A laptop for your studies

To be able to take your digital exam and to use the software required for a course, your laptop must meet minimum requirements.

Every year, WUR facilitates an attractive laptop offer in de LaptopShop. The models from the LaptopShop meet the minimum requirements and offer extensive service, regardless of your choice within WUR’s flexible education model.
Note: the Bachelor and Master programmes Landscape Architecture and Spatial Planning have different requirements. See below.

If you choose a different laptop, pay attention to these requirements!

Windows 11 in English or Dutch (other languages supported on best effort)
Display size must be 13-17”, Full HD
At least 16 GB of RAM (32 GB recommended)
At least 512 GB SSD hard disk (1 TB recommended)
Intel Core i5 processor or higher (or similar)
HDMI / Displayport connections
Minimum WiFi 6, preferably Intel WiFi 6E or 7
Touchpad
At least two free USB 2.0 (or higher, e.g. USB-C) ports
Battery that can run for at least three hours without connection to a power source
Built-in webcam and microphone
You must be the administrator for your laptop

It would also be wise to consider:

1 USB-C port for video source
Good support for the device (Next Business Day) or a backup option such as a spare laptop
AC adapter and cable with a Dutch plug
Weight: not too heavy
No noisy fan
Kensington connection to prevent theft

Important for a Chromebook

A Chromebook does not meet all requirements and cannot be used for education and exams.

Important for a MacBook

Almost all study and course software that is used at WUR runs on Windows. If you choose a MacBook, it is important that you are able to run Windows software on it. We advise to use Parallels and Windows 11 Education.

A MacBook has the same minimum requirements as a Windows laptop. You will need extra free disk space for the Windows work-around. Please note that not all applications might function as they would on a Windows device.

Go to StudentSupport for detailed instructions or visit ServicePoint IT, they can assist with the installation in case of problems.

Which laptop for which study programme?

In the "Wageningen education model" you can, in principle, follow every course from every study programme as a (optional) course. Most software can smoothly be used on the Allround model. The Power model can offer more comfort (e.g. when working with multiple part screens at the same time, it has a larger screen and a higher graphics processing power). If you expect to use more advanced software that requires more computing power, the Power model can be good option.

The following study programmes have a specific advice because the used software require a more powerful laptop:

Bachelor of Landscape Architecture and Spatial Planning (BLP) starting from the second year if you opt for the specialization Landscape Architecture.
Master's Landscape Architecture and Planning (MLP) for the specialization Landscape Architecture.

To students who take the specialization Landscape Architecture we recommend to purchase at least a Power-model from the LaptopShop, or an even stronger model. With the (equivalent of a) Power Model you can work for one or two years, but it might not last your entire studies. With a higher end laptop you can work your whole studies.

Requirements for a more powerful laptop:

32 GB RAM minimum
A powerful, dedicated GPU such as NVIDIA RTX 4070 or better
Fast NVMe SSD (minimum 1 TB)
A good quality screen (QHD of 4K, 100% sRGB) – for realistic GIS visualisation

The WUR LaptopShop now offers a powerful laptop that meets these requirements.

Minimum laptop requirements