Bentley Education Help and Support
Find answers, access your account, and get the most out of your Bentley software.
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OVERVIEW
We are here to support your Bentley Education journey every step of the way
Review our frequently asked questions to get easy advice on common topics, bookmark our quick links for handy access to helpful resources, and check out our tutorial videos to help you get started.
Getting Started Videos
Easy steps for signing up for a Bentley Education user account and getting started
A guide to downloading education software
FAQs
Bentley Education Frequently Asked Questions
Eligibility & Registration
Am I eligible to download and access Bentley Systems software or training for free?
Any student or educator signed up with Bentley Education can access a range of software and resources for free. This includes students pursuing formal education, postgraduate certifications, technical qualifications, and apprenticeships; research students and academic researchers; students who are home-schooled or enrolled in private or public education institutions; and the educators who facilitate this learning.
Eligible users must use the software for educational purposes only, not for school operations or commercially-funded research. For more details, see our End User License Agreement. If you have questions about specific projects, please contact us.
I deliver commercial training programs. Am I eligible for free software through an education account?
Commercial training centers are not considered qualified educational institutions, so attendance at these centers does not grant eligibility for a Bentley Education account or free software access.
Eligibility is determined by an educator’s employment at at a separate, qualified academic institution (such as a university, college, or secondary school). Therefore, if you are an active university educator, you can gain access using your university email and credentials, regardless of any courses you may be providing at a commercial training center. Our OnDemand learning resources can be accessed for free by anyone with a Bentley Education or commercial Bentley account.
How will I need to verify that I am an eligible student or educator?
To register for a Bentley Education account, use an education-domain email (e.g., .edu, .ac.uk) from a recognized institution such as your local school system or university. This is the quickest way to verify your eligibility. You can also use a personal email, but you will be required to manually verify your status by providing proof, such as a scanned image of your student ID card.
Some academic challenges or initiatives may have extra criteria for registration or prize eligibility.
What is a school email or education-domain email and why should I use this, rather than a personal email, to register?
An education-domain email (e.g., .edu, .ac.uk, .ac.in) from a recognized institution is the quickest way to validate eligibility and access software or training. If you don’t have one, simply register with a personal email and follow the prompts to verify your status by uploading a document like your student ID card.
What if my educational institution is not listed as a recognized domain during registration?
During registration, you will need to select your educational institution.
If your institution isn’t listed, select Other and type the full name (e.g., Michigan Technological University, not MTU) for verification and addition to our recognized domains list.
Why am I required to create an account before I can access software or training, even if an application is already installed on my device?
Your Bentley Education account is your key to the entire Bentley Education program. We provide professional-grade software, and your account is what verifies your eligibility for a free, personal educational license while also activating your software. Even if an application is already installed on a computer, your individual account is what grants you permission to use it and connects you to our learning resources.
Think of your account as an all-access pass that unlocks not just the software, but also our full portfolio of training courses, career-building resources, and more.
Is Bentley Education software available globally?
I used to have an Academic SELECT subscription, what do I need to do now?
I am a student. Why should I have Bentley Education?
Employers are looking to hire new professionals that have hands-on experience with Bentley software. By signing up for a Bentley Education account, you get free access to that software — as well as other learning resources — that will help you build your portfolio before you enter the job market.
What kind of document can I use to confirm my eligibility if I don't have a school email?
The fastest way to get access is by registering with your school’s email address. If you use a personal email, you will be asked to provide documentation to manually verify your status. Acceptable documents include:
- A dated student ID card (most preferred)
- A current transcript or report card
- A letter of enrollment from your institution
Please ensure the document clearly shows your full name, the institution’s name, and a recent date. If you encounter any issues with this process during registration, please contact our education support team and attach your document for manual review. We will confirm to you once your access has been approved and you are able to download software.
Account Management
Where can I change my profile details?
You can edit your profile directly from your Education Profile page. After logging in to the Bentley Education Hub, you will be directed to your profile. Simply click the gear icon (⚙️) to make changes.
You can also access your Education Profile at any time by using the link at the bottom of all of the website pages within the Bentley Education Hub.
How long will I have free software access?
Education software access is provided for up to a year, as long as you remain eligible. After completing the sign-up and eligibility check with Bentley Education, you will need to renew your access annually. You will receive an email 30 days before your access expires prompting you to renew. As long as you meet eligibility requirements and adhere to the usage agreements, you can renew your educational access indefinitely.
