SAF Student Technology Requirements

Requirements for Fall 2024 incoming students

Over the last few years, the business community, and more broadly the world, has changed the way people interact and collaborate in the workplace. Similarly, the University environment is transforming and using different approaches to education.

In an amazingly short period of time, data analytic skills, the ability to work with large datasets to interpret and visualize model output, have become requisite knowledge for business professionals. In recognition of this transformation, SAF has expanded its degree-required data analytics courses and have integrated data management into many of our courses.

A mobile computer system that is able to transition from applications at home, on co-op, and in the classroom is a requisite tool of a business professional. All incoming SAF students in the AFM, SFM, CFM, Math/CPA and Biotech/CPA programs are required to have a laptop computer.

Laptop requirements

Starting your SAF program with a new laptop is recommended, but most laptops purchased after 2019 should be sufficient based on minimum specs. Your laptop must be capable to run Windows 10 and must have a webcam and microphone.

SAF highly recommends the Microsoft Surface Laptop (5 – 7) with a minimum of 16GB RAM and 512GB SSD memory.

If your laptop does not meet the minimum requirements as listed, students are able to take advantage of the ACO laptop loan program.

NOTE: MacBooks, iPads, Chromebooks, or other tablets will not be sufficient.

Instruction at SAF is done using the PC version of Microsoft Office and other software packages used for instruction are operable only on Microsoft Windows. For this reason, it is strongly recommended to purchase a Windows laptop computer running an English language operating system. The majority of co-op employers use computers with Windows operating systems, thus familiarity with that system will be an advantage in co-op. It is possible to install Boot Camp or similar software on a MacBook laptop to run a Windows Operating system and PC versions of software. However, these systems are not supported by faculty or computing staff and prior students have encountered challenges with this approach.

The Microsoft Surface Laptop 7 has optimal features such as:

  • All-day battery life
  • Great performance for most apps
  • 16GB of RAM for the base model
  • Copilot which leverages powerful processors and multiple state-of-the-art AI models. (only available in the surface 7)
  • 1080p Surface Studio Camera
  • Touchscreen HDR display

Purchasing laptops

SAF recommends purchasing the device through the W-Store. The W-store has a 4-year warranty protecting your device from any accidents.

Microsoft Surface Laptop 6 or Microsoft Surface Laptop 7

Microsoft Surface Laptop orders can be sent to wstore@uwaterloo.ca.

Provided software

All University of Waterloo students have access to Windows 11 at no cost. Students are also provided with a subscription to the latest version of the Microsoft Office Suite via an Office 365 Pro Plus subscription, at no cost. Included with your Office 365 subscription is access to OneDrive with 5 TB of cloud storage. For more information about software available to students, please visit IST software available to students.

Additional software is available on ACO devices. Learn more about software and software help available from the ACO help desk.

Technology assistance

The Arts Computing Office (ACO) is a team of specialists who provide information technology (IT) services, support, and training to the students, faculty, and staff of the Arts Faculty. The ACO works with everyone in Arts and with computing support staff across the university to understand and meet the Faculty of Arts' distinctive needs and opportunities with innovative, imaginative and sustainable IT solutions. 

Get help by submitting a JIRA support ticket, or email us at acohelp@uwaterloo.ca.