Moodle FAQs

Owned by Chris F
Last updated: Sept 20, 2024 by Eliot Hoving
6 min read

How do I log in?

Access Moodle by navigating to http://moodle.ucl.ac.uk on your  web browser. Select UCL login to log in with your UCL username and password, which are the same credentials you use for other UCL services such as the Library or UCL email.

Forgotten your user ID or password?

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

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

    • 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 with managing your passwords and your UCL identity. 

    • If yes, it is a rare occasion that only Moodle isn't working and this requires looking into, please contact the  ISD Service Desk. To check Moodle service status and stay up to date with news and maintenance windows please visit the  ISD News page .

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How do I find my course?

Although all taught modules at UCL are expected to have an online component, it is best to ask your tutor or course administrator about how to access these materials to confirm where they are located. Most material will be available in a Moodle course for the module or programme. 

You can use the Search Courses section found in the footer of Moodle to search for Moodle courses or for content item.

 

image-20240920-085704.png

 

Alternatively, if you know that you have a Moodle course and it isn't listed under My Courses when you log in, you can search for it using the Search area above the list of courses to search by Module code or name.

When you click on the course name in the search results you should get the option to enrol on the course. If there are any problems doing this contact the tutor or course administrator listed. 

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What is 'guest' access? 

Many courses are available for 'guest' access - as a guest you can 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, otherwise you will miss out on discussion forums and will not be able to participate in any assessments or submit assignments.
If you do not have access to the course, then please contact your course tutor or administrator.

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How do I update my profile in Moodle?

Your Moodle profile displays information about you to other Moodle users. You can also add a photo to your profile (can be useful for tutors and for other course members). 
If you wish to edit your profile:

  • Hover over your initials (top right of page) to activate a menu.

  • Click Profile.

  • Click  Edit profile.

  • Edit the fields you wish to change.

  • Click the Update profile button.

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How do I upload my assignment to Moodle/Turnitin?

For guidance on submitting assessment to Moodle see the Online Assessment guides.

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How can I enrol on my course using the enrolment key I was given by my tutor? 

To enrol with the help of an enrolment key, you will need to:

  • Log in to  Moodle using your UCL username and password.

  • Search for the course usingSearch Courses in your Dashboard.

  • Click on the name of the course from the list of search results.

  • Enter the enrolment key given by your tutor.

  • Click OK to confirm that you want to self-enrol.

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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

  • Internet Explorer

Mobile:

  • MobileSafari

  • Google Chrome

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

The following legacy browsers have known compatibility issues with our current version of Moodle:

  • Internet Explorer 10 and below

  • Safari 7 and below

Note: Our current version of Moodle will be the last version actively supporting Internet Explorer 11. 

 

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.

Name

Description

Adobe Acrobat Reader

To view PDF files- Click here to download

Quicktime Player

To play Quicktime files- Click here to download

Real Media Player

To play Real audio and video files- Click here to download

Windows Media Player

To play a variety of media files, including Windows Media- Click here to download

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How do I receive fewer emails from Moodle?

Please note, by requesting a daily email digest you may miss 'last minute' messages from your courses, announcing, for instance, a change in lecture/seminar venue.

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

To do this:

  1. Click on your initials or profile picture, at the top of any Moodle page.

  2. Select  Preferences

  3. Click on  Forum preferences.

  4. Change the Email Digest Type  to  Complete (daily email with full posts).

  5. Click  Save changes.

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

The Moodle text editor works with Firefox, Internet Explorer, Safari and Chrome - 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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