Starting a new college year? Here’s how to get all the right tech to suit your course

Getting accepted into a college course is not only one of life’s great moments, but it is also something that you should be extremely proud of. You’ve likely pulled more all-nighters than you ever dreamed possible, but it all feels worth it once you realise you can finally start this new chapter and get the ball rolling on whatever future it is you want to pursue. 

When it comes to preparing for college life, you’re probably going to want to make sure you’ve got everything you need. Without getting into the conversation of what kind of style you want to go for on campus (that’s a whole other article), here is how you can make sure to find the right tech to suit your own specific needs based on the course you have chosen. 

If you are in the market for a new laptop, Currys are offering a free One4All gift card of up to €150 with selected laptops. Not only does this give you an extra reason to buy a new laptop to kick off the college year, but it also leaves you free to spend your gift card whatever way you please! 

For more information, visit the Currys website here. 

Best laptops for Arts courses 

If you are going to be doing an Arts course, there’s a good chance you might not need to go for a laptop with a list of top-end specs as long as your arm. The key thing is to find something reliable, both for while you’re getting through course work and for whenever you find a bit of free time. 

Not only does this mean you don’t have to look for devices with features and specs that you don’t really need, but it can also help you find something lightweight and portable. 

• HP 14s-dq2507na 14" Laptop From €399 
• HP Stream 11-ak0515sa 11" Laptop From €199 
• HP 14s-dq2510na 14" Laptop From €469 

Best laptops for Creative courses 

A good laptop is something that never ceases to help you when it comes to giving your creative output that little bit of an extra edge. While you still want something sleek and modern that comes with all the latest tech, one of the most important things to bear in mind is processing power and storage space. 

This should be a laptop capable of getting through a trojan amount of work, be it editing photos and video files or producing a mind-blowing piece of audio. 

• HP Envy x360 15.6” 2 in 1 Laptop – From €1019 
• ACER Swift X 16" Laptop From €1529 
• SAMSUNG Galaxy Book2 Pro 15.6" Laptop From €1479 

Best laptops for Business courses 

When moving between lectures and the library, portability is key. The right laptop for a business student is always going to be something with a decent processor, which can be pretty handy when trying to get through huge swathes of data or hop from one program to another. 

A good battery life is likely something that will really be of benefit, as would a screen that is comfortable for your eyes to stay fixed on for long periods of time. 

• HP 14s-dq2512na 14” Laptop – From €599 
• HP Pavilion x360 14” 2 in 1 Laptop – From €539 
• HP 15s-eq2517na 15.6” Laptop – From €549 

Science & Data courses 

Similarly to Business courses, for anything related to science and data you’re going to need a laptop that is both reliable and comfortable to use. It would be a good idea to prioritise screen size and battery life, as well as devices that offer an intuitive interface that will make it easy for you to get through your work. 

If you can find something lightweight that is built for multitasking and completing complex assignments, you’ll certainly be glad of the fact you put in the extra bit of research when buying it. 

• Acer Swift 3 Laptop – From €459 
• HP Pavilion 14-dv0521sa 14” Laptop – From €729 
• LENOVO IdeaPad 3i 14" Laptop - Intel® Core™ i7 - from €699 

Other tech essentials for starting college 

The laptop isn’t the only gadget that will come in handy over the college year; there are plenty of other handy bits of tech that will be sure to make a difference. From having a sturdy backpack that keeps all of your belongings safe to having a reliable printer to make hard copies of assignments, these are the accessories that you will be glad you have (and some of your classmates are likely to want to borrow). 

• Sandstrom S17BPBK20 17” Laptop Backpack – From €49.99 
• HP Envy 6032e All-in-One Wireless Inkjet Printer – From €129.99 
• LG Tone Free UFP9 Wireless Bluetooth Noise-Cancelling Earbuds – €199 
• Sony SRS-XB13 Portable Bluetooth Speaker – From €49.99 
• Microsoft Personal 365 – From €79.99 
• McAfee LiveSafe Premium – From €99.99 

Everything below is available in store and online at Currys and with their great value bundles and weekly offers in-store and online – you'll have back to College covered !  Visit one of their 16 locations across Ireland to find out more, or visit the website here.