Windows apps Mac students need for college and how to run them

It's Sunday night. You download the required software from your course portal, double-click it… and nothing happens for a second.

Then the message shows up: Windows-only.

For a lot of students, that's the moment they realize their coursework is going to involve more than just macOS. At first, you improvise.

Maybe you remote into a campus lab. Maybe you borrow a Windows laptop from a friend. Maybe you spend an hour digging through Reddit threads trying to figure out whether someone got the app working through a workaround.

Sometimes it works. But there's usually a catch, and suddenly you're realizing you're spending more time trying to manage your setup than actually doing your assignment.

That's become a normal part of student workflows. Most coursework apps on Mac fall into two buckets:

• Everyday tools that work anywhere (Docs, Excel, browsers, and lightweight coding environments)
• Program-specific software that's built for Windows and expects serious CPU and RAM

The difficult part is that universities don't always explain this clearly upfront. A student can get through orientation, buy a MacBook, and feel completely prepared—until the second or third week of classes when an assignment suddenly depends on software that only fully works in Windows. Unfortunately, this is an especially common situation for engineering, architecture, computer science, GIS, and other data-heavy or technical fields.

Windows apps students may need on a Mac

The applications required for college depend on a student’s major and individual courses. Some are available for both Windows and macOS, but the features, interfaces, add-ins, or workflows may differ. Others require Windows. The following are common Windows applications used in business, engineering, architecture, GIS, data analysis, and computer science courses.

Microsoft Access on Mac

Microsoft Access is a Windows-only database application used in business, information systems, and database courses. Microsoft does not offer a native Mac version.

Students who need Access can run the Windows version on their Mac with Parallels Desktop. Before buying software, check whether your school provides Access or Microsoft 365 through a student licensing program.

Microsoft Excel for Mac versus Windows

Excel is available for both Mac and Windows, and the Mac version supports most common coursework. However, some classes rely on Windows-specific add-ins, macros, templates, or instructions.

Students who need the same Windows version of Excel used by their professor can run Excel for Windows on their Mac. 
Learn more about running Microsoft Excel on a Mac: https://www.parallels.com/apps/excel/

Microsoft Office for Mac versus Windows

Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, and OneNote are available for Mac, but the Windows and Mac editions are not identical. Differences may matter when a class requires a specific add-in, macro, template, or Windows-based workflow.

Students can run Microsoft Office for Windows on a Mac when they need the same interface and features used in class. 
Learn more: https://www.parallels.com/apps/microsoft-office/

SOLIDWORKS on Mac

SOLIDWORKS is a Windows-based CAD application commonly used in engineering and product design courses. It does not have a native Mac version.

Students can run SOLIDWORKS on a Mac with Parallels Desktop for part modeling, assemblies, and engineering drawings across mechanical and product design courses. For more demanding projects, Parallels Desktop Pro allows additional CPU and memory to be allocated to the Windows virtual machine.

Note: Students with 16 GB of RAM can run SOLIDWORKS for coursework and basic modeling. For larger assemblies and simulation work, 32 GB or more is recommended. Before purchasing, confirm your course requirements and SOLIDWORKS version with your instructor.

Autodesk Revit on Mac

Autodesk Revit is a Windows application used in architecture, construction, and engineering courses. Autodesk does not offer a native Mac version.

Students use Revit for building models, floor plans, and BIM coordination across architecture, construction, and engineering courses. For larger, more demanding projects, Parallels Desktop Pro provides additional performance headroom.

ArcGIS Pro on Mac

ArcGIS Pro is a Windows application used in GIS, geography, environmental science, and urban planning courses. Esri does not provide a native Mac version.

Students can run ArcGIS Pro on a Mac through Windows with Parallels Desktop. 
Learn more: https://www.parallels.com/apps/arcgis/

Visual Studio on Mac

Microsoft retired Visual Studio for Mac, but some development courses still require Visual Studio for Windows or Windows-specific .NET tools.

