Step 1: Go to the Academic Software page of Visual Studio and request your licence key via the Request button. Copy your licence key and save it because you'll need it later on.
Step 2: Click on the download button on the right to download the software.
Step 3: Click on Continue.
The Visual Studio installer is being prepared.
Step 4: Choose which additional software you want to download and click on Install. The installation starts.
Step 5: Once the software is installed, you'll see the following screen. Log in or create an account if you don't have one yet. You can also choose to do this later by clicking on 'Not now, maybe later'.
Step 6: Choose a theme and click on 'Start Visual Studio'.
Step 7: Now activate your licence by clicking on 'Unlock with a Product Key'.
Step 8: Enter the product code you received on Academic Software and click on Apply.
Step 9: You can start using Microsoft Visual Studio.