Microsoft created a new student initiative called DreamSpark where students are able to download Microsoft developer and design tools at no charge. In order to get the software the student is asked to establish or verify the student status every 12 months.

Some of the software packaged available for download will be:

  • Visual Studio 2008 Professional Edition
  • Expression Studio
  • SQL Server 2005 Developer Edition
  • Windows Server 2003 Standard Edition
  • XNA Game Studio 2.0
  • Visual Studio 2005 Professional Edition

And

  • Visual C# 2005 Express Edition
  • Visual Basic 2005 Express Edition
  • Visual Web 2005 Express Edition
  • Virtual PC
  • Visual C++ 2005 Express Edition
  • SQL Server 2005 Express Edition
  • Visual J# 2005 Express Edition

Right now Microsoft is kicking this off in 11 countries/regions, giving DreamSpark to millions of students in the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, China, Germany, France, Finland, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and Belgium. If you are not residing in one of the countries listed keep checking back, more countries will be added throughout the year.