Apple's Education Store Down in Europe, Back to School Offer Expected Soon

Apple's online education store has gone down in many European countries, including the U.K., Ireland, Austria, Belgium, the Netherlands, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Portugal, Switzerland, Sweden, Finland, Denmark, Norway, Hungary, Czech Republic, and others.

The store is also down in a few other countries around the world, such as Mexico, Turkey, the United Arab Emirates, and China.

The downtime likely means that Apple's annual Back to School promotion will be launching in Europe and elsewhere within the next several hours. The promotion first launched in the U.S. and Canada last month, with Apple offering college/university students up to a $150 Apple gift card with the purchase of an eligible Mac or iPad model.

In the U.S., Apple is offering a $150 gift card with the purchase of any new MacBook Air, MacBook Pro, or iMac model, and a $100 gift card with the purchase of any new iPad Pro or iPad Air model. The list of eligible devices includes the new MacBook Air and 13-inch MacBook Pro models with the M2 chip that Apple announced last month.

Apple's gift card offer can be stacked with the usual educational discount on Macs and iPads that the company provides to students. In some countries, customers must verify they are a higher-education student via UNiDAYS to be eligible.

With the Euro being roughly on par with the U.S. dollar right now, it is possible that Apple's offer in countries that use the Euro will be up to a €150 gift card, but the exact offer remains to be seen. Apple launched its all-in-one gift card in several European countries last month, with the gift card valid for purchases at both the Apple Store and across Apple services like the App Store, iTunes, Apple Music, Apple Arcade, and others.

Last month, Apple also launched the promotion in India, Thailand, and Singapore, where it is still offering students free second-generation AirPods with the purchase of an eligible Mac or iPad. Apple's all-in-one gift card is unavailable in those countries.

Update: Apple has launched its Back to School promotion in Europe.