Staff Advantage

Free Microsoft Office 2016

Western Sydney University, in collaboration with Microsoft, is offering all staff the 'Staff Advantage' - free Microsoft Office software for you to install on up to five personal devices.

• Compatible devices
• How to download
• Frequently Asked Questions

Staff Advantage delivers a range of new Office 365 features to current Western Sydney University staff. A number of new applications are now available within the Staff Advantage (Office 365) portal. In addition to downloading Microsoft Office, you can also access Word Online, Excel Online, PowerPoint Online, and OneDrive, through a web browser. This means you can work on documents, spreadsheets and presentations online, without the need to download Microsoft Office onto your device. You can also save your files (documents, spreadsheets, and presentations) into your OneDrive storage. Staff Advantage provides all staff with 1 Terabyte (Just over 1000GB) of online OneDrive storage space!

Staff Advantage is made available only to current University staff. When a staff member leaves the University, all Microsoft Office licenses, and access to the Staff Advantage Office 365 portal expire. This also means that access to OneDrive storage will be disabled, and files stored will no longer be available. If you do leave the University, be sure to move your personal OneDrive files first!

Please do not install Staff Advantage on University computers. It is for personal devices only. University leased computers are delivered with the Windows 10 operating system incorporating the Microsoft Office 2016 suite already installed.

Compatible devices

• Windows 10
• Windows 8.1 computers
• Windows 7 computers
• Windows phones
• Windows Surface
• Apple Macs
• Apple iPads
• Apple iPhones
• Android phones and tablets

How to download

The Staff Advantage download is approximately 1GB - 5GB, depending on your device. If downloading Staff Advantage on the University wireless network, please try to avoid the peak periods (10am-4pm) to reduce the potential of extended download times. You can also download the software on any network, including home broadband and your mobile phone carrier, however please make sure you have an adequate data plan.

Staff Advantage is available for download on the following devices. Click the link for details on how to download and install Microsoft Office for your device.

More information is available on how to manage installations (opens in a new window).

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

If you have any questions, please check the Staff Advantage FAQ (opens in a new window) before contacting the IT Service Desk.

Software Discounts

Special software discounts are offered to our University staff, through an intermediary software licensing provider. Staff can purchase licenses to a range of products at a fraction of the cost. Visit the Staff Software Benefits (opens in a new window) page to learn more.