free cloud: Azure for College/University Students

The offer is similar to regular trial offer, with some services free for 12 months and some "always free". The difference is that instead of credit card the user needs to have email address from accredited educational institution.

Azure for Students—Azure FAQ | Microsoft Azure

"Azure for Students is available only to students who meet the following requirements. You must affirm that you are age 18 or older and attend an accredited, degree-granting four-year educational institution where you’re a full-time student or faculty in a STEM-related field. You must verify your academic status through your organization’s email address (or Shibboleth, if supported by your organization). This offer is not available for use in a massive open online course (MOOC) or in other professional trainings from for-profit organizations."

Free Azure credits for students (Revolutions)

Education Professionals—Try Azure Free Today | Microsoft Azure