Personal tools
University Computing Service

Computing and Software

Software sales by the Computing Service

Filed under:

Software Sales co-ordinates the collective software requirements of the University, its Colleges and related institutions, by taking advantage of opportunities for reducing costs through special educational discounts, bulk purchases and site licences. Our aim is to provide a comprehensive range of software at favourable rates, provide the support and infrastructure necessary to administer such deals and to distribute the software.

The Software Sales on-line ordering system provides a searchable catalogue and gives details, including prices, of all products available from Software Sales. It also allows users to produce and print software application forms directly from the web.

How to apply for and collect software

  1. Contact Computing Service Sales by telephone (ext. 34695) or e-mail sales@ucs.cam.ac.uk to request an application form; or use the Software Sales online ordering system at URL http://sales-web-server.csx.cam.ac.uk/software/ to make an application for software.
  2. Complete the application form or print the application form if ordering via the web. Obtain an endorsing signature (if necessary) and return to Computing Service Sales with a Departmental/College Purchase Order.
  3. On receipt of your application we endeavour to fill the order within five working days or, if the software is ordered direct from the supplier, to give an estimate of the delivery date.
  4. Licences and CD/DVDs will be sent via the University Messenger Service or can be collected from Computing Service Reception on Floor 2 of the Cockcroft Building, New Museums Site, Pembroke Street. You will be informed when the items are ready for collection.

Please note the following

  • Proof of identity i.e. the University Card will be required if orders are collected.
  • All University Institutions are expected to pay by Departmental/College purchase order.
  • Payment must be returned with the application form.

Personal purchases can be paid for by:

Please note we cannot accept card details by e-mail or fax.

Purpose and Scope of Software Sales

The Computing Service distributes software for which academic pricing and support arrangements make it a condition that they be administered by the University. Most site licences require the Computing Service to maintain a register of those in possession of each item and to ensure that those responsible for the software sign a form committing them to the terms of the agreement, the University Software Policy and to the Combined Higher Education Software Team (EduServ CHEST) Code of Conduct. It is not permissible for users to copy or re-distribute the software even in the case of an unlimited licence. (See Use of Software and University Software Policy).

No central funding is available for purchasing software on behalf of the University. The Central Authorities have decided that Software Sales should operate on a cost recovery basis and therefore the cost of each deal must be recovered from those to whom copies are distributed. Licences, media and documentation for a product are made available at a price that reflects the estimated demand for, and total cost of, each deal.

Although EduServ CHEST can supply site licences for many products, we can only sign up for the deals where it is possible to recover the cost of the site licence. Many of these deals are for three or five years and once we have signed up we are committed to annual payments over this period.

Although we aim to price items much lower than commercial software vendors, we cannot always match commercial delivery times. It is not always practical to hold stock of software for which the demand is infrequent, therefore some items are ordered on demand and are subject to the delay of external suppliers.

Documentation

Documentation may be available for purchase separately, however installation documentation is provided where appropriate. Further documentation may be obtained separately directly from the supplier.

Sales to Institutions

Institutions wishing to purchase software should complete an application form available from Computing Service Sales or produce and print an application form online http://sales-web-server.csx.cam.ac.uk/software/ and include a University Purchase Order with the application form.

Most software is available to staff/students for the period of their employment/studies only. This software must be returned to Sales on leaving the University of Cambridge, or handed to their Institution (with the exception of Operating Systems which are non-transferrable unless the machine is also transferred) for re-use by another bona fide member of staff or student who must re-register the software, where applicable (free of charge).

Personal Sales to Staff and Students

Some products are available for purchase by staff/students for personal use. Please contact Sales for a list of software currently available for personal purchase or see the catalogue at http://sales-web-server.csx.cam.ac.uk/software/.

Use of Software

Software may only be issued to current members of staff or students of the University of Cambridge and its Colleges. All applicants must provide proof of their status before software can be issued. All users obtaining software from the Computing Service are required to sign a statement which says that they are fully aware of the software policy of the University of Cambridge as set out below and agree to uphold it. Note that the policy applies equally to software used for University purposes but obtained from other sources. Further information is obtainable from Software Sales.

The use of all software issued by the Computing Service is covered by the EduServ CHEST Code of Conduct and Copyright Agreement. Copies of these documents are available from Software Sales. The unauthorised copying of software is expressly forbidden under this code and is contrary to the University Software Policy.

The terms under which a user may hold and use the software depends on the individual product concerned. Details of any particular licence can be obtained from Software Sales.

University Software Policy

Under UK Copyright Law, the illegal reproduction of software can be subject to civil damages without financial limit and to criminal penalties including fines and imprisonment. Both the person who made the illegal copy and the relevant University authorities would be liable to prosecution for each illegal copy found.

The University has a detailed software policy which can be found in full  at: Software policy

Last updated: October 2011