Hello and Welcome to the University of Derby.
Steps to Successfully Creating Your Uni Account:
Step 1. Sign out of any Microsoft 365 or Microsoft email accounts in your browser. Your new Uni account is a Microsoft account, so this step makes sure that your browser doesn’t try and log you into the wrong account while you’re getting set up with us.
Step 2. Make a note of your student ID and your University email address (known as Unimail) from your invitation to create your account
Step 3. Set a strong, secure and memorable password
Step 4. Set up your multifactor authentication security (MFA) methods on your Uni account
What would you like help with?
Use the links below to jump to the relevant help section in this guide.
My username and password:
Where will I find my student number and University email address (Unimail)?
Troubleshooting - Setting up my password for the first time
I’ve created my password but I’ve forgotten it or want to change it
Help with my multifactor authentication (MFA for short):
Setting up my multifactor authentication (MFA) methods for the first time
I’ve set up my MFA but I want to update my details or add another method
My next steps:
Your Next Steps – Follow Your Path
Using Your Uni Account – How to Log In
Where will I find my student number and University email address (Unimail)?
To guide you through setting up your student account, you'll have received an email to the email address you provided when you applied to us (UCAS or through our direct application form).
The email is sent from: noreply_passwordcreation@derby.ac.uk
With a subject line of: It's time to set up your University of Derby account
Your student number and your University email address (known as Unimail) appear at the top of the email.
You should make a note of these as you’ll need them for your next steps and throughout your study with us.
Your student number:
University of Derby students: this will be 9 numbers beginning with 100 or 019 for example:100123456
Buxton and Leek students: this will be 3 letters followed by 8 numbers for example: AAA12345678
Your Unimail address:
This is your student number followed by: @unimail.derby.ac.uk
e.g.100123456@unimail.derby.ac.uk
Haven’t received your email yet?
The email is sent to you when you are ready to start your studies. If you're still in the application stage, you’ll receive this when you've met all your offer conditions.
If you believe that you should have received your email and can't find it in your inbox, firstly, please check your junk/SPAM folders. If it’s not there and you need to get in touch, please go to the following page:
Your Next Steps - Welcome - University of Derby
and scroll down to the Follow Your Path section to find our contact details.
Troubleshooting - Setting up my password for the first time
For the best experience setting up your Uni account we have a few recommendations:
If you can, use a laptop or a PC to access your browser. This will give you the smoothest experience and allow you to easily change to a different browser if you need to. You can use Google Chrome, Microsoft Edge or Safari.
Sign out of any Microsoft 365 or Microsoft email accounts in your browser. Your new Uni account is a Microsoft account, so this step is to make sure that your browser doesn’t try and log you into the wrong account while you’re getting set up with us.
Use a ‘private browsing window’
If you don’t want to sign out of your own Microsoft account, you can use a ‘private browsing window’ which will ignore any other account details without actually signing you out.
Follow our online guide to open a private internet browser window on your laptop/PC if you’re not sure how to do this.
Guidance for smartphones
If you are unable to use a laptop or PC to set up your password, here are some tips to delete the website data stored on the browser.
Safari: Apple support - deleting website data
Google Chrome: Google support - deleting website data
Click ‘Start’ in your email invitation to create your University account, and follow the instructions on screen.
You will be guided to create a strong and secure password.
Password criteria
Make your password memorable and unique, you’ll need it to access all your Uni systems.
Don’t write it down, and never share it with anyone - we’ll never ask you for your password.
To see what criteria you need or can’t include in your password, visit our guide:
Password Complexity Requirements
I’ve created my password but I’ve forgotten it or want to change it
Forgotten password:
If you have already set up your password but you can’t remember it, you can reset it.
If you have already set up your multifactor authentication (MFA) methods, you can visit this guide on the IT Service Centre Knowledge Base:
I've forgotten my password
If you haven’t completed your MFA set up, and you’ve forgotten your password, you’ll need to contact the IT Service Centre.
Jump to this section to get in touch: Need help?
Change your password:
If you know what your password is and you want to change it, you can do that too.
You’ll need to have set up your multifactor authentication (MFA) methods first so if you log in with your correct password, you’ll be guided to do that first if you haven’t already.
If your MFA is all set up, you can follow this guide to change your password to a different one:
If you know your password but want to change it
Setting up my multifactor authentication (MFA) methods for the first time
After you’ve created your Uni password, you’ll be guided on screen to set up multifactor authentication – or MFA for short - when you log in to your Uni account for the first time.
You’ll need MFA in place before you enrol or log in to any other Uni systems.
Please add as many verification methods as you can to stay connected.
Why MFA is added to your Uni account
We take your cybersecurity seriously, and MFA makes sure no-one can access your Uni account except you.
MFA combines something you know, like your username and password, with something you have, like a smartphone or authenticator app.
It means that you will never be locked out of your account as you will be able to reset your password and unlock your account using your phone or email account.
Set up MFA now – go to Microsoft 365
If you’ve set up your password but not set up your MFA methods yet, you can do that by logging in for the first time with your username and password.
Go to your Microsoft 365 account, Microsoft365.com to get started. After you have set up your MFA you’ll be taken to your Microsoft 365 homepage.
To log in:
- Enter your username: [studentnumber]@unimail.derby.ac.uk
- and your brand new Uni password.
Once you are signed in, you'll be asked to set up an app on your phone. Other options are available by selecting "I want to set up a different method". Add as many as you can to stay connected.
MFA Methods you can add:
- Microsoft Authenticator app
- One or more phone numbers
Once you have set your password and have registered your multifactor authentication methods, you can start to use your new log in details to access your university systems.
I’ve set up my MFA but I want to update my details or add another method
You can update your MFA at any time and you should add as many verification methods as you can to stay connected.
To update your details, visit our guide to get started:
Manage Your Security Details for Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA)
Your next steps – Follow your Path
If you’ve created your password and want to access information about your next steps, here’s the webpage link. Scroll to the bottom of the page to see the section, Follow Your Path.
Your Next Steps - Welcome - University of Derby
Using your Uni account - How to sign in
Your [studentnumber]@unimail.derby.ac.uk is your username for most systems you’ll need to sign into.
The Sign in screen will prompt you for your username in the right format:
You can then use the password you created earlier to complete the sign in process.
Finding your way around UDo
You can find UDo at udo.derby.ac.uk.
Select Profile: Current Students / Applicants and sign in as above.
The tiles you see when you sign in will be relevant to your experience as a student, so you might have slightly different tiles to other students.
One example is our IT Support tile - This is available all year round, so go and take a look.
Please don't worry if someone you know gets a tile before you, some will only appear when the time is right for you.
Need help?
If you need any help setting up your password, please go to derby.ac.uk/your-next-steps for contact information for your support teams.
Scroll down the page to follow your student path and find out more about what to expect next.
You’ll also find FAQs and contact details to get in touch at derby.ac.uk/welcome. If you click ‘make an enquiry’ you can ask about your next steps or get general information and we’ll get back to you as soon as we can.