuses face. With the GitHub Campus Experts training, you’ll learn technical and professional skills—like public speaking, technical writing, community leadership, and software development—that will help you build a strong technical community, teach valuable skills, create new opportunities for your student community, and position your institution within a global community of student leaders.

Perks of being a GCE ?

Being a Part of GCE is an honour in itself but it comes with several perks and benefits.

1.Chance to learn about community management from Experts from GitHub.

2.Organise Event at your Campus with exclusive support from Github.

3.You get to access conferences and Speaking opportunity

4.Chance to Network

Eligibility to apply for Github Campus Expert Program

1. Be at least 18 years of age.

2. Validate your student status through the GitHub Student Developer Pack.

3. Be enrolled in a post-secondary formal education institution.

4. Have more than one year left as a student before graduating.

5. Be a GitHub user for at least six months.

When and Where you can apply?

Githhub campus expert program form opens twice every year, once in august and once in february. The application remains open for a month and you can apply once every application cycle.

If you are intersted you can visit there Website : Github Campus Expert

3. Google developer Student Club (GDSC) Lead

DSC is a Google Student program as the name suggests its for University Students, designed to help them build their development skills. By joining a Developer Student Club(DSC) students grow their knowledge in a peer-to-peer learning environment and build solutions for local businesses and their community.

Google collaborates with DSC Leads once a year who are pursing an undergraduate or graduate degree and support them as they start their own on-campus community

Perks of being a GDSC

Don’t apply to these programs solely for the benefits but to help and uplift the folks in the community

Perks offered by GDSC are :

1. Professional Growth : Access to community management training and technical knowledge to help you be a strong leader and you will be invited to select Google events. This will help you build a self-brand in a way.

2. Network Growth : You will be access to network of global students network and professional community organisers.

3. Community Learning : Learn together with all other DSC’s to help educate your community online and in person.

Eligibility to apply for GDSC Lead

1.Have a minimum of one year left until graduation.

2.Enrolled in an undergraduate or graduate program at a college or university

3.Strong technical understanding of computer programming and/or software engineering

4.Have experience with event planning or leading a team.

5.Have some connection to the local developer community.

6.Host an event ideally once a month, and at least every 3 months

Responsibilites of a GDSC lead

1.Starting a Club at your University : Work with your university to start student club and select a core team members of best like you and faculty advisor to support for the projects.

2.Host Workshops : Organise Workshops and tech events at your university to improve students knowledge on developer products and platforms.

3.Build Projects : If you and your university having new project which will be the new innovation, you can identify local DSC partner to work with and lead project building activities.

When and where to apply?

Google DSC lead interest program form opens once a year i.e in the month of April every year.

If you are interested fill Interest Form to get notified when admissions are open.

4. Amazon Web Services (AWS) Educate Student Ambassador Program

AWS Educate Student Ambassadors are the student leaders who are interested in helping their community to learn more about Amazon Web Services and Cloud technologies. Student Ambassadors will receive a host of physical and digital benefits,including AWS usage at free of cost ,career development opportunities and exclusive access to AWS perks.

Perks of Being a AWS-ESAP

Recognition

Signed certificate of participation; Portable digital credential; Recognition in Student Portal; Participating in AWS meet-ups,training’s,webinar’s and many more

Career Development

Incremental AWS Promotional Credit; Quarterly AWS tech talks; Office hours with AWS mentor; One day, no cost professional development at select AWS summit

Exclusive Access

Quarterly Student Ambassador Newsletter; Discounted registration rate for AWS event; Early access ,under NDA , to select AWS services; Limited edition gear

Eligibilty to apply to AWS-ESAP

In order for a student to become an AWS Educate Student Ambassador, you must :

1. K12 students and students less than 18 year old at the time of application are not eligible to apply.

2. Be enrolled in AWS educate learning

3. Be a second or third year student.

4. Be familiar with AWS Educate and AWS products and services.

5. Be involved in student organisations and activities.

When and Where to apply?

Application for AWS Educate Student Ambassadors program is invited only once per year.

If you are interested and meet the eligibility criteria for AWS Educate Student Ambassador program, you can apply here : AWS-ESAP

5. MLH Fellowship

Major League Hacking Fellowship, is not a student program but a 12 week long internship where participants earn a stipend and learn to collaborate on real open source projects with peers and engineers from top companies.

MLH believes in

“Learn by doing, not by watching”

In this internship You'll collaborate on projects that are sourced directly from MLH corporated partners like Meta and Github. Whether you're contributing to a major Open Source technology or a new greenfield project, you'll be solving a real-world need with technologies that employers care about.

There are four fellowship tracks:

1. Open source

2. Software Engineering

3. Site Reliabilty Engineering

4. Web3 Engineering

Perks of being a MLH Fellow

MLH provides an educational stipend to help offset expenses while they participate in the program. You'll be able to focus on putting what you learn into practice so you can launch your career in Software Engineering once you graduate.

When and Where you can apply ?

The application form is open throughoutthe year. If you are interested in MLH fellowship you can check it out here : MLH Fellowship

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Update: Will make a Opportunity series on hashnode about internships, student programs , hackathons and much more.