Bring Your Own Device

As a student, you will need a suitable device to use our digital services, such as checking timetables, receiving emails from teachers, using our online virtual learning environments and completing assignments.

If you already own a device that meets the technical requirements of your course, you are welcome to bring it with you to college.

If you are approved for a college bursary there are devices available for long-term loan which are suitable for most courses. Details of how to request a device will be shared when your bursary application is approved.

Each course is listed below with the recommended minimum device specification.

If you have any queries regarding the device you need for college, please email us using the following address – Device.Help@cirencester.ac.uk

BYOD Device Recommendations

Cirencester College Bring Your Own Device Recommendations

Use this table to check the minimum recommended device for each course. If a device is listed against your course, it is the minimum specification we recommend. Some courses may work with several device types, while specialist courses may need a more specific device.

Recommendation key: These labels explain how strongly each device type is recommended for the course.
Suitable This device will meet the minimum needs of the course. Recommended This is the preferred option and will give a better experience for the course.
Course Tablet + physical keyboard Windows 8GB Windows 16GB Windows touchscreen High spec Windows Mac Neo MacBook Air/Pro
A-level Progression Programme (APP) Suitable Suitable Suitable Suitable Suitable Suitable —
Accounting A-level Suitable Suitable Suitable Suitable Suitable Suitable —
Accounting T-level Suitable Suitable Suitable Suitable Suitable Suitable —
Ancient History A-level Suitable Suitable Suitable Suitable Suitable Suitable —
Animal Care & Management T-level Suitable Suitable Suitable Suitable Suitable Suitable —
Art: Fashion, Textiles T-level — — Recommended Recommended Recommended — Recommended
Biology A-level Suitable Suitable Suitable Suitable Suitable Suitable —
Business Management and Administration T-level Suitable Suitable Suitable Suitable Suitable Suitable —
Business Studies A-level Suitable Suitable Suitable Suitable Suitable Suitable —
Chemistry A-level Suitable Suitable Suitable Suitable Suitable Suitable —
Classical Civilisation A-level Suitable Suitable Suitable Suitable Suitable Suitable —
Computer Science A-level — — Recommended Recommended Recommended — —
Criminology Level 3 Diploma Suitable Suitable Suitable Suitable Suitable Suitable —
Design - 3D Design A-level — — Recommended Recommended Recommended — Recommended
Design, Surveying and Planning for Construction T-level — — — — Recommended — —
Digital Media Level 3 — — Recommended Recommended Recommended — Recommended
Digital T-level — — Recommended Recommended Recommended — —
Drama & Theatre Studies A-level — — Recommended Recommended Recommended — Recommended
EPQ Suitable Suitable Suitable Suitable Suitable Suitable —
Economics A-level Suitable Suitable Suitable Suitable Suitable Suitable —
Education & Early Years T-level Suitable Suitable Suitable Suitable Suitable Suitable —
Electronics A-level — — Recommended Recommended Recommended — —
Engineering T-level — — — — Recommended — —
English A-levels (Language and/or Literature) Suitable Suitable Suitable Suitable Suitable Suitable —
Environmental Science A-level Suitable Suitable Suitable Suitable Suitable Suitable —
Equine Management Level 3 Extended Diploma Suitable Suitable Suitable Suitable Suitable Suitable —
Esports Extended Certificate — — — — Recommended — —
Film Studies A-level — — Recommended Recommended Recommended — Recommended
Fine Art A-level — — Recommended Recommended Recommended — Recommended
Geography A-level — — Recommended Recommended Recommended — Recommended
Geology A-level Suitable Suitable Suitable Suitable Suitable Suitable —
Graphic Communication A-level Suitable — — Recommended Recommended — Recommended
Health T-level Suitable Suitable Suitable Suitable Suitable Suitable —
History A-level Suitable Suitable Suitable Suitable Suitable Suitable —
History of Art A-level Suitable Suitable Suitable Suitable Suitable Suitable —
