Lease Your Own Device (LYOD)

As part of Conestoga's commitment to innovative learning strategies, the Lease Your Own Device (LYOD) program is designed to enhance your learning experience and ensure you have the appropriate technology to successfully complete your program. The LYOD program provides students with full use of a device for their academic studies and the option to own the device upon graduation. The Lease Your Own Device (LYOD) program is mandatory for students in participating programs.

Program benefits

Overall, the LYOD program is designed to enhance your learning experience by ensuring you have the appropriate technology to fully participate in your program.

  • Software required for your course may be installed at any time during your program. Visit Downloads for installation instructions.
  • Computer costs are considered in the OSAP assessment.
  • Laptops are protected by a comprehensive warranty package that covers damage and accidents.
  • Ongoing support from the college IT Service Desk.

Device fees and ownership

The mandatory LYOD program fee is incorporated into students' tuition fees.

For the Bachelor of Applied Health Information Science and Bachelor of Environmental Public Health programs, students pay $1150 ($1017.70 + HST) in their first term and $1150 ($1017.70 + HST) at the start of year 2.

For the Mechanical Engineering Technology - Robotics and Automation and Robotics and Industrial Automation programs, students pay $1600 ($1415.93 + HST) in their first term and $1600 ($1415.93 + HST) at the start of year 2.

The college owns the device until the second payment is made at the start of year 2. Once the second payment is made, ownership of the laptop is automatically transferred to the student. After graduation, the student keeps the laptop and is free to use it in any way they wish.

Frequently asked questions

How much does the device leasing program cost?

The mandatory LYOD program fee is incorporated into students' tuition fees.

For the Bachelor of Applied Health Information Science and Bachelor of Environmental Public Health programs, students pay $1150 ($1017.70 + HST) in their first term and $1150 ($1017.70 + HST) at the start of year 2.

For the Mechanical Engineering Technology - Robotics and Automation and Robotics and Industrial Automation programs, students pay $1600 ($1415.93 + HST) in their first term and $1600 ($1415.93 + HST) at the start of year 2.   

What is included in the cost?

A schedule of fees will be provided to you following your program acceptance and registration. This fee covers:

  • lease of laptop that meets all minimum hardware requirements required by your academic program,
  • software packages required by your academic program, for the duration of your academic program,
  • extensive warranty support with the manufacturer, and
  • access to IT Service Desk support for hardware, software or access concerns.
What is provided?

Bachelor of Applied Health Information Science

The Dell Latitude 7650 laptop includes, but is not limited to:     

  • Microsoft Windows 11
  • Intel Core Ultra 7 165U
  • 32 GB: LPDDR5x, 6400 MT/s
  • Integrated Intel Graphics
  • 512 GB, M.2 2230, TLC PCIe Gen 4 NVMe, SSD
  • Intel BE200 Wi-Fi 7 2x2, Bluetooth 5.4 Technology
  • 16.0" FHD+ (1920x1200), IPS, AG Non-Touch
  • Built-in camera, microphone, and speakers
  • Warranties include:
    • Accidental Damage Service, 36 months
    • ProSupport and Next Business Day Onsite Service, 36 months

Bachelor of Environmental Public Health

The Dell Latitude 7450 laptop includes, but is not limited to:  

  • Microsoft Windows 11
  • Intel Core Ultra 7 165U
  • 32 GB: LPDDR5x, 6400 MT/s
  • Integrated Intel Graphics
  • 256 GB, M.2 2230, TLC PCIe Gen 4 NVMe, SSD
  • Intel BE200 Wi-Fi 7 2x2, Bluetooth 5.4 Technology
  • 2-in-1 14.0" FHD+(1920x1200),IPS,AR+AS Touch
  • Built-in camera, microphone, and speakers
  • Warranties include:
    • Accidental Damage Service, 36 months
    • ProSupport and Next Business Day Onsite Service, 36 months

Mechanical Engineering Technology - Robotics and Automation

The Dell Precision 3591 laptop includes, but is not limited to: 

  • Microsoft Windows 11
  • Intel Core Ultra 7 165H
  • 64 GB: 2 x 32 GB, DDR5, 5600 MT/s, non-ECC
  • NVIDIA RTX 2000 Ada Generation, 8 GB GDDR6
  • 1TB, M.2 2230, Gen4 PCIe NVMe, SSD, Class 35
  • Intel AX211, 2x2 MIMO, 2400 Mbps, 2.4/5/6 GHz, Wi-Fi 6/6E (Wi-Fi 802.11ax), Bluetooth
  • 15.6" FHD 1920x1080, 60Hz, 250 nits, Non-Touch
  • FHD HDR RGB Camera
  • Warranties include:
    • Accidental Damage Service, 36 months
    • ProSupport and Next Business Day Onsite Service, 36 months

Robotics and Industrial Automation

The Dell Precision 3591 laptop includes, but is not limited to:

