Note: for pointers on choosing specifications for your own machine please see this post
Note: it is possible to “dial-in” to the University system and access specialist software remotely – see this link
For software available to students for their own machines: here is a list of current opportunities:
Autodesk: students.autodesk.com
- Autocad
- 3D Studio
- Maya
- Revit
- Recap
- and many more products
All of these software packages are free from Autodesk, but you need to prove your student status to get an Autodesk account. It can be fiddly to sign up but it is VERY worthwhile – you get a huge amount of software and services if you have a proper Autodesk ID. Here is their video showing how to sign up
Adobe: adobe.com
- Photoshop
- Illustrator
- InDesign
- Premiere
- After Effects
- and many more products
The University will make this software available to students of the School of Design.
Sign in at Adobe.com with user ID as in short format; e.g
ab123c@gre.ac.uk
note: @GRE not @GREENWICH
Use your current university password
If prompted select COMPANY OR SCHOOL ACCOUNT
more install instructions here
Microsoft Office: login.microsoftonline.com
- Word
- Excel
- Powerpoint
- OneDrive
- and many more products
The full Microsoft suite of programs is available to all University students. You can download Office 365 Pro Plus software by logging in using your University Account (username@gre.ac.uk)
OneDrive is very useful for storing up to 1TB of data – which is accessible both in Uni and at home either via the full app or just via a browser interface.
Rhino 3d: www.rhino3d.com/download
We do have a pool of Rhino licenses that can be used on home machines / laptops outside the Uni. This will work on both the PC and Mac versions of Rhino 8.
To install first download the latest Windows or Mac version here
https://www.rhino3d.com/download/rhino-for-windows/8/latest
On first run you will need to license the software via a login – use your short userID@gre.ac.uk (Not “@greenwich”), e.g. ab123@gre.ac.uk
This will take you to the Uni login pages for validation and MFA authorisation – and then back to Rhino
Keep an eye on all the userID logins – and ensure that they are all the same Uni shortID@gre.ac.uk; if you’ve used Rhino before as a trial then an older existing user account might automatically fill in here and stop the license validation going through properly.
VRay: www.chaosgroup.com/download-free-trials
The VRay rendering plugin is available for
- 3D Studio
- Rhino – PC only (no Mac version available) – Needs Rhino 7.30
- Sketchup
- Maya
Chaos do offer 30 day free trials if you sign up at the Chaos site.
Notes: The licensing process is a little fiddly – after install you need to run “Manage chaos license server” to open a browser window, click Online Licensing and sign in with your Chaos ID to authorise all the Vray licenses you may be using on your machine.
Rhino (and V-Ray) is also available via the UoG Remote Desktop
Sketchup PRO: www.sketchup.com
There are no free Sketchup Pro licenses available but you can get a 30 day trial version from their site. They also do a free, web based, Sketchup Free product (though it does not have all the import / export functionality of the Pro version).
It is possible to run Sketchup from the University Remote Desktop – see this link
ArcGIS:
The ArcGIS suite of GIS / mapping software is available for Landscape Architecture students.
Please email designstudios@gre.ac.uk to obtain the install / license files if you want to install it
OR Visit this link when NOT on site
https://greenwichacuk.maps.arcgis.com
And login with your Uni credentials in the form ab1234c@gre.ac.uk – and MFA authorise
Unreal Engine: www.unrealengine.com
There area free “Creator Licenese” available for individuals to download and use Unreal Engine after signing up.
Blender: www.blender.org
Blender is free open source 3d modelling software – it’s available to anyone free on Mac or PC
ZBrush: https://www.maxon.net/en/buy/plan-pricing-for-students
A “discounted” 2025 version is available for students for around £66
Blender also has a modelling component in it