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As a University of Portsmouth student, you have free access to LinkedIn Learning throughout your studies.
Whether you want to build confidence with a new piece of software, pick up skills to support your course, prepare for your future career or simply learn something you are interested in, LinkedIn Learning gives you access to thousands of expert-led courses and videos that you can work through at your own pace.
It is included as part of your University access while you are a current student. You don't need a personal LinkedIn account to use LinkedIn Learning or get started.
Get started in 3 simple steps
Getting started is quick and easy! Follow these three steps to activate your University access and begin learning.
Step 2: sign in with your University account
Sign in using your University email address and password. The first time you sign in, your LinkedIn Learning licence will be assigned automatically.
Step 3: choose whether to connect LinkedIn
You can connect an existing personal LinkedIn account or keep it separate. Connecting your account is optional, and you can change this later.
How can it help me?
Whatever you want to develop, LinkedIn Learning gives you the flexibility to build useful skills for your studies, future career and personal interests.
Support your studies
Build skills to support your course, from using digital tools and software to improving how you communicate, organise and present ideas.
Develop digital skills
Learn how to use tools and technology such as Microsoft 365, AI, data, coding, cybersecurity and creative software with greater confidence.
Prepare for your career
Build skills for your future career, including teamwork, leadership, planning, presenting and other practical skills you can take into the workplace.
Learn something new
Explore topics beyond your course, follow your interests and develop skills at your own pace, whenever and wherever it suits you.
More than just courses
There is more to LinkedIn Learning than watching videos. You can use built-in tools to find the right learning, ask questions, practise skills, test your understanding and keep track of what you achieve.
AI Coaching
Not sure what to search for or want some help understanding a topic? AI-powered coaching lets you ask questions in your own words and get personalised help as you learn.
It can help you find relevant courses and videos, explain concepts, provide examples and suggest what you could learn next. You can find AI Coaching as its own experience, through search and within supported courses.
Try asking:
“I have a presentation coming up and want to feel more confident speaking in front of a group. What could I learn?”
AI Role Play
Want to build confidence before having a real conversation? AI role play gives you a private space to practise different situations using text or voice and get personalised feedback on how you responded.
You can practise things like interviews, giving feedback, handling difficult conversations or communicating more confidently in a professional setting.
Try practising:
“I have an interview coming up for a graduate role and want to practise answering questions about my experience and skills.”
Get hands-on with tech
Prefer learning by doing? Hands-on practice lets you jump in and try things for yourself while you learn.
On supported technology courses, you can work through coding exercises, practise in virtual environments and get feedback as you go. If you are learning something like Python, for example, you can write and test code alongside the course, build confidence through practice and learn from any mistakes along the way.
Prepare for professional certifications
Thinking about building skills for your future career? LinkedIn Learning can help you prepare for a range of recognised professional certifications with courses, learning paths and practice materials.
You can explore certification prep from providers such as Microsoft, AWS and CompTIA, check your knowledge with practice exams and focus on the areas where you need a bit more confidence before taking the real exam.
Learn wherever it suits you
Your learning does not have to stop when you leave your desk. With the LinkedIn Learning app, you can pick up where you left off on your phone or tablet and fit learning around your day.
You can continue courses wherever you are and download videos to watch offline, making it easy to learn on your commute, between classes or whenever you have a bit of spare time.
Connect your LinkedIn profile - if you want to
You do not need a personal LinkedIn profile to use the LinkedIn Learning access provided by the University.
If you already use LinkedIn, you can choose to connect your personal profile to your University LinkedIn Learning access. You can make this choice when you first sign in or connect your profile later.
Why connect your profile?
Connecting can give you a more personalised experience by using information such as your skills and experience to improve learning recommendations.
It also makes it easier to add completed courses, Certificates of Completion and new skills to your LinkedIn profile. Your learning history can also remain connected to your profile if your University Learning licence later ends.
Prefer to keep them separate?
That is completely fine! You can use your University LinkedIn Learning account without connecting a personal LinkedIn profile. Your Learning activity will still stay separate from your LinkedIn.com profile.