Is my profile information visible to other users?
No, your profile information and preferences are only visible to you. Our education support team accesses some personal data (name, email, usage details) to provide services. For more details, see our Privacy Policy. We do not sell or disclose collected information, except as described in this policy.
Software Access & Installation
How many devices can I log into with an Education account?
You should only use your Education login details on one device at a time. Every student must create an individual Bentley Education account, even if an instructor or administrator downloads the software. See our End User License Agreement for more details.
Can I use Bentley software on public or school computers?
How do I download or launch software?
- Register with Bentley Education and verify your eligibility as a student or educator at bentley.com/education/sign-up. If already registered, log in.
- Go to the Software search page of Bentley Education. Make sure the Students & Educators filter is checked.
- Search for software available with education access and select Install.
- Ensure your device meets system requirements and has enough hard drive space to download the software. Chromebooks, phones, or tablets will not support downloads. If your device does not meet the requirements, please contact us to see if we can help.
- Once the download is complete, run the installation package and follow the on-screen prompts. The installer includes the CONNECTION Client, which is required to manage your educational license. After installation, open the application. You will be prompted to log in to the CONNECTION Client with your Bentley Education account details to start your session.
- Open the application and log in to the connection gateway at the start of each session.
- If you can’t access the software, try logging into the CONNECTION Client again, ensuring it is the active window on your screen. If you receive an error message, please contact our education support team and attach a screenshot of the error so we can help you resolve the issue.
How do I log in to Bentley software on my device?
Can I download and install Bentley software on multiple devices?
Software can be downloaded on multiple devices using a single registered and eligible account. However, you can only open and access software on one device at a time. Login details should only be used by the person who has registered for that account to follow the agreements of use. Please see our End User License Agreement.
When you open a software application, you will be prompted to log in to Bentley’s connection gateway that enables your access at the start of each session. You will use your individual Bentley Education login details, even if the application has already been installed on the device.
For educators or network administrators, you can download and install software on multiple devices to accelerate student use. Students must still complete the registration and validation process individually which will enable them to log in and use software on any device where it has been installed. If you are a network administrator and need additional help, please contact us .
Can I download more than one software?
Can I share my software download with other students, family members, or colleagues?
I am a student or educator. Can I use Bentley software outside of a classroom?
Free software from Bentley Education should be used for educational purposes only, including classroom work, independent study, hobbies, and extracurricular learning on lab computers or personal desktops/laptops. It cannot be used for commercial or for-profit purposes, even if you are a Bentley Education member. For more details, see our End User License Agreement.
Is Bentley software available for macOS?
No, Bentley software is designed for Windows and is not compatible with macOS. We do not offer native Mac versions of our applications. To use our software on a Mac, you must first install a Windows environment. While not officially supported by Bentley, many users are successful with this approach using tools like Apple’s Boot Camp or virtualization software (e.g., Parallels, VMware).
Please be aware that the installation and performance of these third-party environments are the user’s responsibility.
Learning
Do I need to install software before I access learning materials?
I can't figure out how to use a software or use it for my project, what do I do?
Bentley Education offers student-focused software training courses , accessible via single sign-on with your Bentley Education login. If you can’t find what you need, please contact us for assistance.
How can I request a new learning resource or course about a specific topic or skill?
We’d love to hear your feedback or requests for future resources. Complete contact form below and share what you find most helpful or engaging.
What can I do to optimize my learning and get involved?
To get the most out of Bentley Education, we suggest that you visit our learning resources to find featured resources or to browse all learning materials for students and educators. Completing courses on Bentley Learn, our user learning platform, will provide you certificates of completion, which you can share to LinkedIn to demonstrate your employability.
Where can I get certified?
You can download certificates for completed courses on Bentley Learn, our user learning platform for software. Log in using your Bentley Education details and navigate to My Activities on your Home dashboard in Bentley Learn to find them.
We can’t certify downloadable resources or face-to-face training not hosted on Bentley Learn. Educators must certify their own in-classroom training against their institution’s accreditation standards.
Where can I get accredited?
