Welcome FAQs

You will receive an email about Online Registration, not a letter. This email, sent by our Admissions Department around four weeks before your course starts, will include a link and instructions for completing your online registration.

If you haven’t received this email, please contact the Student Enquiries Team for assistance. For more details, visit our online registration page.

If you are a continuing student and haven’t received instructions for the upcoming academic year, please contact the Programme Administration (PAd) Team for support.

All students are required to complete online registration before starting their course.  Up to 4-weeks before the start of your course, you will be sent email inviting you to complete online registration. The email contains a link to the process.

In-Person Registration is the second part of a 2-part process. Only specific students group complete In-Person Registration. If you are required to complete In-Person Registration you will receive an invitation to attend or a session scheduled at the start of your course.

You must have completed registration to continue. You can find out more about In-Person Registration and about specific course requirements on our In-Person Registration webpage.

The applicant portal will show you if you have any outstanding admissions requirements. Please upload any required evidence to the portal. You won’t be fully registered until all of the requirements are met; this includes a DBS where required. 

If you don’t know your term-time address you can leave this blank or add your home address. If you have applied to University accommodation your address will be provided when you arrive on campus. 

Once your IT account is activated you will be able to access ICON (Information for Cumbria Online) via the Student Hub to update your term-time address.

Remember to ensure your term-time address is kept up to date throughout your studies as we will use this address on any supporting documentation we provide you, you can update your term-time address and other information via ICON.

Your Cumbria card is your university ID card. During online registration you are asked to upload a passport style photograph. Doing so enables us to create your cardprior to you starting your course.

Visit our Cumbria Card webpage to learn more about your Cumbria Card, including:

• what to do if you didn't upload a photo during pre-registration
• what happens if you lose it
• how to activate it for printing and copying
• how to top up your card with print credit.

No two courses are the same, that's why each course has its own welcome week timetable. You can access your Welcome Week timetable via our Welcome Week and Course Timetables webpage. Choose your course from the drop-down menu to find out more about your schedule.

Along with your Welcome Week Timetable you can also view the full timetable for your course via our Course Timetable webpage.

If you have any questions about your timetable, please contact your tutors in the first instance, as they will either answer your questions or guide you to the best source of advice, support, and information on non-academic matters.

If you require additional support, you can email our help and support team at timetabling@cumbria.ac.uk

You can visit our dedicated Student Finance Support site to find out more about student finance related queries including student loans, financial support and guidance, payment queries and more.

In addition, our Money Advice Service provide a wealth of material to support you with general money issues.

You can activate your university student IT account via our IT account activation webpage. As part of this process, you’ll be asked to set a password and set up multi-factor authentication (MFA). MFA is an additional level of security, similar to accessing your online bank accounts, that protects against unauthorised use.

Once done, you’ll be able to use your student email address. Your student email uses your student number and will look something like this: S1234567@uni.cumbria.ac.uk

If you are an existing student or member of staff, have forgotten your email address or password, you can reset your password.

If you have forgotten your password and have not yet registered for multi factor authentication (MFA) or have changed your phone / removed the app please contact the IT Service Desk by phone on 01228 888888.

Wi-fi is available for students across all of our university sites. It provides high speed access to the internet via the Eduroam service.

Eduroam is the international wi-fi roaming service for students, staff and researchers. Connecting via eduroam means if you visit another university offering eduroam you'll automatically connect to their wi-fi too.

Visit our Eduroam page for instructions on how to configure your device.

You can access Blackboard via the Student Hub. If you are having trouble accessing Blackboard, please contact the IT Service Desk via the service desk portal, by phone on 01228 888888, or via email at itservicedesk@cumbria.ac.uk

You can access your student email account via the Student Hub. If you are having trouble accessing your email, please contact the IT Service Desk via the service desk portal, by phone on 01228 888888, or via email at itservicedesk@cumbria.ac.uk

If you’re having trouble accessing our IT systems, you might need to activate your university network account first, you can do this via our account activation webpage.

If you are still experiencing difficulties, please contact the IT Service Desk via the service desk portal, by phone on 01228 888888 or via email at itservicedesk@cumbria.ac.uk

You can reset your own password at any time using the Microsoft Online Password Reset service and your Multi-factor Authentication (MFA). Visit our Multi Factor Authentication webpage for further guidance.

If you are still having difficulties, a member of staff in our IT Service Desk will be able to help with resetting this for you. You can call 01228 888 888 during office hours.

