How to Claim 1 Year of Free Google AI Plus for Students

Google is offering Vietnamese students 12 months of the AI Plus plan for 0₫, compared to its standard price of 132,000₫ per month. This post covers everything from start to finish: whether you are eligible, what to prepare before clicking, what to do if your student verification fails, how to make the most of it once activated, and most importantly, how to avoid accidental charges after 12 months.

I wrote this for anyone who has never used Google One and has no idea what SheerID is. Just follow along step by step, and you will get it done right.

1. What is Google AI Plus and what do you get with it

Google divides its AI tiers into several levels: free, AI Plus, AI Pro, and AI Ultra. The higher the tier, the more powerful the models you can access, the more daily queries you get, and the larger the storage capacity.

This student offer is segmented by region: students in the US get 1 year of AI Pro, while students in over 140 other markets (including Vietnam) get 1 year of AI Plus[1]. So if you see anywhere claiming “1 year of free Gemini Pro,” that is either an article intended for the US market or an outdated post from the 2025 promotion.

Specifically, What the AI Plus Plan Offers You

A few terms will appear frequently, so here are quick explanations for easy reference:

• Gemini: Google’s AI assistant, similar to ChatGPT, accessible at gemini.google.com or via the mobile app.
• Model: The “brain” the AI uses to generate answers. More powerful models can handle more complex tasks and write better, but they consume more resources, which is why daily limits apply.
• Prompt: The instruction or question you give the AI. “30 prompts per day” means you can query that specific model 30 times each day.
• Google One: Google’s subscription service that bundles cloud storage (Drive, Gmail, Photos) with AI plans. The AI Plus plan is part of Google One, which is why the checkout page is hosted under Google One.

Dedicated Student Section

In addition to the AI plan, Google has also launched a dedicated learning hub at gemini.google.com/students. There, you can upload textbooks, slides, and syllabi, and Gemini will:

• Create study guides: gather all materials for a course in one place and answer questions based strictly on those documents, without hallucinating.
• Generate flashcards (two-sided memory cards: question on the front, answer on the back) and graded practice tests.
• Identify knowledge gaps based on your quiz results and track your progress over time.
• Build interactive 3D models for hard-to-visualize concepts (molecular structures, anatomy, mechanical systems…).
• Support voice conversations via Gemini Live: ask questions just like you would with a tutor, perfect for practicing English speaking.
• Sync due dates to your calendar so you never miss a deadline.

2. Check the requirements before hitting sign-up

This is the part most people skip, only to waste time starting over. Click each question below to expand it, and only proceed once you can answer “yes” to all of them.

It might sound counterintuitive since this plan costs 0₫, but Google still requires a Google Payments account with a valid payment method[5]. A Visa/Mastercard (debit or credit) with international payments enabled will work. You will not be charged for the first 12 months, but this is precisely why you need to keep the expiration date in mind in Part 8.

3. Prepare 3 Things in 2 Minutes

Open these 3 things in advance, so your workflow won’t be interrupted halfway through:

Step 1: Your school email (if applicable)

This is the email provided by your school, typically ending in something like @st.tenmontruong.edu.vn or @sv.tentruong.edu.vn. Log into this inbox first and keep it open in a tab, as the system will send a verification code here that you will need to retrieve within a few minutes.

Can’t remember your school email? Check your school’s student portal or contact the student affairs office. If you don’t have one, don’t worry—methods 2 and 3 are still available in section 5.

Step 2: Photo of student ID card or student verification document

This is a backup option when verification via email is not possible. Prepare a clear, well-lit photo showing all 4 corners, clearly displaying: your full name, school name, and the academic year / current validity period.

Acceptable documents usually include: a valid student ID card, a student verification letter with the school’s official stamp, a current semester transcript, this semester’s tuition receipt, or a screenshot of your student portal profile showing your name and school name.

Step 3: Payment Card and Personal Gmail Account

Prepare a Visa/Mastercard with international payments enabled. If you haven’t added the card to Google yet, leave it as is; you can do it when you reach the card addition step in the process.

Important: Sign out of all other Google accounts in your browser and log into only the specific personal Gmail account where you want to receive the plan. Being logged into multiple accounts at once often leads to accidentally activating it on the wrong account.