Bentley Learn, our user learning platform, provides several accreditation paths. This specific type of learning are endorsements from Bentley Systems, verifying that learners who have passed the assessments from these extensive courses have demonstrated essential skills in the latest Bentley applications. Receiving passing marks for an accreditation learning plan will earn you a shareable badge.
Please note, for academic institutions, accreditation may have a different meaning, such as approval by a governing academic regulatory body. Bentley Education partners with institutions globally to support academic-led skills development using Bentley software and some of the resources we share for students and educators are aligned with regulatory criteria from ABET or NBA, created in conjunction with academia and industry. Industry-aligned accreditations on Bentley Learn, our learning platform, differ from academic accreditation which will come directly from degree-bearing institutions such as a university.
Where can I learn how to use a specific software or technical skill?
Education resources might include activities for you to practice technical skills, but for specific training on how to use a software, visit the software courses page and find student-recommended courses available on Bentley Learn, our user learning platform.
What is the difference between Bentley Education and Bentley Learn?
How do I access Bentley Learn for free?
For Educators & Partners
I am an educator. What should I do before a class to prepare for using Bentley software in a lesson?
- Register and create your Bentley Education account at bentley.com/edu-sign-up. If your school doesn’t appear during registration, select Other during the registration process and use our contact us to verify your school and domain before your students begin creating accounts. Allowing us to add your domain will make the process quicker for all students from your school.
- Use your account to explore student resources. Download and install software on student devices ahead of time. Additional network approval may be needed from your IT department.
- Access or share the Getting Started Guide for step-by-step student instructions. You can also share our Quick Start video.
- Allow extra time for students to create individual accounts during the first lesson.
I am a school, non-profit, or industry partner. How can I partner with Bentley Education?
Support
What if I have already submitted a contact us form but I have not received a response or I am still experiencing the issue?
What should I do if I don't receive my account confirmation email?
If you do not see a confirmation email in your inbox within a minute or two of registering, please check your spam or junk mail folder. If you still cannot find it, please contact our education support team, and we will be happy to assist you in getting your account activated.
Why can't I login on CONNECTION Client?
An outdated version of the CONNECTION Client is the most common cause of login issues. To fix this, please update to the latest version by downloading it from the Education software page or directly from here.
If the issue persists after updating, contact our education support team with a screenshot of the error for further assistance.
FAQs
Bentley Education Frequently Asked Questions
Eligibility & Registration
Am I eligible to download and access Bentley Systems software or training for free?
Any student or educator signed up with Bentley Education can access a range of software and resources for free. This includes students pursuing formal education, postgraduate certifications, technical qualifications, and apprenticeships; research students and academic researchers; students who are home-schooled or enrolled in private or public education institutions; and the educators who facilitate this learning.
Eligible users must use the software for educational purposes only, not for school operations or commercially-funded research. For more details, see our End User License Agreement. If you have questions about specific projects, please contact us.
I deliver commercial training programs. Am I eligible for free software through an education account?
Commercial training centers are not considered qualified educational institutions, so attendance at these centers does not grant eligibility for a Bentley Education account or free software access.
Eligibility is determined by an educator’s employment at at a separate, qualified academic institution (such as a university, college, or secondary school). Therefore, if you are an active university educator, you can gain access using your university email and credentials, regardless of any courses you may be providing at a commercial training center. Our OnDemand learning resources can be accessed for free by anyone with a Bentley Education or commercial Bentley account.
How will I need to verify that I am an eligible student or educator?
To register for a Bentley Education account, use an education-domain email (e.g., .edu, .ac.uk) from a recognized institution such as your local school system or university. This is the quickest way to verify your eligibility. You can also use a personal email, but you will be required to manually verify your status by providing proof, such as a scanned image of your student ID card.
Some academic challenges or initiatives may have extra criteria for registration or prize eligibility.
What is a school email or education-domain email and why should I use this, rather than a personal email, to register?
An education-domain email (e.g., .edu, .ac.uk, .ac.in) from a recognized institution is the quickest way to validate eligibility and access software or training. If you don’t have one, simply register with a personal email and follow the prompts to verify your status by uploading a document like your student ID card.
What if my educational institution is not listed as a recognized domain during registration?
During registration, you will need to select your educational institution.
If your institution isn’t listed, select Other and type the full name (e.g., Michigan Technological University, not MTU) for verification and addition to our recognized domains list.
Why am I required to create an account before I can access software or training, even if an application is already installed on my device?