Human Biology Level 3 Suitable Suitable Suitable Suitable Suitable Suitable —
Languages A-level (French and Spanish) Suitable Suitable Suitable Suitable Suitable Suitable —
Law A-level Suitable Suitable Suitable Suitable Suitable Suitable —
Legal Services T-level Suitable Suitable Suitable Suitable Suitable Suitable —
Marketing T-level Suitable Suitable Suitable Suitable Suitable Suitable —
Mathematical Studies: Core Maths Suitable Suitable Suitable Suitable Suitable Suitable —
Mathematics A-level Suitable Suitable Suitable Suitable Suitable Suitable —
Mathematics and Further Mathematics A-level Suitable Suitable Suitable Suitable Suitable Suitable —
Media Studies A-level — — Recommended Recommended Recommended — Recommended
Media: Broadcast and Production T-level (Content Creation and Production) — — Suitable Suitable Suitable — Recommended
Music Technology/Performance — — — — — — Recommended
Outdoor Adventure Instructor Training Level 3 Suitable Suitable Suitable Suitable Suitable Suitable —
Performing Arts Extended Diploma — — Recommended Recommended Recommended — Recommended
Photography A-level — — Recommended Recommended Recommended — Recommended
Physics A-level Suitable Suitable Suitable Suitable Suitable Suitable —
Politics A-level Suitable Suitable Suitable Suitable Suitable Suitable —
Psychology A-level Suitable Suitable Suitable Suitable Suitable Suitable —
Religious Studies A-level Suitable Suitable Suitable Suitable Suitable Suitable —
Sociology A-level Suitable Suitable Suitable Suitable Suitable Suitable —
Sport and Exercise Science Suitable Suitable Suitable Suitable Suitable Suitable —
Sport and Physical Activity Suitable Suitable Suitable Suitable Suitable Suitable —
Statistics A-level Suitable Suitable Suitable Suitable Suitable Suitable —
T-level Foundation Year in Animal Suitable Suitable Suitable Suitable Suitable Suitable —
T-level Foundation Year in Business Suitable Suitable Suitable Suitable Suitable Suitable —
T-level Foundation Year in Digital (ICT) — — Recommended Recommended Recommended — —
T-level Foundation Year in Digital (Media) — — Recommended Recommended Recommended — Recommended
T-level Foundation Year in Equine Suitable Suitable Suitable Suitable Suitable Suitable —
T-level Foundation Year in Health Suitable Suitable Suitable Suitable Suitable Suitable —
Textiles A-level — — Recommended Recommended Recommended — Recommended
Travel and Tourism (including Cabin Crew) Suitable Suitable Suitable Suitable Suitable Suitable —
Uniformed Protective Services National Certificate Suitable Suitable Suitable Suitable Suitable Suitable —
Uniformed Services Level 3 Diploma Suitable Suitable Suitable Suitable Suitable Suitable —
Upgrade Study Programme Suitable Suitable Suitable Suitable Suitable Suitable —

Device descriptions

These are the minimum specifications linked to the device types shown in the table.

Tablet + physical keyboard Tablet with a physical keyboard. Suitable for note-taking, web access, research, college systems and general coursework.
Windows 8GB Windows laptop with 8GB RAM, 256GB storage or above, and a low specification CPU. Suitable for general college work and standard online tools.
Windows 16GB Windows laptop with 16GB RAM, 500GB storage and a mid-range CPU. Recommended for courses that need stronger performance or more demanding applications.
Windows touchscreen Windows touchscreen laptop with 16GB RAM, 500GB storage and a mid-range CPU. Recommended where drawing, annotation or practical digital work may be useful.
High spec Windows High specification Windows laptop with 16GB RAM, 500GB storage, Nvidia GPU or equivalent, and a mid/high specification CPU. Recommended for courses that need specialist software or higher graphics performance.
Mac Neo Apple Mac Neo with 256GB or 512GB storage. Suitable where Apple devices are supported for general course use.
MacBook Air/Pro Apple MacBook Air or MacBook Pro with 16GB RAM, 500GB storage and M2 chip or newer. Recommended for selected creative and media courses.

You could also consider Easy4U, a convenient rental and help-to-buy scheme designed specifically for Cirencester College students.

Find out more about Easy4U