Matlab

MATLAB is available in the Engineering Workstation Labs (EWS) on campus. Engineering/CS students already have EWS accounts. If you don't have an EWS account, we will set one up for you, but it will expire at the end of the semester.

If you work in a research lab on campus, you may be able to run MATLAB on a lab computer, but check with your research advisor first. MATLAB is an extremely useful tool in the lab. In my own lab, we use it for all of our data analysis and for generating publication-quality graphics. The cost for an annual UIUC-network license from CITES is only $20, so your research advisor shouldn't mind paying for it. These are network licenses and only work for computers that are directly connected to the campus network.

Some departments have group licenses that make it free for end-users to install on machines in their labs. For example, all engineering departments, the psychology department, and the Beckman Institute have departmental licences. These licenses are restricted to IP addresses associated with the particular department.

You may want to run MATLAB on your home computer or laptop. Grad students can purchase a standalone copy (non-network) annual license for MATLAB from CITES for $50. However, the license expires at the end of the academic year, so your copy of MATLAB will become non-functional in August unless you renew the license (for another $50).

Another option, for both grad and undergrad students, is to purchase the Student Version of MATLAB from The Mathworks for $99. (Also, the Illini Union Bookstore usually has a few copies in stock.) This is a perpetual licence (never expires) and doesn't require your computer to be connected to the campus network.