Logging into Blackboard (online)
The university operates a seamless single sign-on (SSO) experience between University systems and Blackboard Learn.
You can log in to Blackboard directly or through the Staff Portal
Use the same credentials that you use for the Staff Portal or your University e-mail i.e. your Ulster University e-mail address and network password.
Instructions
New starts - logging in for the first time
Initial university correspondence will be sent to the personal email that you entered on your application form and/or contract.
Find your university email address and initial password:
New associate members of staff
Associate members of staff have staff numbers beginning with 'A' known as an A-code e.g. A12345 and an ulster email: j.smith2@ulster.ac.uk.
On joining, you will receive a welcome email from A3M with an invite to activate your account.
Check your personal email account for a separate notification of your A-Code and ulster email (Contact the member of staff who set up your account, if you haven’t received this information).
Once you have your A-Code and Ulster email address you can click on Set Password and you’ll be guided through the process of setting up a new password.
Have a mobile device handy and then navigate to Blackboard Learn. Click on Single sign-on (Ulster)
You be asked to sign in with your new ulster.ac.uk email and password.
If you have another office account this may be detected automatically, make sure you are using your ulster email address account:
If another account is detected choose Use another account and enter your ulster email and address.
You will be guided through the set up of Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA), which will help protect your data and our IT services against sophisticated cyberattacks.
If you will are asked to set up a new password. Choose a password with a minimum of 12 characters, that includes 3 out of the four categories below:
Upper Case
Lower Case
Digit
Special Character
When you’ve logged in to Blackboard Learn, you will see your activity stream. Click on Courses in the left hand menu to view your courses.
Staff need to request access to a module in Module manager before that module becomes available in Blackboard.
Setting up Multi-factor Authentication
You need to set up Multi-factor authentication (MFA) to finish setting up your account.
Add Multi-Factor Authentication to your account
In Microsoft 365, click on your initials or photograph in the top right hand corner
and click on View account
Click on Security info
Click the + add sign-in method button
Select Authenticator app and click add
Download the Microsoft authenticator app
Download the Microsoft authenticator app for your Android or Apple device and click Next.
The Authenticator app wizard will now guide you through the installation of the authenticator app on your mobile device.
Pair your devices
The wizard will ask you to scan in a QR code
Open the authenticator app on your phone and select scan the QR codeon screen
The app will detect your account settings and then display your Ulster University account
Click Next on the laptop/desktop device
The connection to your smartphone will now be tested, click Approve
If pairing between your smartphone and laptop/desktop device is successful, you will get a notification on your laptop/pc device, press Next.
Your device will now be successfully registered.
Make sure the Default sign-in method is set to ‘Microsoft Authenticator- notification’. If it is not click Change and select ‘Microsoft Authenticator- notification’ from the drop down menu.
It is advisable to set up additional forms of authentication such as email, in case you lose or forget your phone.
Add your personal email as another source of authentication
Click on Add method
Select Email from the drop-down menu and click Add
Enter your personal email address that you have access to and click Next
You will be sent a security code to this email account. Open this email account on a separate tab/device to retrieve the code and enter it into the prompt and click Next
The Multi-factor Authentication set up process is now complete.
Blackboard login problems
I’ve forgotten my login details.
Use the same credentials that you use for the MyDay Portal or University e-mail i.e. your Ulster University e-mail address and network password.
I’ve forgotten my password
You can reset your account on the Microsoft website or by using the university’s Self-service password reset (SSPR).
I can’t use my Multifactor Authentification.
Ensure that you have Multi Factor Authentication (MFA) enabled, check your Microsoft account has MFA enabled.
I can’t see any of my courses
Make sure you are in Courses view in Blackboard. Once you are logged into Blackboard you are automatically taken to Activity stream, click on Courses in the left hand menu. If no courses appear in Courses view, you may need assigned to the module. You can use module manager to gain access to a module, if you are still having problems contact the module coordinator.
If you continue to have problems logging in, please look at our separate page for common problems logging into Blackboard
Related articles
Useful links
Centre for Digital Learning Enhancement
ulster.ac.uk/learningengancement/cdle