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How to Get SOLIDWORKS Student Version

SOLIDWORKS Student Edition is designed to help students learn 3D CAD modeling, mechanical design, assemblies, drawings, simulation, and product development in an educational environment.

The exact student offering, eligibility, and access method can vary depending on your school, university, or educational program.

SOLIDWORKS Student Edition Installation Instructions Guide: Official step-by-step PDF guide on system checks, downloading the installation manager, entering serial numbers, and activating free student exam vouchers (CSWA/CSWP).

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1. Check Your Eligibility

Before getting SOLIDWORKS Student Edition, confirm that you are eligible.

You may qualify if you are:

• A student at a school, college, or university
• Enrolled in an engineering or design program
• Taking a CAD or mechanical-design course
• Participating in an educational program that provides SOLIDWORKS access

Some institutions provide SOLIDWORKS directly through their school or university license.

Important

A normal commercial SOLIDWORKS license and a student license are different. Student licenses are generally intended for learning and educational use, not commercial production work.

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2. Check Your School or University

The first place to check is your educational institution.

Ask your:

• Engineering department
• CAD laboratory
• Mechanical engineering faculty
• IT department
• Computer laboratory administrator

Your institution may already provide SOLIDWORKS to students.

If your school provides access, you may receive:

• A serial number
• Installation instructions
• A SOLIDWORKS account invitation
• Access through a school portal
• Campus computer-lab access

This can be the easiest option because the institution manages the license.

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3. Create a SOLIDWORKS Account

If your student program requires an online account, you may need to create or use a 3DEXPERIENCE/SOLIDWORKS account.

You may be asked for information such as:

• Name
• Email address
• Educational institution
• Student status
• License or access information

Use your school/university email address when your institution requires it.

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4. Obtain the Student License

Student access can be provided through different educational programs.

Depending on the program, you may receive:

Always follow the licensing instructions associated with your specific student program.

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5. Download SOLIDWORKS

Once your student access has been confirmed, download the appropriate software from the official SOLIDWORKS/3DEXPERIENCE student resources provided with your license.

Before Installing

Check:

• Operating system compatibility
• Available disk space
• RAM
• Graphics hardware
• Internet connection
• Required Microsoft components
• Your license/access information

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6. Install SOLIDWORKS

After downloading the installation files:

Step 1

Run the SOLIDWORKS installation program.

Step 2

Select the appropriate installation option.

For an individual student computer, this will typically involve a standalone/individual installation rather than a network-server installation.

Step 3

Enter the required license or serial information.

Step 4

Choose the products you are entitled to use.

Step 5

Select the installation location.

Step 6

Start the installation.

The installation can take some time because SOLIDWORKS may include several components.

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7. Activate Your License

After installation, SOLIDWORKS may require activation.

Follow the activation process associated with your student license.

You may need:

• Internet access
• SOLIDWORKS account credentials
• Student serial number or entitlement

Important

Do not use unofficial activation tools, cracked versions, or unauthorized serial numbers. Apart from licensing issues, unofficial software can expose your computer to malware and corrupted installations.

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8. Verify the Installation

After installation, launch SOLIDWORKS and verify that:

• The software opens correctly
• Your student license is recognized
• You can create a new Part
• You can create an Assembly
• You can create a Drawing
• The required educational products are available

Create a simple test model such as:

Sketch → Extruded Boss → Fillet → Save

This confirms that your installation is working correctly.

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9. Set Up SOLIDWORKS for Learning

After installation, configure a few basic settings.

Recommended Settings

Units

→ MMGS for metric mechanical engineering

Display

→ Shaded With Edges

Backup/Recovery

→ Enable Auto-Recover

Templates

→ Create Part, Assembly, and Drawing templates

Shortcuts

→ Learn the S key Shortcut Bar

File Organization

SOLIDWORKS
├── Parts
├── Assemblies
├── Drawings
├── Projects
├── Templates
└── Practice

This makes your student projects much easier to manage.

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10. Start Learning SOLIDWORKS

After installation, learn the software in a structured order.

This approach gives you a strong foundation for mechanical CAD.

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Student Version vs. Commercial SOLIDWORKS

Feature	Student Version	Commercial Version
Learning	⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐	⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Educational projects	⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐	⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Professional production work	Generally not intended	⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Mechanical modeling	✅	✅
Assemblies	✅	✅
Drawings	✅	✅
Simulation	Depends on entitlement	Depends on license
Commercial use	❌ Generally restricted	✅
Intended users	Students/educators	Companies/professionals

The exact features and restrictions depend on the specific educational license.

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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. Is SOLIDWORKS Student Edition free?

Not necessarily. Some schools provide it as part of their educational license, while individual student offerings may have a fee. Availability and pricing depend on the current program.

2. Can I use SOLIDWORKS Student Edition for a job?

You can use it to learn and build your CAD skills, but student licenses generally have restrictions on commercial use. Use the commercial license required by your employer for professional production work.

3. Can I install SOLIDWORKS Student Edition on my laptop?

Depending on your student entitlement, you may be able to install it on your personal computer. Follow the installation and licensing terms associated with your specific program.

4. Can I use my college email?

Yes, and some educational programs may specifically require or verify an institutional email address.

5. What should I learn first?

Start with:

Sketching → Part Modeling → Assemblies → Drawings

Then move into Sheet Metal, Weldments, Simulation, and advanced modeling.

6. Is SOLIDWORKS good for mechanical engineering students?

Yes. It is particularly useful for learning 3D mechanical design, assemblies, engineering drawings, product development, and manufacturing-oriented CAD workflows.

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