Academic Year: 2027/28
This specification is what we believe to be the minimum you will need to be able to complete the Undergraduate Advanced Diploma in Local History course. Using better hardware and software may improve your study experience.
Minimum device requirements are subject to change. You will need:
- A reliable internet connection suitable for participating in online tutorials and seminars.
- A computer fulfilling the hardware & software requirements outlined below.
Hardware (PC or Mac)
- Generally no more than 5 years old
- 8 GB of RAM
- 20 GB of free hard disk space
- Minimum display size 1280×768
- Mouse/trackpad and keyboard
- Speakers and microphone to participate in online tutorials and seminars – headphones with a built-in microphone are recommended
- Camera (optional)
- Access to a printer (optional)
- A means of backing up data (e.g. USB stick, external hard drive or cloud storage) (recommended)
PC Software
- Windows 11
- A current version of a web browser (e.g. Firefox, Chrome, or Edge)
- A PDF reader (Adobe Acrobat Reader or the built-in PDF viewer in most modern web browsers is sufficient)
- A version of Microsoft Office that includes Access (version 2016 or later)
- Microsoft Teams (desktop app preferred)
- Up-to-date antivirus software. Microsoft Defender (included with Windows) is sufficient, provided it is enabled and kept up to date.
Mac Software
- macOS Tahoe (version 26) or later
- A current version of a web browser (e.g. Firefox, Chrome, Safari, or Edge)
- A PDF reader (Apple Preview, Adobe Acrobat Reader, or the built-in PDF viewer in most modern web browsers is sufficient)
- Either
- Parallels (latest version) running Windows 11
- Windows 11 installed using Boot Camp (available for Intel-based Macs only)
- A copy of Microsoft Office for Windows that includes Access (version 2016 or later).
Important: Microsoft Access is essential regardless of any version of Microsoft Office for macOS you may have, as Access is not available in any macOS version of Office. - Microsoft Teams (desktop app preferred)
- Up-to-date antivirus software for both macOS and Windows. Microsoft Defender (included with Windows) is sufficient for the Windows installation, provided it is enabled and kept up to date.
Further Information
All the hardware and software outlined above must be correctly installed and maintained. We strongly recommend that you take steps to protect your computer/device(s), including backing up data, installing up to date anti-virus software and keeping the operating system and other vulnerable software up to date. You must ensure that you keep your hardware and software up to date with the minimum requirements for the entire duration of your study of the course.
Please bear in mind that having the right software and hardware may incur additional costs. At the start of your course, you will receive an Oxford Single Sign-On (SSO) account. This will enable you to access some software for free or at a discounted rate via the University’s software licensing schemes. As a student, you will also be able to access student discounts on IT equipment.
Queries
If you have queries about your IT set-up, please contact the TALL IT Helpdesk by email: tallithelp@conted.ox.ac.uk or telephone +44 (0) 1865 280990.