Autodesk Educational Licenses: How to Manage Them in 2025

Introduction

In 2025, software license management has become more agile and accessible, especially in the educational sector. Autodesk, the maker of popular design tools such as AutoCAD, Revit, and 3ds Max, offers educational licenses to students, educators, and academic institutions under very favorable conditions. These Autodesk educational licenses provide access to professional software at a significantly reduced cost (compared to standard commercial licenses), making it easier to teach and learn without sacrificing functionality. However, to fully benefit from these advantages, it’s essential to understand how to manage and renew these licenses properly, ensuring uninterrupted access to the software year after year.

Important

In this article, we focus on paid (not free) educational licenses, highlighting their cost advantages and easier management compared to commercial licenses. We’ll also naturally mention our company Licendi, where you can get official Autodesk educational licenses at lower prices – for example, the AutoCAD 2021 EDU perpetual license and the AutoCAD EDU subscription – with direct links to these products.

Let’s get started!

What Are Autodesk Educational Licenses?

Autodesk educational licenses are software licenses aimed at the academic community: students, teachers, and educational institutions. Unlike traditional commercial licenses (intended for companies and profit-driven professionals), educational licenses are exclusively for educational purposes (learning, teaching, or academic research). Their main appeal is that they offer full access to Autodesk’s professional software at a much lower cost for eligible users, making them ideal for those in training who cannot afford the high price of a standard commercial license.

Key Features of an Autodesk Educational License:

Same Software, Different License

An educational license provides the same set of features and tools as its commercial equivalent. Autodesk does not “strip down” functionality in its educational versions; students and educators work with the same capabilities they would have in a professional setting. For example, AutoCAD Educational Edition includes all 2D drawing and 3D modeling features available in the commercial version.

Marked as Educational Use

Although the software has identical functionality, the license itself is marked as educational use. In older versions, Autodesk included visible watermarks on printed plans or exported files indicating they were created with a student version. In current versions (AutoCAD 2022 and later), these visual watermarks have been removed, so generated plans show no obvious differences. However, files may still contain internal metadata identifying their educational origin, and the license agreement strictly prohibits using this software for commercial purposes. This means that even if no visible watermark exists in your designs, you may not use them in paid professional projects while created under an educational license.

Eligible Users

Autodesk educational licenses are available only to members of the educational field. This typically includes enrolled students at recognized institutions, teachers, instructors, academic researchers, and educational institutions (universities, schools, technical institutes, etc.). Each user must prove their eligibility in some way (e.g., with an institutional email address, student/teacher certificate, or through verification platforms). Educational licenses are generally personal and non-transferable for individual students or institutionally managed in the case of schools.

Limited Duration and Renewable

Unlike a perpetual commercial license (which previously allowed indefinite use) or a commercial subscription (typically renewed yearly with a fee), Autodesk individual educational licenses usually have a 1-year duration. After one year, they must be renewed to remain active, as long as the user still meets academic eligibility. For institutions, Autodesk has recently offered licenses with slightly longer periods (e.g., 3-year institutional plans), after which renewal or re-enrollment in the educational program is required. We’ll explain how the annual or triennial renewal process works later.

Very Low (or Symbolic) Cost

Autodesk educational licenses are much more affordable than commercial licenses. In fact, Autodesk has traditionally provided near-free educational access to eligible users as part of its commitment to training future professionals. In this article, we focus on educational licenses acquired through official resellers like Licendi, who preserve that affordable pricing spirit compared to commercial versions. For example, a commercial AutoCAD license may cost several thousand euros per year, while an educational license can be obtained for a tiny fraction of that price (or even free for institutions with special agreements). This economic advantage allows students and schools to access top-tier tools without budget constraints.

In summary, an Autodesk educational license in 2025 is the gateway for the academic community to use Autodesk’s powerful design, engineering, and animation software legally, with full features, at an accessible or symbolic cost. It’s a win-win: students develop skills using the same tools they’ll use in the professional world, institutions enhance teaching with up-to-date software, and Autodesk nurtures the next generation of users familiar with its products.

Visual Tip: Consider including an infographic here comparing educational vs. commercial licenses from Autodesk—e.g., price, duration, usage restrictions, academic verification requirements, etc. This helps readers quickly understand the key advantages of educational licensing.

Benefits of Educational Licenses vs. Commercial Licenses

Using an Autodesk educational license comes with several key advantages compared to purchasing a standard commercial license. Here are the main benefits:

Drastically Lower Price

As previously mentioned, the cost difference is substantial. While a company might pay high fees for each commercial license, students or educational institutions can obtain Autodesk licenses at symbolic prices. This opens the door for more people to learn the software without financial burden. For example, at Licendi you can get AutoCAD in its educational version at a much lower price than the commercial equivalent – either as a perpetual AutoCAD 2021 EDU license or as an annual AutoCAD EDU subscription, both officially available through our site.

