A laptop for lectures gets carried every day, so start with weight and battery (sample guide).
Look for 16 GB of memory and 512 GB of storage: it keeps the laptop quick for four years of browser tabs and assignments. A 14-inch screen is the usual sweet spot, around 1.4 kg.
Skip the dedicated graphics card unless the course asks for video or 3D work. Bring the reading list to the shop and we will check the software runs.