Data analytics & BI software
UVic offers a few options for data analytics (quantitative and qualitative) and business intelligence software. Microsoft Power BI and Fabric are available in Microsoft 365. We also have site licenses for IBM SPSS, NVivo, MATLAB and SimuLink, and SAS.
To download installers, you must sign in and use an on-campus or VPN network connection.
Power BI
Microsoft’s business intelligence platform Power BI has powerful data analytics, visualization and other features. It’s available to UVic employees as part of Microsoft 365 and Power Platform.
- Type
- Microsoft 365 app
- For
- Employees
- Cost
- Free
- Platforms
- Web, Windows
Microsoft Fabric
Microsoft Fabric is a cloud-based data analytics platform. It's compatible with Power BI, but is larger than Power BI. Power BI is one tool you can use to work with data in a Fabric workspace.
Fabric is used for institutional reporting at UVic.
SPSS
SPSS Statistics is a statistical software suite developed by IBM for data management, advanced analytics, multivariate analysis, business intelligence and criminal investigation.
- Type
- Desktop app
- For
- Employees using UVic devices
- Website
- IBM SPSS
- Cost
- Free
- Platform
- Windows, Mac
- Downloads
-
- IBM SPSS 29 for Windows (876 MB .exe)
- IBM SPSS 29 for Mac (853 MB .exe)
Restrictions and limitations
- SPSS is only licensed to be installed on computers that are owned by UVic.
- Only employees can download SPSS installers and license files.
- You need Internet access to activate SPSS after you install it.
Download & install SPSS
Before you download an the SPSS installer for your UVic computer, contact IT support. We can probably make it available for self-serve installation or install it for you.
If you need to install it yourself:
- Download the SPSS installer for your computer.
- Run the SPSS installer as administrator.
- Follow the installer prompts.
The first time you run SPSS, you’ll be prompted to activate it.
You'll need an Internet connection to activate SPS. You'll need to be either campus or using the UVic VPN.
To activate SPSS:
- Select Launch License Wizard.
- SPSS will list the licenses that are installed on your computer already. There should be none. Select Next > to continue.
- When prompted for Product authorization, select Concurrent user license, then select Next >.
- When prompted for a License manager name, enter “spss-licman2.bc.net” into the field. Select Next >.
- SPSS will list the licenses that are available, labelled License status. Select Next >.
- SPSS will install the available licenses and list what it has installed, labelled Licensing Completed. Select Finish.
If you have trouble activating SPSS, contact IT support.
NVivo
NVivo is a desktop application for qualitative data analysis (QDA). It’s widely used to organize and analyze qualitative data like interviews, documents and web content.
- Type
- Desktop app
- For
- Faculty, grad students & other researchers
- Website
- Lumivero NVivo
- Cost
- license model changing August 28th, see notice
- Platform
- Windows, Mac
- Downloads
-
- NVivo 14 for Windows (585 MB exe)
- NVivo 14 for Mac (702 MB dmg)
- NVivo 14 license renew file for 2024–2025 (1 KB txt)
Note: Process changing August 28th, see notice
Faculty and grad students automatically have access to download NVivo for Windows or Mac.
Access for other researchers such as post-docs and undergrad students needs to be granted manually. Principle investigators and supervisors can contact IT support to provide access.
Restrictions & limitations
You can install NVivo on UVic computers and personal computers. You cannot install NVivo on shared devices, computer labs or equipment for loan.
If you're not eligible for UVic's site license, you can buy a discounted license for NVivo (Pro or Plus) from the UVic Bookstore OnTheHub.
Download & install NVivo
If you're using a UVic computer, contact IT support. We can probably make NVivo available for self-serve installation or install it for you.
If you need to install it yourself:
- Download the NVivo installer for your computer.
- Run the NVivo installer as administrator.
- Follow the installer prompts.
MATLAB & Simulink
UVic has an academic site licenses for MathWorks' products including MATLAB and Simulink, along with dozens of plug-ins and toolboxes. They provide a programming environment for data analysis, processing and modelling.
- Type
- Desktop app
- For
- Students, employees, instructors & researchers
- Website
- MathWorks MATLAB, Simulink
- Cost
- Free
- Platform
- Windows
SAS software
A suite of Windows desktop and server software for data analysis, visualization, business intelligence and data management.
- Type
- Desktop and server apps
- For
- Students & employees
- Website
- SAS Educational Analysis Suite
- Cost
- Free
- Platform
- Windows
- Downloads
-
- SAS 9.4 for Windows (14 GB zip)
- SAS 9.4 license renew file for 2025–2026 (5 kB txt)
Limitations and restrictions
UVic's site license is for SAS 9, which includes desktop and server software. SAS Viya, the vendor's newer cloud-based platform, isn't included.
Download & install SAS
If you're using a UVic computer, contact IT support. We can probably make SAS available for self-serve installation or install it for you.
If you need to install it yourself:
- Download the SAS installer for your computer.
- Run the SAS installer as administrator.
- Follow the installer prompts.
Renew the license
- Download the license file from this page.
- Follow SAS’s license file renewal instructions to apply it.
High-performance computing
Researchers can use computing clusters and private computing cloud, operated by UVic and the Digital Research Alliance of Canada, to process large batches of research data.