The software below is licensed by the university and available to download for free in order to assist students, faculty, and staff with essential academic, research, business and other tasks. Faculty and staff can also submit a help request for software to be installed on their workstations. Note: Before downloading available software, you will be asked to provide your CampusID and password.
Microsoft Word for Mac. Word for Mac is now available. It’s not a free word processor for Mac users, of course, but it’s worth mentioning. So, if you do happen to be an MS Word lover, you can subscribe to Office 365 for a low monthly fee of $9.99 month. Reviewers are raving that MS Word for Mac looks and acts like MS Word for the PC. The list below shows software available for the University of Colorado. Use the search box or drop-down menu to narrow the results to a certain criteria (e.g. Campus, operating system, eligibility). For software not listed below, departments and individuals should seek educational discounts directly from the software producers or resellers. Any new Mac will come with a free copy of Apple's Pages software, which is a hugely powerful tool for creating and editing documents, and also works well with its iOS/iPadOS counterpart app. As a current student, you are allowed to install the desktop software on up to 5 different computers. Read below for more information, including instructions on how to download software for your PC or Mac. New students are automatically given access AFTER the registration deadline has passed. Microsoft Software Offerings Mobile Software Offerings. People who searched for Best free. software downloads for Students found the links, articles, and information on this page helpful.
Free Software for Students | Fee Based Software |
If you don't see the software you need, please ask ITS Software
COVID-19 Creative Cloud access for students has been extended to July 13th: go to https://creativecloud.adobe.com and sign in with your email address, Company or School Account and CruzID & Gold password.
For Adobe sign-in help: https://its.ucsc.edu/software/acrobat-login.html
ArcGIS by ESRI
ArcGIS Desktop is an integrated collections GIS & Mapping software products available free for UCSC students. ArcGIS installs on Windows OS only.
For software media and support information, click here to [show]
- ArcGIS installs on Windows OS only.
- A Free ArcGIS Desktop software download is available for all students.
- Request Here for new or renewal of existing license. Link opens IT Request ticket that when completed will provide you a direct link to ESRI.com and the authorization code to register for the software download.
- Installation & activation support: http://esri.com/evalhelp
- Try to run ArcGIS on a Mac? Please see this page
- ArcGIS Training is free
- Visit https://www.esri.com/training/ create an account using your @ucsc.edu address
- Contact ITS Software (opens ticket) to request access, provide your ESRI account info.
AutoDesk
AUTODESK provides free software access for enrolled students. Get AUTOCAD, 3DS MAX, INVENTOR, REVIT, MAYA, TINKERCAD and more to use the same creativity tools in use by industry leaders worldwide.
For software media and support information, click here to [show]
- AutoDesk installs on Windows or Mac.
- Visit https://www.autodesk.com/education/home to set up an account to access software
- Visit the Autodesk Knowledge base: https://knowledge.autodesk.com/support
Avast Antivirus - Free Anti Virus Software
Avast Antivirus is free Mac OS anti-virus software available for personally owned computers. Anti-virus software is required when connecting to the campus ResNet. Click for ResNet Safe Connect info.For download and support information, click here to [show]
- Download Avast:
http://www.avast.com/ - Avast Support:
http://www.avast.com/support
Avira Antivirus - Free Anti Virus Software
Avira Antivirus is free Mac OS anti-virus software available for personally owned computers. Anti-virus software is required when connecting to the campus ResNet. Click for ResNet Safe Connect info.For download and support information, click here to [show]
- Download Avira for Mac:
http://www.avira.com/en/free-antivirus-mac - Download Avira for PC:
http://www.avira.com/en/avira-free-antivirus - Avira Support:
http://www.avira.com/en/support
ClamAV - Free Anti Virus Software
ClamAV is free Mac OS anti-virus software available for personally owned computers. Anti-virus software is required when connecting to the campus ResNet. Click for ResNet Safe Connect info.For download and support information, click here to [show]
- Download CalmAV for Mac:
http://www.clamav.net/index.html - ClamAV help:
http://www.clamav.net/doc/troubleshoot.html
JMP
JMP dynamically links statistics with graphics. JMP is provided free to UCSC students
For download & support information for JMP software, click here to [show]
- Access current Student Download here: JMP for Windows & Mac
- JMP software is installed on most campus lab computers
- Download and installation support: Contact ITS Software
- JMP is under UCOP purchasing agreement
LabVIEW
NI LabVIEW is available free to students under a campus license. LabVIEW is used to develop sophisticated measurement, test, and control systems using intuitive graphical icons and wires that resemble a flowchart. For purchase information, click here to [show]
- For Home Use, please request access: Software Request
MATLAB
MathWorks MATLAB
Now available free to all students as a site license, all Mathworks products, toolboxes and training modules are available. Visit: MATLAB support page for links and information on access.A leading developer of mathematical computing software. Engineers and scientists worldwide rely on its products to accelerate the pace of discovery, innovation, and development. [show]
Microsoft Azure Dev Tools for Teaching
Formally Imagine.... Azure Dev Tools for Teaching is a Microsoft Program that supports technical education by providing access to Microsoft software for learning, teaching and research purposes. For access info, click here to [show]
- Students, faculty and staff can access Azure Dev Tools for Teaching Standard software free to teach, develop, support, conduct, or take courses, labs, or programs offered at UCSC. Use must be non-commercial.