Full and Updated Software

Educational licenses provide access to the same full-featured software used by professionals. These are not “lite” or limited versions. In addition, if you choose a current educational subscription, you’ll have access to the latest versions (2023, 2024, 2025, etc., depending on availability) with all updates and improvements included during your license period. In other words, the user experience and toolset are equivalent to those of any Autodesk commercial user.

Development of Professional Skills

By practicing with real industry software, students gain skills that are fully relevant to the job market, boosting their professional competitiveness. From a teacher’s or institution’s perspective, having access to educational licenses allows them to teach subjects like design, architecture, engineering, or 3D animation using the exact same platforms that students will later encounter in professional environments.

Easy to Obtain and Renew

Obtaining an educational license is relatively simple for eligible users: just register with an Autodesk account linked to your educational institution or purchase through an authorized reseller that verifies your academic status. Renewing the license is also easy – usually just a few clicks to confirm that you're still a student or teacher and extend the license for another cycle. There are no cumbersome annual purchasing processes or complex billing as seen in business environments; Autodesk ensures smooth continuity as long as requirements are met. This ease of management becomes even more evident in institutional settings where dozens of users are managed using dedicated admin tools.

Support and Educational Community

Users with educational licenses have access to the Autodesk Education Community, where they can find documentation, forums, tech support, and learning materials specifically for students and educators. While direct technical support may not be as robust as that for large enterprise customers, Autodesk offers self-help resources, tutorials, and even free certifications that enrich the educational experience. Additionally, many common issues (installation, activation, basic use) are well documented with step-by-step guides aimed at beginners.

It’s important to note that the main disadvantage of an educational license versus a commercial one is the prohibition of commercial use. A project created using educational license software cannot be used for profit or implemented in a professional production environment. Doing so would violate Autodesk's terms and could lead to penalties or the requirement to purchase commercial licenses retroactively. For this reason, it's crucial to plan the transition to commercial licenses once the user is no longer an active student or teacher. We'll address this later, but it's clear that as long as you are in an educational environment, taking advantage of these special licenses is the smartest option from both an economic and educational perspective.

Practical Example: An architecture student who needs AutoCAD for class projects can opt for an educational license. Let’s say the commercial AutoCAD license costs around €1,800 per year — unaffordable for most students. With an educational license, that same student can access the software for zero or a tiny fraction of that cost. In exchange, they commit to using it only for learning purposes. Over the course of their degree, the student saves thousands of euros in license fees and becomes proficient in AutoCAD. Upon graduating in 2025 and entering the professional world, their employer (or they themselves) will acquire a commercial license, but thanks to the educational one, they already master the software without having borne the commercial cost during their studies.

Types of Autodesk Educational Licenses in 2025

The Autodesk educational licensing ecosystem is not monolithic; there are different license types designed to meet the needs of both individuals and institutions. In 2025, we can highlight the following main types:

Individual Educational Licenses (Students and Teachers)

Individual licenses are designed for a single named user (a specific student or teacher). These licenses are typically annual subscriptions assigned to the user's personal Autodesk account. Each student or teacher will have their own login (email registered with Autodesk), and the license is tied to that account.

Duration: Usually 1 year, renewable as long as the user continues to meet academic eligibility requirements. For example, a university student can activate their educational license in September 2024 and have access until September 2025; before that date, they must renew (reverify their enrollment) to extend it to 2026.
Assignment: The license is assigned to the user in the Autodesk portal (Autodesk Account). No serial number is provided as in older licenses; in modern versions, activation is done by logging into the application. That means when the student opens AutoCAD or Revit, they log in with their Autodesk ID (the same one used to obtain the educational license), and the software will detect the active educational subscription. This simplifies management since there’s no need to enter activation codes manually or worry about losing a serial.
Installation on multiple devices: Although the license is for one user, Autodesk generally allows the software to be installed on up to 3 different devices with the same account (e.g., a desktop computer at home, a laptop, and possibly a lab computer). However, the software can usually only be used actively on one device at a time per user. If the student needs to switch devices, they can log out of one and log in on another. This flexibility is useful, for example, when working on campus and then continuing at home.
Renewal: Annual renewal is the responsibility of the user (in the case of an individual student). Autodesk sends reminder emails about 30 days before expiration, prompting the student to renew. Renewal involves confirming continued enrollment at an educational institution (e.g., uploading a document or using a valid academic email), then clicking a “Renew Access” button in their Autodesk account (we detail this process later). Once completed, the educational subscription is extended automatically for another year.

Practical Example (Individual License)

Juan is a civil engineering student. In 2025, he purchases a 1-year AutoCAD EDU subscription license through Licendi to install on his laptop. He pays a reduced price for the license and links it to his personal Autodesk account (using his university email). Juan installs AutoCAD on both his laptop and his desktop computer at home using the same account; he can switch between them depending on where he’s working.

