Moodle FAQs

How do I log in?

This is covered in our Quick Start Guide.

Why can't I log in to UCL Moodle with my UCL user ID and password?

• Make sure you do not have CAPS lock selected

• Type your password manually, do not use Copy & Paste. This can include an extra blank space, which will invalidate your password.

• Are you able to log into other UCL systems, e.g. Portico or the UCL email?

  • If not or if you have forgotten your user ID and/or password please visit the webpage Forgotten your user ID or password where you will find help to recover / reset your credentials.

  • If yes then our team can investigate for you. Please complete the Moodle log in Form.

• Any status issues for Moodle, and other central UCL systems, will be list under My Broadcasts.

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How do I find my course?

Most taught modules at UCL have an online component, and many departments choose to use Portico mapping to automatically provide access to the associated Moodle course. However, for the first few weeks of term, access to some Moodle course may be restricted as Portico selections may still require approval and content may be being finalized.

If you cannot find your module on Moodle then please ask your Course / Programme Administrator. They will be most familiar with what should or should not be available, and can make manual changes if required.

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You can use the Search UCL Moodle section found in the footer of Moodle to find content. Type in the Module code or a keyword, then set the Search area to be ‘for a course’.

When you click on the course name in the search results you should get the option to enrol on the course. Some courses will require an Enrolment Key, a one-time password provided by the Teaching department. If you encounter any issues or do not have the Enrolment Key, then please contact the Course / Programme Administrator listed. 

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What is Guest access? 

Some courses allow you to look at the course content but may not take part in any activities. If a Moodle course is part of your programme of study then you must make sure that you enrol on it rather than access it as a guest. Check that the Module Code and Course title are listed under your My Courses section, otherwise you will miss out on discussion forums and will not be able to participate in any assessments. If you only have guest access but are not enroled to the course, then please contact your Course / Programme Administrator.

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How do I update my profile in Moodle?

Please refer to our Quick Start Guide.

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How do I upload my assignment on Moodle/WISEflow?

For guidance on submitting assessments online, please see the Online Assessment guides.

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What software is required to use Moodle?

For the best experience and optimum security, we recommend that you use one of the following Internet Browsers and you keep it up to date:

Desktop:

• Google Chrome

• Firefox

• Safari

• Edge

Mobile:

• MobileSafari

• Google Chrome

• We do not recommend using the Moodle App.

Different browsers have different capabilities and you can check your browser version at
https://www.whatsmybrowser.org/

All current Windows web browsers now support video without the need for browser plug-ins. However, some courses may also require you to use the following players or browser players.

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How do I receive fewer emails from Moodle?

If you're receiving too many emails from Moodle, you can adjust your settings to receive a daily digest (every afternoon) of all emails.  Please refer to our Moodle quick Start Guide.

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I can't see the Moodle TinyMCE editor, strange (HTML) text is appearing and I can only enter plain text

The Moodle TinyMCE editor works with Chrome, Edge Firefox and Safari - other browsers, including mobile devices may not be supported. 

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I can't open files in Moodle

Sometimes browsers try to open files in the wrong program or one that is not working correctly and this prevents you from opening the file at all.
To get around this you can tell your web browser to always ask you what program to use (in Firefox) or check the default program is correct (if you are using Internet Explorer). To do this follow the instructions for the web browser you are using. If you aren't sure what web browser you are using click Help > About to find out (PC only).

Firefox:

• Menu > Options... > Applications

• In the left column, locate the file type that you are having problems opening (e.g.Microsoft Word Document or PDF File)

• In the right column choose* Always Ask *from the drop-down list.

• This will let you save the file to your computer so you can open it directly from your computer, instead of from Firefox directly.

Google Chrome:

• Click on the three-dot menu icon in the top right corner of the browser window.

• Select "Settings" from the dropdown menu.

• Scroll down and click on "Advanced" to expand the advanced settings.

• Under the "Privacy and security" section, click on "Content settings."

• In the Content settings page, scroll down and click on "Handlers."

• Toggle on the option that says "Allow sites to ask to become default handlers for protocols (recommended)."

• This will enable Chrome to ask for your permission whenever a website wants to open a specific file type.

• Close the settings tab.

Microsoft Edge:

• Click on the three-dot menu icon in the top right corner of the browser window.

• Select "Settings" from the dropdown menu.

• Scroll down and click on "Cookies and site permissions."

• In the Cookies and site permissions page, click on "Additional permissions."

• Click on "Protocol handlers."

• Toggle on the option that says "Allow sites to ask to become default handlers for protocols."

• This will enable Edge to prompt you when a website wants to open a file type.

• Close the settings tab.

Try to view the file again. If this still doesn't work, try using a different web browser.

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How do I bulk download my lecture notes?

If your lecture notes are displayed in a folder or on a webpage other than the course homepage, you can bulk download them using a Firefox plugin called DownThemAll. You can install it here: https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/201
Once this plugin is installed and you have restarted Firefox:

• Navigate to the page that lists your lecture notes.

• In the Firefox menu bar choose Tools > DownThemAll! Tools > DownThemAll!...

• Expand Fast filtering (at the bottom)

• Enter the comma separated file extensions of the assignments you want to download. E.g. .pdf or .doc

• The number of files that will be downloaded will appear at the bottom of the window alongside Selected links. E.g. you should see something like: Selected links: 58 or 123

• Choose a folder to save the files in by clicking on the folder icon alongside the *Save files in *field.

• Click Start!

• A new popup window will show you the progress of all file downloads.

• Once all the files appear with a green tick beside them, your files will have been downloaded to the folder specified.

If your lecture notes are on the Moodle course homepage, please ask your lecturer to provide you with a zip file of all the lecture notes to make it easier for you to download them.

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How long can I access Moodle for once I graduate?

UCL will hold at least seven years of your Moodle content. Students will have read-only access to the courses they were enrolled on for that Academic Year, unless material has been explicitly restricted by the relevant Course Administrator / Tutor.

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How do I view my Moodle Assignment deadlines in my own calendar?

You can export your Moodle calendar to display dynamically in your own calendar, such as Outlook, Google Calendar or on your mobile device, using the "Export Calendar" button at the bottom of the calendar either on a specific course or on your My Profile page.

Detailed instructions are available in the Moodle Documentation for exporting calendar entries.

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