Recommended student system requirements

ANU courses commonly use a number of online resources and activities including:

• videos for lectures and other instruction
• two-way video conferencing for interactive learning
• email and other messaging tools for communication
• interactive web apps for formative and collaborative activities
• print and/or photo/scan for handwritten work and drawings
• home-based assessment.

To fully participate in ANU learning, students need:

• A relatively modern computer, capable of running the latest version of a web browser (Firefox or Chrome). A laptop or desktop computer is recommended, with a minimum of 4GB RAM and 16GB free storage space.  Recommended operating systems include: Windows 10; MacOS 10.13 or higher; Linux, e.g. Ubuntu version 18 or higher.
• A webcam, e.g. built-in to a laptop or a USB webcam.
• Audio input and output suitable for video conferencing.  A headset or earbuds with a microphone is recommended.  Speakers and a microphone can be acceptable but need to be tested to check they do not introduce echo into a video conference.
• A stable internet connection with minimum 1.5 Mps up/down. Test your internet speed. A wifi or mobile connection can be acceptable, if it is adequately stable to perform well during a video conference.
• A suitable study space - most activities can be completed in a relatively quiet space; a private room is required for some assessment activities.
• Printing - many courses require occasional access to a printer (black-and-white is acceptable), e.g. ability to print an exam sheet during the exam time.
• Scanner - you may be required to scan and submit handwritten materials. There are many apps that turn the camera on a mobile phone into a scanner. 

In addition to this:

• Some courses will advise of increased requirements, e.g.
  • 8GB RAM for Computer Science courses,
  • at least 32GB free storage for multimedia editing,
  • faster CPUs for intensive data processing,
  • a quality microphone for music courses.
• A tablet can be very useful, but will be inadequate for some programs and tasks e.g. remote invigilated exams.
• An additional monitor can be very useful for students to view lecture notes or work collaboratively on documents during a video conference.