About Microsoft 365 licensing at the University of Oklahoma (OU/OUHSC)

Overview

Microsoft 365 Education licensing allows those affiliated with the University of Oklahoma to access software according to the following license levels:

  • A3 (Full time benefits eligible employee): The A3 employee license provides use of the Microsoft 365 A3 service, including the ability to download and install applications on personal devices.
  • A1 (Non full time benefits eligible employee): The A1 license provides use of the Microsoft 365 service, including web-based access to the online versions of Microsoft 365, but does not include the ability to install these applications on personal devices. For more information about A1 for non full time benefits eligible employees, please visit the Microsoft License Transition knowledge base article.
  • A3 (Student): Students are eligible for A3 licenses that provide full use of most features of Microsoft 365, including the ability to download and install applications on personal devices.
  • A1(Affiliates/Sponsors): The A1 license provides use of the Microsoft 365 service, including web-based access to the online versions of Microsoft 365, but does not include the ability to install these applications on personal devices. 

For more on the differences between A3 and A1 licenses, see Microsoft 365 Education license comparison.

Eligibility for the A3 and A1 plans depends on your status with OU; see OU account types and eligibility.

 

Differences between online apps and desktop applications

Not all of the applications featured in desktop versions of Microsoft 365 are available online. Additionally, the web apps lack some functionality compared to the desktop versions. Differences in some of the most commonly used features include:

The online version of Word does not support mail merge, VBA and Forms scripts, SmartArt, or captions.

The online version of Excel does not offer VBA and Forms scripts, "What if" analysis tools, external references, workbook protection, or slicer and Timeline filters, and offers only basic formulas.

The online version of OneNote does not offer clipping experiences, drag-and-drop section groups, editing of embedded files, inking tools, or template support.

You can use the Microsoft Teams web app in a fully supported browser (Chrome or Edge) for most Teams functions, including PC-to-PC calls, but the dial pad will not appear in the web app for OU employees with office phone numbers, even following migration to Teams Calls. If you wish to dial by phone number, you'll need to install the app.

For a full list of functionality differences, see Office for the web service description.