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Moodle Staff FAQs

This FAQ is to support staff with their use of Moodle at UCL. See also: Student FAQ. If your question is not answered here complete the Moodle Support Form.

How do I log in?

Use your UCL user ID and password to log into Moodle http://www.ucl.ac.uk/moodle. UCL is currently using Moodle version 1.9.5.

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Why can't I log on to UCL's Moodle with my UCL user id and password?

  • Make sure you do not have CAPS lock selected

  • Are you are able to log into other UCL systems, e.g. Staff WTS or UCL Squirrelmail?

    • If not contact the IS Helpdesk to reset your UCL password.

      Please note: UCL's Computer Security Policy requires that passwords are changed on a regular basis, every 150 days. Notification of the requirement to change your password is sent to your UCL email address before it is automatically reset.

      If your password is not changed it is automatically reset. You will need to go to the IS Helpdesk with a valid UCL ID card to collect a new password. Please note that passwords CANNOT be given out over the phone, unless you have previously registered details using the IS User Authentication System. For more information, look on the web at: https://myaccount.ucl.ac.uk/

      Once you have renewed your password we strongly encourage you to register for the User Authentication System that allows you to be identified and new passwords issued over the telephone: https://myaccount.ucl.ac.uk/uas-register

      Please send all enquiries and replies to the IS Helpdesk (helpdesk@ucl.ac.uk)

    • If yes, it might be the case that your account in not yet added onto Moodle’s database, please contact UCL's Moodle support

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How do I request a new Moodle course?

Please fill in this form to request a new course, you should receive a response in four working days.

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Why can't students access my course?

You need to make your course available. Courses are set to be unavailable to students at the beginning of the semester to provide you with a private space to develop your course. When you are ready to open your course(s) up to students, you will need to turn on availability through your settings:

  • Log into Moodle and click on your course
  • Click Settings on the Administration panel
  • Change the Availability to: "This course is available to students"
  • Scroll down to the bottom of the page and click Save changes

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How do I reset my course at the end of the year?

Reset allows you to empty a Moodle course of user data, while retaining content, activities and other settings - you will need to do this before the start of term. If you wish you can view a guided tour (screencast) to this in Moodle at: http://moodle.ucl.ac.uk/course/view.php?id=5537

  1. Click on the [Reset] link on the Administration panel.

  2. Tick the appropriate settings:
    General, Roles, Gradebook and Groups reset options are the standard ones (available for all courses). Depending on the activities used in your course more reset options may appear. For example if you are using the Assignments activity you will also have options for resetting Assignments.

    Warning 1:
    If you are a tutor on the course DO NOT reset the Tutor role or you will unenrol yourself!!
    You can unenrol users by selecting the user's role you wish to unenrol (Role reset options). Use the [Shift] and [Ctrl] keys on your keyboard to select multiple user roles.

    Warning 2:
    Reset HAS NOT been implemented for Books, Wikis, Hot Potatoes Quizzes, Questionnaires and Workshops.
    Any of the above activities should be reset manually. In some cases it is easier to delete and recreate the activity. For example, if you want to empty out a Wiki, you would may prefer to remove it altogether and add a new one.

  3. Scroll to the bottom of the page and click on the 'Reset Course' button.

  4. Click on the 'Continue' button on the next page. Your course has now been reset.


    If you have any problems resetting your course or would like further information please contact the LTSS (ltss@ucl.ac.uk) x33559.

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Does resetting my course remove the content (files, website links etc)?

No, when you reset your course, all of your links to files, websites etc. are maintained. A course reset only removes user data from your course and is usually done at the end of an academic period, before a new cohort of students are enrolled.


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How do I add people to my course?

We have four main enrolment options:

Portico enrolments are generally a good way of enrolling students on courses, but early in term 1 student data in Portico module lists may be incomplete and/or inaccurate as students take time to make and modify module selections, and departments deal with large numbers of requests.  Therefore you may want to use a combination of Portico enrolments and the Enrolment key to ensure that all students can access your course. Click here to find out how to set an enrolment key.

To request Portico Enrolments for your course click here.

