Technical and Software Support

SCSS User Support (support.scss.tcd.ie)

The primary source of user support information is support.scss.tcd.ie and you will need your SCSS account details to access this site.

Software

Microsoft Office 365

All TCD students can use the Microsoft Office 365 apps (Word, Excel, etc.) free of charge. Instructions are available in the IT Service website.

VMWare and Microsoft Imagine Premium

Students taking a degree or module in the School of Computer Science and Statistics can avail of free software from Microsoft and VMWare. Instructions for accessing this software are available on our main SCSS user support site (SCSS username and password required)

Other software

A full list of other software available to students can also be found on the IT Services website.

Computer / Laptop Advice

As a student in the School of Computer Science and Statistics, you will spend a lot of time engaged in online learning activities or working on coursework assignments. It is important that you have access to a computer all day Monday to Friday and at other times for independent study. We provide our undergraduate students with a number of dedicated computer labs. These LAB machines will be sufficient to carry out your coursework.

In addition to these labs, if you are purchasing a laptop to assist you in your studies, there are many factors that will affect your particular choice: finances, your particular course / module, performance, portability etc. The following is our recommended specification for students. Although many students and staff use macOS or Linux, Windows is the operating system that will be most widely supported by software used in SCSS. The choice will depend on your personal preference (and budget).

ItemRecommended SpecificationHigher Specification
(if your budget allows)
ProcessorIntel Core-i5 or Apple M1 or equivalentIntel Core-i7 or Apple M1/M2 or equivalent
Memory8GB16GB
Storage (Hard Drive)256GB – 512GB
(SSD preferred)
512GB – 1TB
(SSD preferred)
Display (Monitor)Full HD (1080p)Any higher resolution (* see notes below)
Notes

Your exact USB connectivity requirements will depend on how many devices you may need to connect to your laptop. You may purchase adapters to increase your USB connections, but two USB-A ports and a USB-C port would be beneficial.

You may wish to purchase a laptop with a dedicated GPU (graphics processing unit), but an integrated GPU is sufficient. Some LAB machines have dedicated GPUs if required.

We recommend a headset (USB or wireless) with microphone.

Rather than spending a lot of money on a laptop with a very large, high resolution display, consider purchasing an external display (“monitor”) plus a separate keyboard and mouse. You will be spending a lot of time working on your computer and an external display, keyboard and mouse for your laptop will be less tiring for your eyes and allow you to adopt a better posture. (See TCD Disability Service guidelines on Healthy Computer Use.)

If your budget allows you should purchase an extended warranty of 3 years+

Trinity’s IT Services also offer advice for students purchasing computer hardware as well as details of some offers and discounts that you can avail of as a Trinity student. Visit the IT Services website for more details.

If you would like to borrow a laptop (for a maximum of 2 weeks) you can do so via the Students’ Union. Laptops can also be borrowed for use in certain libraries (for a maximum of three hours). More details available at Laptop Loans Service – The Library of Trinity College Dublin.