Accessing Moodle
Learn how to log in, set up your dashboard, explore your courses, and stay up to date with announcements and discussions.
Moodle is UNSW’s primary Learning Management System (LMS). It’s where you’ll find your course materials, announcements, lecture recordings, assignments and interactive activities.
See also
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- Log on to Moodle on a web browser (Chrome or Safari recommended).
- UNSW does not support the Moodle mobile app.
Click 'Get Started' to view the step-by-step guide.
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If you’re having trouble logging in, here are a few things to check before reaching out for help:
- Check your zID and zPass
- In the USER ID field, ensure that you have typed a "z" before your student number. (Eg. z1234567)
- Your PASSWORD (your zPass) is case-sensitive. Check on your keyboard if Caps Lock is on or off.
- Are you enrolled?
- You’ll only get Moodle access if you’ve accepted your offer and have an active program record.
- Just enrolled or made changes?
- If you recently accepted your offer, changed programs, or updated enrolments, it can take up to 2 working days for access to update.
- Still can’t log in after 2 days? Contact The Nucleus: Student Hub.
- Graduated or discontinued?
- You’ll keep Moodle access for up to 90 days after you finish your program.
- After that, access can’t be reinstated. The Nucleus: Student Hub can help talk through your options if you still need course materials.
- Can’t access other UNSW services either?
- Try logging into myUNSW with your zID and zPass.
- If that doesn’t work, the IT Service Centre can help fix your login.
- You can also check the Identity Manager for Students for step-by-step self-help.
- Check your zID and zPass
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To get the best experience with Moodle, make sure your device and internet setup meet the following requirements. If your system doesn’t meet these, Moodle may still work, but some features might not function properly.
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- Recommended: Windows 10, macOS High Sierra, iPad iOS 10 or higher
- Not recommended: Older operating systems no longer supported (e.g., Windows XP, Vista, Windows 7)
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- The Moodle Mobile app is not supported at UNSW due to performance issues.
- You can use a mobile web browser for general access.
- For assessments or graded activities, always use a computer browser for reliability.
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- Lecture recordings or online conferencing: At least 5 MB/sec
- Images and webpages: At least 2 MB/sec
- Dial-up: Not recommended (too slow for Moodle)
Use broadband such as USB wireless modem, ADSL2+, fibre optic, or cable for the best experience.
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- Recommended (tested at UNSW):
- Google Chrome (32-bit, version 80+) – best on Windows
- Safari 14+ – best on Mac
- Not recommended: Microsoft Internet Explorer
- Add-ons or toolbars may reduce performance.
👉 If you experience issues, confirm you’re using a supported browser before contacting The Nucleus: Student Hub.
Browser Settings
Make sure the following are enabled:
- Cookies
- Pop-ups (in browser and security software)
- Javascript
- Recommended (tested at UNSW):
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- Flash Player: Discontinued – uninstall if still installed.
- PDFs: Use the latest Adobe Acrobat Reader.
- Documents: Install Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint) or an equivalent like Open Office/Viewer to access course materials.
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- If you’re using a firewall, ensure it allows file uploads.
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Some courses with a YXXX prefix (e.g., YMED1001, YENG5582) are delivered by Arizona State University (ASU).
To access these courses, log into the ASU Learning Management System using your ASU-issued student ID and password (not your UNSW zID/zPass).
For more details, visit the PLuS Alliance orientation page.
If you need help with logging in or resetting your password, contact ASU Technical Support.
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On the Dashboard, courses are grouped into sections for easier navigation. To open a course, simply click on its name.
Click 'Get Started' to view the step-by-step guide.
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You can personalise your Dashboard by turning on Edit Mode. This allows you to move items around and add extra content so the layout suits your needs.
Click 'Get Started' to view the step-by-step guide.
If you ever want to go back to the original layout, use the Reset to Default option to restore the recommended Dashboard view.
Click 'Get Started' to view the step-by-step guide.
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Why your profile matters?
Your Moodle profile controls what others in your courses can see about you. It’s also where you manage how Moodle emails you, adjust notification settings, and update your privacy preferences.
- Editing your profile
- Managing preferences
- Updating privacy settings
On your profile page, you can add personal details that may be useful for others, such as:
- City and country
- Contact information
- Time zone
- Profile picture
These details help personalise your Moodle experience and let classmates and teachers know a bit more about you.
Click 'Get Started' to view the step-by-step guide.
The preferences page lets you control important aspects of your account, including notifications and text editor settings.
We recommend checking your Forum preferences:
- Email digest type – choose how often you want forum notifications (e.g. combine them into one daily email).
- Forum post notifications – decide if posts should be marked as “read” as soon as you receive an email notification.
Click 'Get Started' to view the step-by-step guide.
Your privacy settings decide what information is visible to others. By default, most details are only visible to you and staff, giving you control over what you share.
Click 'Get Started' to view the step-by-step guide.
Resources and activities will be grouped and displayed in different ways, depending on the course.
Forums and announcements
Every Moodle course includes an announcements forum and may include additional discussion forums.
- Announcements forum – for official updates from your course convenor (students cannot post here).
- Discussion forums – for online discussions, collaboration, or assessment tasks (student participation allowed).
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The Announcements forum is where your convenor shares important updates, reminders, or resources.
- Posts are automatically emailed to all enrolled students.
- You can adjust how and when you receive these emails in your Profile Preferences.
- The Announcements forum is usually linked in the Quick Links section at the top of your course page.
Click 'Get Started' to view the step-by-step guide.
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Your course may have one or more forums, depending on how your convenor has set them up. These can include:
- General discussion forums – for asking questions or sharing ideas.
- Graded forums – used as part of your assessment.
Forums can appear anywhere in your course, but the easiest way to find them is through the Announcements and Forums link in the Quick Links section.
Click 'Get Started' to view the step-by-step guide.
Posting in a Forum
When a forum allows student participation, you can:
- Create posts and reply to others
- Upload images or videos if required by the task
⚠️ Editing time limit: You can edit or delete your post for up to 30 minutes after posting. After that, it becomes permanent.
Click 'Get Started' to view the step-by-step guide.
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By default, you’ll receive email notifications whenever someone posts in a forum you’re subscribed to. You can adjust this in your Profile Preferences:
- Email digest type – choose how often to receive forum emails (e.g. daily digest).
- Notification settings – decide when and how you’re alerted about new posts.
Click 'Get Started' to view the step-by-step guide.
Have a question?
Contact us for advice on all things UNSW, including faculty-specific questions, essential services, and even support and development. We’re here to help.