JUNIOR COMMON ROOM
Read this helpful guide to get sorted with tech at Oxford. We'll also look at some of the services specific to Univ, which you'll also have to be familiar with.
For incoming freshers, note that most of this won't be applicable until you get your Single Sign On details, which only get sent to you after you've completed and signed your University Card form. See more about getting your username here.
TL;DR
Accounts: You'll use your Single-Sign On ("SSO") for most things, but will also need a Remote Access Password for University-wide WiFi "eduroam", and maybe a Bodleian Libraries account for some other services.
Platforms: Bookmark all these links, and you'll be sorted.
Before you arrive: Set up your SSO, including the Microsoft Authenticator app on your phone, and then your Remote Access password so you can access Eduroam WiFi when you arrive.
All the Links!
Even if you don't get everything sorted now, make sure to bookmark these! (Right-click to bookmark)
Work: Nexus 365 (Email, Calendar, Word, Powerpoint, Files), Canvas (Learning Resources)
Admin: IT Register (Manage Passwords and Settings), Student Self-Service (Registration, Exam Results), TMS (Academic Reports)
Bodleian: SOLO ("Search Oxford Libaries Online"), ORLO (Reading Lists), PCAS (Printing)
Univ: Intranet, Meals (Formal Hall Booking, Food Payment, and Battels/Bills), Library Search (separate from SOLO), Printing
University Services
This section will look at:
Your Username and SSO
Office Suite (Email, Files, etc.), Canvas, Student Self-Service
Libraries: SOLO, ORLO, and PCAS (Search, Lists, and Printing)
Your Username and Email
Your username will look like UNIV1234, and will be used in the prefix of your login email (UNIV1234@ox.ac.uk). This is different from your college email (firstname.lastname@univ.ox.ac.uk), since your college email cannot be used for sign-in, but instead is used for actual emailing. Freshers, note that, you only get sent your details after you've completed and signed your University Card form. See more about getting your username here.
Single Sign On (SSO)
After you've got your University Card form (see above), you can get your SSO. This will be your main way of accessing all you need at University. You'll even be able to use it to log in for free newspaper subscriptions. You will need the Microsoft Authenticator app to use this. Get more help with Multi-Factor Authentication, or manage your SSO.
HACK! Password-less Sign-in
One thing you can do to make your sign-in experience a bit easier is remove the password step! Especially useful if you don't have a password manager, this will save you time by skipping the step of your SSO login where you put in your password, and instead just ask you to use your authenticator app. Multi-factor authentication (MFA) is always required for SSO, but passwords aren't. Here's how to do it:
Sign in to your Microsoft account Additional security options.
Under Passwordless account, select Turn on.
Follow the prompts to verify your account.
Approve the request sent to your Microsoft Authenticator app.
WiFi: Eduroam and Remote Access
Eduroam is the University WiFi service, which works in all colleges, departments, and libraries (and even in other universities, institutions, and airports!). You will need a Remote Access Password for this. Create this after you have an SSO. The password must be different from your SSO, but it has the same username. Read more about this here, or if you have an SSO make a password now. You will then need to complete an eduroam set-up process. It's best to do all of this before you arrive in Oxford, so that you're connected before you arrive! (City-centre mobile signal can be patchy at best.)
For Univ-specific WiFi, see the section below. Bodleian Libraries also have their own network. See the section on library services to get connected to this.
Office, Canvas, Student Self-Service, TMS
Oxford runs on Nexus 365, which is just Oxford's own name for the Microsoft 365 ("Office") suite. Basically everything runs through this: email, cloud storage, and your single sign-on (SSO). You can also download and use Microsoft Word, Powerpoint, and Onenote, etc. through this for free. There are some other tools you'll be using too. Canvas is our 'Virtual Learning Environment', which will likely have all the materials you need for each of your modules. eVision runs Student Self-Service, which you can use to do annual registration before Michaelmas, edit personal information, as well as view exam results. TMS ('Teaching Management System') shows your reports from tutors. All of these services use SSO.
Library Search, Reading Lists, and Printing
You can use SOLO (Search Oxford Libraries Online), ORLO (Oxford Reading Lists Online), and PCAS (Print, Copy, and Scan). The last of these services, along with 'Bodleian Libraries' WiFi (if a library doesn't have eduroam for some reason), use your Bodleian Library Account, which you can register for here. You will only be able to do this after you get your Bodleian number just above your barcode on your Bodcard.
Univ Services
WiFi: 'Univ-Coll' and OWL
For information on how to connect to 'Univ-coll', which is at mainsite and our annexes (eg. "Stavs" for 2nd years), see this page (SSO required). Both a standard WiFi password and then SSO is required to connect to this. Note that while Eduroam is everywhere Univ-Coll is, it can be useful to be logged into both.
OWL stands for "Oxford Wireless LAN" and is the visitors' WiFi network. If you arrive early in Oxford, or don't have an SSO, you should go to the Porters' Lodge to get a (limited time) login for this. They only have a limited number of these logins, and they expire, so make sure to get Eduroam or Univ-coll sorted soon.
Wired Internet: Ethernet
Make sure to bring an ethernet cable (and adapter if needed), as WiFi signal can be patchy around college. This is especially important if you plan on working in your room, while the WiFi in the college libraries works very well.
Links
You'll need to use the intranet, meal booking system (for formal hall booking, food payment, and battels/bills), library search (separate from SOLO), printing, so make sure you have all of those bookmarked. All of them use SSO, apart from library search which doesn't need a log-in. If you need any help with these, email helpdesk@univ.ox.ac.uk, or see the Univ IT Support Portal. For library-related questions, email library@univ.ox.ac.uk. (Fun fact: Univ is the only college which doesn't use the University's central library search "SOLO", because we set up our online system before anyone else!)
Further Help
For more help, look at the University's comprehensive IT support pages, especially their Getting Started page. You can also look at the Univ IT Support Portal (SSO required), or if you need more help, email helpdesk@univ.ox.ac.uk. They are very friendly!
Other Services
Free Newspaper Subscriptions
You can access the Economist and the Financial Times for free by following the linked guides. These work with your SSO.
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