Other software
As a student, you can access a range of other software free of charge or for a reduced tariff. These include office tools, cloud storage, anti-virus software and much more.
As a student, you can make use of Office 365 ProPlus and OneDrive cloud storage free of charge. These services allow you to work on multiple computers and mobile devices, using programmes such as Word, Powerpoint, Excel and OneNote, and to safely store and share up to 1024 GB of files in the cloud. Read more and install Office 365 and OneDrive
Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA)
To log into Office 365 you need to use Multi-factor authentication (MFA). This means that as well as entering your username and password, you also need to confirm your identity via the Microsoft Authenticator app. Read more and install MFA.
Deactivated after de-registration
If you de-register as a student, your university email account (uMail) will be automatically deactivated and deleted. Read more.
SURFspot
Students of all Dutch universities can purchase affordable software, such as Adobe, anti-virus software, MindManager and SPSS, via SURFspot. You can also purchase hardware, subscriptions for magazines and newspapers, and internet services. To do so, log into Surfspot, select Leiden University, then enter your student account log-in details.
Faculty of Science
Students at the Faculty of Science can download software via a different software platform. Read more on the faculty tab.
Academic Software
As of academic year 2024/2025, you can access the software needed for certain courses via the Academic Software distribution platform. In some cases you will need to download and install the software in advance. In other cases you can use the software online via the platform.
Install software on time
Make sure you have installed the necessary software before your first class.
Laptop
You are expected to bring a standard laptop running Windows (or Linux for some study programmes). In most cases, a Chromebook, iPad or tablet will not be sufficient. MacOS is sufficient in most cases (with Parellels for Windows installed) but some specialised applications might not be supported and there will be less IT support available.
Specification
- Compatible with Windows 11 – 64-bits (or Linux for some study programmes)
- Processor/CPU – modern, medium range
- Memory/RAM – 8 GB, if possible 16 GB
- Storage – 512 GB, if possible 1 TB
Additional requirements
- Some study programmes have additional specifications. This will be indicated on your study programme tab if applicable.
- For some software there may be additional system requirements for laptops. This will be indicated in the software information.
FAQ
Go to https://portal.academicsoftware.com/login and log in with your studentnumber@vuw.leidenuniv.nl (s1234567@vuw.leidenuniv.nl).
Please note! The software distribution platform is intended for students and not employees.
Please log in with your studentnumber@vuw.leidenuniv.nl ( s1234567@vuw.leidenuniv.nl) to Academic Software's portal.
Try if you can log in via another browser. It may also help to clear the browser's cookies and cache. Make sure you are using the latest version of the browser. Close all open browsers completely and start a new session. A quick guide can be found here.
In addition, check if you can log in at https://account.services.universiteitleiden.nl/. If you cannot log in directly to ULCN either, there may be a general problem with your user account.
If the problem occurs only in Academic Software, please send a screenshot of the error message to the ISSC Helpdesk so they can further investigate where possibly the problem lies.
Via SURFspot you can buy software such as Adobe and anti-virus software at reduced prices. But you can also buy various hardware, newspaper and magazine memberships or subscriptions to internet services. The difference with Academic Software is that with Academic Software you get access to the right software needed for your studies, with the correct version, without having to buy anything.
Would you like to use a desktop computer? Then you can reserve one in the University Library.
Can't find your question here? Please contact the ISSC Helpdesk.
Additional laptop requirements Computer Science students
- Operating system of choice: Linux and/or Windows (MacOS may in most cases also suffice, but less support may be available)
- Modern medium-range GPU (if possible CUDA-capable, definitely not high end)
University servers will be used for intensive calculations.