Your Computing Account
To access any of the University's IT facilities, you require a computer user account. Your account details (including a username and password) can be obtained by using the IT Account Manager system available on the computers based in the University PC clusters.
You will need your University student identity number as you will be asked to enter this number during the IT Sign Up process. The accessibility option in the IT Account Manager will only be configured and activated with approval from the Disability Support Office.
How to 'Sign Up' for a computer account
Note: If you encounter problems at any stage of this process, note any error message and contact an IT Service Desk for advice.
Off Campus sign up: If you cannot come in to the University to sign up, please use off campus link to jump to further information about this feature.
You will need your student identity number to use the IT Account Manager system to sign up for a computer account.
- Find a vacant computer displaying the blue Ctrl-Alt-Delete screen.
- Simultaneously press the Ctrl-Alt-Delete keys to display the login dialog box
- Type 'signup' (in lower case without the quotes) in the username box and 'signup' (in lowercase without the quotes) in the password box.
- The 'IT Account Manager' system will now start automatically and on-screen instructions will guide you through the process of obtaining your username, password (see the following section entitled Choosing and Using Passwords) and email account details.
Do make sure to follow this IT Sign Up procedure through to completion. You do not need to record all the information the IT Account Manager gives you, as you can always re-access the system at a future date. However you should record your username, password and email address at this time. - When you have completed your 'IT Sign Up', log out of the PC by clicking the 'Log Out' or 'Exit' button on the screen. When the log out process is complete you will see the blue Ctrl-Alt-Delete screen displayed again.
- You can now login to the University computer network using your own personal username and password.
It is important to note that the University email address you have been given is the address the University will use to contact you throughout your course. You should use this account in preference to any private email provision you may have.
Note: Once you have received a username and password from the IT Account Manager system YOU become responsible for any activity or usage of your account. For this reason it is vital that you protect it by never disclosing your password to anyone else and never allowing others to use a computer you are logged into. If you need to move out of sight of a computer you are using then you should log out before leaving it.
See our web pages on computer security for more information.
IT Signup for students off campus
Students who are off campus can do their IT Sign Up via the IT Account Manager website: www.manchester.ac.uk/itservices/itaccountmanager
The IT Account Manager allows you to record some 'information recovery' details. These are pieces of information personal to you that you won't forget. If you then forget your username and password you can revisit the IT Account Manager and enter your 'information recovery' details. You will then be able to retrieve and display your username, password and account details.
Note: We strongly advise distance learning students to use this feature as IT Service Desk staff may have difficulty verifying your identity without your physical presence and documentation.