This article explains how to request software by completing and submitting the Academic Software Requests form.

Background

iSolutions delivers over 1000 applications for teaching and research to:

• Windows, Mac and Linux desktops and laptops
• The Southampton Virtual Environment (SVE)
• The Software download site

Faculties can request their teaching and research software for the next academic year 2025-2026 by completing the Academic Software Requests form.

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Requesting Software

The form is split into four main sections:

• Software Usage Information: to provide general information about who will be using the software, and where and when it will be required
• Software Types: We have categorised software into different groups to make it easier to select the appropriate application
• Software Selection: to allow you to select the applications you require for the next academic year
• Additional Resources: to allow you to add additional information about the software you have selected, such as the software version required, etc

Please provide as much information as possible. Although you may not know all the information at this time, the more details provided enable iSolutions to better:

• Collate and analyse the requests
• Undertake negotiations with suppliers
• Provide feedback to the faculty
• Liaise with relevant academics for application configuration and testing
• Ensure that the relevant software is available when (and where) it is required

Please note: to ensure your requests are available at the start of the academic year, please make sure to submit your requests by Friday, 27/06/2025. 

Please note we will accept requests after this deadline date, but they will be a lower priority and may not be ready for the start of the academic year.

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Completing the Form

If you have any issues with using the form or any enquiries, please contact ServiceLine. Our technicians will refer your query to your Faculty Business Partner or the Software Team.

The form itself contains hints and tips to guide you through the process. Details are provided below on how to access this feature.

Login

Access the Academic Software Requests form in ServiceNow. If you have not previously authenticated, you will have to log in with your university username and password.

The form itself contains hints and tips to guide you through the process. Where you see a question mark, click it to display further guidance. For example, select the question mark icon (?) by the course codes to display more information:

Software usage information

Please fill out the four boxes in this section with as much information as possible. Select the question mark for more information.

Software types

This allows building up the list of software you need. There are 5 sections:

1. Core Windows software 
2. Departmental Windows software 
3. MacOS software
4. Linux software 
5. Request new software

The Core and Departmental sections are the most widely used and are automatically selected:

If you wish to request MacOS software, Linux software, or new software items, select the tick boxes to display those sections.

Core Windows software

These applications are industry-leading in their fields and are used by staff and students across several faculties.

After you tick the box of Core Windows software, the entry in brackets displayed under the Software selection section refers to the Software Category. For example, SPSS is a statistical application, so it will be displayed as SPSS (Statistics).

To streamline the lists, some common items (such as Microsoft Office) do not appear in the lists under the Software selection section. These items will be provided and do not need to be requested.

Departmental Windows software

These applications are more specialised and specific to a smaller group of users in one or more academic units.

After you tick the box of Department Windows software from software types, the categories in brackets displayed under the Software selection section refer to the academic unit. The list of department Windows software will only display items relevant to your faculty, but you can narrow the list further to your academic unit by typing in the List of department Windows software box.

MacOS software

If you wish to request software for the use of students or researchers on MacOS, please tick the MacOS Software box under Software types. Then you can select the relevant software from the drop-down list.

Linux software

If you wish to request software for the use of students or researchers on Red Hat, please tick the Linux Software box under Software types. Then you can select the relevant software from the drop-down list.

Request new software 

If you wish to request software that was not displayed in the other lists, please tick the Request new software box under Software Types. This displays a list of all currently available software. 

If you cannot find the software in the list, you can fill in the number of new software you require and complete the relevant boxes for each new software. Please make sure to use the search box under the Complete software list to check that the item is not available before you fill out the detailed information form for new software.

Software selection

If you completed a form last year, your previously selected items should automatically appear in the ‘selected list’. However, please review your software selections and ensure they are still required for the next academic year. For example, 7 Zip has been preselected and will automatically appear in your list of options:

To remove an item, select the X next to the name of the software:

To add another item, you can:

1. Select the field, and a drop-down list of applications will display
2. Scroll down the list of applications and select the required application 
3. Alternatively, type the name of the application you wish to select as explained below:

Here are detailed instructions taking adding Matlab as an example:

1. After typing a few letters "mat", the list of selections will be listed 
2. The MATLAB 64 bit (Numerical Modelling) entry is displayed
3. By selecting it, MATLAB 64 bit (Numerical Modelling) will be added to your chosen software list

If the item is not listed, you can:

1. Select the Request new software option from the Software types section in the form
2. Enter the software name you want in the Complete Software list box and select it if available 
3. If it is not available, fill in the New Software Required fields

This section is limited to 5 new software items in the form. If you want to request more than 5 applications, please list the details of each application in the Additional Resources box.

Additional resources

Please use this box to give any extra information. We are particularly keen to identify online resources that students are using but which may not be recorded or tracked through existing systems. 

Please also use this box to give details of any particular requirement for:

• Software (required versions or custom configurations)
• Hardware specifications 
• Needs related to remote teaching or research
• Suggestions for improving workstation setup or software provision

Submitting the form

Once you have completed the form, please click the Submit button (at the bottom of the form). After submission, you will receive a confirmation email. We may contact you for further information in due course.

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What happens next

• June 2025 - Request period:

All requests must be completed by June 27th, 2025. Any requests received after this date will not be prioritised and cannot be guaranteed for delivery at the start of the academic year

• July 2025 - Review and analysis:

iSolutions will collate and analyse the requests

• August 2025 - Planning and confirmation:

The summer upgrade is planned, and faculties will be contacted to confirm the software portfolio and costs for the next academic year

• August to October 2025 - Technical delivery and testing:

Software upgrades will be deployed to workstations and the SVE. Tutors will be contacted to arrange for the testing of the applications before their use

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Notes

Windows 10 / Windows 11

All the Common Learning Space computers will be upgraded to Windows 11 for the academic year 2025/2026. All software applications will be tested to ensure they work on the latest operating system.

Apple macOS

MacOS 13 (Ventura) is the current supported operating system. MacOS 14 (Sonoma) is being tested and developed to be in place for the start of the next academic year 2025/2026.

Linux

The current supported Linux desktop for researchers is Red Hat 8. Red Hat 9 is in the final stages of testing before release.

ArcGIS Pro replacing ArcGIS Desktop

ArcGIS Desktop is being deprecated by ESRI. ArcGIS Pro will be the version installed on Common Learning Space computers for the next academic year. Please see the article "How to log in to ArcGIS Online accounts" for further information.

SAP2000

We will no longer be provided with a central license server for SAP2000, and it will be replaced with a named user license. We are currently exploring the implementation of single sign-on (SSO), allowing users to access the SAP2000 product using their university username and password.

PLEASE NOTE: If you request SAP2000, we will send out a knowledge base article explaining how to log in and access the product.

Southampton Virtual Environment (SVE)

The applications available on SVE will be updated to match the versions on university desktop systems. The range of applications on SVE will continue to expand, subject to licensing and technical considerations.

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Getting IT help

If you need help, please contact ServiceLine or visit one of our Tech Hubs.

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Related Content

How to download software

software.soton.ac.uk