Your Bentley Education account is your key to the entire Bentley Education program. We provide professional-grade software, and your account is what verifies your eligibility for a free, personal educational license while also activating your software. Even if an application is already installed on a computer, your individual account is what grants you permission to use it and connects you to our learning resources.
Think of your account as an all-access pass that unlocks not just the software, but also our full portfolio of training courses, career-building resources, and more.
Is Bentley Education software available globally?
I used to have an Academic SELECT subscription, what do I need to do now?
I am a student. Why should I have Bentley Education?
Employers are looking to hire new professionals that have hands-on experience with Bentley software. By signing up for a Bentley Education account, you get free access to that software — as well as other learning resources — that will help you build your portfolio before you enter the job market.
What kind of document can I use to confirm my eligibility if I don't have a school email?
The fastest way to get access is by registering with your school’s email address. If you use a personal email, you will be asked to provide documentation to manually verify your status. Acceptable documents include:
- A dated student ID card (most preferred)
- A current transcript or report card
- A letter of enrollment from your institution
Please ensure the document clearly shows your full name, the institution’s name, and a recent date. If you encounter any issues with this process during registration, please contact our education support team and attach your document for manual review. We will confirm to you once your access has been approved and you are able to download software.
Account Management
Where can I change my profile details?
You can edit your profile directly from your Education Profile page. After logging in to the Bentley Education Hub, you will be directed to your profile. Simply click the gear icon (⚙️) to make changes.
You can also access your Education Profile at any time by using the link at the bottom of all of the website pages within the Bentley Education Hub.
How long will I have free software access?
Education software access is provided for up to a year, as long as you remain eligible. After completing the sign-up and eligibility check with Bentley Education, you will need to renew your access annually. You will receive an email 30 days before your access expires prompting you to renew. As long as you meet eligibility requirements and adhere to the usage agreements, you can renew your educational access indefinitely.
Is my profile information visible to other users?
No, your profile information and preferences are only visible to you. Our education support team accesses some personal data (name, email, usage details) to provide services. For more details, see our Privacy Policy. We do not sell or disclose collected information, except as described in this policy.
Software Access & Installation
How many devices can I log into with an Education account?
You should only use your Education login details on one device at a time. Every student must create an individual Bentley Education account, even if an instructor or administrator downloads the software. See our End User License Agreement for more details.
Can I use Bentley software on public or school computers?
How do I download or launch software?
- Register with Bentley Education and verify your eligibility as a student or educator at bentley.com/education/sign-up. If already registered, log in.
- Go to the Software search page of Bentley Education. Make sure the Students & Educators filter is checked.
- Search for software available with education access and select Install.
- Ensure your device meets system requirements and has enough hard drive space to download the software. Chromebooks, phones, or tablets will not support downloads. If your device does not meet the requirements, please contact us to see if we can help.
- Once the download is complete, run the installation package and follow the on-screen prompts. The installer includes the CONNECTION Client, which is required to manage your educational license. After installation, open the application. You will be prompted to log in to the CONNECTION Client with your Bentley Education account details to start your session.
- Open the application and log in to the connection gateway at the start of each session.
- If you can’t access the software, try logging into the CONNECTION Client again, ensuring it is the active window on your screen. If you receive an error message, please contact our education support team and attach a screenshot of the error so we can help you resolve the issue.
How do I log in to Bentley software on my device?
Can I download and install Bentley software on multiple devices?
Software can be downloaded on multiple devices using a single registered and eligible account. However, you can only open and access software on one device at a time. Login details should only be used by the person who has registered for that account to follow the agreements of use. Please see our End User License Agreement.
When you open a software application, you will be prompted to log in to Bentley’s connection gateway that enables your access at the start of each session. You will use your individual Bentley Education login details, even if the application has already been installed on the device.
For educators or network administrators, you can download and install software on multiple devices to accelerate student use. Students must still complete the registration and validation process individually which will enable them to log in and use software on any device where it has been installed. If you are a network administrator and need additional help, please contact us .
Can I download more than one software?
Can I share my software download with other students, family members, or colleagues?
I am a student or educator. Can I use Bentley software outside of a classroom?