Blackboard Collaborate is a virtual classroom that allows you to view, pause and rewind pre-recorded lessons. It is also used for 'live' teaching sessions, webinars, video conferencing and for integrating in the Blackboard learning platform. Find out more and access further guidance and support on our Blackboard Collaborate webpage.

Recorded lectures are held in Blackboard Collaborate. Our Blackboard Collaborate webpage contains useful information, guidance and support. You can also view, download, and/or print our Quick Guide Blackboard Collaborate.

There are several options available to you if you do not have a computer or laptop for your course. Visit our Computers and Software webpage to find out what is available and how to access it. This includes computer rooms, study spaces, university computers, laptop loans and other options.

The Programme Adminstration Office (PAd) is available for all students for academic administration support. There are staff on all campuses who are also available via phone, email and teams chat who provide a wide range of services, information, advice and guidance relating to different aspects of your course and study.

Programme Administration can also provide you with different letters and documents. Always bring your Cumbria card with you when you are visiting your Programme Administration office so that we can verify your identity.

Visit the Programme Administration webpage to learn more and find out contact information for your campus.

A Confirmation of Student Status letter may be used to verify your student status for memberships or travel cards.

You will be provided with a new Confirmation of Registration letter each time you register for successive years of your course, providing that you have no outstanding issues for your registration. This letter is provided for both full time and part time students.

Details are set out in the 'How do I request letters I need to support my study?' section of our international students page.

If you are a UK student you should visit our Programme Administration webpage to learn more and find out contact information for your campus.

If you are a full time student and fully registered, you will be e-mailed a Council Tax Exemption letter as soon as your registration is complete. This document should be sent or taken to the local Council Tax Office, with your Council Tax bill if you have received one. Your Council Tax Exemption letter covers the duration of your course and is transferable between addresses.

Council Tax Exemption forms are only provided for those students who meet the eligibility requirements in terms of their attendance and hours of study. Exemption is provided under Regulation 5 of the Council Tax (Discount Disregards) Order 1992.

Apprenticeship students are not eligible for Council Tax exemption, support or reductions due to their employed status.

A Council Tax Exemption letter provides exemption under Regulation 5 of the Council Tax (Discount Disregards) Order 1992.

If you are a full-time student and fully registered, you will be e-mailed a Council Tax Exemption letter as soon as your registration is complete. This document should be sent or taken to the local Council Tax Office, with your Council Tax bill if you have received one. Your Council Tax Exemption form is transferable between addresses.

Council Tax is administered by your local council and therefore depends upon your term-time address:

• Ambleside
• Carlisle
• Lancaster
• London - contact Programme Administration for advice

Apprenticeship students are not eligible for Council Tax exemption, support or reductions due to their employed status.

To authorise a railcard or travelcard our Programme Administration team can help and stamp this for you. For contact details, plus opening hours for each office, visit our Programme Administration Office webpage.

If you require a specialised letter for a particular requirement e.g. for a pension fund or for accounting purposes, please ensure that you provide the full address, title and contact details of the organisation and person you would like Programme Administration to write to on your behalf.

For full email, telephone and contact details, plus opening hours for each office, visit our Programme Administration Office webpage.

The University of Cumbria is committed to providing you with a range of high-quality services and specialist support to maximise your potential for success whilst you are studying with us. Visit our Student Support webpage for more information on the range of services we offer.

If you have a specific enquiry, you can access our specialist teams as and when you need us via the Student Enquiry Point.

The University is committed to ensuring you are able to participate effectively in your chosen programme of study and all areas of University life.

You can visit our Disability and Specific Learning Difficulties webpage to access our range of disability support services, to request help, guidance and support and to find out more information. Alternatively, if you aren’t sure what support is available, you can get in touch via the Student Enquiry Point.

Disabled Students’ Allowance (DSA) funds the additional study-related support you need at university, relating to a disability, on-going health condition, sensory impairment, mental health condition, ADHD, Autism or Specific Learning Differences, such as Dyslexia or Dyspraxia.

For full details and informatin on how to apply, see our DSA page.

Visit our Library Services webpage to find out more information about our range of library services including loans and renewals, our ask a librarian service, equipment, walk in access and more.

Our Places and Spaces webpage contains everything you need to know about our libraries, including opening times, library equipment and resources across our campuses. You can also get in touch with our library teams, learn about upcoming events and discover our range of library services.

Yes. There are fixed computers and laptops available at each campus library.

Once you have completed your registration, you will be able to discover open-access computer rooms via the Student Hub (see Campus maps and info).

Each module has its own reading list in the module’s Blackboard site.

