IT Induction for new and returning students

There is lots of support available to assist you with the use of IT while studying at the university.

Service Desk Support 

• Phone Service Desk on: 023 9284 7777 Monday - Thursday - 08:00 - 17:00 (16:00 on Friday)

• Start an online Chat to a Service Desk analyst 

• Raise a Ticket in the Self-Service Portal

IT Helpers

• Visit the IT Helpers who are based in the library 

Digital Skills Training 

• Email the Digital Skills team digitalskills@port.ac.uk with help on using software 

You can store files on the University network via the N Drive and on your Google Drive.

• For safety we recommend that you store important files / documents in two places. 
• We do not recommend the use of removable storages devices as USB Memory Sticks often get lost and can become corrupt.

If you are using a University device always store a backup copy of any work in Google Drive. 

Google Drive

You can use Google Drive to store and access files from any device. Sign in to Google Drive with your University account.

Any shared drives you have access to will show in the Shared drives section in the menu on the left. You can find Google Drive from the app cube located in the top right of the page in Chrome.

N Drives

The N Drive is your personal networked storage area. This will always be available when you log into a standard PC or Mac on campus and files can be restored for up to 3 weeks after they've been modified.

• Your N drive is your network personal storage area. Your N drive has a 7GB storage capacity. Please note that your N Drive contains vital system configuration files. Please ensure you don't delete these.

For more information, please view the How to store you files article

The Digital Skills Team provides free training sessions and 1:1 mentoring. This training is designed to boost your digital confidence, so you get the most out of the software you are using. 

• We offer free trainer-led virtual courses on Microsoft Office and Microsoft 365 (Word, Excel PowerPoint and more), as well as Google Workspaces, Moodle, Microsoft Project, and Visio.  Find the dates on our Get Free Digital Skills Training Page
• 1:1 support on request, using core applications such as Office, Google and other University IT services

For more information visit the Get Free Digital Skills Training Page or email digitalskills@port.ac.uk.

LinkedIn Learning

LinkedIn Learning is an online educational platform that helps you discover and develop business, technology-related, and creative skills through expert-led course videos.

The below is a brief introduction to LinkedIn Learning.

For more information, please view the LinkedIn Learning Page

You can raise a Service Desk ticket to either report a fault or get assistance from the Service Desk. Please try to add as much information as possible and suggest times/days when you are contactable.

1. Visit Service Desk
2. Click login to Self-Service
3. Select Student from the drop-down list Click here to view image
4. Click login with SSO Click here to view image
5. Enter your university username and password
6. Scroll through the list of options until you find report a fault
7. Complete the form and click Finish

Student View is where you can manage many aspects of your course, including viewing modules, timetables and grades, updating your details, and applying for bursaries.

Useful Links

• The Your Student View page contains a comprehensive guide on Student View
• Student View Login

Your Student Card is your passport to access a range of university buildings and services.

You should carry your student card at all times on campus to use as: 

• your library card 
• your door access control card to University buildings
• your access to student services such as printing, laptop loans, catering loyalty points, sport and recreation and the free University bus
• monitoring your engagement at on-campus events, exams and face-to-face classes

New students - getting your first card

You should apply for your student card before the start of the academic year as part of your initial registration process. You’ll be emailed separately with instructions, or follow the instructions for Joining the University, including photo upload and where to pick up your card when you’re on campus. 

The University Student Cards page contains more details.

Multi-factor Authentication helps keep you secure when logging in

Setting up MFA

Once you have completed your registration, you will be given full access to your Google Workspace account. This includes:

Google Mail

• Your email address will be UP<StudentNumber>@myport.ac.uk, eg UP454545@myport.ac.uk You should use your University email address to communicate with all academic and professional staff at the University. 

• Note: For returning students, it may be in the old format CAM01234 - your student ID is for the life of all your studies

• Your email account will be needed to access some services, such as Zoom and some library resources.

Google Apps

• Google Docs is an online word processor that allows to create and format documents. You can also collaborate with other people on the same document. 
• Google Sheets is an online spreadsheet that allows to create and edit spreadsheets.
• Google Slides is an online presentation app that allows you to quickly and easily create effective presentations.
• Google Drive allows you to store and access files from anywhere using the cloud. You have a limit of 7gb on your Google Drive.

If your would like training, please view the Get Free IT Training Page, The Digital Skills team run trainer-led courses covering all the basics.

The wifi network used at the University is eduroam. It is available in all campus buildings and over 70 other locations in Portsmouth.

All you need to log onto eduroam is your University account username and password.

The Connecting to Campus WiFi Page contains more information on Connecting to Wifi, including Mac Instructions.

Windows 10 Instructions

1. Click the Network Icon in the task bar.
2. A list of available networks will be shown.
3. Select eduroam and click on Connect.
4. Enter your network account username with @port.ac.uk, e.g. up874068@port.ac.uk followed by your password, then select OK (do not use .myport.ac.uk)
5. You should now be connected to eduroam
    

Windows 11 Instructions

1. Windows 11 WiFi settings can be found from the Network and Volume section of the task bar.

2. Select it to bring up a selection of controls and toggle on the WiFi, if not already on, then click the right arrow next to it to display the current list of available networks. 

3. Select eduroam, tick Connect automatically, then select Connect.

4. Enter your network account username with @port.ac.uk, e.g. up874068@port.ac.uk  followed by your password, then select OK (do not use .myport.ac.uk).

5. You should now be connected to the wireless network.

As a student at the University of Portsmouth, you will have access to additional security on your devices by using the Virtual Private Network (VPN).  If you are working remotely, some of our services, such as AppsAnywhere will require you to be using the VPN.

Before you can use the VPN, you will need to download it.

