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 insurance package that covers damage and accidents.
  • Ongoing support from college IT Service Desk.

Device fees and ownership

Students in LYOD programs pay a $1,000 fee ($884.95 + HST) in their first semester and approximately $1,000 ($884.95 + HST) at the start of their second year of study. The college owns the device until the end of the academic program. At the end of the academic program, ownership of the laptop is transferred to students, who are free to use their laptop in any way they wish.

Frequently asked questions

How much does the device leasing program cost?

Students in LYOD programs pay a $1,185.90 fee ($1049.47 + HST) in their first term and approximately $1,000 ($884.95 + HST) at the start of their second year of study. The mandatory LYOD program fee is incorporated into students' tuition fees.            

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 and on-campus WiFi access that are required by your academic program;
  • Access to loaner laptops in case you experience a serious issue, you can continue your coursework without any delay;
  • Extensive warranty with the manufacturer; and
  • Access to IT Service Desk support for hardware, software or access concerns.
What is provided?

The Dell Precision 3571 laptop includes, but is not limited to:        

  • Microsoft Windows 10
  • Intel Core i7-12700H processor
  • 32GB, 2 x 16GB, DDR5, 4800Mhz, Non-ECC SODIMM
  • NVIDIA T600 4GB, GDDR6 graphics
  • 512GB M.2 2230 PCIe NVMe Class 35 SSD
  • WiFi6 AX211, Bluetooth 5.2
  • 15.6" FHD 1920 x 1080, 60 Hz, 250 nit, non-touch
  • RGB HD camera and mic, and speakers
  • Warranties include:
    • ProSupport Plus and Accidental Damage Service, 36 months
    • ProSupport Plus and Next Business Day Onsite Service Initial, 36 months
    • ProSupport Plus and Keep Your Hard Drive, 36 months

The Dell Latitude 7430 laptop includes, but is not limited to:  

  • Microsoft Windows 10
  • Intel Core i5-12450U
  • 16GB 3200MHz DDR4
  • Iris Xe Graphics
  • M.2 256GB PCIe NVMe Class 35 Solid State Drive
  • Intel Wireless Bluetooth, WiFi 6 AX2141
  • 2-in-1, 14.0" FHD (1920x1080) AR+AS, SLP, Touch
  • Built-in camera, microphone, and speakers
  • Warranties include:
    • ProSupport Plus and Accidental Damage Service, 36 months
    • ProSupport Plus and Next Business Day Onsite Service Initial, 36 months
    • ProSupport Plus and Keep Your Hard Drive, 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 fees are up to date, you will have the option to keep your college-issued device following your completed academic studies. Prior to graduation, laptops must be submitted to Conestoga College for software provisioning (removing all college-owned software). The laptop hardware will then be returned to you and be yours to keep.      

The laptop you are issued is the same one you will have for your entire course of study at Conestoga College and own upon graduation. The only exception is if you experience a serious laptop problem and must secure a loaner laptop or replacement.      

Why is Conestoga offering this program?

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

  • Be quickly productive in their academic studies, given the required software and hardware;
  • Acquire and access software licenses that can only be transferred to college-owned laptops;
  • Be eligible for potential income tax benefits;
  • Secure software licenses and required hardware at a lower cost; and
  • Gain ongoing support from college IT Service Desk, access loaner laptops if serious problems arise and benefit from Enterprise-class Accidental Damage Insurance provided directly from Dell.
What are the student expectations?

Students are expected to:      

  • Bring the college-issued laptop to all academic program classes.
  • Back-up their device frequently to prevent loss of critical files or information.
  • Maintain their device and resolve any laptop concerns with IT Service Desk or Dell Technical support
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 can not 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. A $1,000 fee ($884.95 + HST) will be included in your first year or first term fee invoice. The balance will be included in your fee invoice at the start of your second year of study.      

Fee payments may be made within 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. The college’s insurance coverage deductible is higher than the value of the laptop. In the event of theft, the college WILL NOT issue a laptop until the full value of the laptop has been recovered from you or your insurance agent. 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, IT Service Desk and your instructors should be notified. You should contact your insurance company and file a claim. You must make a complete payment on the laptop that was stolen, before another laptop is issued.      

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 itsdesk@conestogac.on.ca. As part of your fee, you have full access to support from 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 with the manufacturer. However, the warranty will 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 OneDrive account and the network server space available to perform this task. USB drives, CDs and DVDs are also appropriate methods. IT Service Desk will take no responsibility for any lost files or data on your laptop.      

I am receiving OSAP. Are computer costs considered?

The OSAP assessment includes a $500 computer cost in the calculation per academic year.      

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 cannot be put on the laptops.
  2. 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 re-image the hard drive, which will erase any software you have installed. Please note that backing up your work is very important.

More information

Please visit this page regularly for updates to frequently asked questions and additional program details.