Joining the University

Before you arrive, double-check you've ticked every box with our guide to what you need to do before you get here and what comes next, once you arrive.

Registering on your course

Pack your ID

You'll need a valid passport (mandatory for non-EU students), EU identity card, UK driving licence or UK birth certificate. You won't be able to start your course without one of these.

Complete your registration

Before you begin your course, you need to register.

If you're starting your studies in January or February 2021 and have firmly accepted your offer from us, you can register now. You should have received instructions by email, or you can follow the steps below.

Step 1: Get your student account details

You can access your student account details from your Student View. Your username will consist of 'UP' followed by your student ID number, for example UP1234567.

Step 2: Register for your course

Please log in to your Student View to complete online registration.

Completing registration gives you access to your student Gmail and other essential University services.

Your student Gmail account will be activated within 48 hours of successfully submitting the registration form. Remember to check your University email regularly for updates.

Step 3: Submit personal identification (ID) and course entry qualification check

Once you've completed online registration, we'll email you to request a copy of your personal identification. If you're a Tier 4 Visa holder, we'll need a copy of the photo page of your passport, your UK visa and your entry stamp (if you're in the UK).

If you didn't submit your relevant qualifications when applying, please upload them to your Student View.

If you're unsure which qualifications are required, contact the Admissions Team via your Student View.

Step 4: Apply for your student card

Make sure that you apply for your student card to ensure you can access University buildings and services when you arrive. When you apply for your student card, you’ll need to upload a passport size photo of yourself, clearly showing your face, with no one else in the picture.

You'll receive a confirmation email when your card is ready for pick up. After you receive your email, visit MyPort Hub Nuffield between 10.00am - 4.00pm, Monday to Friday to collect it. There may be a queue and you will be required to wear a mask to enter the building. Please also use the sanitising station and social distance from others. Unfortunately we cannot send your card through the post for security reasons. 

There's more information on MyPort about what you can use your student card for.

Late arrival

If you can't make it to Portsmouth for the start of term, please let us know.

We allow late registrations, up to a certain point, on an exceptional basis.

Engage with your studies

Research has shown that if you engage with your learning and take part in timetabled teaching sessions you'll get better grades and feel more like you ‘belong’ at uni.

To help you do this, we monitor your attendance when you:

• swipe your Student Card at card readers placed outside, or in, teaching rooms for face-to-face sessions
• log in and access modules and learning materials on Moodle for virtual learning

Starting uni checklist

Use these checklists to make sure you’ve done all you need to do – so you can focus on meeting new people and succeeding in your studies.

Getting started

There are some things you’ll need to do before you arrive at the University. This checklist will help everything go smoothly before you get here.

✔ Get your student account details

You'll be sent your student account details by email. Your student ID will look something like this: 123456.

✔ Apply for your student card

Your student card lets you access University buildings and services when you arrive. You won't need your student card until you're on campus, but you can start the online application now if you wish, so there will be less to do later.

When you apply, you’ll need to upload a passport size photo of yourself, clearly showing your face, with no one else in the picture.

✔ Pre-arrival registration

Make sure to log in to Your Student View to complete the online registration form so you can access our services and facilities.  

✔ Qualification checks

If you didn't submit your ID and course entry qualification check when applying to us, you may need to submit qualifications to be checked by our Admissions Team. If you didn't submit your relevant qualifications when applying, please upload them to your Student View and if you're unsure which qualifications are required, contact the Admissions Team via your Student View.

✔ Tuition fee payments and living costs

If you’ve arranged a tuition fee loan and/or maintenance loan from the Student Loans Company, we'll confirm your registration and the release of funds. If you’re paying your own fees, find out more on our fees and payment page, or see our advice on managing your money.

✔ Is your accommodation sorted?

If you've applied for accommodation already, our Student Housing Team will contact you. But if you're still looking for accommodation, you can contact student.housing@port.ac.uk for help.

✔ Course induction

Don't forget to check the timetable of events and activities taking place during your course induction.

On arrival

There are some things you’ll need to do when you arrive at the University.

✔ Explore the Students' Union

You're automatically a member of the Students’ Union from your first day at Uni. Your Union supports you throughout your studies and gives you the opportunity to meet other students with the same passions and hobbies through their societies and sports groups.

✔ Follow welcome ambassadors

Our Welcome Ambassadors are always on-hand to help you settle in. They host group chats and socials to help you meet other new students with common interests so whatever your special interest, you’ll be able to find other like-minded students to connect with.

✔ Explore your city

Whether you're completely new to Portsmouth or local, our guides to the city will help you discover your new home.

✔ Register with a doctor

It's important that you register with a doctor (or GP) at a GP Surgery as soon as you arrive in Portsmouth – don't wait until you're ill.

What else to check

These are some other things you’ll need to do after you've covered the basics.

✔ Download Microsoft Office – free

As a student at Portsmouth, you can get Microsoft Office 365 for free – find out how.

✔ Get immunised

At uni you live close to new people and may be exposed to different bacteria and viruses. Make sure you’ve had your injections for mumps and meningitis before you get here – it's important.

✔ Get insurance for your possessions

Get your valuables protected by getting contents insurance – it's much cheaper than replacing them if anything should happen to them.

✔ Buy a TV license

Even if you only watch live TV on your laptop, or you only watch BBC iPlayer, the law says you still need a licence to view any television content.

✔ Join our UoP students Facebook group

Join our exclusive student Facebook group to receive University updates, connect with each other, ask questions and win prizes.

✔ Explore your career prospects

Even at the very start of your course, it's a great idea to find out the careers support available to you so you can find a part-time job, volunteering roles or start planning your career.

Get online

Use your student account username and password to get online.

✔ Campus WiFi

Eduroam is the wireless network available in all campus buildings (including halls) and over 70 other locations in Portsmouth. Find out how to connect to campus wifi using your University account username and password. In halls, you can also access the internet for free through the ‘ResNet’ socket in your room (using your own CAT5 Ethernet cable).

✔ Complete your IT induciton

You'll want to know what IT facilities and software are available to you as soon as you've registered – and how to use them. To help you get up and running, take 15 minutes to complete the IT induction course. You'll discover the Google apps we use (including Gmail and Drive), how to get IT support, where to get further training, free software you can download and your online storage options.

✔ MyPort

MyPort is your online resource for everything – including the latest news and events, study skills resources and information on guidance and support services. You can also access your timetable, results and other information just for you.

✔ Gmail

You have your own University email account with Google where you'll receive all important information from the University and your course tutors. Your email address will be your forename.surname@myport.ac.uk.

✔ Moodle

Moodle is your virtual learning environment. It holds online course materials and information from your lecturers – and you can access it from any device.

✔AppsAnywhere

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. Find out more about how to access and download software.

✔ Discounts and events

The Students’ Union website is your essential online resource for news, events, discounts and student life. It’s a great source of support to get the best from your time here, both on and off of your course.