  • Microsoft Windows 11
  • Intel Core Ultra 7 165H
  • 64 GB: 2 x 32 GB, DDR5, 5600 MT/s, non-ECC
  • NVIDIA RTX 2000 Ada Generation, 8 GB GDDR6
  • 1TB, M.2 2230, Gen4 PCIe NVMe, SSD, Class 35
  • Intel AX211, 2x2 MIMO, 2400 Mbps, 2.4/5/6 GHz, Wi-Fi 6/6E (Wi-Fi 802.11ax), Bluetooth
  • 15.6" FHD 1920x1080, 60Hz, 250 nits, Non-Touch
  • FHD HDR RGB Camera
  • Warranties include:
    • Accidental Damage Service, 36 months
    • ProSupport and Next Business Day Onsite Service, 36 months
Can I buy or use my own device instead of leasing it?

No. All students registered for participating programs must lease a college-issued device. Participation in the program is mandatory for a number of reasons including income tax benefits, software licenses, and device-related troubleshooting.    

Will I get to keep the device after I graduate?

If all LYOD fees are paid, you are the owner of your college-issued device following the second payment at the start of year 2. Upon graduation, you will no longer have access to college-licensed software installed on the device. 

Why is Conestoga offering this program?

The Lease Your Own Device (LYOD) program allows you and all students to:

  • be quickly productive in academic studies with the required software and hardware.
  • acquire and access software licenses transferable only to college-owned laptops.
  • be eligible for potential income tax benefits.
  • secure software licenses and required hardware at a lower cost.
  • have extensive warranty support with the manufacturer and access to IT Service Desk support for hardware, software or access concerns.
  • benefit from standardization across the teaching and learning environment for faculty, students and support staff.
What are the student expectations?

Students are expected to:  

  • bring the college-issued laptop to all academic program classes.
  • back-up their data on their device frequently to prevent loss of critical files or information.
  • maintain their device in good condition and resolve any laptop concerns with Dell Technical support and the IT Service Desk.
Can I keep the device for my co-op work terms?

Yes. You can keep the device during your co-op work terms. Please note that many of the software packages installed on your device will be for educational purposes only and cannot be used for any company you may be working for during a co-op term. Please refer to and comply with the terms set forth in each software license agreement or terms of service. 

How do I pay?

Lease Your Own Device (LYOD) program fees are included in your academic program tuition and fee statement. Fee payments can be made in the Student Portal. Please visit Payments & invoicing for details on fee payment ("Payment options" section) including OSAP ("Paying fees with OSAP" section).    

Who do I contact for more information?

For general questions about the Lease Your Own Device (LYOD) program including the lease structure, please contact lyod@conestogac.on.ca. For technical support or hardware/software questions related to the LYOD program, please contact itsdesk@conestogac.on.ca or access the Live Online Chat option via the Conestoga IT home page.

What about insurance?

We strongly recommend that you consult with your own insurance agent regarding your home, tenant or renter insurance coverage to ensure that the device is covered under your own policy. In the event of theft, the college WILL NOT issue a laptop to replace it. If desired, the college can provide a new laptop at full replacement cost charged to the student. Your college-issued device is covered by Dell Pro Support Plus Plan provided directly from Dell. This covers unintentional device damage but does not cover lost or stolen devices, malicious or extreme abuse.

What do I do if my laptop is stolen?

In the event your laptop is stolen, it is critical that you file a police report and contact the security office at your campus immediately. Once these reports have been filed, the IT Service Desk and your instructors should be notified. You should contact your insurance company and file a claim. Payments on the laptop that was stolen must be completed. One confirmed, another laptop could be issued at full replacement cost to the student. 

What should I do if my laptop is broken or experiencing problems?

In the event that you are experiencing problems with your laptop, please contact lyod@conestogac.on.ca for guidance. As part of your fee, you have full access to support from the IT Service Desk and Dell Technical support for hardware, software and access issues. You will be assisted on a first-come, first-served basis. All devices are covered under an extensive warranty from the manufacturer. However, the warranty does not cover malicious or extreme abuse. 

It is important that you back-up your laptop data often to prevent loss of critical files or information. It is suggested that you take advantage of your college OneDrive account to perform this task. External storage is also an appropriate method. The IT Service Desk will take no responsibility for any lost files or data on your laptop. 

Can I install my own software on the device?

Yes, you can install your own software on the device. However, it is critical that you consider the following before any installation: 

  1. You MUST have licenses for the software you are installing. Software piracy is illegal and thus illegally copied software must not be installed on the laptops.
  2. Personal software can conflict with your device and pre-installed software. When problems arise due to your installation, IT Service Desk will not be able to support a resolution for the conflict. In these cases, IT Service Desk will reset your device to factory defaults, which will erase any software and data on the laptop. Please note that backing up your work is very important.
  3. Use caution. Any software and/or websites visited not authorized by the college could have negative consequences to your device, including malware, spyware and viruses.

More information

This page was last updated on January 30, 2025. Please visit regularly for updates to frequently asked questions and additional program details.