Your reading list syncs with OneSearch so you can access ebooks and request print books directly from your reading list.

You can also search for a module reading list by heading to OneList, our module reading lst system.

Once you have activated your IT account you will have access to all our library resources.

The library discovery tool, OneSearch, acts like a traditional library catalogue enabling you to find print or ebooks, make reservations and access your library account. You can also use it as a search engine to find relevant journal articles and wider research.

When accessing OneSearch via the Student Hub you are automatically signed-in giving access to our full range of resources.

You can visit our dedicated Skills@Cumbria webpage for all things skills including reading, writing for university, referencing, digital skills and more. You can also contact us via the Student Enquiry Point with queries about referencing, accessing library resources and academic skills.

Head Start is an online suite of study skills and short courses to help you prepare for your academic journey. Visit our Head Start webpage to learn more.

We also have a series of FAQs focused on Student Life and Your Studies at The University of Cumbria. It contains useful information that might be helpful for students later in their academic journey, which includes guidance on assessment and re-assessment, placements and other questions you might have.

Not found the answer? Contact Programme Administration.

You will have been provided with details about how placements are organised within your Course or Programme Handbook. Information for your course will also be available via your Blackboard sites. 

There is a dedicated team in the Placement Unit providing information and support for practice placement related learning – you can find out more on the Placement Unit web pages.

The email you received contained details of your outstanding checks, you can also use the applicant portal on ICON to show you any outstanding admissions requirements.

If you are asked to provide documentary evidence, please upload these in the portal using the ‘upload’ function.

References should be sent directly from the referee to Admissions at uocadmissions@cumbria.ac.uk

If you asked to supply original documents (such as degree certificates) please present these to Admissions.

You won’t be fully registered until all the requirements are met; this includes the outcome of a DBS and medical check where required.

Yes, there is a cut off at 8 weeks post course start date where if a provisionally enrolled student has not supplied all the conditions of their registration, then Admissions will request that you are de-registered from programme. 

The DBS application should be submitted no later than 4 weeks after registration to enable you to go on placement on time.  NOTE: PGCE students need to be DBS cleared within 2 weeks of registration.

You may be eligible for tuition fee costs for the time you have been on programme.

You must liaise with Admissions at uocadmissions@cumbria.ac.uk to fulfil your requirements in a timely manner.

In most cases the answer would be no, we do not inform Student Finance that you have registered on programme until all conditions of offer and registration have been completed.

The only exception is for on campus full time courses where a vaccination plan is required i.e. the following programmes;

Social Work (BA and MA)
Paramedic Science (BSc Hons)
Occupational Therapy (BSc and MSc)
Physiotherapy (BSc and MSc)
Diagnostic Radiography (BSc)
Midwifery (BSc and MSc)
Nursing – Adult, Mental Health, Child and Learning Disabilities (BSc and MSc)
Medical Imaging (Ultrasound) (MSc)
Return to Practice programmes.

Where an individual on one of the above programmes is only provisionally registered due to a vaccination clinic appointment and their medical is set to ‘Pending’ and all other checks are passed, we will inform Student Finance that you are attending and your finance will be released.

Your medical check will remain at pending until you have completed a set of vaccinations or proved immunity through blood tests.  Clinics are arranged from welcome week onwards, it is critical you attend these appointments so you can be cleared in time to go on placement.  Full details on the medical clearance page.

Firstly, please check your spam folder, the email will have come from noreply@ohims.co.uk, if you still cannot find the email please email uocadmissions@cumbria.ac.uk and Admissions will chase up your record creation with our Occupational Health Provider.

The university has a responsibility to ensure that every student studying at the institution has the right to study in the UK. If you are already resident in the UK, you must provide evidence that you have a right to study in the UK by uploading:

• - a copy of your photo ID preferably your passport,
• - if do you do not have a passport you will need to provide an alternative form of photo ID such as your driving licence along with your birth certificate.
• - If you are not British/Irish you will need to provide your Share Code or Biometric Residence Permit (BRP).

These documents should be uploaded to your Applicant Portal using the UPLOAD function.

Your course requires a DBS check, part of this check is that we need to confirm your 'right to work' in the UK instead of the right to study. We cannot complete the DBS process until your right to work is checked and confirmed. Please see our Right to Work guidance.

You can either post these to the Admissions Office or following registration arrange to take these to a drop-in session at Fusehill Street and Lancaster campuses.  Or if you are based at Brampton Road or London, please attend the Programme Administration Office.  For Ambleside, please attend the Student Enquiry Point in the Barn Library for assistance.