If I am no longer a student but want to learn MATLAB, what version should I buy?

If I am no longer a student but want to learn MATLAB to improve my employability, what version should I buy? Apparently I cannot buy the Student Version unless I am enrolled at a degree-awarding institution.

Many thanks, Chris

Answer 1

[Walter Roberson]

Unfortunately, if you do not qualify for the Student Version, then the only available license for personal use is the full commercial license. There is no "I'm not making any money from this!" license available.

You will probably want to purchase the Individual license (pretty much the default.) That will entitle you to install the software on several machines (e.g., a desktop and a laptop), as long as you are the only person using the software.

There are, however, sometimes cases where it makes sense to instead buy a Node Locked version, which can only be used on a single machine but can be used by anyone on that machine.

[Christiaan]

Very helpful! Thanks again.

[Inna]

I had a student license but now I am no longer a student. I want to buy non-student MATLAB for my research but I'm unable to change my status in the MathWorks system. Can you tell me how I can cancel my student status in your system to be able to purchase a 'big' MATLAB?

[Sean de Wolski]

Call Customer Support for your local region :)

[Inna]

I've send them a message, no response yet, but may be you right, i'd better call. Thank you!

[Alex Churchill]

Although this answer was accurate when it was posted, future visitors should take note of Toshiaki Takeuchi's answer below pointing out the new MATLAB Home personal-use license. As long as you're not doing anything commercial and not using it within an organisation, it should be great for your needs.

Answer 2

[Toshiaki Takeuchi]

You can now get a personal use license called MATLAB Home.

[Walter Roberson]

Excellent news!

Answer 3

[Sean de Wolski]

http://www.mathworks.com/company/jobs/opportunities/

[Honglei Chen]

I like this answer.

[Sean de Wolski]

Me too.

Though it is probably not the easiest way to get access to all of the toolboxes...

Answer 4

[Image Analyst]

Have you seen the FAQ: http://matlab.wikia.com/wiki/FAQ#What_other_software_packages_exist_to_do_similar_work.3F Might be an option to consider until you are employed.

Answer 5

[emre iliman]

I think that's a really stupid policy to require people to obtain a full personal licence in order to learn.

[Image Analyst]

Oh I wish people like you ran software companies, publishing companies, and universities. It would save me tens of thousands of dollars per year on my son's software, books, college tuition, and other things required to learn. My son should be able to get all that by having the rich one percenters pay for everything - uh, I mean beyond the buildings, institutes, museums, scholarships, and research programs that they already fund. They have enough money to pay for my son's books and MATLAB and everyone else's in the world, right? If you don't want to pay/invest in your learning, then you can try Octave.

[Walter Roberson]

Possibly you missed the answer above mentioning the MATLAB Home license; it is much less expensive than a regular license, and is suitable for learning (but is not suitable for earning any money from the software.)