iSchool: Student Laptop Requirements
Undergraduate Students
While personal laptops are strongly recommended for all undergraduate students in the iSchool, owning a laptop is not a program requirement. Please note that laptops may be required for certain courses.
There is not a specific recommended laptop model for students to own. Computer needs will differ depending on personal preference and the types of courses the student is taking. For example, HCI/UX courses may use Adobe products and require a strong design component, while data science and data analytics courses may require increased Processor/RAM/Hard Drive capabilities. Your laptop must run Windows 11 or MacOS, version 14 or newer. Chromebooks, tablets, and smartphones are not adequate for academic use.
Graduate Students
The iSchool requires that all graduate (Master's, PhD, and CAS) students own a laptop. The laptop must run Windows 11 or MacOS (14 or newer). Chromebooks, tablets, and smartphones are not adequate. If you are taking online courses, you will also need a headset with a microphone.
Several courses use Windows applications, which Mac users will need to be able to run through dual booting or a virtualization utility (such as Parallels or VirtualBox). Please note that some MacBooks may struggle to run Windows virtual machines.
Minimum recommendations:
- Processor: Core i5 1.7GHz dual-core or better.
- RAM: 8GB minimum or 12GB if attempting virtualization (16GB overall preferred).
- Hard Drive: 250GB HDD/SSD or greater.
- Display Resolution: 1920×1080.
- Administrator Access: You must have an administrator account on the laptop.
- Warranty: A warranty of two years or more is highly recommended.
iSchool Graduate Student Laptop Requirement FAQ
Why does the iSchool require a laptop?
Having your own laptop ensures convenient access to instructional media and tools you will need to complete your degree. For some of your classes, your instructors will require you to use particular software, and you will need a laptop to run it on. Online and hybrid courses require access to Zoom (as well as a headset and microphone). The recommended specifications meet requirements to run this software. It is important to have access to online resources both inside and outside of the classroom. Having your own laptop will also allow you to learn basic computer troubleshooting and maintenance, essential skills for a future in the information profession. The iSchool Help Desk is here to provide support with all of this.
Will the minimum requirements be sufficient for all my classes?
It is important to note that these are our minimum recommendations, and some classes may be difficult to participate in with the specifications as listed. For example, for classes that utilize software only available on Windows, it is recommended that Mac users install VirtualBox and virtually run Windows. This requires at least 40GB of free hard drive space and runs significantly better with at least 12GB of RAM. Laptops above these minimum recommendations will be beneficial in certain classes that involve high levels of data processing. Please see the UIUC Course Information page to see specific class software requirements.
Improvements over minimum recommendations:
- More RAM.
- A faster processor.
- A larger hard drive (500GB or more)
Should I get an Apple or Windows laptop?
For most classes, this is a matter of preference. However, a few classes utilize Windows‐only software, requiring either a Windows laptop or a Mac laptop with a Windows OS installed via Boot Camp or virtualization software such as VirtualBox. For these classes, in addition to the minimum requirements, you will need at least 40GB of available hard drive space on your machine and at least 12GB of RAM. Please note that some MacBooks may struggle to run Windows virtual machines depending on their specs. Please see the iSchool Course Information page for specific class software requirements.
Why do I need an administrator account on the laptop?
Classes may require you to do things that require administrator access, including installing applications and editing system files. It is also very difficult to troubleshoot computer issues without an administrator account. You will automatically have an administrator account for any machine you purchase for yourself. But if the machine is not yours, such as if you are using an employer’s machine, you will want to check ahead of time.
I'm a distance education student and have a desktop. Do I need to buy a laptop?
So long as your desktop meets or exceeds the recommendations listed above, you are fine.
Where should I buy a laptop?
You can take the hardware specifications to any computing store, and we recommend you comparison shop to find the best value. You can check the UIUC Tech Zone in the Student Union for educational pricing on hardware and to discuss your needs with an expert.
Can the iSchool help me if I need laptop support?
The Help Desk will provide assistance to connect you to the campus wireless network and to set up printing. We will provide basic assistance with software installs as well as first-level troubleshooting for common problems. The UIUC Technology Services Help Desk can assist with connecting to campus‐level services. Unfortunately, the iSchool Help Desk is not able to provide computer repair services, and we cannot purchase software for personal laptops.
What do I do if my laptop breaks or if I forget it at home?
The Help Desk has a limited amount of laptops available for short‐term loans for iSchool students. Please note that the Help Desk wipes all the data saved on the laptop when it is returned, and the wiped data will not be able to be restored. Additionally, there are some computer labs across campus available to students. Please see the Computer Labs location page.