Get Started with GitHub Copilot

This resource guide provides an overview of GitHub Copilot, including what it is, how to use it, and how to access it at Northwestern. If you are not familiar with Git and GitHub, start with the Git and GitHub Resource Guide first.

What Is GitHub Copilot

GitHub Copilot is a coding assistant powered by artificial intelligence (AI) that helps you write, understand, and edit code. It can suggest code, explain it, help debug issues, generate tests, and modify multiple files.

GitHub Copilot has features that can generate inline code suggestions, respond in chat, explain code, assist with debugging, create documentation, edit files, and review or summarize pull requests.

GitHub Copilot Agents are advanced assistants that can work more independently. They can plan multi‑step changes, modify multiple files, run commands, and correct their own mistakes.

How to Use GitHub Copilot

You can use GitHub Copilot in several environments:

• In a web browser

• In integrated development environments (IDEs) such as VS Code and RStudio

• On the command line

GitHub and Microsoft provide guidance on using GitHub Copilot effectively, including:

• How-tos for GitHub Copilot

• Best practices for using GitHub Copilot

• Prompting strategies for GitHub Copilot Chat

• Guidance on choosing the right model in GitHub Copilot

• Tutorials on GitHub Copilot

• Learning modules on GitHub Copilot

IDE-specific guides:

• Best practices for using GitHub Copilot in VS Code

• Tutorial on using GitHub Copilot Agents in VS Code

• GitHub Copilot for RStudio

How to Use GitHub Copilot Responsibly

When you use GitHub Copilot, GitHub collects and processes some of your data under its privacy policy . Be aware of what data you are sharing , which depends on your license and how you are using GitHub Copilot. Shared data can include the current file, other files in your folder, chat conversations, and your GitHub public and private repositories and pull requests. The GitHub Copilot Trust Center provides more information on data privacy and security.

GitHub uses data shared under individual and GitHub Education plans to train models unless you opt out, following GitHub’s instructions . GitHub does not use data shared through Northwestern’s GitHub Enterprise account to train their models.

If you use GitHub Copilot, review the following and consider updating your sharing settings:

• Northwestern’s guidance on generative AI

• Northwestern IT Research Computing and Data Services’ tutorial on coding responsibly with generative AI tools

• GitHub’s documentation on the responsible use of GitHub Copilot

• Managing GitHub Copilot policies as an individual subscriber

How to Access GitHub Copilot

You can access GitHub Copilot through GitHub plans or Northwestern:

• GitHub provides limited free and paid plans for individuals

• GitHub Education provides free access for students and educators (not staff). Students get access through GitHub Copilot Student , which has limited features such as no model selection. Educators get access through GitHub Copilot Pro , which has full access to all GitHub Copilot Pro features, including model selection.

• Northwestern administrative teams and research groups can access GitHub Copilot Enterprise through the Northwestern GitHub Enterprise account for a per user cost. The per user cost covers a specific amount of use; beyond that, you must pay for additional credits.

Use individual plans or GitHub Education only for public or non‑sensitive data (Level 1 data). If you are working with Level 2 or 3 data, set up a GitHub Enterprise account. Note that GitHub Copilot is not appropriate to use with all types of Level 2 and Level 3 data. If you are not familiar with data levels, read Northwestern’s data classification policy or request help through researchdata@northwestern.edu .

How to Access GitHub Copilot Through Northwestern

Terms that you need to know:

• GitHub organizations : Shared accounts that allow groups to collaborate on repositories under a single name, with centralized control over membership, permissions, and settings. Organizations are commonly used by research groups to manage projects involving multiple collaborators while keeping ownership separate from any single individual.

• GitHub Enterprise: Version of GitHub designed for large organizations that need extra security, shared management, and oversight. Northwestern uses GitHub Enterprise.

• Single Sign‑On (SSO): When a common account, in this case your Northwestern NetID, is used to sign in to multiple websites or services, in this case GitHub.

Steps to get access to GitHub Copilot through Northwestern:

1. Associate your GitHub organization with Northwestern’s GitHub Enterprise account by using the Request Service link .

   • If you have a GitHub organization already created, you can specify that organization during the enterprise setup process.

   • If you don’t yet have a GitHub organization, you can request that one be created as part of the enterprise request.

2. Setup Northwestern SSO for your GitHub organization to help secure your organization.

3. Set up a Northwestern-affiliated Azure subscription to pay for GitHub Copilot seats and any extra usage.

4. Request GitHub Copilot by submitting a help ticket to Northwestern IT . The organization owner must complete this step after the GitHub organization is part of the Northwestern Enterprise account.

5. Decide which members of your GitHub organization can use GitHub Copilot and have an organization administrator manage user access .

If you encounter issues with the steps above, request help through researchdata@northwestern.edu .