To add staff to courses manual enrolment is the easiest option.

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How do I set the course enrolment key (password)?

To allow students to enrol in your Moodle course you can set an enrolment key or password. When students attempt to access your course for the first time they will be prompted to enter this password. They will then be enroled as a student on your course. It is a good idea to email the students a link to your course, along with the password so they do not need to search for the course in Moodle.

To add an enrolment key:

  1. Log in to Moodle
  2. Navigate to your Moodle course.
  3. Click Settings on the Administration panel
  4. Scroll down to the Availability section
  5. Enter the Enrolment key
  6. Scroll down to the bottom of the page and click Save changes

Refer to the following Moodle mini guide for further instructions:

For other enrolment options, see the FAQ: How do I add people to my course?
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What software is required to use Moodle?

We recommend that you use one of the following Internet Browsers:

  • Mozilla Firefox 1, 2 or 3 (PC and Mac)
  • Internet Explorer 7 or 8 (PC) (Note that Moodle does not work well with IE6 which is still in use on WTS - please use Firefox instead if you are a WTS user).

Some courses may also require you to use the following players or browser players.

Name Description
Adobe Acrobat Reader To view PDF files
[ http://www.adobe.com/products/acrobat/readstep2.html ]
Adobe Flash Player To view Flash content on websites
[ http://www.adobe.com/products/flashplayer/ ]
Quicktime Player To play Quicktime files
[ http://www.apple.com/quicktime/download ]
Real Media Player To play Real audio and video files
[ http://www.real.com/playerplus ]
Windows Media Player To play a variety of media files, including Windows Media.
[ www.microsoft.com/windows/windowsmedia ]


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How can I help non-UCL students and colleagues access Moodle?

One option is to provide 'guest access' to a Moodle course - guests don't need UCL accounts in order to access a course, but they will not be able to participate in forums or assessments. Guest access is controlled through the Availability section of the Course Settings screen.
The other option is to arrange for an IS user account for the non-UCL person; this can be requested via the Services System. There may be an administrative charge for creation and management of the IS user account.

Any intercollegiate students registered on Portico will automatically get UCL userids and so will be able to log into Moodle. If students are not registered on Portico - i.e. if your department is making other arrangements - then they will only be able to get userids by recording the students as visitors using the Services System and expressly requesting user accounts.

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Where can I find out more about Moodle?

Join the UCL Moodle User Group or the world wide Moodle Community on moodle.org

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What is the difference between the Survey and Questionnaire activities in Moodle?

The Questionnaire allows you to construct your own questions for your students to respond to. The Survey activity provides a predefined set of verified questions for you to assess and stimulate learning in your Moodle course. You cannot add your own questions or change existing questions in the Survey.

Moodle Help


If you need to clarify the difference between other Moodle activities click on the question mark icon

to the left of the 'Add an activity...' drop down box.

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How do I stop receiving so many emails from Moodle?

You can change your email settings so that Moodle only sends you one email every afternoon, containing all of the email notifications from that day. To do this:

  1. Log in to Moodle
  2. Click on your name in the top, right-hand corner of the page.
  3. Click the 'Edit profile' tab.
  4. Where it says 'Email digest type' choose: 'Complete (daily email with full posts)'
  5. Scroll to the bottom of the page and click 'Update profile'.

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I can only see one section/week in my course - what has happened?

You have probably clicked on the small rectangular box in the top right-hand corner of the section box - this hides all but the selected section.  To see all of the sections again click on the two rectangles to the right side of the central column.

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How do I link to the common timetable?

Simply add the following link to your course, either in the top section or, if you prefer, to an HTML block on the side.

https://cmis.adcom.ucl.ac.uk:4443/timetabling/moduleTimet.do?firstReq=Y&moduleId=XXXXnnnn

where XXXXnnnn is the module code (e.g. BIOL1001 or ANTHG307 etc.).

If you are unsure how to add a link in Moodle please see our 'How to add links and files' miniguide.   If you don't know how to add a block please see our see our 'Organising blocks' miniguide.

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Use of Moodle is in accordance with the terms and conditions detailed in the Service Level Definition.