What requirements should my laptop meet?
When you study at the Faculty ITC in a Master's or Postgraduate diploma programme, you need a laptop that meets or exceeds certain specifications. The laptop hardware, operating system, and software requirements ensure you have access to the resources you need to complete your study successfully. This also applies to online education and assessment, which may be part of the programme.
For online courses, the following guidelines ensure optimal performance. The webcam and headset requirements must be met for online oral exams and proctoring during online assessments.
If you do not have a laptop that meets the minimum requirements, you could consider buying one through our Notebook Project. The University of Twente's Notebook Project offers discounted laptops that meet our standards and include the peripherals needed to connect to ITC/UT services. All students registered for a study at ITC may purchase a laptop through the University of Twente's Notebook Project, regardless of the type of course.
Hardware and operating SYSTEM (minimum) requirements (2026-2027)*
Operating system | Windows 11 64-bit English* |
Memory | 16 GB |
Disk storage | At least 100 GB free disk space |
Screen | 14-inch, 1920x1080 or higher |
Processor | Recent Intel® Core™ i5 Processor or equivalent (e.g. AMD) |
Network | Wireless (Wi-Fi) and Ethernet LAN |
Mouse | Separate mouse with left/right click and centre wheel |
* Apple and Linux Operating Systems will only partially work with digital services and software offered at ITC and are not immediately supported by the help desk.
** It is enough if the headset that came with your phone is compatible with your laptop.
Software requirements
ITC provides the software required for your study for the time you are studying at ITC.
- If your computer has a different language than English installed, you can install the free English language pack from the Windows Update site. Laptops without an English operating system or language pack installed will not be serviced by the Notebook Service Centre. Supervised practicals also rely on an English user interface.
- Make sure you have a genuine installation of your operating system. Non-genuine Windows versions cannot be updated with the latest security updates.
- Remove unnecessary software from your laptop before you come to ITC. Demo or trial software can conflict with full software versions provided during the ITC course.
- Bring your installation media and license numbers if you need to reinstall your laptop.
- Ensure you do not bring or install illegal software. This will not be tolerated. Access to the network, software and other services will be denied, and support on your laptop will not be given any longer.
Once registered at ITC, you can download a set of general software and ITC course-specific software from our software manager at software.itc.utwente.nl at no extra cost. For legitimate use, you only have to sign a user declaration.
To follow (online and face-to-face) classes at ITC, you will need some basic software:
- Google Chrome for access to the Digital Learning environment and to participate in online conferences (while other browsers might work for some functions, Chrome is the only one supported by all the tools used at ITC)
- Microsoft Teams for communication with your teachers and colleagues. You will be provided with credentials from the University of Twente for login.
Test your laptop
When you bring your laptop, you can run an online test to check whether it meets the minimum requirements.
Test your webcam, computer audio, headset and microphone to ensure you can communicate online.
Laptop Project University of Twente
If you do not own a laptop that meets the minimum requirements described above, you can consider buying a laptop through the Laptop Project of the University of Twente.
Buying a laptop from the University of Twente's Laptop Project offers several benefits.
- Your laptop will be delivered ready for use, with a pre-installed, legitimate operating system.
- You will have (at least) the recommended specifications as described above.
- You will receive full support and service from the Notebook Service Centre. When repairs take more than an hour, you can borrow a laptop for the duration of the repair.
- During your stay at ITC, you will receive support from the Notebook Service Centre. When you bring your laptop, you can use the UT-ITC Notebook Service Centre Limited. We will assist you in downloading the software and provide instructions on connecting with the ITC network in the ITC building and ITC Hotel.
Order information
You will receive the order information from the Service Desk ICT upon admission to one of our programmes.
Pay in monthly instalments
We offer laptops at competitive and sharp prices. However, the amount of money involved is still considerable. We offer Master's and Postgraduate students the possibility to pay in monthly instalments.
When you place an order, you will receive a receipt. ITC will advance the funds necessary for your laptop. Upon arrival, you will need to sign an agreement, and we will arrange the monthly instalments from your allowance or your bank account.
More information
Visiting address Citadel Building | Hallenweg 15
Opening hours Mon-Fri: 8.30-17.00 hrs.
Phone +31 (0)53 489 5577
E-mail Servicedesk-ICT@utwente.nl
Website https://www.utwente.nl/en/nsc/