1. Go to student.vpn.port.ac.uk
2. Sign in with your student username and password.  (Your University username is your UPxxxxx).
3. You will be asked to enter a One-Time Authentication Code. This will be sent by default to the email address you provided when you registered with the University.
4. Type in this code and click Next.
5. You will be presented with download options, pick the one that matches your operating system, download and install it.
6. Open the VPN from your system (bottom right of your screen), clicking the up arrow and selecting the globe icon.
7. When you first open the VPN you will be asked to enter a portal address. Enter student.vpn.port.ac.uk.
8. Go to Connect to the VPN.

For more information, and how to use other operating systems, view the Guide to the Virtual Private Network.  

There are 4 Open Access areas around the campus with over 600 PCs, Macs, and printing facilities for you to use. They are located in; the Library, Park Building, Portland Building, and Anglesea Building.

Click on this link to view the current availability of PCs in the open access areas

Click on this link  to view rooms that can be used as open access areas 

Remote Access

If you're not on campus you can still access a University desktop to use specific software you may not have on your own device.

For a more detailed guide, including instructions for Mac users, please see the Remote Access to Lab Computers.

Instructions

1. Connect to the VPN.
2. Visit the Remote Access page from your web browser.
3. Each location name corresponds to the building and room number the areas is in, e.g. RB-1-03-REMOTE would be Richmond Building, room 1.03. The availability in the area is shown by percentage and visually on the progress bar. When the bar is full, there are no computers currently available.
4. Click the external link icon to the right of the area you would like to connect to, this will automatically choose an available computer.
5. A Connect dialog window will appear, click Download to download the connection file.
6. A connect.rdp file will download. Click on the connect.rdp file to start the connection.
7. A Remote Desktop Connection dialog box will appear. Select Connect.
8. Enter uni\username e.g. uni\up874068.
9. A Remote Desktop Connection dialog box will display with details of the Certificate of the computer you are connecting to. Select Yes to continue.
10.  The computer will log in.
11.  To log off, click the Start button and select the Log off tile in the Start menu. You will be signed out of the computer and it will become available for another user.
12.  If you wish to connect to a specific computer, you can choose the list option to the left of the location, then connect to a specific computer by choosing the Connect option next to the computer. You can use the filter at the top to only show available computers.

 AppsAnywhere is the University Apps portal that allows you to stream apps and download software for study and work - available anywhere, on and off-campus, anytime.

1. Open a new browser tab.
2. Enter appsanywhere.port.ac.uk 
3. Log in using your University username and password.
4. Click Sign In.
5. Using the Search bar, start to type the name of the required software.
6. If you are unsure, click the Apps List button and select View all apps.

Note: You can add a favourite once you have found the required software.

For more information on AppsAnywhere and other software, please view the Access and Download Software page

Zoom is used for all virtual sessions and can be accessed via a desktop or laptop as well as on a mobile phone.

1. Visit the University Zoom link.
2. Click Download - get the Zoom App.
3. Select your device from the download centre.
4. Install the App.
5. Once downloaded, run Zoom.
6. Login with your University username and password.

Note: always use this installed version of Zoom to ensure the best sound and image quality.

Cyber Security

Cyber security is one of the most important parts of using online devices and accounts. Below is a video to help you ensure you are safe online. If you have questions, either join us for a virtual induction with a member of the digital skills team or arrange a 1:1 by emailing digitalskills@port.ac.uk.

This video demonstrates some of the settings you can change on a Windows PC to make it easier to use.

For more help, please email digitalskills@port.ac.uk.

Display Settings

1. Click on Start Menu.
2. Select the Settings Cog.
3. Select Ease of Access Icon.
4. By default, you will be on the Display tab.
5. Sliders are available to control the size of text and screen brightness.

Changing the Appearance of your Mouse

1. Click on Start Menu.
2. Select the Settings Cog.
3. Select Ease of Access Icon.
4. Select Mouse Pointer in the menu on the left hand side.
5. A slider is available to change the size of the pointer.
6. Select a colour for the mouse.

Text Cursor

1. Click on Start Menu.
2. Select the Settings Cog.
3. Select Ease of Access Icon.
4. Select Text cursor in the menu on the left hand side.
5. Toggle the text cursor to on.
6. Use the slider to control the size of the Text Cursor.
7. Select a colour for the Text Cursor.

Audio

1. Click on Start Menu.
2. Select the Settings Cog.
3. Select the Ease of Access Icon.
4. Select Audio  in the menu on the left-hand side.
5. Use the slider to manage the volume.
6. Select an option from the Show Alerts Visually drop-down box.

The Additional Support and Disability Advice Centre (ASDAC) supports students with disabilities or who require additional support for their academic studies.  More information on contacting this team is on the Additional Support and Disability advice page.

Moodle is available 24-hours a day, 7-days a week. You can access your course and module learning materials from Moodle via smartphone, laptop or desktop computer. You’ll only have access to Moodle once you have registered on your course.

Useful Links

• Moodle Guide
• Moodle login

The University Library is a central space for study, research and support. From solo studying to group work and research projects, our library has space and resources for study and work of all kinds.

Useful Links

• For more information about the Library please see the University Library page
• Instructions for booking a group study area can be found on this page

As a student you will have access to the MyPrint service allowing you to send files to print, whilst on campus as well as from home to collect next time you come to the campus.

Instructions

1. To print, select the VR-STUDENT-PRINT printer, and your printing will be held in a queue.
2. To release your printing, swipe your student card at an available printer.
3. Any printing not released after 24 hours will be cancelled.
4. Your printing is managed via your MyPrint, where you can top up your print credits and manage your printing. 

For more information on printing, view the Printing on Campus Page

Maps

Below are some useful links to help you find

• Maps and Direction page contains a PDF map of the campus
• Getting to Campus page lists transport options around the city

Term Dates

• Key dates page has all the key dates listed