After a year, Autodesk sends him a reminder: he must verify that he is still a student to renew his educational license. Juan follows the process online, confirms his enrollment is still active, and renews the license for another year at no extra cost. This way, he continues to use AutoCAD throughout his entire degree without interruption. Once he finishes his studies and enters the professional world, his company will provide him with a commercial license—but during his academic journey, he benefited from the Autodesk educational ecosystem while spending just a fraction of the commercial cost.

Educational Licenses for Institutions (Classrooms, Labs, and Campus)

Educational institutions (such as universities, technical colleges, or academies) may need to install Autodesk software on multiple devices for student use in classrooms or computer labs. For these cases, Autodesk offers specific educational plans for institutions, which differ slightly from individual licenses:

Multi-User Licensing (formerly Network Licenses)

Historically, Autodesk allowed institutions to obtain network or multi-user educational licenses, where a set number of workstations (PCs) could use the software simultaneously, managed through a license server. For example, a lab with 30 computers could have 15 educational network licenses, allowing up to 15 concurrent users.

However, this is changing: Autodesk has announced that starting March 2026, it will stop offering new network or multi-user licenses, even for educational purposes. The trend is moving toward named-user licenses, even in academic settings. In other words, each student/teacher would have their own license (free or institution-assigned) instead of accessing a shared pool with serial numbers. In 2025, many institutions still use older educational network licenses, but they must plan for the transition. Autodesk is even recommending converting those seats into individual subscriptions (typically offering 2 individual licenses for every old network license, easing the migration).

Validity Period

Institutional educational licenses typically have a validity of 3 years from the date of activation. For example, a university that joined the educational program in 2022 would be able to use the software until 2025 before needing to renew. Institutional renewal involves an administrator revalidating that the institution remains eligible (usually by submitting documents proving it is a recognized educational center) and then generating new licenses for the next term. Autodesk facilitates this process through its portal.

Management via Autodesk Account (Institution Version)

Educational institutions usually manage their licenses through an admin portal similar to the Adobe Creative Cloud Enterprise Console. In fact, Autodesk provides a special section within Autodesk Account for educational administrators, where the IT manager or designated faculty member can view all active educational subscriptions, how many licenses (seats) are available, to whom they are assigned, and their expiration dates. From this same portal, administrators can invite users (via email) to assign individual student licenses within the institution’s domain, or download license files to configure the software in offline mode (for legacy network licenses).

Institutional Use Example

Let’s consider the School of Engineering at XYZ University. This school has a lab with 40 computers that need AutoCAD and Revit for class exercises. In 2025, the university participates in Autodesk’s educational program. An IT administrator logs into Autodesk Account with the institution’s credentials and sees that they have, say, 50 named-user educational licenses available. Through the Autodesk admin console, they assign a license to each student in the course (or each lab station) by adding users and granting access to AutoCAD or Revit.

Each student receives an email to activate their Autodesk educational account, allowing them to use the software in the lab or on their own laptops. From the same console, the admin can see in real time how many seats are in use, revoke access (e.g., if a student withdraws), and reassign that license to someone else. This whole process mirrors how it’s done in the Adobe Creative Cloud admin console, where an admin centrally manages licenses and users. Like Adobe, Autodesk has embraced centralized online user management instead of individual keys on each device, greatly simplifying administration.

Institutional Renewal

Continuing with the example, let’s say XYZ University’s institutional licenses are set to expire in December 2025 (three years after their last renewal in 2022). In October or November 2025, Autodesk will notify the administrator via email and portal alerts that it's time to renew. The process involves revalidating the university’s eligibility (likely by uploading documents such as accreditation) and then clicking a button to generate new educational subscriptions for the 2025–2028 period. Once renewed, there is no need to reinstall the software on all machines; the new licenses can be reassigned to the same users or devices, and activation updates automatically. Autodesk notes that if you use multi-user licenses with a serial number, a new serial number will be issued for the next 3-year cycle, or ideally, you’ll migrate to named-user licensing.

In summary, educational institutions currently benefit from multi-user or volume licenses, but the industry is shifting toward every student having their own centrally managed named-user license—even in classroom settings. This change eliminates the need for local license servers and gives administrators full visibility into usage, similar to other subscription-based software environments (like Adobe CC or Microsoft 365 Education).

Visual Tip: Including a screenshot of the Autodesk Account interface (educational admin section) would be very illustrative here. You could highlight how the user list appears, license counts (assigned vs. available), and options like “Invite User” or “Renew Plan.” A flowchart showing how an institution assigns licenses to students versus the old network license method could also help visualize how the user-based model simplifies things.

Perpetual vs. Annual Subscription Educational Licenses (The AutoCAD 2021 Case)

A special case worth highlighting is the perpetual educational licenses. Officially, Autodesk has not sold perpetual licenses for its products in years (all new licenses are time-based subscriptions). However, in educational environments, it’s still possible to find perpetual licenses for older versions that continue to be sold for training purposes. A specific example is Autodesk AutoCAD 2021 (Perpetual) in educational version, which we offer at Licendi for those who prefer a one-time payment solution.

