Clarification on GPU Access After Upgrading Azure Student Subscription

Question

Dear Microsoft Support Team,

I am currently using Azure for Students, but I have confirmed that GPU-based Virtual Machines (VMs) are not available under this subscription. My goal is to run a simulator that requires GPU acceleration (such as NVIDIA GPU instances).

I would like to clarify the following:

1. If I upgrade my Azure Student subscription to a paid plan, will I gain access to GPU-based VMs (such as NCasT4_v3, NC_A100_v4, or Standard_ND)?
2. Are there any additional limitations I should be aware of after upgrading?
3. Would I need to request a quota increase separately after upgrading, or will GPU access be granted automatically?

My main goal is to ensure that upgrading will allow me to successfully run my simulations without unexpected restrictions. I would appreciate any guidance you can provide.

Looking forward to your response.

Answer 1

Hi @Malik Zohaib Rehman,

Welcome to the Microsoft Q&A Platform! Thank you for asking your question here.

Yes, upgrading your Azure for Students subscription to a paid plan will grant you access to GPU-based VMs. Paid subscriptions give you the ability to use a broader range of Azure services, including those that need GPU acceleration.

Once you upgrade to a paid plan, you might need to request a separate quota increase for GPU resources. Azure has default quotas for different resources, including GPU VM

GPU VMs typically cost more than standard VMs, so be sure to review the pricing information for the specific GPU instances you intend to use, and GPU VM types may not be available in all Azure regions, so it's a good idea to check if the specific GPU VMs are offered in your preferred region.

If you have any further queries, do let us know.

If you found this informative, please consider accepting an answer as a token of appreciation. And don't forget to give it a thumbs up 👍 if it was helpful.