Microsoft provides free or cheap software to Students and Staff, for installation on home computers, via several different offers.
Science, Technology, Engineering, Maths and Medicine (STEM) students have access to the enhanced "Dreamspark Premium" offer, which includes over 170 of Microsoft’s applications.
All Students have access the standard "Dreamspark" offer which provided software development tools.
Science, Technology, Engineering, Maths and Medicine (STEM) "Educators" and computing support staff have access to the enhanced "Dreamspark Premium" free software offer, which includes over 170 of Microsoft’s applications.
All University staff have access to the software for home offer which provides reduced price Office and windows software.
No matter what kind of computer you own - PC, Mac or Linux - the Remote Application Service (RAS) provides you with access to most of the software used at the University for teaching courses, no matter where you are, via the Internet. (Exceptions are certain specialised software packages.)
Log in at ras.ncl.ac.uk