- Go to Azure Dev Tools for Teaching to register and validate your UCSC affiliation.
- Baskin School of Engineering Students can register for Azure Dev Tools for Teaching Premium here
Microsoft Software, Office 365
Free Office 365 is available for UCSC students. Log in and download and install the current versions of Office and Office for Mac on up to 5 computers, 5 phones & 5 tablets.For information, click here to [show]
- To access your Microsoft Office 365 account, go to this site: https://portal.office.com/
- Enter your youremail@ucsc.edu
- Sign in with your UCSC CruzID and Gold password
- Accounts activate in late September for incoming Fall Quarter students.
- Not all Office 365 products and services have been enabled
- Visit the Office 365 Service Page
- On The Hub has free Windows 10 operating system software for students
- If you need help, please open an IT Request ticket
R - Statistics
R is a free software environment for statistical computing and graphics
For download information, click here to [show]
- Download R FREE from the R Project Site
- Manuals and Support information on the R Project site
SAS
SAS tools provide traditional statistical analysis of variance and predictive modeling to exact methods and statistical visualization techniquesFor free student access and support information, click here to [show]
- SAS runs on Windows 10, 8.1, Windows 7 (not Home Basic) Supported OS and requirements
- Students: For access to SAS, request the Home Use Rights Compliance Form from ITS Software
- Prompted to renew your SID license file? Contact ITS Software for the current file
- Software installation support available. Contact ITS Software
- Free E-Learning Courses for Instructors and Students, request E-Learning Code
SFTP - Secure File Transfer
SFTP clients are free and used to provide network file access, file transfer, and file management functionality over any reliable data streamFor download and support information, click here to [show]
Free Word Program For Mac
- Windows and Mac FileZilla client: Download direct from FileZilla
- Mac Fugu client: Download direct from Fugu
- Software installation support is provided. Contact ITS Software
Sophos Home - Free Anti Virus Software
Sophos Home is free PC & Mac OS anti-virus software available for personally owned computers. Anti-virus software is required when connecting to the campus ResNet. Click for ResNet Safe Connect info.To download, click here to [show]
- Download Sophos Home:
https://www.sophos.com/en-us/lp/sophos-home.aspx
SPSS Software
SPSS is a statistical analysis software program. SPSS is used to generate tabulated reports, charts, and plots of distributions and trends, descriptive statistics, and complex statistical analysis. UCSC has a site license for SPSS and it is available to all. Students access information here
For more information, click here to [show]
- Student SPSS information and download page
- Limited support, request help though IT Request
SSH Telnet
Telnet is a network protocol used on the UCSC area networks to provide a terminal connection
For download and support information, click here to [show]
- Download free Windows PuTTY client
- Mac use Terminal Server found in your Utilities folder
- Software installation support is provided. Contact ITS Software
Virtual Box VM
Oracle VirtualBox is a powerful x86 and AMD64/Intel64 virtualization product for enterprise as well as home use. It is a professional solution that is freely available as Open Source Software under the terms of the GNU General Public License (GPL) version. For Windows, Mac, Linux, Solaris
For download and support information, click here to [show]
- Welcome to Virtual Box: Virtual Box .ORG
- Download free: Virtual Box Downloads
Adobe
Adobe software includes Acrobat, Contribute, Creative Cloud, Dreamweaver, InDesign, Photoshop, and Premiere
Forpurchaseinformation, click here to [show]
- COVID-19 access for students: go to https://creativecloud.adobe.com and sign in with CruzID & Gold password, for sign-in help: https://its.ucsc.edu/software/acrobat-login.html
- Personal Computer: Purchase @ student discount: Adobe.com/downloads
- Adobe Creative Cloud is discounted education software lease program
- Adobe software is installed on most campus lab computers
Apple
Apple computers arrive with built-in apps including iMovie, GarageBand, Pages, Numbers, Keynote.
For purchase information, click here to [show]
- Student & Personal computers: Buy from the Bay Tree Bookstore.
EndNote
EndNote is bibliography management software that integrates with word processors.
For purchase information, click here to [show]
- Purchase EndNote at the Bay Tree Bookstore.
FileMaker
FileMaker is easy database development for Mac and Windows.
For purchase information, click here to [show]
- Purchase for student & personal computers: Buy from the Bay Tree Bookstore.
