Michigan Students: Do You Need A Laptop?

The University of Michigan offers a range of laptop options for its students. The Michigan Undergraduate Laptop Program (ULP) provides free laptops to eligible incoming students on the Ann Arbor campus. The ULP has provided laptops to over 7,200 first-year and transfer students since 2015. Students are contacted about their eligibility after their admissions and financial aid applications have been accepted and processed. The University also has a Laptop Loaner Program, which is available to all U-M students on the Ann Arbor campus, including graduate students. Additionally, the University of Michigan Law School and the College of Engineering recommend specific laptop specifications for their students, with the Engineering school recommending that students own a personal laptop.

The University of Michigan's free laptop scheme

The ULP has provided free laptops to more than 7,200 incoming first-year and transfer students since 2015. Eligible students will be contacted via email after their admissions and financial aid applications have been accepted and processed, usually about two weeks after receiving their notice of admission.

The laptop provided by the ULP is a current model 13" MacBook Air with 8 GB of RAM and a 512 GB SSD drive. The program also provides a four-year Safeware warranty and a protective sleeve. If a student is in the School of Information or the Stamps School of Art & Design, they will be given a laptop that meets the specific requirements of those colleges.

The University of Michigan-Flint also offers a limited number of laptop computers and other equipment for short-term emergency loans for students. This program is aimed at ensuring students have the technological resources they need to succeed at the university when facing an emergency and to bridge the gap to a long-term solution.

Recommended laptop specifications

The University of Michigan offers a range of recommendations and resources to help students select and purchase a laptop. While there is no obligation to purchase hardware or software from the university, the university's Tech Shop offers attractive laptop prices for registered students.

• Operating System: Windows 10 or 11 Education/Professional, or macOS (most recent version recommended).
• Processor: Intel Core i5 or i7, AMD Ryzen 5 or Ryzen 7, or Apple M1 (minimum) or M2 (recommended).
• Memory: 16 GB (minimum), 64 GB (recommended).
• Storage: 256 GB SSD (minimum), 1 TB SSD (recommended).
• Display: 1920 x 1080 or better minimum resolution, with a discrete graphics card and a dedicated GPU (recommended).
• Connectivity: 802.11ac (minimum), Wi-Fi 6E (recommended).
• Webcam: 720p, 1280x720 at 30 fps (minimum), 1080p, 1920x1080 at 60 fps (recommended).
• Peripherals: Headphone and microphone combination (e.g. headset), adapter(s) for connecting to external displays, and an anti-theft lock device.
• Warranty: Extended warranties are highly recommended, covering hardware and system troubleshooting. Accidental damage coverage is also suggested.
• Backup: External hard drive, or subscription to a cloud-based solution, e.g. U-M Google Drive or Microsoft OneDrive (highly recommended).
• Productivity Software: Microsoft Office is recommended and can be obtained at no cost. Windows 11 Education is also available to all current students at no cost.

Additionally, the university provides resources for no-cost software, such as the Adobe Creative Cloud suite, and offers a Laptop Loaner Program for terms of one or two semesters.

Software and repairs

The University of Michigan provides a range of software and repair services for students. The University's Tech Shop is a valuable resource, offering both a walk-in and online store with educational pricing. The Tech Shop provides sales, service, and support for computers, tablets, software, security essentials, and other peripherals. They are an authorized Apple, Dell, and HP service provider and offer computer repair, including hardware and software installation and data backup.

For enrolled students, the Tech Shop offers software at deeply discounted prices. Microsoft Office 365, Windows 11 Education, and the Adobe Creative Cloud suite are available to all current University of Michigan students at no cost. The University also provides access to LinkedIn Learning, with over 15,000 online courses, including "Computer Literacy for Mac" and "Essential Training" for software such as Canvas, Microsoft, Google, and Adobe applications.

Additionally, the University's Information and Technology Services (ITS) department provides full device support to users of the Laptop Loaner Program, with a range of support options available. The ITS Tech Repair Service provides full warranty and out-of-warranty repairs on many laptop and tablet brands.

