We often ask students how they can obtain powerful development tools to develop applications on the Windows Mobile platform. Visual Studio 2005 Professional Edition is a development tool that officially supports mobile development. Visual Studio 2008 Professional Edition is also widely used as a solid mobile development platform. Many universities work with Microsoft to provide software to students in various ways. A popular partnership is dreamspark. Click here!
Through the Microsoft dreamspark program, students can download valuable Microsoft development and design tools at no cost. On their website, students can download Professional-level Microsoft development tools to promote their learning and skills through architectural design, technology, mathematics, science and engineering activities.
To use the software for free, students are required to establish or verify their student identities every 12 months. This process has been incorporated into the dreamspark website itself. Verification of valid student identities will allow students from all over the world to download microsoft development and design tools at no cost.
Translation: http://blogs.msdn.com/windowsmobile/archive/2009/02/25/dreamspark-for-students.aspx