2019-02-09 00:00:00

How can I get a free domain?

Thanks to GitHub education, it is possible do obtain a free ‘.me’ domain provided by Namecheap. You can also host your website for free on GitHub if you don’t have a personal server!

Requirements

• Be currently enrolled in a degree or diploma granting course of study
• Have a verifiable school-issued email address or documents that prove your current student status
• Be at least 13 years old

1. Create a GitHub account

First of all, you need to visit github.com and create your account with your school email address. Once you finished filling the registration form, click the verification link in your inbox and log in on yuor account.

If you already have an account, just make sure that your school email address is marked as default and public in the settings

2. Join GitHub education

Now you’ll need to head over to education.github.com/discount_requests/new and enter all details asked. Make sure to select the correct school-issued email address and school name. Once you have received your student pack, you may continue with the last step!

3. Get your free domain name

Finally, visit nc.me and search for an available .me domain. Add it to your cart and complete the order. Make sure to enter your school email address as it’s your primary email on GitHub!

• If you’re planning on hosting your website with GitHub, select GitHub pages and follow this tutorial: https://gist.github.com/lukalafaye/b9733a2d45b1e50e58a0f3ac91a77503

• If you’re planning on hosting your website on a personal server, select Ghost Machine, Managed by Namecheap

Once you’ve finished creating your account, log in on namecheap.com. Click your username and move to your dashboard. In the nameservers section, select Namecheap BasicDNS and apply by clicking the green tick mark.

Move to Advanced DNS in the top menu and add a new record. Fill with:

Where 0.0.0.0 is your server’s or GitHub’s IPv4 address. You can get your server’s IP it by executing curl:

curl -s checkip.dyndns.org | sed -e 's/.*Current IP Address: //' -e 's/<.*$//'

GitHub’s IP should be 204.232.175.78, check the tutorial for more information.