Apple holds its Back to School Sale every year, offering discounts on its Macbooks, iMac and iPads, along with additional audio gear with purchase. In the past, Apple has bundled a free pair of Beats headphones while last year, it bundled a pair of AirPods instead.
What's in store for the Apple's Education sale this year? We're keeping tabs here.
When is Apple's Back to School Sale 2021?
Apple Back to School Sale US & Canada - dates TBC
Now that it's June, we expect Apple to announce its Back to School sale for US & Canada at any moment. Keep an eye on the US Education Store (Canada Education Store here).
Last year, it launched the sale on 15 June with an end date set for 29 September. Apple ended up extending the end date to 12 October instead, just a day before Amazon's Prime Day, which took place over 13-14 October.
If Apple is at all keeping an eye on Prime Day, it's worth noting that this year Amazon's marquee event takes place from 21 to 22 June. It's possible Apple may kick off its Back to School Sale for 2021 just before then if it wants to compete in the summer sales. Target and Walmart have both announced each will have a summer sale to rival Prime Day starting on 20 June. Will Apple also kick off its Back to School Sale then? Or perhaps it'll beat the rush and start a week earlier on 15 June, in keeping with last year's date.
Apple Back to School Sale UK - dates TBC
While Apple has not yet confirmed the promotion for the UK Education Store, we anticipate Apple will announce the sale in July, which is when it launched its UK Back to School Sale last year.
Apple UK's Back to School Sale in 2020 started 9 July and lasted until 29 October. It also launched its 2019 sale on 9 July, though its 2018 sale started on 12 July. In keeping with past years, it's likely Apple will start its UK Back to School sale early to mid July.
Apple Back to School Sale Australia
Apple's Back to School Sale for Australia, New Zealand, and, South Korea started 7 January and ended 16 March, 2021. Apple Brazil's Back to School Sale started 6 January and will end 15 March, 2021.
What is Apple's Student deal for 2021?
Apple's 2021 Back to School offers for Australia and Asia looked a lot like last year's – it's likely Apple will offer the same deals to the UK and US, as it rarely changes offers for different markets.
Last year, university students, or those just about to start university or higher education, received a free pair of AirPods (normally worth £159/$159/AUD$249) with a new Mac or iPad. In the past, Apple's Back to School deal bundled a pair of Beats headphones but it's unlikely Apple will bring that deal back.
If you don't want the AirPods, you can get £159/$159/AUD$249 off the AirPods with Wireless Charger or AirPods Pro if you choose to upgrade. The AirPods Max isn't included in the offer (see where to buy the Max at the best price).
If this year's offers match last years, students can get:
- A free set of AirPods worth £159/$159/AUD$249
- Or, an AirPods and Wireless charging case set worth £199/$199 and pay the £40/$40 difference
- Or, the ANC-enabled AirPods Pro and pay the difference of £90/$90
Apple Back to School deals on iPad - new M1 iPad Pros included?
While it's impossible to say for certain whether the new iPad Pro tablets with the M1 processor will be eligible for the Back to School promotion, we can make an educated guess...that it's unlikely. But maybe Apple will surprise us!
Right now the Apple Education Store in the US lists the M1 iPad Pro devices and the iPad (8th gen, 10.2in, 2020 model) so you can get the general Educational Pricing on both – but you probably won't be able to get a free pair of AirPds with the M1 iPad Pro. It's been a better part of a year since the iPad 8 launched which makes it more eligible for a promotion than the new iPad Pro devices, which only released 21 May. Last year, Apple excluded the then-new iPad Air from the Back to School bundle when it extended its Back to School Sale US, so it's possible Apple may do the same this year.
We expect students will be able to claim a free pair of Airpods (if Apple brings that deal back this year) with the new M1 MacBook Pros and MacBook Air, and possibly, even the new M1 iMacs.
We have separate guides on where to get the best deals on the MacBook Pro, MacBook Air, M1 iPad Pros, and M1 iMacs.
How to get Apple's Back to School deal
While Apple hasn't announced its Back to School Sale for the UK and US yet, you can see its standard educational pricing (US here/UK here). In the UK you need to verify your student or staff status with UNiDAYS here which is also how you would access its Back to School offers.
We also run through everything you need to know about using Apple's Education Store in this guide to shopping in the Apple Education Store.
Apple Back to School deals on Mac
Last year, US Apple knocked up to $200 off the price of Macs in its Back to School Sale. This included offers on the updated MacBook Air (2020) and updated 13in MacBook Pro, both of which had $100 off. The MacBook, MacBook Air, MacBook Pro and iMac and iMac Pro were all eligible for the free AirPods offer. This year we expect to see similar discounts on the new Silicon Mac.
The UK saw comparable discounts, though students and educators would need to log in via UNiDAYS website to see the offers. See more information in our guide to using the Apple Education Store in the UK.
Educational Store discounts up to £280 are available for UK students.
It's worth checking out our student deals hub for more great back-to-school offers. We're also looking at the best iPad deals right here.