4. 5 steps to get the package: simply follow along

Step 1: Open Google’s student offer page

Go to one.google.com/ai-student. If that link redirects unexpectedly, you can use the backup link at gemini.google.com/students and look for the claim offer button.

The page will prompt you to sign in. Carefully check the profile avatar in the top right corner to make sure it’s the personal Gmail account you intend to use before proceeding.

Step 2: Click the button to claim the student offer

On the page, there will be a large button like “Claim student offer” / “Get the student offer” / “Start free trial”. Click on it. The page will clearly display which plan you are getting (AI Plus), how long it is free for (12 months), and the price after the promotional period ends.

Read the post-promotion price line and make a note of it. This is the exact amount that will be charged if you forget to cancel after 12 months.

Step 3: Verify Student Status via SheerID

SheerID: simply put, is a third-party company that specializes in verifying whether you are genuinely a student. Google doesn’t verify this directly; they hire SheerID to do it. You will be redirected to a SheerID form, which looks entirely different from Google’s interface—don’t panic.

Fill out the form:

• Country: select Việt Nam / Vietnam.
• School: type the first few letters of your school’s name (unaccented Vietnamese or English name), then select it from the suggestion list: you must pick from the dropdown list; typing it out manually will not work.
• Full name: enter it exactly as it appears on your student ID.
• Date of birth: your actual date of birth.
• School email: enter it if you have one. If not, leave it blank or enter your personal email; the system will then prompt you to upload supporting documents.

Once filled out, click “Verify my student status”.

Step 4: Wait for approval

There are three possible outcomes:

• Instant approval: displays the line “Congratulations, you have been verified”. That means you have passed the first step.
• Requires clicking a link in your school email: open your school inbox and click the confirmation link. The link is usually valid for only a few minutes.
• Requires document upload: upload a photo of your student ID or an enrollment verification document. In this case, it is a manual review: an actual person reviews it, so it may take anywhere from a few minutes up to 48 hours[6]. Feel free to close the tab and do other things; the result will be sent to your email.

Do not resubmit the form multiple times while waiting, as it can easily be flagged as fraudulent.

Step 5: Link your account and activate the plan

After being verified, return to the Google One page. At this step, the system will ask how you want to link your account: just choose the most convenient option displayed and follow the on-screen instructions.

Next, Google will ask for a payment method. Add your card and confirm. The final screen must clearly display something like “$0 for 12 months” before you click subscribe.

Check immediately: if the screen shows an amount other than $0, stop and do not proceed. This means the offer has not been applied correctly; go back and check your logged-in account and verification status.

5. SheerID verification and how to resolve rejections

The verification step is where most people fail, so we have separated it here.

Method 1: School email (fastest)

If your school provides you with an email ending in .edu or .edu.vn and the school is in SheerID’s database, you just need to enter your email and click the confirmation link in your inbox. Done in about 1 minute.

Note: Some schools provide emails with unusual domains (not .edu.vn), but you should still give it a try, as SheerID verifies based on the school’s registered domain name, not just the .edu extension.

Method 2: Upload documents (use when Method 1 does not work)

Take a photo of one of the following documents and upload it:

• A valid student ID card (the side with your photo, name, school name, and academic year).
• A student verification letter stamped by the school, issued within the last few months.
• A transcript or course registration form for the current semester.
• A tuition payment receipt for this semester (showing your name and the school’s name).

Method 3: School is not on the list

Typed your school’s name and nothing showed up? Follow this order:

1. Try again using the school’s official English name (check the school’s website under the “About us” section).
2. Try typing a shorter name, just 2-3 distinctive keywords, for example “Ton Duc Thang” instead of the entire long phrase.
3. Try common abbreviations/acronyms: “HUST”, “UEH”, “VNU”, “RMIT”…
4. If it is still not there, look for small text like “Cannot find my school” / “I can’t find my school” right below the search box, and click it to switch to the manual document upload flow.

What if You Get Rejected?

Being rejected does not mean it’s the end of the road. You can reapply. Carefully read the reason provided in the email from SheerID, which usually falls into one of three categories:

The rejection email always includes a link to resubmit. If you can’t find it, go back to one.google.com/ai-student and start over from the verification step.

