20 Opportunities to Get Certified

Are you a student at The University of Manchester? Would you like to get Microsoft certified on AI, Cloud, Data, Security, CRM, ERP, Azure & 365 this spring / summer? The University are continuing to pilot the introduction of Microsoft Fundamentals Certifications for students.

Figure 20.1: Get hired, stay ahead, be productive and receive the recognition you deserve with Microsoft Certified: Fundamentals. These highly marketable, industry-respected certifications offer training and exams that validate your existing knowledge. Screenshot from learn.microsoft.com. (Nadella 2025) 📈

20.1 Microsoft Fundamentals Certifications

Microsoft Fundamentals Certifications can enhance your CV and LinkedIn profile with signed digital badges. Gaining these certifications typically involves up to 20 hours of study³² and normally costs $99, but they are currently free to University of Manchester students as part of an ongoing pilot project. These highly marketable, industry-respected certifications offer foundational training and exams that provide a practical overview of Microsoft technology. They can help validate and extend your existing knowledge. Choose from the following badged certifications:

1. Microsoft Azure Cloud Fundamentals: AZ-900
2. Microsoft Azure AI Fundamentals: AI-900
3. Microsoft Azure Data Fundamentals: DP-900
4. Microsoft Security, Compliance and Identity Fundamentals: SC-900
5. Microsoft Power Platform Fundamentals: PL-900
6. Microsoft 365 Fundamentals: MS-900
7. Microsoft Dynamics 365 Fundamentals Customer Relationship Management (CRM): MB-910
8. Microsoft Dynamics 365 Fundamentals Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP): MB-920

Each certification requires that you:

• Commit to ~20 hours of online study time per certification between now and June 2025
• Attend one in-person 50 minute exam per certification in Manchester in before June, see bit.ly/manchestersoft

There’s more details on these exams, and others like them, in section 23.4.