Undergraduate Laptop Requirements
Students entering the Cockrell School of Engineering are required to have a laptop for use in
coursework, including testing scenarios. Laptops do not need to be brought to campus on a daily basis, but individual courses may require that a laptop be brought to class, lab sessions or tests.
Microsoft Windows 11 is the de facto standard. You will not be able to complete your coursework with a MacBook laptop unless you are able to install a virtual Windows environment (VMWare Fusion, Parallels, BootCamp, etc.). Be aware that these options require extra processing power, RAM, HD space and time and effort to install.
MacBook laptops are strongly discouraged.
Laptop Specifications
| Hardware | Required | Recommended |
|---|---|---|
| CPU Processor | Intel i7 | Intel i9 (or AMD equivalent) |
| OS | Windows 11 | Windows 11 |
| Screen | 1920×1080 | 1920×1080 or greater |
| RAM | 16GB | 32GB or greater |
| Hard Drive | 500GB SSD | 1TB or greater SSD |
| Wireless | 802.11ac | 801.11ac or Wi-Fi 6 |
| Video (GPU) | Integrated | Discrete card (Nvidia, AMD, etc.) |
| Camera | Front facing camera w/mic | Front facing camera w/mic |
| Warranty | n/a | 3-to-4-year warranty w/accidental |
Warranty
An extended warranty with accidental damage coverage is highly recommended.
Financial Aid
Students who are receiving aid and who are loan-eligible may contact the Office of Scholarships and Financial Aid to have their aid adjusted to include the cost of their laptop. Contact Texas One Stop for your questions about financial aid, scholarships, and loans. You can visit Texas One Stop, located on the ground floor of Main (the Tower). If you’re not able to visit in person, you can call Texas One Stop at (512) 232-6988 or email onestop@utexas.edu for assistance.
Students not eligible for aid can apply for alternative or short-term loans through the Office of Scholarships and Financial Aid.