cannot apply as a teacher because my staff email does not match the student email domain for my institution in the system

[luisDVA]

Hi everyone,

Hi!
I was starting an application as a teacher and I cannot click continue since the only domain for my in the GitHub system is the one for students and not the one I have as a staff member. How can I proceed?
Thanks

[davevad93]

Hi @luisDVA,

To solve this, you have to contact support by opening a ticket here, select "My selected school has incorrect or incomplete information e.g. domains or campus location" and explain the issue with your academic email domain.

[nagasriramnani]

Please do mark as answered

Here’s a deep-dive answer to your unique situation applying as a teacher when your staff email domain differs from your institution’s student domain in the GitHub Education system:

Why This Happens
GitHub’s Education Program: Verifies your affiliation using your email domain, matching it against a list of approved academic domains for each school.

Student Domain Issue: Many institutions use separate email domains for staff/faculty and students (e.g., @staff.university.ac.uk vs. @student.university.ac.uk).

System Limitation: If the GitHub system only lists the student domain for your school, staff applications using a staff domain will be blocked.

What You Should Do
Contact GitHub Education Support:

Open a ticket via the official support page: GitHub Education Contact Form.

Select the issue: “My selected school has incorrect or incomplete information (e.g. domains or campus location)”

Explain clearly:

Your role (Teacher/Staff)

The problem (cannot apply because your staff domain is missing)

The correct staff domain for your institution

Provide Documentation:

If possible, attach evidence (e.g., university page listing both domains, emails from admin) to help GitHub’s team verify your claim faster.

What Happens Next:

GitHub’s support will review your request.

They will update the approved academic domains for your school in their backend system.

You’ll be notified once your staff domain is added and you’ll be able to apply as a teacher.

Alternative Steps While Waiting:

Reach out to your institution’s IT or admin staff—they may have previous experience helping with similar verifications.

Check back periodically (wait times vary but are usually a few days to a week).

Common Mistakes to Avoid:

Do NOT use a student email if you’re staff—this can impact your eligibility.

Do NOT try to apply with a generic/personal email—only official institutional addresses will work.

Summary
This situation is common and resolvable—submitting a support request with full details is the official and fastest path to resolution. Be clear, provide proof, and await confirmation—the system will be updated for future staff applications as well, benefiting others in your institution.