GitHub Education Location Verification Issue - Application Rejected Despite Being on Campus

[Jay-2212]

Hi everyone,

Hello,

I'm reaching out because I've encountered a persistent issue with my GitHub Education benefits application, specifically related to location verification.

I have applied for GitHub Education benefits three times. My first two applications (submitted in December during winter break) were rejected due to "not being on campus." However, I had provided proper documentation explaining that I was away for winter vacation—a circumstance beyond my control as a student.

Now that I'm back on campus in January, I submitted a third application with my dated student ID card as proof of enrollment. Surprisingly, my application was rejected again with the same reason: "not being on campus."

To troubleshoot this, I have:

• Verified that I am physically on my college campus
• Enabled location access on my device to confirm my current location
• Used my college ID to sign in (no issues were reported with authentication)

The location verification appears to be the sole blocking factor, despite me taking all the steps I can think of to demonstrate that I am legitimately on campus.

I'm unsure what additional steps I can take to resolve this issue. If there's a known issue with the location verification system, or if there are other documentation or verification methods I should be using, I would greatly appreciate any guidance.

Thank you for your time and support.

[sahilbhat1]

Hi @Jay-2212,

This is a very common issue! The reason this keeps failing is likely the difference between IP Geolocation (Laptops) and GPS Geolocation (Phones).

Even if you enable location on your laptop, browsers often rely on your ISP's location data, which can show you as being in a different city or simply "not near campus" even when you are sitting in the classroom.

The Fix: Switch to Mobile To pass the location check, do not use your computer.

Use your Smartphone: Log in to GitHub on your phone's browser.

Enable GPS: Ensure Location Services are turned on for the browser app (Chrome/Safari).

Turn off Wi-Fi (Optional): Sometimes switching to Cellular Data (4G/5G) is more accurate if the campus Wi-Fi has a weird IP routing.

Take a Live Photo: Instead of uploading a scanned ID, use the phone's camera to take a photo of your ID card live against the background of the campus (if possible) or just on a desk.

Important Checks:

Ensure VPNs are turned off.

Ensure your browser isn't blocking the location popup (check the lock icon in the URL bar).

Try the application process again specifically from your phone—it usually clears the "not on campus" error instantly. Good luck!

[Jay-2212]

it cleared, thank you so much!