Perpetual Educational License. Purchasing the AutoCAD 2021 Perpetual (Edu) license gives you the right to use AutoCAD 2021 indefinitely on one device. It does not expire after 12 months and requires no annual renewal, as it is a perpetual license for that specific version. This appeals to users who want something “forever” and don’t need the latest updates each year. For example, a student comfortable working with AutoCAD 2021 could buy this affordable perpetual license and continue using it after graduation for personal (non-commercial) projects. Key features of this license include: 1 authorized device, offline installation (the installer includes the license for activation without internet), and no online features or updates. Note that this is a fixed version and cannot be upgraded; if in 2026 you need AutoCAD 2024, you would have to purchase a new license or switch to a subscription model.
Educational Subscription License (Annual or Triennial). In contrast to the perpetual model, the educational subscription license works similarly to commercial subscriptions: you pay for a period (1 year, 3 years, etc.) and have access to the latest version available throughout the term, with updates included. At Licendi, the AutoCAD Edu Subscription License allows you to choose between 1 or 3 years of coverage. It also grants access to versions from 2021 through 2025, depending on your option, meaning you can work with the newest version of the software. EDU subscriptions are upgradable: for example, if you install AutoCAD 2023 today and AutoCAD 2025 is released tomorrow, you can download it at no extra cost while your subscription is active. Once the term ends, you’ll need to renew (for another year or triennium) to maintain access. This option is ideal for users who want to stay current with Autodesk’s yearly updates and are willing to renew periodically.

Which one should you choose? It depends on your needs:

If you want to avoid recurring payments and don’t mind using a slightly older version, a perpetual educational license like AutoCAD 2021 may be your best choice. You pay once and use it as long as you want. For example, training centers that teach basic CAD concepts often prefer a stable, permanent version to avoid switching software every academic cycle.
On the other hand, if you need up-to-date features or industry compatibility in real time, the annual/triennial subscription is more suitable. A student in 2025 will likely want to learn using AutoCAD 2024 or 2025, which include updated interfaces and tools. With the EDU subscription, they can do so and renew to continue accessing newer versions throughout their academic journey. The cost remains low compared to commercial subscriptions, and you always get the latest tools (e.g., new format compatibility, performance improvements, etc.).

In any case, both older perpetual licenses and current educational subscriptions are more affordable than commercial versions and serve the purpose of bringing professional software to the academic community. Licendi offers both options: you can get the AutoCAD 2021 EDU perpetual license for a one-time investment or the AutoCAD EDU subscription license (1 or 3 years) if you prefer constant updates. This way, we adapt to every educational user profile.

How to Manage Autodesk Educational Licenses (Portal & Admin)

Having the license is just the first step; next comes its efficient management. Fortunately, Autodesk has greatly simplified license administration in recent years, especially with the shift to named-user subscription models. Below, we explain how to manage your Autodesk educational license, whether you’re an individual user or an institutional administrator.

Management for Individual Users (Student/Teacher)

If you're a student or teacher with an individual educational license, your main control panel is the Autodesk Account website once logged in. There, you can:

View your products and subscription status: In the “Products and Services” section, you’ll see the Autodesk software available under your educational plan (e.g., AutoCAD, Revit, 3ds Max, etc.). You can also check the expiration date of your current educational license. Autodesk typically displays a banner or prominent message indicating “educational license valid until [date]” and provides renewal options as the date approaches.
Download installers: From your Autodesk educational account, you can download the software you need. This is useful if you initially installed only one program and later decide to try another (for example, an architecture student might first install AutoCAD and later download Revit, both included in the educational plan).
Manage active installations: Although individual serial numbers are no longer used, Autodesk allows you to control how many devices you’re logged into. From your account profile, you can view the devices linked to your educational license and remotely sign out if necessary. For example, if you formatted your computer without logging out of AutoCAD, you could remove that device from the list to free up a slot and avoid exceeding the limit of simultaneous installations.
Support and forums: The Education Support tab connects you to help resources. Autodesk also offers a Virtual Assistant in the portal that answers common questions. While this assistant is somewhat general, it can guide you through issues like activation or downloads. There are also community forums specifically for students, where you can post technical questions and get answers from other users or moderators.

In-app license management is also important.

When you open an Autodesk program with an educational license:

Your username (email) will appear in the top corner (in most applications, next to help icons). From there, you can access Autodesk Licensing or the Autodesk Account Manager without leaving the application.
If you want to switch licenses (e.g., you’ve moved from a student license to a commercial one or vice versa), there's a “Manage License” or “Change License” option. In recent versions, clicking there lets you sign out and log in with another account, which changes the active license. This is practical for users who, for example, intern at a company using a commercial license during work hours and want to use their educational license at home—just sign in with the appropriate account, and the software will switch licenses.
Keep your Autodesk profile updated. In particular, make sure the email address associated with your account is still valid and accessible, since renewal and verification notifications will be sent there. If your academic email expires (e.g., you graduate but still have time left on your license), it’s recommended to switch to a personal email in your Autodesk Account to continue receiving alerts.