6. All Done: Setup and Plan Verification

Completing verification does not mean the plan is active yet. Check these 3 places to be sure:

• Go to one.google.com; you should see your plan listed as Google AI Plus with 400 GB of storage.
• Go to gemini.google.com; in the model selector, the advanced models should be unlocked, with no prompt asking you to upgrade.
• Go to one.google.com and head to Settings or Membership plan: look for the Next renewal date. Take a screenshot, as you will need it in section 8.

Install the Gemini App on Your Phone (Easiest Way)

1. Open the Google Play Store (Android) or App Store (iPhone).
2. Search for Gemini: select the app by Google LLC, featuring the multicolored four-pointed star icon.
3. Tap Install, wait for the download to finish, and tap Open.
4. Sign in with the exact personal Gmail account that received the plan: if your phone has multiple accounts, tap your profile picture in the top right corner to switch.
5. Tap that profile picture again; if you see Google AI Plus, the app has recognized your plan correctly.

Don’t want to install the app? Using it directly in your browser at gemini.google.com offers all the core features. However, installing the app is required if you want to use Gemini Live (voice conversations) conveniently.

Enable Gemini in Gmail and Google Docs

1. Open Gmail on your computer using the account that just received the plan.
2. Look at the top right corner for the four-pointed star icon (Gemini). Click it to open the side panel assistant.
3. In Gmail, when composing a new email, you will see a “Help me write” button: click it, describe what you want to write, and Gemini will draft it for you.
4. Similarly in Google Docs: create a new document, place your cursor on a blank line, and the Gemini icon will appear in the left margin.

Don’t see the icon yet? Wait a few hours up to a day; the feature rolls out gradually per account and may not activate instantly for everyone.

7. Getting your money’s worth: 6 things you should do right away

Getting this package just to ask random questions is a waste. Here are 6 tasks that deliver immediate, tangible value. Detailed prompts for each task are in section 10, ready to download and use right away.

1) Turn textbooks into Q&A notebooks

Go to the study space at gemini.google.com/students, create a notebook for each subject, and upload all the lecture slides and PDF textbooks for that subject. From now on, when you ask questions in this notebook, Gemini will only answer based on the materials you uploaded: so it closely follows the content taught by your instructors rather than giving generalized answers based on internet knowledge.

2) Generate flashcards and practice tests directly from course materials

From that notebook, request to create a set of flashcards or a practice test. The beauty of this is that the questions adhere closely to what the instructor emphasized in the slides, rather than being generic.

3) “Guided” learning instead of just asking for answers

Gemini features a Guided Learning mode: instead of giving you the answer right away, it asks follow-up questions to help you figure it out yourself. It’s slower, but you’ll retain the information much longer—and most importantly, you actually understand the concept rather than just copying answers to get it over with.

4) Deep Research for essays and theses

Deep Research is an AI feature that automatically reads dozens of online sources and synthesizes them into a cited report. It is great for building the literature review framework for essays. However, you must manually verify every cited source before including it in your submission, as AI can still cite sources incorrectly.

5) Practice English speaking with Gemini Live

Open the Gemini app, tap the waveform icon to enter Gemini Live, and talk in English just like with a tutor. Ask it to correct your pronunciation and grammar mistakes as soon as you make them. It’s free, with no time limits like hiring a real tutor.

6) Use the 400 GB to clean up your phone

This is a storage perk few people pay attention to, but it’s well worth it. Turn on Google Photos backup in original quality for all photos and videos on your phone. 400 GB is enough to hold tens of thousands of photos, freeing up your device significantly while keeping full image quality intact.

8. Don’t get charged after 12 months

This is the most important part of the entire document. This plan is a free trial with auto-renewal: after 12 months, Google will automatically switch you to a paid plan and charge the card you added, unless you proactively cancel[4]. The charge is approximately 132,000₫/month.

Do it today, takes 2 minutes

Step 1: Find the exact expiration date

Go to one.google.com, navigate to Settings (gear icon), and check the next renewal date line. That is the date your account will be charged.

