Joining the University

Here's what you need to do before you arrive, to get started with University life.

Register at Uni and 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. You'll receive instructions by email, or you can follow the steps below.

Step 1: Activate your student account 

Your student account is what you need to access your email address and other University services. Activate your student account, to receive your University username, which will consist of UP followed by your Student ID number (e.g. UP1234567).

If you have any trouble activating or logging into your account, please contact our Service Desk on (+44) 023 9284 7777 or servicedesk@port.ac.uk.

Step 2: Register for your course

Once your account has been activated, log into your Student View, the system to manage your information, and select ‘My Registration’ at the top of the screen to complete the online registration form. This includes: 

• Uploading a passport sized (and good quality) photo of yourself, clearly showing your face, and containing no other objects or people.
• If you are being charged a tuition fee yourself, you will be asked to make payment and/or set up a payment plan as part of this process. More information about how to make a payment is available online, or please contact our Income Team at income@port.ac.uk or  (+44) 023 9284 5533.

If you can't view your ‘My Registration’ tab on Student View, it's likely that you have an outstanding debt to the University. Please go to your ‘My Finance’ tab to view the outstanding balance and contact the Income team at income@port.ac.uk or (+44) 023 9284 5533 to resolve. 

Step 3: Complete a valid identity (ID) check

Once you’ve registered for your course as part of Step 2, you will receive an email with instructions on how to complete your ID check.

ID checking completes your registration for the University of Portsmouth and enables us to confirm who you are on behalf of the University to organisations such as the Student Loans Company, UKVI and some banks. 

Step 4: Apply for your student card

Once you've registered for your course you’ll receive an email within the next couple of days asking you to apply for your student card. 

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

Step 5: Update your term-time contact details

When you arrive in Portsmouth, or the UK, please update your term-time address and mobile phone numbers on your Student View, so that we have the correct contact information for you.

Late arrivals

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.

✔ Activate your student account

Using your Student ID number (e.g. 1234567),

✔ Complete your ID check

You will receive an email with instructions on how to complete your ID check, so that we can confirm who you are to other organisations such as the Student Loans Company, UKVI and some banks.

✔ Apply for your student card

Follow your email instructions to apply for your student card.

✔ 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 vaccinations for mumps and meningitis, and Covid 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.

✔ Pre-arrival modules

Complete the online pre-arrival modules to get an idea of what to expect and how best to prepare for the new term. The modules will be available on our virtual learning platform Moodle from 3 September 2021 for early start courses and from 8 September 2021 for all other courses.