License Management for Educational Institution Administrators

In an institutional setting (school, university, etc.), license management is more like enterprise software administration. Autodesk provides tools to streamline this process:

Autodesk Account – Education Section (Institutions)

The designated administrator (e.g., the faculty tech coordinator) will have an Autodesk account with educational admin privileges. Upon logging into Autodesk Account, they’ll see a dashboard with options like “Educational Institutions,” “Manage Users,” or similar. From there, they can:

Add or remove users

Enter the email addresses of students/teachers to invite them to join the institution’s educational plan. Each invitee will receive an email from Autodesk to create or use their Autodesk ID and will automatically be assigned licenses for the selected products.

Assign products

The admin can decide which software is available for each user or group. For example, they might assign AutoCAD and Revit to architecture students, while mechanical engineering students might get Inventor and AutoCAD. This is done by checking boxes in the console—very similar to how the Adobe Admin Console assigns Photoshop or Illustrator licenses. In fact, Autodesk offers a “License Admin Console” for education, playing the same role as Adobe Creative Cloud’s enterprise console by centralizing user and license management in one place.

Monitor usage

The Autodesk Account dashboard shows how many educational licenses are in use and how many are still available. For instance, if the institution is entitled to 100 AutoCAD licenses and only 80 students have activated them, it will show 80/100 in use. This allows admins to know whether they can invite more users or need to request additional seats (in general, Autodesk is quite flexible with the number of educational licenses granted to institutions, as long as they’re used for genuine academic purposes).

Configure labs (offline mode)

In scenarios where lab computers don’t have individual internet access or if you want to avoid creating accounts for each device (e.g., in a high school workshop), the administrator can opt for an educational network license file. This method, inherited from the old multi-user system, allows software to be installed on multiple PCs and linked to a local server with the license file. In 2025, this is still possible for institutions—though remember Autodesk plans to discontinue it by 2026. Even so, Autodesk provides tools to generate those license files and manage offline activations, which is useful in controlled environments.

Integration with Identity Systems (SSO)

A newer feature is that Autodesk allows large institutions to integrate login with their own systems (e.g., students log into Autodesk using campus credentials via Single Sign-On). This goes beyond what individual users need to know but shows how Autodesk is aligning enterprise-grade features with education. Just like Adobe allows integration with Azure AD, Google Workspace, and others, Autodesk also offers the ability to enable SSO for education, so students log in with the same account they use for other university platforms.

Best Practices for Administration

It is recommended that institutions:

Maintain an up-to-date user list: Remove students who graduate or no longer need the software from the Autodesk portal to free up licenses.
Train a backup or co-administrator: It’s not ideal for only one person to understand how management works, in case of staff changes.
Schedule renewals: Mark expiration dates for educational plans (e.g., “December 2025 – renew Autodesk”) to start the verification process in advance. This prevents the software from stopping in the middle of a semester. Autodesk offers a grace period, but it's best to be proactive.
Adjust license quantities based on demand: Each academic cycle, the number of students needing specific software may change. As an admin, you can request more licenses from Autodesk (or the reseller) if the institution grows, or reduce the number if demand decreases. However, since educational licenses are free for academic use, “more is better” as long as they are used appropriately.

Ultimately, Autodesk educational license management in 2025 is user-friendly and centralized. We’re no longer in the days of installing AutoCAD from CDs with long codes on each lab computer—now, a single admin can deploy 100 installations with just a few clicks and email invites. The philosophy mirrors modern systems: a web-based panel to rule them all, assigning and revoking cloud-based access, with the flexibility for each user to have a personal login. This supports autonomy (students can install the software on their own devices, not just school PCs) while maintaining central control (the institution can revoke a license if misused or if the student is no longer enrolled).

Practical Example (Institutional Management): Professor Luis manages a CAD lab at a technical institute. At the start of the academic year, he gives students instructions to create an Autodesk account (if they don’t have one) using their school email. Then, from his institutional Autodesk Account, Luis adds his 25 students’ email addresses and assigns each of them Autodesk Inventor and AutoCAD. The students receive an email and activate their licenses. During the semester, one of the lab PCs breaks down; when it’s replaced, Luis simply instructs the student to log into their Autodesk account on the new machine to reactivate the software—no paperwork needed. At the end of the course, five graduating seniors leave the program: Luis selects those five accounts in the console and removes their license assignments, freeing up seats for future students. This entire process takes just minutes and is handled entirely online, demonstrating how user management in Autodesk is as efficient and convenient as the Adobe Creative Cloud license administration that Luis also uses for his graphic design class.

