SAF Student technology requirements

Requirements for Fall 2025 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 2022 should be sufficient based on minimum specs. Your laptop must be capable to run Windows 11 and must have a webcam and microphone.

SAF recommends a business laptop made in the last 3 years, such as a Lenovo ThinkPad or Dell Pro or Microsoft Surface with Intel CPU ( not recommended), with the following specs:

  • Intel (Ultra 5 or better) or AMD Processor (Ryzen 5 or better)
  • 16GB or more RAM
  • 512GB or more SSD

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

Based on our experience with students who plan to enter our Master of Accounting (MAcc) program after graduating, we have found that HP users experience issues with SecureClient (the exam software used in the CPA Common Final Exam (CFE) and in the MAcc program for administering exams). We would recommend choosing a different laptop that supports Windows 11.

Instruction at SAF is done using the Windows version of Microsoft Office and other software packages used for instruction are operableÌýonly on Microsoft Windows. For this reason, it isÌýstrongly recommendedÌýto 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 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.

Provided software

All University of À¶Ý®ÊÓƵ students have access to Windows 11 at no cost. Students are also provided with a subscription to the latest version of M365 Suite at no cost. Included with your M365 subscription is access to OneDrive with 25 TB of cloud storage. For more information about software available to students, please visitÌý.

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

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. TheÌýACO 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.Ìý

Get help by submitting aÌý, or email us atÌýacohelp@uwaterloo.ca.