Which laptop do you need for HBO education? Here's what you really need

Starting a degree at a Dutch university of applied sciences and wondering which laptop you need? HBO ("hoger beroepsonderwijs") is the Dutch term for higher professional education, roughly comparable to a professional bachelor's degree at a university of applied sciences elsewhere, sitting between vocational college and a traditional research university.

For most programmes, a model with an Intel Core i5 processor, at least 8 GB of memory (16 GB is recommended) and 256 GB of SSD storage is more than enough. Are you doing HBO-ICT, a technical field or a creative programme? Then the requirements are often higher, and we'll walk you through each part below.

Short answer: here's the minimum you need for HBO education

For most HBO programmes, this is a solid starting point for your first year:

• Processor: Intel Core i5 or higher (i7 recommended for technical and ICT fields)
• Memory: at least 8 GB, 16 GB recommended
• Storage: at least 256 GB SSD
• Operating system: Windows 11 or a recent macOS version
• Screen: 13 to 15 inch, Full HD
• Other: enough battery life for a full day of lectures, and admin rights for digital exams

This closely matches the laptop requirements that several Dutch universities of applied sciences set for students in general HBO programmes. Are you following a specialised field, such as HBO-ICT, construction engineering or a creative programme? Keep reading, because the requirements are often higher there.

Do laptop requirements differ per HBO field?

Yes, and often even more so than in Dutch secondary vocational education (MBO). Your field of study largely determines which software you use, from drawing programs to statistical analysis tools, and that has a direct impact on the laptop you need.

General, business and social programmes

Are you doing Business Administration, Communication, Law or Primary Teacher Education (Pabo)? Then an entry-level model is often already enough: an i5 processor, 8 GB RAM and 256 GB storage. Here you mainly work with Office, Teams, research and your thesis, which doesn't require heavy hardware.

HBO-ICT and Computer Science

Doing HBO-ICT or Computer Science? Then you'll regularly work with multiple virtual machines, development environments and databases at once. For these programmes, at least an i5 processor (10th generation or newer), 16 GB of memory and 256 to 512 GB SSD storage is typically recommended, so you have enough room for projects and code.

Construction, mechanical engineering and other technical programmes

Do you work with CAD software and 3D design programs for Construction Engineering, Civil Engineering or Mechanical Engineering? Then the requirements are a lot higher. For this kind of software, at least 16 GB of memory, a 500 GB SSD, a screen of at least 15.6 inch and, ideally, a dedicated graphics card are typically recommended.

Why CAD and 3D design software need extra processing power

3D models and technical drawings put much more strain on both the processor and the graphics memory of your laptop than an average course application. A dedicated graphics card helps render your designs smoothly, and 16 GB of memory prevents your laptop from freezing during a large project or practical assignment.

Healthcare: Nursing and allied health programmes

Doing Nursing, Physiotherapy or another healthcare programme? Then a light, reliable laptop with good battery life matters more than raw processing power. You mainly use Office, Teams and records software during your internship, and it's convenient if your laptop can easily come along to the healthcare facility. An entry-level model with an i5 processor, 8 GB RAM and 256 GB SSD is more than enough here.

Media, design and creative programmes

Going into graphic design, media production or another creative programme? Then you'll be working with software like Photoshop, Premiere Pro or InDesign, which requires more processing power. Count on at least 16 GB of memory (32 GB preferred), a 500 GB SSD and a dedicated graphics card with at least 4 GB of video memory. Many students in these fields deliberately choose a MacBook for its screen colour accuracy, although a powerful Windows laptop works just as well.

Which specifications actually matter?

Besides your field of study, there are a few components worth paying attention to on any laptop. We'll go through them one by one below.

Processor: how much processing power do you need for your studies?

For attending lectures, group projects and writing your thesis, an Intel Core i5 is more than enough. Are you going to work with statistical software, design programs or programming environments? Then go for a more recent generation i5 or an i7 processor. That way, your laptop won't stutter the moment you've got several courses, tabs and a video call open at once.

Memory (RAM): 8 or 16 GB?

8 GB of memory is enough as long as you mainly work with Office, a browser and Teams. Are you doing extensive literature research with multiple sources and reference tools open at once, or working with design or analysis software? Then 16 GB prevents your laptop from slowing down during a busy project week. Technical fields, such as construction engineering, sometimes recommend even more.

Storage: how much SSD space do you need?

For most programmes, 256 GB of SSD storage is more than enough, especially since many universities of applied sciences work with a cloud environment such as OneDrive or Google Drive, where you can keep your documents and projects. Are you working with large local files, such as designs, videos or technical drawings? Then go for at least 500 GB. An SSD is a must either way, since it's significantly faster than an old-fashioned hard drive.

Screen, battery and digital exams: what else should you look out for?

Besides the processor, memory and storage, there are a few practical things you should specifically pay attention to for HBO education.

• Screen size: a laptop between 13 and 15 inch is light enough to carry to campus or your internship, and large enough to work on comfortably.
• Battery life: choose at least 6 to 8 hours, so you get through a day of lectures and independent study without a charger.
• Digital exams: many universities of applied sciences use remote proctoring software for exams. Make sure your laptop allows admin rights and that your operating system is up to date, since outdated versions are often rejected by this software.

Windows or macOS: how flexible is HBO education?

Universities of applied sciences are generally more flexible here than MBO schools: both Windows and macOS are accepted for digital exams and course materials in nearly every programme. Still torn between a MacBook and a Windows laptop? For technical or ICT programmes, always check whether all field-specific software also runs on macOS, since that varies by institution and programme.

Note: a Chromebook or tablet is not accepted by most HBO programmes for digital exams, because exam software often doesn't run on them.

New or refurbished: what's the smartest choice for HBO education?

A new laptop with the right specifications for your field of study will easily cost 800 to 1,500 euros, and sometimes even more for technical programmes. With a refurbished laptop for school, you often save up to 70% on the same specifications. At RefurbishedDirect, you also get a standard 2-year warranty, and every device is professionally tested and fitted with a new battery or SSD where needed.

Want to know more about what refurbished actually means and how we test every device?

This way, you not only buy more affordably, but also choose a sustainable option. Every refurbished laptop you buy is a device that doesn't end up as e-waste, which saves resources throughout the years of your studies.

Laptop requirements per HBO field at a glance

Curious how the requirements compare across fields? Here's the full picture at a glance.

Still not sure? Check with your institution which minimum requirements apply to your programme, because requirements can vary.

Frequently asked questions