LabVIEW
NI LabVIEW Student Edition has the same functionality as the LabVIEW full development system. LabVIEW is used to develop sophisticated measurement, test, and control systems using intuitive graphical icons and wires that resemble a flowchart. For purchase information, click here to [show]
- Purchase for student owned personal computers: $19.99, order: LabVIEW Student Edition.
Maple
Maple is general-purpose commercial computer algebra software
For purchase information, click here to [show]
- Students: purchase the Student Edition from Maple
Mathematica
Mathematica is a computational software program used in scientific, engineering, and mathematical fields and other areas of technical computing.
For purchase information, click here to [show]
- Mathematica is installed in campus computer labs
- Students: Order direct from vendor Mathematica for Students. Request a 15% discount code from ITS Software
- Wolfram|Alpha computational knowledge engine.
On The Hub
On The Hub is an online re-seller of software for your personal computer. Popular titles including Microsoft, Adobe, Endnote and Parallels are available at an educational discount. Windows 10 is free for students. For purchase information for On The Hub sales, click here to [show]
- Click the Student tab and register with your @ucsc.edu to order from On The Hub
- Powered by Kivuto
Parallels Desktop for Mac
Software providing hardware virtualization for Mac computers with Intel processors
For purchase information, click here to [show]
- 14 day evaluation is available, download direct from Parallels.
- Student & personal computers: Buy from the Bay Tree Bookstore
Red Hat Linux
Red Hat is a Linux Operating System with upgrade and patch support
For purchase information, click here to [show]
Microsoft Word Software For Mac
- Academic Desktop and Server Editions are available under annual support subscriptions.
- Order direct or Contact Red Hat Sales: 1-866-273-3428 x 45014
VMware
Run multiple operating systems at the same time on a single computer using virtualization. Fusion for Mac or Workstation for Windows
For purchase information, click here to [show]
- Fusion for Mac: Download the software with a 30 day Fusion trial from VMware
- Workstation for Windows: download the software with a 30 day Workstation trial from VMware
- Student & personal computers: Buy from the Bay Tree Bookstore
Free & Discounted Software
Microsoft
Examples: Word, Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint, Windows | Program(s) | Audience/Eligibility | Savings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Microsoft Office 365 Education | Faculty, staff & all students | Free | |
| Azure Dev Tools for Teaching | All Students taking STEM courses* & faculty in STEM departments* | Free | |
| Microsoft Campus Agreement | Departments, faculty & staff | Free for university-owned computers | |
| Connection (Formerly GovConnection) | Faculty, staff & all students | Discounted |
Adobe Creative Cloud
Examples: Acrobat, Photoshop, InDesign, Dreamweaver, Premiere Pro | Program(s) | Audience/Eligibility | Savings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Adobe Campus Agreement | Faculty, staff & graduate students (GEO members only) | Free for two computers | |
| Undergraduate students, non-GEO graduate students, faculty, staff. | Discounted through Adobe's Students and Teachers Program |
Science, Statistics & Mathematics
| Program(s) | Audience/Eligibility | Savings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mathematica | Faculty, Staff & Students | Discounted | |
| MATLAB | Faculty, research staff & all students | Discounted | |
| Minitab | Faculty, staff & all students | Discounted for university-owned computers only | |
| OriginPro | Faculty, staff & all students | Free | |
| Qualtrics | Faculty, staff & all students | Discounted | |
| SAS** | Faculty, staff & all students | Discounted | |
| SPSS** | Faculty, staff & all students | Discounted | |
| Stata | Faculty & staff | Discounted for university-owned computers only | |
| JMP Pro | Faculty, staff & all students | Free |
Qualitative & mixed-methods research | Program(s) | Audience/Eligibility | Savings |
|---|---|---|---|
| NVivo | Faculty, research staff & students | Discounted | |
| Qualtrics | Faculty, staff & all students | Discounted |
CAD & Modeling Computer Assisted Drafting, molecular modeling | Program(s) | Audience/Eligibility | Savings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Schrödinger | Faculty, staff & students | Discounted |
Linux Operating Systems | Program(s) | Audience/Eligibility | Savings |
|---|---|---|---|
| UMass Linux | IT professionals, faculty, staff, and students | Free |
Antivirus Protect your programs, files, and email from malicious software such as malware and viruses. | Program(s) | Audience/Eligibility | Savings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sophos Endpoint Protection (Mac OS) | Students, Faculty, and Staff | Free | |
| Sophos Endpoint Protection (Windows) | Students, Faculty, and Staff | Free | |
| Sophos Endpoint Protection (Linux) | Students, Faculty, and Staff | Free |
*Microsoft Defined Science, Technology, Engineering & Mathematics (STEM) courses
** Classroom/Lab discounts are available for SAS & SPSS licenses. Call 413-545-TECH or email software@umass.edu for eligibility.