Free software from Bentley Education should be used for educational purposes only, including classroom work, independent study, hobbies, and extracurricular learning on lab computers or personal desktops/laptops. It cannot be used for commercial or for-profit purposes, even if you are a Bentley Education member. For more details, see our End User License Agreement.
Is Bentley software available for macOS?
No, Bentley software is designed for Windows and is not compatible with macOS. We do not offer native Mac versions of our applications. To use our software on a Mac, you must first install a Windows environment. While not officially supported by Bentley, many users are successful with this approach using tools like Apple’s Boot Camp or virtualization software (e.g., Parallels, VMware).
Please be aware that the installation and performance of these third-party environments are the user’s responsibility.
Learning
Do I need to install software before I access learning materials?
I can't figure out how to use a software or use it for my project, what do I do?
Bentley Education offers student-focused software training courses , accessible via single sign-on with your Bentley Education login. If you can’t find what you need, please contact us for assistance.
How can I request a new learning resource or course about a specific topic or skill?
We’d love to hear your feedback or requests for future resources. Complete contact form below and share what you find most helpful or engaging.
What can I do to optimize my learning and get involved?
To get the most out of Bentley Education, we suggest that you visit our learning resources to find featured resources or to browse all learning materials for students and educators. Completing courses on Bentley Learn, our user learning platform, will provide you certificates of completion, which you can share to LinkedIn to demonstrate your employability.
Where can I get certified?
You can download certificates for completed courses on Bentley Learn, our user learning platform for software. Log in using your Bentley Education details and navigate to My Activities on your Home dashboard in Bentley Learn to find them.
We can’t certify downloadable resources or face-to-face training not hosted on Bentley Learn. Educators must certify their own in-classroom training against their institution’s accreditation standards.
Where can I get accredited?
Bentley Learn, our user learning platform, provides several accreditation paths. This specific type of learning are endorsements from Bentley Systems, verifying that learners who have passed the assessments from these extensive courses have demonstrated essential skills in the latest Bentley applications. Receiving passing marks for an accreditation learning plan will earn you a shareable badge.
Please note, for academic institutions, accreditation may have a different meaning, such as approval by a governing academic regulatory body. Bentley Education partners with institutions globally to support academic-led skills development using Bentley software and some of the resources we share for students and educators are aligned with regulatory criteria from ABET or NBA, created in conjunction with academia and industry. Industry-aligned accreditations on Bentley Learn, our learning platform, differ from academic accreditation which will come directly from degree-bearing institutions such as a university.
Where can I learn how to use a specific software or technical skill?
Education resources might include activities for you to practice technical skills, but for specific training on how to use a software, visit the software courses page and find student-recommended courses available on Bentley Learn, our user learning platform.
What is the difference between Bentley Education and Bentley Learn?
How do I access Bentley Learn for free?
For Educators & Partners
I am an educator. What should I do before a class to prepare for using Bentley software in a lesson?
- Register and create your Bentley Education account at bentley.com/edu-sign-up. If your school doesn’t appear during registration, select Other during the registration process and use our contact us to verify your school and domain before your students begin creating accounts. Allowing us to add your domain will make the process quicker for all students from your school.
- Use your account to explore student resources. Download and install software on student devices ahead of time. Additional network approval may be needed from your IT department.
- Access or share the Getting Started Guide for step-by-step student instructions. You can also share our Quick Start video.
- Allow extra time for students to create individual accounts during the first lesson.
I am a school, non-profit, or industry partner. How can I partner with Bentley Education?
Support
What if I have already submitted a contact us form but I have not received a response or I am still experiencing the issue?
What should I do if I don't receive my account confirmation email?
If you do not see a confirmation email in your inbox within a minute or two of registering, please check your spam or junk mail folder. If you still cannot find it, please contact our education support team, and we will be happy to assist you in getting your account activated.
Why can't I login on CONNECTION Client?
An outdated version of the CONNECTION Client is the most common cause of login issues. To fix this, please update to the latest version by downloading it from the Education software page or directly from here.
If the issue persists after updating, contact our education support team with a screenshot of the error for further assistance.
CONTACT FORM
Get in touch with us
If our FAQs don’t have the answers you’re looking for, our Bentley Education team is happy to provide personalized support—or to hear your feedback.
After you submit
Response time
You’ll hear from us in 2-4 business days.
Check your email
If you can’t find our message in your inbox, make sure you check your junk folder.
