The Apple Store has just announced the biggest promotion of the year - the Back-to-School 2008 offer for University Students and their parents, plus Faculty and Staff of all grade levels.

Starting today through September 15th, eligible University members can get a FREE iPod touch (8GB) or iPod nano (8GB) with purchase of select new Mac models. This offer is available at the Apple Store for Education. You can see the site for details.

The promotion offers a $299 rebate that cancels out the price of an 8GB iPod touch, the rebate can also be applied towards the purchase of the 16GB ($399) or 32GB ($499) model. If you don’t want an iPod touch, you can choose to get a $199 rebate on an 8GB iPod nano. If you really do just want the Nano though, we’d recommend getting the Touch and selling it on eBay then buying the Nano with the money you make on the sale and pocketing the difference.

To qualify for the free iPod Touch offer, the iPod and Mac system must be purchased at the same time and appear on the same receipt. Apple lists qualifying Mac systems as the MacBook, MacBook Air, MacBook Pro, iMac, and Mac Pro. The Mac mini, previous-generation 17” iMac, Apple TV, iPhone, iPod shuffle, iPod classic, 4GB iPod nano, and refurbished products do NOT qualify.

The Mac + iPod must be purchased from the Apple Online Store for Education Individuals, an Apple Retail Store, Apple Telesales, or an Apple Authorized Campus Store.