Steps to Renew an Autodesk Educational License in 2025

Renewing your Autodesk educational license on time is crucial to avoid losing access to the software. Fortunately, the process is simple. Here’s a step-by-step guide to the general renewal process in 2025, distinguishing between individual users (students/teachers) and institutions when applicable:

Steps to Renew an Educational License (Individual User):

Verify your current academic eligibility: Before starting the renewal, make sure you still meet the requirements. This typically means you are still an active student or educator at a recognized institution. Autodesk may ask you to confirm your status in one of the following ways:
- Log in using a valid institutional email (Autodesk will automatically check domains like .edu).
- Submit a document (student ID, enrollment certificate, tuition receipt) through an online verification service. (Note: Autodesk often uses a third party like SheerID to validate students.)
- If you’ve verified in the past, sometimes you just need to check a box declaring you're still enrolled.
Log into Autodesk Account – Education section: Go to the Autodesk Education “Get Products” page (or navigate to the Education tab from within your Autodesk Account). Once logged in, you should see your status and current expiration date. About 30 days before expiration, you’ll see a notice with the option “Renew Access.”
Click “Renew” or “Revalidate Access”: Clicking that button will guide you through the process. If you need to revalidate anything, Autodesk will prompt you (e.g., upload a document or authenticate via your school portal). Once confirmed, the system will extend your educational license for another year automatically. You’ll receive confirmation of the new expiration date on screen (one year from the original end date).
Restart subscriptions on your devices if needed: In most cases, once your educational plan is renewed, your programs will keep working without needing changes. Autodesk states that you don’t need to reinstall the software to renew, unless you want to update to the latest version. However, if you missed the renewal and your access was interrupted, the software may prompt for reactivation. In that case, after renewing online, just launch the Autodesk Desktop App or open the program and sign in again to activate the renewed subscription.
Confirm final status: It’s a good idea to go back into Autodesk Account and make sure the expiration date has been extended to the next year. Also verify that all your apps show “Active Subscription (Educational)” or a similar tag. If something seems off (e.g., you renewed but the system still shows an expiring license), contact Autodesk Education Support or your authorized reseller.

Steps to Renew an Educational License (Institution):

Prepare documentation: In advance (1–2 months before the institutional plan expires), gather the documents Autodesk may require. This typically includes proof that the institution is still operating as an educational entity (updated accreditation, official letter, etc.). If your last renewal was 3 years ago, you’ll likely need to upload fresh documentation.
Access the Educational Product Portal: Autodesk typically has a dedicated page where institutional admins begin the renewal process. The admin logs in and goes to the “Subscriptions and Contracts” section within Autodesk Account. There, they’ll see a list of associated educational licenses and their expiration dates.
Start the institutional renewal process: There will be a button or option to “Renew Educational Plan.” If the institution hasn’t recently revalidated eligibility, Autodesk will ask to upload updated documentation before proceeding. Complete these steps (uploading files, filling out forms about the school, etc.). Once Autodesk verifies the documents (this may take a few minutes to several days, depending on whether the process is automated or manual), you can continue.
Generate new subscriptions/licenses: Once eligibility is confirmed, the option to create a new educational subscription will become available. Select the products your institution needs (e.g., “Autodesk Educational Suite 2025” or AutoCAD licenses, etc.). Often, there's no strict limit on quantity—Autodesk trusts that you’ll assign only as many licenses as needed. Upon generation, new serial numbers may be issued for network licenses (if used), or the validity of named-user licenses will simply be extended.
Reimplementation (if applicable):
- For named-user licenses (individual users), students/teachers who were already invited remain linked to the account, and upon renewal simply see their access extended by one or more years. They don’t need to take any action; they may receive a notification that the institutional program was renewed.
- For network licenses (multi-user with a server): the new network license file for the next term must be downloaded. Autodesk provides this file (typically a .lic) which contains the new serial and the valid-through date (e.g., 2028). The administrator must replace the old file on the license server with the new one. Lab computers will detect the updated license file when launching AutoCAD/Revit and continue working without interruption.
Communicate and document: Once the renewal is complete, it’s advisable to inform users (especially if anything has changed—e.g., users now need to log in individually instead of using a shared network serial). Internally document the new expiration date (e.g., 2028) for future reference.

What Happens If You Don’t Renew on Time?

If you forget to renew and the educational license expires, the software will stop functioning in edit/design mode. Autodesk usually provides a short grace period during which you can still renew after the expiration date (typically a few days). However, if too much time passes, your educational access ends. Your created files are not lost—you’ll still have local copies—but you won’t be able to edit or save new work in the software until you renew or obtain another license. Autodesk also notes that files stored in the cloud (Autodesk Drive) remain accessible for only 30 days after expiration, after which they may be deleted. Therefore, it’s critical to:

Back up any projects stored in the cloud before your license expires.
Renew early enough to avoid even a single day of disruption, especially if you're in the middle of a course or major project.

