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Which laptop do I need?

Master students have to bring their own laptop to computer exercises. Check the basic requirements for your laptop here.

Bring Your Own Device (BYOD)


Ghent University has adopted a Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) policy. This means that each student is expected to have their own laptop.

Some important notes:

  • If you already own a recent laptop that meets (or comes close to) the specifications below, do not rush to buy a new one.

  • Prioritise comfort (mobility, weight, battery life, ergonomics, …) over a high-end laptop. For your health and productivity, it is recommended to use an external keyboard, mouse, and monitor when working at home. Also, don’t forget to check the warranty conditions — for both the battery and the rest of the device — before purchasing.

  • Do not buy a Chromebook: this type of device is not suitable for educational use at Ghent University.

  • To actively participate in online education, your laptop should have audio (microphone and speakers) and video (webcam) capabilities. Make sure your laptop can also connect to the network via Wi-Fi.

Basic configuration

memory minimum 8 GB RAM (16 GB recommended)
processor

Intel Core i5 CPU or higher, i7 is better (5th or 6th generation) or an AMD equivalent.
Passmark score of 4000 or higher is recommended. 3000 is an absolute minimum.

(see https://www.cpubenchmark.net/)
GPU Intel HD graphics 5500 or higher
storage minimum 500GB (80 GB free disk space)
screen 15" (13” is too small, 17” is too large to carry all day)
screen resolution 1680x1024 or higher (1920x1080 is a plus for some programmes)
network wireless and preferably also wired (wired Ethernet, incorporated or via an extension)
operating system

any 64 bit operation system (Windows recommended)
software MS Office can be installed for free (see helpdesk.ugent.be/office365/en)

Financial support

If you need financial support for a device, contact the Social Services at Ghent University: socialedienst@ugent.be.

Helpdesk

Questions about your Ghent University account, how to log in on Ghent University computers, e-mail problems, ... ?