Step 2: Set 2 reminders in Google Calendar

One reminder 14 days before the expiration date and one 3 days before. Set two because the first gives you enough time to consider whether to renew, while the second is for finalizing the action. Reminder templates are available in the resource kit in Part 10.

Step 3: Or cancel right now: you still get the full 12 months

This is the safest method and few people know about it: cancel the renewal today, and you still keep all your benefits until the end of the paid 12-month billing cycle; it just won’t automatically renew when it expires. You lose nothing, and you don’t have to worry about forgetting.

How to turn off auto-renewal in 2 minutes

1. On your computer, open one.google.com and sign in to the correct account that has the plan.
2. Click the Settings icon (gear) in the left sidebar.
3. Select Cancel membership[7].
4. Click the button to confirm cancellation. Google will display a confirmation message indicating the date your access lasts until.
5. Take a screenshot to keep as proof.

On mobile: open the Google One app go to the Settings tab go to Cancel membership. If you subscribed via the App Store on an iPhone, you must cancel it in the Subscriptions section of the App Store, as it cannot be canceled directly within the app.

9. Nine Common Errors and How to Fix Them

10. 8 Study Prompts for Gemini

Eight pre-written prompts for the eight most common tasks: creating a course notebook, generating flashcards, creating graded practice tests, guided learning, building literature reviews for essays, exam study planning, essay proofreading, and English speaking practice. Click Copy and paste directly into Gemini. Where there are square brackets, replace them with your own information.

PROMPT 01. TURN SYLLABUS/TEXTBOOK INTO A COURSE NOTEBOOK

How to use: go to gemini.google.com/students, create a new notebook for
the course, upload all lecture slides + PDF textbooks for that course,
then paste this prompt.

---

I am a [year number]-year student majoring in [major name].
All the materials I just uploaded are for the course [course name].

Please read through ALL of these materials carefully, then respond to me following this exact structure:

1. COURSE MAP
   List the main chapters/topics in the exact order found in the materials.
   For each chapter, provide 1 sentence clearly explaining what question that chapter answers.

2. BACKBONE
   Identify 5-7 core concepts that, if not understood, make it
   impossible to understand the rest. For each concept:
   - Explain it in plain, everyday language, as if talking to someone outside the field
   - Provide 1 practical real-world example
   - Clearly cite which page/slide it comes from in the materials I uploaded

3. COMMON CONFUSIONS
   List pairs of concepts frequently mixed up in this course,
   and provide a quick way to distinguish between each pair.

4. EXAM FOCUS
   Based on what the materials emphasize, repeat often, or provide
   worked examples for, predict which parts are highly likely to appear on the exam.
   Clearly explain why you made that prediction.

MANDATORY RULES:
- Only use information contained within the uploaded materials.
- Wherever the materials do not explicitly state something, explicitly write "not mentioned in the materials",
  do not extrapolate or speculate.
- Every point must cite the specific page/slide it was retrieved from.

PROMPT 02. GENERATE FLASHCARDS FROM COURSE MATERIALS

How to use: use within the course notebook created in prompt 01.
Flashcard = two-sided memory card: front has the question, back has the answer.

---

From the uploaded course materials for [course name], please generate
[quantity, e.g., 40] flashcards for exam review.

CONTENT REQUIREMENTS:
- Prioritize must-memorize items: definitions, formulas, classifications,
  application conditions, timelines, proper names.
- Do not create cards for generic concepts like "this course is very important."
- Each card should test only ONE point. Do not cram 3 points into one card.

WRITING REQUIREMENTS:
- Front: a concise question, under 15 words, directly addressing the core point.
- Back: a brief answer, maximum 3 lines. If it is a formula,
  clearly define what each symbol stands for.
- Add a "Mnemonic:" line on the back if there is a quick recall tip
  (acronyms, visual associations, real-life analogies).

OUTPUT FORMAT:
Output as a 3-column table separated by semicolons, so we
can import it into Anki or Quizlet:
Front ; Back ; Chapter

After the table, add a "TOP 10 HARDEST CARDS" section: select 10 cards that, in
your opinion, students answer incorrectly most often, and clearly explain why they are error-prone.