Getting started with your IT account

Activate your IT account

To do this you’ll need your student number and either a security number (sent with your acceptance information if you’re an undergrad) or a valid UniCard number. This will give you your username and password for all IT facilities and many other University services. Please activate your IT account.

Register with the University

You must register with the University at the start of each academic year. By registering you agree to observe the University’s rules and regulations, including the payment of tuition fees and other charges by the deadlines.

Most students will be asked to register online. You need to:

1. Activate your IT account (as above).
2. On or after 3 September 2012, use your IT details to go to the MyExeter web portal and log in.
3. Choose the ‘Student Record’ tab and follow the ‘Registration’ link.

Important - If you haven’t registered by 5th October 2012 you may be charged a late registration fee of £50. If you have problems registering online or your course details are not correct please contact the Student Information Desk on +44 1392 724 724 or email sid@exeter.ac.uk; or cc-registry@exeter.ac.uk for Cornwall-based students.

MyExeter

The student portal MyExeter is your personal access point to most online resources. When you log in to MyExeter you can see your email, personal filespace, student record, course timetable and library account, without having to log in to each one again.  It also gives you access to the 'Exeter Learning Environment' - this is our Virtual Learning Environment that enables you to access online the learning materials for your course modules. Our lecture capture service means that you can even watch some of your lectures again in ELE.

Email

You have a University email account. Your email address is your username followed by @exeter.ac.uk. The University will use only this address to email you while you’re a student, and you should use it for all University business. You can access your email from anywhere on the Internet through MyExeter or using Outlook Web Access (OWA). To get the full features of OWA we suggest you use Microsoft Internet Explorer as your browser. More details are available on the email web page.

Secure filespace (U: drive)

All students have an area of secure filespace, known as the ‘U: drive’, on a central server. You can save your work there (so you needn’t carry it around with you) and access it via MyExeter, ResNet or any open-access PC. See the secure Network filespace webpage for further information.

Portable devices

We recommend that you store work that needs to be accessible from more than one computer in your secure file space on the U:drive. If you use portable medium (eg. a USB memory stick or CD), do not store the only copy of a file on it. Never store personal or confidential information on laptops or other portable devices unless protected against unauthorised access; secure password-protected and encrypted USB memory sticks are available. Consider putting an empty folder named with your name and contact number (eg. Contact My Name 0700 23456) in the top level folder of CDs and USB memory sticks, so that the devices can be returned to you if lost.

Information security

Remember that your University IT account username and password give access to your email and to information held about you that you may not want others to access. Use a 'strong' password; there is guidance on the Change your password webpage. Do not share your password with anyone else, even if you trust them. Contact the IT Help Desk if you need more information.

When you activate your University email and IT account, you agree to behave according to our Regulations. If you break these Regulations you may be subject to disciplinary procedures.

Please note that downloading copyright material (including computer games, music, software and movies) is illegal unless done with the copyright holder's permission. The University is sometimes contacted by agents acting for copyright holders when material is illegally downloaded to, or uploaded from, computer addresses managed by us.  Do not download illegal copies of material or breach the University Regulations and do not allow others to use your computer or Internet connection to do so. If inappropriate use of the network or IT equipment occurs, we reserve the right to disconnect your computer (temporarily or permanently) and invoke the University's disciplinary processes. The outcome of these disciplinary processes could involve the removal of permission to use University IT facilities, a fine and / or exclusion from your course.

For more on staying safe online, see our top tips.

Software

We support a wide range of software. For some programs our licences allow home use for little or no cost, you can also get discount prices on other software. For information about availability of software for individual use refer to the software web page.

Student records

We’ll usually contact you via your University email account, but also sometimes by post, so it’s important that you tell us of any change of personal details.

If your home or term-time address or telephone number changes, please go to the ‘Student Record’ tab in MyExeter and amend your details. If you change your name or want to update any other details you should email registry@exeter.ac.uk, or cc-registry@exeter.ac.uk for Cornwall based students. 

IT for people with disabilities

Our open-access PCs have software to help people with disabilities, including MindGenius, text HELP Read & Write and ZoomText Xtra. Further details are available on the software web page. AccessAbility at our Streatham Campus, or the Accessibility Service at our Cornwall Campus can help as well.