Answers to the most commonly asked questions about the Maya Student Edition. Feel free to ask a question and we’ll do our best to answer it.

Q. Does The Maya Student Edition Render With A Watermark?

A. No, the latest version of Maya for students does NOT render with a watermark. Some previous versions did render with a small watermark, but now Autodesk have removed the watermarks from the Maya 2011 Student Version.

Q. What Exactly Is A Non-Commercial License?

A. As the owner of a piece of student software you agree that you will not use the Maya academic version for any commercial purpose. Using it as a means to learn the software and develop your skills is what it is intended for. Using it to develop content for your showreel is allowed, as far as I’m aware.

Q. How Long Does The Maya Student License Last?

A. There are currently two licensing options depending on your situation :

- a 13 Month option (now free – read the latest on the 2011 Maya Student Edition here)

- a Perpetual option (around $350)

If you’re in your final year at college or uni, then you may find the 13 month option more useful…but obviously the perpetual option makes more sense if you’re looking to continue to further your knowledge and skillset, as it will never expire even when you’ve finished your course. A perpetual license also qualifies you for a discount on the student to commercial upgrade later on

Q. What’s In The Autodesk Education Suite For Entertainment Creation? (used to be called the “Maya Student Edition Superpack” in previous versions)

A. 5 other pieces of high-end software from Autodesk – see this article for more detailed info –> Autodesk Education Suite For Entertainment Creation 2011

Q. Is There A Discount On The Full Commercial Version Of Maya?

A. Yes, there is a significant discount on the commercial version for owners of the Maya educational edition. Read the full article here ==> upgrade Maya student to commercial

This discount is massive…an upgrade to the full commercial version of Maya Unlimited from a student version is around $1,300 – instead of the usual $4,000!

This online retailer does next-day shipping on the upgrade ==> Buy Maya Student to Commercial Upgrade