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About your
Username and password
Your username
Your username is printed on your Student ID Card. You will need this to log into computers on campus, as well as for various other login services. As part of our enhanced security measures, you may also be required to confirm your identity when you log in.
Your username starts with a letter followed by several numbers, for example s1234567.
Please note: You do not need to include "@bournemouth.ac.uk" when you first log into computers on campus. For brightspace and office.com you do need to add "@bournemouth.ac.uk".
Your password
Please note BU's password protocol requires students to update their password every 365 days. Staff are required to update their password every 60 days
For security reasons your password needs to:
- Be a minimum of 12 characters long (with no spaces)
- Be different to your last 12 passwords
- Include a combination of at least 3 of the 4 character types below:
- Lower case letter
- Upper case letter
- A single digit number (0-9)
- Special characters (e.g. ! @ # $ % ^ & * () = - {} [] “ ; ? ,
- Please do not use | or :
We also recommend your password doesn’t contain single words or a recognisable combination of words, letters or numbers or personal details such as your name/initials or date of birth.
Passphrase
We recommend using a passphrase which is a non-familiar combination of words including at least one number and a special character for example 'Us3EnjoyFishingonFridays!' or 'YourCakeL00ksgr8!'.
Please note: After a password re-set you will need to update your password on any mobile devices to avoid being locked out of your account.
Password manager apps
If you're finding it difficult to remember all your passwords try using a password manager app such as KeePass, Dashlane, LastPass or 1password. This type of app can help you to create and manage your passwords.
Changing your password
You can change your password as follows:
- On campus: Press ‘Ctrl’ + ‘Alt’ + ‘Delete’ on any BU computer on campus – and select ‘Change a Password.’
- On and off campus: Password Reset Tool – After you have registered with BU’s password reset tool, you can request a password reset by using the change password tool.
If you have any trouble logging in, or you have forgotten your password and need some help, contact the IT Service Desk on 01202 965515, or freephone 0808 196 2332. You will need your student ID and will need to answer a series of security questions.
Never share your password, username or access with others.
Read more guidance about managing your passwords.
Email account
All students have a BU email account. You can access your emails by going to https://studentemail.bournemouth.ac.uk.
You will be redirected to the university sign-in page and will need to enter your BU email address (if not already populated) and password. As part of our enhanced security measures, you may also be required to confirm your identity when you log in.
It’s really important that you check your BU email account regularly. This is where your tutor, programme support team and other university departments will send important updates and information.
How to access your BU email on your mobile device
You can easily link your BU email account to your smartphone (once you have access to it after registering for your course online). Setting up your emails on your mobile device will allow you to create and read emails on the go. For help setting this up, view the following guides:
myHub - update your contact information
myHub is BU's online portal for both applicants and students to access information related to their electronic student record. The login details to your myHub account are sent to your BU email account soon after your application has been received. If you need help with logging into myHub, contact our IT Service Desk on +44 (0)1202 965515 or log a ticket via the IT Services Portal.
For applicants, myHub is used to facilitate interviews and open days, as well as to collect supplementary information. It is important that you access and log into myHub regularly for information and communication about your application.
Successful applicants will then enrol via myHub, and once enrolled, additional content and options become available in your myHub account. This includes online registration, payment of fees, course module selection, access to results and transcripts, management of personal contact information, registration for additional learning support, requests for certificates and registration for award ceremonies.
It’s important to ensure your contact information is always up to date in your myHub account, including your home and term time addresses, every time your details change or you move.
Brightspace - your virtual learning environment
Brightspace is your virtual learning environment (VLE) and includes all the information you need to support your studies, including unit information, study materials and study skills resources.
Complete the Getting to know Brightspace training module to learn about how to use Brightspace and ensure you are fully prepared for your studies.
We also recommend downloading Pulse - the mobile app for Brightspace. This app will help you keep track of important announcements and deadlines, and access lecture notes, your course content and your grades, so you can spend less time organising and more time learning.
For further information on Brightspace visit the Brightspace FAQ page.
Need help?
Useful guides can be found on the Brightspace Help page. You can also contact our IT Services team - available 24/7 - if you have any issues logging in or using the system.
Online learning
Some of your lectures, seminars and engagements with your teaching team will be conducted online. The Zoom video-conferencing application will be used for lectures and seminars whilst other appointments may take place on Microsoft Teams. Please see the Zoom video conferencing or Free Microsoft Office 365 ProPlus sections for further help and guidance with using these applications.
Further guidance on using these platforms can also be found on the Brightspace Help page.
You can also find useful tips for studying online on the Me@BU Online Learning page in Brightspace.
Multi-factor authentication
As an additional security measure to help protect your BU account, we have introduced Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) to a number of BU systems, including Office 365, Zoom, and Brightspace. It means that, in addition to your username and password, you will sometimes be required to confirm your identity through an additional step such as via an authenticator app, SMS text, or call.
You’ll be asked to set up at least one of these methods when you first log in to www.office.com.
You’ll need to have access to your chosen method (e.g. have your smartphone on you) when prompted to authenticate periodically in the future, or when you’re using a new device (e.g. a PC on campus).
The details you provide will always be kept securely and will only be used for authentication. Further privacy information is available here.