Students can run Visual Studio for Windows on a Mac with Parallels Desktop. They should confirm the required version and workloads with their instructor.

Microsoft Project on Mac

Microsoft Project is a Windows application used in project management, business, and construction courses. Microsoft does not offer the full desktop application for Mac.

Students who need Microsoft Project can run the Windows version on their Mac. 
Learn more: https://www.parallels.com/plans/education/students/

Students who qualify for the Parallels Desktop student discount can pair it with their school-provided Windows license. Review student pricing

Supporting apps across programs

Many programs introduce specialized tools gradually. Students often do not know they need them until the syllabus changes halfway through the term.

Engineering and design tools

In engineering programs, tools like PTC Creo, Altium Designer, or LabVIEW show up depending on your focus.

You might only use one or two in a given term, but when they appear, they're central to the assignment. Whether it's CAD modeling, circuit design, or working with hardware, these tools expect a certain environment and don't leave much room for workarounds.

Data and analytics tools

In stats or econometrics courses, tools like Minitab or EViews are common.

A lot of the work here is iterative—running analyses, adjusting inputs, exporting results, then doing it again. It's not always visually demanding, but it relies on consistency. You want the tool to behave the same way every time, especially when you're working through a method step by step.

Business and lab tools

Some programs bring in more specialized software tied to real-world systems or lab work.

SAP GUI shows up in business courses that simulate enterprise environments. ChemDraw is common in chemistry and lab-based programs where formatting and precision matter. These tools might not push your system in the same way as CAD or GIS software, but they're strict about compatibility. If something's off, it can affect how you complete—or even submit—your work.

Can students use Boot Camp on an Apple silicon Mac?

Boot Camp is only available on Intel-based Macs. Students with an Apple silicon Mac can run Windows 11 and their coursework applications through Parallels Desktop, without restarting or switching devices.

Do students get Windows or Microsoft Office for free?

Many colleges and universities provide Windows 11 Education at no cost through Microsoft Azure Dev Tools for Teaching or a campus Microsoft 365 institutional agreement. Students should check their university software portal, Microsoft 365 Education account, or campus IT help desk before purchasing a Windows license separately. A Windows Education license obtained through an institutional program can be installed inside Parallels Desktop when the school's licensing terms permit VM use.

A Microsoft 365 Education account does not automatically include Microsoft Access, Microsoft Project, Microsoft Visio, or a standalone Windows license. These require separate licensing. Confirm with your instructor or department before purchasing. Parallels Desktop and Windows are licensed separately. 
Review student pricing: https://www.parallels.com/plans/education/students/

Do students actually need Windows for college coursework?

That depends heavily on the major. Many students can complete most coursework entirely on macOS. But certain programs regularly depend on Windows-specific software. That is especially true in engineering, architecture, GIS, econometrics, some computer science tracks, and business analytics.

For students in those programs, the issue is usually not whether a MacBook is capable. The issue is software compatibility. A Mac may handle everyday coursework perfectly while still requiring access to Windows for a handful of specialized applications. That is why many students look for ways to run Windows apps directly on the Mac they already use instead of carrying a separate laptop.

Run required Windows apps on the Mac you already use

Students do not necessarily need to replace their Mac or carry a second computer when a course requires Windows software. With Parallels Desktop, they can install Windows, run required coursework applications, and continue using their Mac applications on the same device.

Before installing an application, confirm its current Windows compatibility, licensing requirements, and hardware requirements. Course requirements can vary by professor, university, and software version.

UTM is a free, open-source alternative for running Windows on Apple silicon Macs. It requires more manual configuration and does not offer the same macOS integration, technical support or Microsoft authorization as Parallels Desktop. For students who need a supported, integrated Windows environment for coursework applications, Parallels Desktop may be a better fit.

Start a free trial of Parallels Desktop: https://www.parallels.com/products/desktop/trial/ 
Review exclusive student pricing: https://www.parallels.com/plans/education/students/