A portable laptop is a sensible starting point if you need one device for assignments, online teaching and course applications: the University of Warwick recommends a laptop for use across campus and home, while the University of Sussex does not recommend a tablet as the main learning device. Choose an operating system only after checking your department's software and exam requirements; a tablet can serve for notes and reading when you also have access to a compatible computer.
Start with the work your course requires, then consider how you will use the device between teaching spaces and home.
If you write assignments, use a virtual learning environment and join online sessions across different locations, consider a portable laptop first. The University of Warwick recommends one for use on campus and at home; the University of Sussex advises against relying on a tablet as the main learning device.
Check the named applications and supported operating system before choosing a laptop or tablet. Loughborough University identifies NX, used in engineering, as an application that will not work on an Apple device and recommends a Windows PC for engineering students.
Check that a device works with your assistive technology and discuss individual study needs with your university. For eligible students in England, GOV.UK says Disabled Students' Allowance can help with specialist equipment when it is needed because of disability; its guidance says to complete the needs assessment before buying equipment for reimbursement.
Match the device to required software and assessments before comparing screen size or accessories. In Jisc's 2024/25 survey, 15,398 higher-education students responded through 30 participating UK providers; those providers represented 9% of UK higher-education providers, so the figures below describe respondents rather than all students.
| Priority | What to check | Your needs and survey responses |
|---|---|---|
| A suitable main device | List the tasks you must complete, not just the materials you can view. Check whether you need full computer applications, sustained document work and video participation. | I need to complete assignments and use course systems on my own device. In Jisc's 2024/25 survey of students at 30 participating UK providers, 37% reported lacking access to a suitable device at some point; that measures an access problem, not a preference for a particular device. |
| Course software | Ask your department for named applications, supported operating systems and any processor, memory or storage requirements. Loughborough University identifies NX as an engineering application that will not work on Apple devices. | Before settling on Windows, macOS or a tablet, I want to know that the applications my course requires will run on the exact device. |
| Online assessments | Confirm the approved device and operating system, required secure browser and permitted network. Kent and Medway Medical School's November 2024 bring-your-own-device policy, for example, specifies Windows or Apple devices with Safe Exam Browser and requires eduroam rather than a hotspot or guest Wi-Fi. | If my course uses exams on a personal device, I need to test the required setup before assessment day. |
| Connection at each study location | Check your institution's eduroam setup and the connection available where you study away from campus. Consider mobile data only after checking coverage, allowance and any assessment-network rules. | Recorded teaching and live sessions need a connection where I actually use them. Jisc reported that 60% of respondents in its 2024/25 survey across 30 participating UK providers had experienced Wi-Fi connectivity issues on or off campus. |
| Portability and input | Consider the screen size and carrying weight of the exact model, alongside the keyboard, pointing device or stylus your work requires. Check usable battery runtime if you expect to study away from a socket. | I may carry a device between teaching spaces and home, but I also need a comfortable way to write, annotate or work with course applications. |
| Accessibility support | Check assistive-software and input compatibility against your individual needs. If applying for Disabled Students' Allowance in England, follow GOV.UK's needs-assessment process before buying equipment for reimbursement. | My device and any specialist equipment need to work together; a general student specification cannot settle an individual accessibility requirement. |
A device that handles notes and web pages may still miss a required application. Loughborough University identifies NX engineering software as an example that will not work on Apple devices.
Ask your department for its application list, supported operating systems and any specialist requirements before choosing the device.
Loughborough University says tablets can work well for notes and online resources but have a limited range of available software. The University of Sussex does not recommend a tablet as the main learning device.
Use a tablet as your sole device only if your department confirms that it can handle every required application and assessment; otherwise, keep access to a compatible computer.
If your work requires laptop-only software, you will still need access to a computer even after choosing a tablet.
Exam rules can be more restrictive than ordinary study access. Kent and Medway Medical School's November 2024 policy requires Safe Exam Browser on an approved Windows or Apple device and specifies eduroam rather than hotspot or guest Wi-Fi access.
Complete your university's practice check on the device and network you intend to use. Ask about an institution-provided computer if your setup does not meet its rules.
Equipment suitable for an individual study need may differ from a standard retail choice. For Disabled Students' Allowance applicants in England, GOV.UK says equipment bought before the needs assessment will not be reimbursed.
If applying in England, complete the needs assessment before purchasing equipment for reimbursement. In Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland, check the applicable student-funding body's rules before buying.
A brand range can help you identify device types, but course compatibility must be checked for the exact model.
Apple presents Mac laptops and iPad tablets for higher-education use. A Mac is a possible main device where the course supports macOS; an iPad may suit notes and reading alongside a compatible computer.
Lenovo's UK student range includes laptops to consider when choosing a main study device.
Dell's UK student range includes laptops, monitors and accessories relevant to different study setups.
These are laptop options for students considering one main study device. They are not tablet or connectivity-accessory alternatives: check each laptop against your course applications, assessment rules and preferred carrying setup.
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A Windows laptop to consider for assignments and online study where your course supports its setup. The listed configuration has a 15.3-inch WUXGA display, AMD Ryzen 5 7535HS, 24 GB DDR5 RAM, a 512 GB PCIe SSD, Windows 11 Home and Wi-Fi 6. Confirm required applications and exam tools with your department, and check study-use battery runtime if you will work unplugged.
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Consider this laptop if you want a 15.6-inch screen and space for study files. Its stated configuration includes an Intel Core 5 120U, 24 GB RAM and a 1 TB SSD. Check the operating system and your course's application and exam requirements for the exact configuration; if unplugged use matters, compare study-use runtime rather than a standby figure.
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This 2-in-1 laptop is worth considering if you want a touchscreen as well as a laptop keyboard for study. The listed configuration includes an Intel Core Ultra 5 226V, 16 GB RAM, a 512 GB SSD and Windows 11 Home. Confirm course and secure-exam compatibility; check its weight and study-use battery runtime if you expect to carry it regularly.
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The 14-inch format may appeal if you carry your main device between study locations. This configuration lists a Snapdragon X processor, 16 GB RAM and a 512 GB SSD. Because it uses a Snapdragon ARM processor, check every required course application and secure-exam tool against this exact model; also check whether its stated fixed memory capacity suits your workload.
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Consider this laptop for everyday document and web-based study after checking your course requirements. Its title states 8 GB RAM and a 128 GB SSD; compare those capacities with the applications and files you expect to use. Confirm the exact supplied processor and whether Windows 11 Home is in S Mode before buying, as the product information conflicts on the configuration; also check whether required apps and exam tools will run.
Use a tablet as your only device only if your department confirms that it supports all required applications and assessments. Loughborough University says tablets work well for notes and online resources but have limited software availability; the University of Sussex does not recommend them as the main learning device.
Ask for the named course applications, supported operating systems, hardware requirements and any secure-exam or network rules. The University of Warwick notes that particular courses may require additional software, so check departmental guidance even if a device meets general university recommendations.
Confirm support with your own university and department before relying on one. Loughborough University says it does not support Chromebooks or Linux devices because of functionality, software and support-tool limitations; that is its institutional guidance, not a rule for every UK course.
Check whether your institution provides eduroam, then follow its device setup instructions using your institution account. eduroam says access depends on an institution providing an eligible electronic identity; also check local coverage and any separate network rules for assessments.
For eligible students in England, GOV.UK says Disabled Students' Allowance can help with a computer needed because of disability. Its guidance says to complete the needs assessment before buying equipment for reimbursement. Students in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland should check their own student-funding body's rules.