Expand the sections below to view the instructions and additional information
If you decide to connect your profile after setting up LinkedIn Learning:
- Sign in to LinkedIn Learning.
- Select your profile picture, then Settings.
- Find the option to connect your LinkedIn account and select Connect my account.
- Follow the instructions and sign in using the login details for your personal LinkedIn profile.
Your University provides your LinkedIn Learning access through your University account.
If LinkedIn asks you to sign in to the personal LinkedIn profile you have connected, use the email address or username and password that you normally use for that personal LinkedIn account.
When accessing your University-provided LinkedIn Learning licence, we recommend starting from the Open LinkedIn Learning link on this page.
Changed your mind? You can disconnect a personal LinkedIn profile from your LinkedIn Learning licence.
Sign in to LinkedIn Learning, select your profile picture and open Settings. Under the option for disconnecting your LinkedIn account from your organisation-provided LinkedIn Learning account, select Disconnect my account, then confirm Disconnect.
After disconnecting, you can continue with a separate LinkedIn Learning account where your University's account settings allow this.
Need help?
For help getting started with LinkedIn Learning or general guidance on using the platform, contact our Digital Skills team. If you're having trouble logging in or experiencing technical issues, please contact the IT Service Desk.
Frequently asked questions
Expand the sections below to view the information
No. LinkedIn Learning is an online learning platform with courses, videos and other learning tools. LinkedIn is the professional networking platform.
You can use your University LinkedIn Learning access without having a personal LinkedIn profile.
No. You only need your University account to access LinkedIn Learning.
If you already have a personal LinkedIn profile, you can choose to connect it for more personalised recommendations and to add completed learning to your profile. Connecting it is completely optional.
No. LinkedIn Learning is available to University of Portsmouth students at no additional cost while you are studying at the University.
You can use the University's LinkedIn Learning licence while you are a current eligible University of Portsmouth student.
Your licence is assigned automatically when you sign in using your University account for the first time.
When your University access ends, your University LinkedIn Learning licence will also come to an end.
If you have connected a personal LinkedIn profile, your learning history can stay linked to that profile. You would need another LinkedIn Learning subscription or licence to continue accessing paid learning afterwards.
When you finish an eligible course or Learning Path, you can receive a Certificate of Completion.
You can download it as a record of what you have achieved and, if you have connected your personal LinkedIn profile, you can also add completed learning and skills to your profile.
Not usually. A Certificate of Completion shows that you have completed a course or Learning Path on LinkedIn Learning.
LinkedIn Learning can also help you prepare for recognised professional certifications from providers such as Microsoft, AWS and CompTIA. The actual certification exam is separate and may need to be booked and paid for separately.
Not at all.
You can work through a full course, follow a Learning Path or simply watch the individual videos that are useful to you. LinkedIn Learning is there to fit around what you need, so you can dip in and out whenever it suits you.
Yes. LinkedIn Learning keeps your saved, in-progress and completed learning together so you can easily pick up where you left off.
You can also return to your Learning History to see what you have completed and access any Certificates of Completion you have earned.
Yes. You are not limited to University computers.
You can access LinkedIn Learning from your own laptop, desktop, phone or tablet. Just use the University LinkedIn Learning link and sign in using your University account.
Yes. If you find something useful but do not have time to start it straight away, you can save it to My Learning and come back whenever you are ready.
This is a useful way to build your own list of courses and topics you want to explore.
Yes. You do not need to connect a personal LinkedIn profile just to use LinkedIn Learning's available AI learning features.
Connecting your profile may make some recommendations more personalised, but it is always optional.
LinkedIn has its own privacy controls for its AI learning features.
As with any AI tool, avoid entering personal, confidential or sensitive University information unless you are confident it is appropriate to do so. If you are unsure, keep your questions general.
Yes. LinkedIn Learning includes preparation content for a range of professional certifications.
You can use courses, Learning Paths and practice materials to build your knowledge and check where you might need more practice before sitting the real exam.
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