For students in the Michigan Undergraduate Laptop Program, their laptops are covered by a four-year Safeware warranty. If the laptop breaks, students can bring it to the Tech Shop, which may provide a loaner laptop while repairs are being made. If the laptop is away from campus, students can contact Safeware directly for repair instructions.

For students in the School of Engineering, the Computer Aided Engineering Network (CAEN) offers no-cost academic software that can be installed on personal computers. While most applications are for Windows, there are options for Mac users to emulate Windows.

Overall, the University of Michigan provides comprehensive software and repair services to support students' technology needs.

Purchasing advice

The University of Michigan recommends that students own a personal laptop computer. The U-M Tech Shop is a valuable resource for students, offering both a walk-in and online store with educational pricing. While there is no obligation to purchase hardware or software from the university, the Tech Shop offers attractive laptop prices for registered students.

If you are purchasing a new system, it is recommended that you invest in a faster processor, more RAM, and a larger drive. You should also consider your budget, productivity needs, and hardware lifespan.

For Michigan Engineering students, the following minimum requirements have been outlined:

• Intel Core i5 or i7
• AMD Ryzen 5 or Ryzen 7
• Apple: M1 (minimum) or M2 (recommended)
• Windows: 10 Education or Professional, or 11 Education or Professional
• MacOS: Most recent version (recommended)
• 16 GB (minimum) or 64 GB (recommended)
• 256 GB SSD (minimum) or 1 TB SSD (recommended)
• 802.11ac (minimum) Wi-Fi 6E (recommended)
• 1920 x 1080 or better display resolution (minimum)
• A discrete graphics card with a dedicated GPU (recommended)
• 720p, 1280×720 at 30 fps (minimum) or 1080p, 1920×1080 at 60 fps (recommended)

Additionally, an external hard drive, or subscription to a cloud-based solution, is highly recommended. Extended warranties are also suggested, as they normally cover hardware and system troubleshooting from the vendor, and accidental damage coverage may be available.

For law students, it is recommended that you purchase a 3-year service contract to last through your law school tenure, preferably with complete care and screen replacement. It is also advised that you consider how long you can afford to be without your laptop during the semester or during exams, as well as where you can get it fixed and the turnaround time for repairs.

Chromebooks, tablets, iPads, etc., are not compatible with some printing features, Electronic Bluebook, and other services at the Law School, so these devices are not recommended.

The University of Michigan also offers a Michigan Undergraduate Laptop Program (ULP) that provides free laptops to eligible incoming students on the UM-Ann Arbor campus.

Loaner laptops

The University of Michigan offers a Sites @ Home laptop loaner program for students on the Ann Arbor campus. This program was initially launched in response to the unique challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, to facilitate a hybrid learning format and safe computing needs. The program offers access to powerful and reliable technology, including well-equipped laptops with Windows PC operating systems and access to the Campus Computing Sites software library.

Any actively enrolled Ann Arbor student is eligible to borrow a laptop through the Sites @ Home program. The program is designed for students who have an academic need for a more powerful, more reliable, or different operating system device than what they currently have. To be eligible, students must also be actively enrolled in courses for the duration of the loan and be in the United States at the end of the loan period to return the device.

The Sites @ Home program is not a short-term or emergency loan program, and requests are filled on a first-come, first-served basis, with priority given to students with financial need. The loan period is a minimum of one month, and laptops can be borrowed for one or two semesters. Requests will be responded to within 48 hours to arrange for pick-up or shipping, and students must agree to a contract upon initiating the loan. There is no cost to borrow the device, but students are responsible for their data and are recommended to back up important files.

In addition to the Sites @ Home program, the University of Michigan also offers the Michigan Undergraduate Laptop Program (ULP), which provides laptops free of charge to selected incoming students identified by the Office of Financial Aid. This program is available to specific newly admitted students at the Ann Arbor campus, and students cannot request to participate. Eligible students are notified shortly after their admissions application has been approved and their financial aid packages have been processed. The ULP provides current model 13" MacBook Air laptops with an 8 GB RAM and 512 GB SSD drive, along with a four-year Safeware warranty and a protective sleeve.

The University of Michigan also has a Tech Shop that offers laptop deals and software at discounted prices for registered and enrolled students.

Frequently asked questions