As you can see, educational license renewal has no additional cost (as long as you still meet the eligibility requirements), but it does require proactive action from the user or admin. In a commercial environment, renewal usually involves a payment; here, it depends solely on your academic status. With good organization and by following these steps, keeping your Autodesk educational license active year after year is very easy.

Tip: Set a reminder in your personal (or institutional) calendar a few weeks before your license expiration date. This way, you won’t rely solely on Autodesk’s email (which could land in spam). Also, for students—if you know you’ll graduate before your license renews, try renewing before graduating (even if just to extend for one final year). For example, if you finish university in June and your license expires in September, renew in May confirming you’re still enrolled. You’ll get another year of free access, which may be useful while job hunting or transitioning into the professional world—as long as you keep it non-commercial.

Practical Tips for Managing and Maximizing Your Educational License

To wrap up the main section of this blog, here’s a summary of some practical tips and final considerations to help you get the most out of your Autodesk educational license and avoid issues:

Keep Proof of Your Academic Status

Always keep copies of your student ID, enrollment confirmation, teaching contract, etc. These will be helpful when verifying or renewing your license. Having them ready speeds up the annual renewal process.

Don’t Wait Until the Last Minute to Renew

As mentioned earlier, set reminders or alarms. Autodesk sends notifications 30 days before expiration, but many users miss the emails. Ideally, renew your license one or two weeks in advance. That way, if there’s a verification issue (e.g., your school takes time to confirm something), you’ll still have time to resolve it without losing access.

Install Only What You Need and Optimize Disk Space

The Autodesk Education plan gives you access to many programs. Be strategic: install only those you truly need for your courses or projects. Autodesk packages are heavy on disk usage—avoid overloading your PC by installing ten applications “just in case,” as this can slow down your system. You can always download more educational software later, so manage your installations wisely.

Take Advantage of the Latest Versions (If Your Hardware Allows)

With your educational subscription, try to use the latest versions of the software to learn new features. For example, if AutoCAD 2025 is released and your license is active, update to explore the latest tools. Just make sure your computer meets the system requirements for the new version. If your PC is older and struggles with 2025, you can stick with 2022 or 2023—there’s no obligation to upgrade. However, staying current helps you align with what companies use in the industry.

Respect the Terms of Use

Never use your educational license for commercial purposes. This is important both ethically and legally. If you’re working on a freelance or paid project, get a commercial license. Autodesk can detect misuse (e.g., if a file created with a student license ends up in a company deliverable). Consequences can include license deactivation and legal issues for the company that used those files. In short: clearly separate your academic activities (EDU license) from professional ones (commercial license).

Transition to the Professional World

If you're close to graduating, start planning ahead for how you'll continue using the software. Some options include:

Take advantage of Autodesk's 30-day trial periods after graduation, while arranging a commercial license or waiting for your employer to provide one.

Autodesk sometimes offers discounts for recent graduates or has startup programs with temporary discounts for entrepreneurs. Check if you’re eligible for any of these.

If you can't immediately afford a commercial license, consider alternatives: lower-cost LT versions, monthly subscriptions to spread out the cost, etc. But never resort to pirated software! After benefiting from free or affordable educational licenses for years, turning to piracy would be inconsistent and risky. It’s better to use entry-level options or negotiate with your employer.

Stay Organized with Perpetual Licenses

If you purchased a perpetual educational license (such as AutoCAD 2021), keep the installer and activation info stored in a safe place. Although it doesn't require renewal, you may need to reinstall if you change devices. Keep in mind these licenses are usually limited to one device; check with the vendor (Licendi, in this case) about what to do if you change computers or hardware components to transfer or reactivate the license.

Additional Support Resources

To enhance your learning experience, Autodesk offers a wide range of educational resources (courses, curricula, competitions) on its website. Take advantage of them. And if you use other platforms, like Adobe Creative Cloud during your training, you’ll notice that user and license management is quite similar. Both Autodesk and Adobe offer centralized platforms for students and educators—Adobe's Admin Console and the Autodesk Education Portal—making license management simple. Getting familiar with these tools is a valuable skill in itself, especially if you plan to work in IT departments or as an instructor in academic institutions.

To support these tips, consider including a timeline-style infographic that illustrates the typical lifecycle of an educational license:

Initial Activation ➡️ Year-round use with tips ➡️ Expiration Notice ➡️ Successful Renewal ➡️ Continued Use ➡️ Eventual Transition to Professional

Visualizing this cycle can help summarize many of the key points discussed.

