Computer Requirements

Laptop Computer

All IU School of Medicine medical students are required to have a personal laptop for classroom purposes. While tablets may be used for general and personal tasks, they do not meet the minimum requirements for all systems used at IU School of Medicine. A Windows or Mac laptop that meets the requirements below is necessary for medical education course work.

Several computer programs and web-based applications are required for medical education. To use these applications, students must ensure that personal laptops for education meet the minimum requirements. For existing laptops, ensure that the computer meets the minimum requirements in the list below. If purchasing a new laptop, it is strongly recommended that the computer meets the optimal requirements. These requirements are based on applications used in IU School of Medicine courses statewide. Campuses or departments might make use of other computer programs or web-based applications. Be sure to check with campus contacts and academic instructors for any other requirements.

First-year medical students joining Indiana University School of Medicine in the fall of 2022 will be provided with new Dell laptops for the duration of their training program, thanks to funding from the United States Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) Medical Student Education Program.

The funding allowed the school to create the Primary Care Reaffirmation for Indiana Medical Education (PRIME) program in 2020. PRIME aims to enhance the skills and knowledge needed by medical students to tend to the health care needs of the community with special attention to underserved populations.

Incoming students for the class of 2026 will receive a common laptop computer loaded with the same learning platforms, educational software and curricular content for delivery of PRIME content and the core curriculum. The school will conduct a pilot study on the benefits of supplying first-year students with these laptops and look at ease of use, student acceptance and impact on educational programs.

View Dell laptop specifications

Minimum computer requirements

Windows

Laptop
Webcam
Microphone and speakers
Operating system: Windows 10 Pro, Enterprise, or Education (free from IUWare). Windows 10 Home is not allowed.
No tablet computers allowed (e.g., Galaxy Tab)
Memory: 8GB (optimal, 16GB)
Hard drive: 128 SSD or 500GB
Processor: i5 (any generation) with 2.0 GHz+
Screen: 13″
Wi-Fi capable: 802.11g/n
Access to a reliable internet connection
Latest versions of Chrome, Firefox, Edge

Mac

Laptop
Webcam
Microphone and speakers
Operating System: OS X 10.15
No tablet computers allowed (e.g., iPad)
Memory: 8GB (optimal 16GB)
Hard drive: 128 SSD or 500 GB
Processor: i5 (any generation) with 2.0 GHz+
Screen: 13”
Wi-Fi capable: 802.11g/n
Access to a reliable internet connection
Latest versions of Chrome, Firefox, Safari

Hardware Deals by Vendor

IU School of Medicine students have access to discounted hardware.

An IU Network ID is required on some sites in order to view discounted prices. Students should not unnecessarily order software from vendor sites when purchasing hardware, as many products are available as free downloads to IU students, faculty, and staff via IUware, and on disc at campus bookstores.

IU School of Medicine Student Access to Software

IU School of Medicine students are eligible for free downloads of many software packages, including those offered by Adobe and Microsoft, as well as antivirus products at IUWare. Medical students do not need to purchase any Microsoft packages (such as a trial version or student edition).