Laptop Loans for USW Students

USW has laptops available to loan to our students, for free, across all our campuses.

  • Loans last for up to seven days.
  • If you need a charger, you can borrow one separately.
  • Do not rely on saving files to the laptop's internal storage! We recommend you save most work to your USW OneDrive.

If you don't find what you need on this page, contact USW IT Support for further help with laptop loans and the laptop loan locker system.

How long can I borrow a laptop for?

Laptops are loaned for up to seven days at a time.
 
The return date and time are shown on the locker screen when you borrow a laptop, and this information is also sent to your student email. The laptop must be returned to the locker it was collected from, on or before the due date and time.
 
You can't usually borrow a laptop for longer than seven days, but you can borrow another laptop immediately after you return the current one, and you can repeat this indefinitely, provided you always return devices on time and in good condition. You might not get the same laptop each time, so do not rely on saving your work to the laptop - we recommend you save most work to your USW OneDrive.

How to borrow a laptop

Laptops are available from self-service lockers at the locations listed below. It's not possible to reserve a laptop in advance.
 
To borrow a laptop: 

  • Go to a locker
  • Tap your student ID card
  • Accept the terms and conditions
  • A door will open and you can take a laptop

If you need a charger you will need to borrow one separately, see below.

Laptop loan locations

Treforest  

Treforest Library - 96 laptops
Brecon - 55 laptops
Glyneath, G410 - 24 laptops 
Current availability

Cardiff   

Cardiff Library - 24 laptops & 24 MacBooks
The Street - 60 MacBooks
Current availability

Glyntaff 

Glyntaff Library -   24 laptops
Elaine Morgan Building, the Zone - 48 laptops
Upper Glyntaff, Matrix Cafe - 24 laptops 
Current availability.

Newport 

Newport Library - 12 laptops
Foyer - 48 laptops 
Current availability

Sports Park 

PSC113 - 24 MacBooks 
Current availability

Software

Windows laptops

Windows laptops come with Microsoft 365 apps (including Word and Excel), and you can install apps from UniApps. You cannot install any other software, eg, games.

Apple Mac laptops

Macs come with a range of standard software.  There is no way of using UniApps or installing other software. 

File storage on laptops

The storage of loan laptops is periodically wiped, so do not rely on saving files to the laptop's internal storage. We recommend you save most work to your USW OneDrive. You are responsible for the storage and backup of your own files.

Powering the laptop

Laptops can be used at and powered from the docking stations provided in USW libraries.

Chargers are not provided as standard with loan laptops. If you require a charger, it can be borrowed as a separate item from a USW library. Chargers are stored separately from the laptops, near the self check out machine for library items. You can borrow a charger in the same way you would borrow a book from the library.

NB: make sure the charger is returned to the library and not put in the locker with the laptop.

Terms and Conditions

When you borrow a laptop, you will have to agree to some terms, by pressing "Agree" on the laptop locker screen. As of March 10 2026 these terms are:

"All users are bound by University’s General Regulations and the Acceptable Use Code of Conduct of ICT Facilities in University & subsidiaries.

Laptops must be returned to the correct laptop locker and re-connected to the power lead provided by the end of the loan period.

Late returns will result in a suspension from the service.

Chargers can be loaned from the LRC of your campus via the self service checkout machines.

Users are responsible for the safety and security of the laptop whilst on loan. In the event a laptop is lost, stolen or returned damaged or with parts missing, users may be liable for the cost of replacement or repair up to a maximum of £850.00 for a Windows Laptop or £1619.10 for a MacBook.

In the event of a fault with the borrowed laptop, please use the fault report option on return of the device to allow us to investigate." 

How to return a laptop

To return a laptop, take it back to the locker you collected it from. You cannot return a laptop to a different locker.
 
Please ensure that the USB-C power cord inside the locker bay is fully connected to the laptop and that the light next to the locker illuminates to indicate the system has detected the laptop, which completes the return.

If you fail to plug the laptop in, you will be sent an email telling you that the return wasn't successful and you will be expected to return to the locker, scan your card, click return to re-open the bay and then plug the laptop in properly.

Late returns

If a student is late returning a laptop the system will automatically block them from borrowing another laptop for seven calendar days from when the overdue device was returned.

Blocks are only for the laptop loan locker system and do not impact the student's USW IT account in any other way. They will still be able to access all services and use the lab PCs or other devices.
 
Student who are repeatedly late returning devices or who are seen as abusing the system can have longer blocks, dependant on how often they are late and the length of time the devices have been overdue. 


Can I get extra time on a loan? I've had a problem.

If you have a genuine reason why you cannot return the laptop by the due date and time, then let USW IT know via USW IT Support before the laptop is due to be returned.

At their discretion, USW IT can add extra time on to the loan.

Reporting faults

If you have an issue with the loan laptop while you are using it, and need a fix so you can continue to work, please contact USW IT Support.

When you return the laptop to its locker, the system will ask you if there were any problems with it.
You can report faults such issues with Wi-Fi, the display, audio issues etc. A fault report will mark the laptop as out of service, USW IT will know they need to look at it, and another student won't get the faulty laptop.

 
Loss or damage to laptop

A laptop on loan to a student is the responsibility of the student.

If the device is lost or not returned to the locker for an extended period of time, the student will be invoiced the full cost of the device.

In the event of intentional or neglectful damage to the laptop, the student will be invoiced for the full cost of repairing it, or for the full cost of a replacement laptop if that is necessary.


Contact for more help

For help with loan laptops, or the laptop loan locker system, contact USW IT Support.