I'm really bummed that Google is offering a year of free Google AI Pro to students in many countries, but it's not available for those of us in Türkiye. Even though we have the same student verification systems, I can't access NotebookLM, which is vital for my studies and research. It's great for handling PDFs, notes, and other academic materials, and I haven't found anything that fits my workflow as well.
I'm looking for help on a few things:
- Has anyone in Türkiye figured out a legitimate way to access this offer?
- Are there any real alternatives to NotebookLM that can provide similar functionality?
- Is there a way to contact Google or escalate this issue to make them aware of the situation for students here?
I really hope this feedback reaches someone at Google because having access to such tools is crucial for students, especially those in developing regions.
2 Answers
Honestly, I don’t think it’s worth the trouble. I've heard that even if you do manage to get in, the service isn’t all that great with so many glitches. It's like a bittersweet experience. Good luck with that!
Some people suggest using a VPN, but I’ve heard it doesn't always work. It seems like the verification system can still block you when trying to sign up from a different location. You might have to get really creative with your approach!
I tried to use a VPN too, but the same issue happened with my old Gmail account. They just redirect me back to the unavailable page. It’s so frustrating!

A beautiful tragedy indeed! Thanks for the heads-up, haha.