Microsoft has announced that it will be offering a discounted version of its Windows 7 operating system for students.

In the UK, eligible students will be able to obtain the new version of Windows for £30. The discounted price will cover both the Home Premium and Professional versions of Windows 7.

To qualify for the discount, students must have a valid university email address and be running a Windows XP or Vista system capable of supporting Windows. The company said that it would begin offering the discounted price for pre-orders on 1 October.

Microsoft's lower than usual offer allows students to purchase Windows 7 for the same price as Apple's upcoming OS X Snow Leopard release. Student sales has been a particularly strong area for Apple's Macintosh line in recent years.

Also like Apple, Microsoft is charging UK buyers a higher price when adjusted for exchange rates. In the US, Microsoft is charging $30 (£18.45) for the student version of Windows 7.

A Microsoft spokesperson said that there were several causes for the price discrepancy.

"Windows 7 Student Offer pricing varies by region and is dependent on a variety of specific factors including, but not limited to exchange rate, local taxes, duties, local market conditions and retailer pricing decisions," said the spokesperson.

"Microsoft will continue to explore ways of bringing value to all of our customers through compelling offers, this is just one option we're trying with Windows 7."

The company plans to release Windows 7 worldwide on 22 October. The release will be the first major Windows overhaul since the 2007 release of Windows Vista.