Conclusion

Autodesk educational licenses in 2025 offer an invaluable opportunity to access leading design and engineering tools in an affordable way, tailored to academic environments. With proper management—whether individually through Autodesk Account or institutionally via admin consoles—and well-planned renewals, students and educators can focus on what truly matters: learning, teaching, and creating using top-tier software, without worries about interruptions or high costs. And thanks to trusted resellers like Licendi, obtaining these educational licenses—whether perpetual or subscription-based—is a simple and reliable process, with the added benefit of personalized support in your language and the peace of mind of purchasing official licenses.

In short, managing and renewing an Autodesk educational license is easy when you know the way: verify your eligibility, use the tools Autodesk provides, and stay organized with dates and users. By following the recommendations shared here, you’ll be well prepared to make the most of your educational license in 2025 and beyond.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Who Can Obtain an Autodesk Educational License?

Autodesk educational licenses are available to enrolled students, teachers, and staff at recognized academic institutions. Educational institutions themselves (universities, schools, training centers) can also access educational plans. In all cases, users or institutions must verify their academic status (e.g., with an institutional email or documentation proving academic affiliation). In short, any active member of the educational community (student or teacher) qualifies for an Autodesk educational license.

How Do I Get an Autodesk Educational License?

For individual users, the license is obtained by creating an account on the Autodesk Education platform and verifying your status as a student or educator. Once verified, you can download and install the software with an educational license. Alternatively, you can obtain educational licenses through authorized resellers such as Licendi, who will guide you through the process and provide the necessary access or activation keys. Educational institutions typically acquire licenses through direct agreements with Autodesk or via resellers, and then assign them internally to students and staff.

What Is the Duration of an Autodesk Educational License?

For individual students and teachers, a typical Autodesk educational license lasts 1 year from the activation date. It must be renewed annually as long as you remain eligible. For educational institutions, educational plans are usually valid for 3 years before requiring renewal. There are also perpetual educational licenses (for older versions like AutoCAD 2021) that never expire once acquired—but these are no longer offered for current versions, which are only available as annual or triennial subscriptions.

How Do I Renew an Autodesk Educational License in 2025?

Renewal is done online via your Autodesk Account. 30 days before your license expires, you’ll receive a notification. To renew, you must confirm that you still meet academic eligibility (e.g., still being a student), and then click on the “Renew Access” option in the Autodesk Education site. You may be asked to revalidate your status, and once completed, the system will automatically extend your license for another year. In the case of institutions, an admin must revalidate the school’s eligibility and generate new licenses for the next term (usually every 3 years).

What Is the Difference Between an Educational and a Commercial Autodesk License?

The main difference is purpose and cost. An educational license is for non-commercial use (learning or teaching only) and is either free or offered at a symbolic cost. A commercial license is intended for professional/paid use and comes at a much higher price. Functionally, the software is the same (same tools and capabilities). However, files created with educational licenses may carry “educational use” metadata and must not be used for profit. Also, commercial licenses are typically paid subscriptions (monthly or yearly) and don’t require eligibility verification, while educational licenses require proof of student or educator status and must be renewed accordingly.

Can I Use My Autodesk Educational License for Commercial or Freelance Projects?

No. Using educational licenses for commercial purposes is not allowed. This is explicitly prohibited in Autodesk’s terms. Educational licenses are for educational purposes only—such as practice, coursework, non-profit research, or teaching. If you need to do commercial work (e.g., paid projects, freelance jobs, or professional work for a company), you must purchase a commercial license. Using a student license in a commercial setting can lead to legal and technical issues (e.g., your files may be tagged as educational and could cause problems for clients). Always separate educational and professional use.

Where Can I Buy More Affordable Autodesk Educational Licenses?

Autodesk educational licenses are already much more affordable than commercial ones. To obtain them officially and safely, you can purchase from Licendi, our company specialized in software licensing. At Licendi, you can buy the AutoCAD 2021 EDU perpetual license or the AutoCAD EDU annual subscription at competitive prices. We provide you with the activation keys and guidance to properly activate your license under the education program. Buying through resellers like Licendi ensures personalized support in your language and the confidence of acquiring a legitimate license suited to your academic needs. Remember, Autodesk does not sell educational licenses in regular retail stores—they are only available through its education portal or certified partners.

What Happens to My Autodesk Educational License When I Graduate or Leave My Institution?

Once you are no longer a student or educator, you lose eligibility to renew your educational license. This means that at the next renewal date, you won’t be able to extend it. The license will expire, and the software will stop functioning in full mode (you may be able to open files in read-only mode, but not edit or save). Autodesk expects users to transition to commercial licenses if they need to continue using the software after graduation. The good news is that Autodesk usually does not immediately deactivate the software when you graduate; your license will remain active until its scheduled expiration date. However, after that date, you won’t be able to renew it. So, it’s a good idea to plan on getting a commercial license (or have your company provide one) after your studies are completed. In some cases, Autodesk may offer deals for recent graduates, but this varies. In short: your educational license supports you throughout your academic life—once that ends, you’ll need to migrate to a commercial solution for ongoing professional use.