Student handbook > Getting connected

Online services available to Wessex Partnership students

Information and Communication Technology is becoming increasingly important, especially for students, like you, who are working at a distance. It is, therefore, important that you become familiar with the Bath Spa website and on-line resources as early as possible in your first year of study.

How do I access the BSU Website?

When you register at Bath Spa at the start of your studies, an email account will be set up for you. This will enable you to access those webpages that are restricted to Bath Spa students.

You will find a range of information on the website, including the Wessex Website for staff and students, welfare and finance information, careers information, course and examination dates, Student Union activities, information about the Library and much, much more…

How do I get a BSU User Name and Password?

Your BSU user name and password are extremely important as they enable you to access email, Minerva (the BSU virtual learning environment) and other electronic services.

Your user name is 6 digits long and is the same as your BSU student ID number, which is included on most correspondence from BSU Admissions Service after your place on a course has been fully confirmed (usually after A Level results are published in late August) and is also printed on your BSU student ID card, which can be used to take books out of BSU libraries. This is not the same as any user name/password that you may use to log on to computers at the institution at which you are studying.

Your BSU user name will remain the same for all of the time that you are a registered student at BSU, but you will need to create a password in order to access email/Minerva, etc. This is done by entering the student portal, which you will do during course registration at the beginning of your first year - https://studentportal.bathspa.ac.uk/Home/. After you have entered initial details you will be prompted to create a password. Ensure this is of the format letterletterletter-numbernumbernumber (eg dty-465 or foi-956).

Once you have completed this process you are ready to use some of BSU’s electronic services, such as Minerva.

Minerva

What is it?

Minerva is there for you to use - it's Bath Spa's IT system known as a VLE or Virtual Learning Environment. You can access it from any computer anywhere on the internet using your Bath Spa Student ID and password.

What does Minerva do?

Minerva allows your lecturers to distribute course materials to you via the web - and makes these easy for you to find. It also provides other features useful for your learning such as notice boards, tests and discussion boards.

How easy is it to find stuff?

It is easy - you log into Minerva and the system will recognise you and present you with a list of your own modules.

For more help and information on using Minerva, log onto: http://it-help.bathspa.ac.uk

Athens

Online Access to the Library

Bath Spa Library subscribes to an increasing number of electronic services which give online access to academic journals. To find out which journals are available to you, see the Library webpage at:

http://www.bathspa.ac.uk/services/library/journals/

How do I gain access as a Wessex student?

The Wessex Course Leaders and Librarians at each partner institution are given an Athens username and password for staff and students at that institution. Please see your tutor for details of this Athens account and how you can access it. These details should be kept secure.

10 Easy Clicks to Accessing Athens On-Line Journals

  1. www.bathspa.ac.uk
  2. Services
  3. Library and Information Services
  4. Electronic services (in Digital Library)
  5. Choose a database covering a subject relevant to your studies, or a general one eg, Academic Search Premier
  6. Click eg, Academic Search Premier (again)
  7. Athens Authentication Point
  8. Enter the Athens username and then the password (supplied to you by the tutor or Librarian at your institution - remember this is specific to your institution and should not be divulged!)
  9. Click Log in
  10. Choose databases and start searching!

Please contact Ann Sidwell at a.siswell@bathspa.ac.uk if you have a query about Athens.

What to do if your account is locked:

  • Go to http://www.bathspa.ac.uk
  • Click on ‘Student Portal’.
  • Click on ‘Unlock your account’ (under ‘Quick Links’).
  • Enter your 6 digit BSU student ID in the student ID field.
  • Click ‘Unlock Account’.

What to do if you have forgotten your password/want to change your password.

  • Click on ‘Student Portal’.
  • Click on ‘Help with your password’ (under Quick Links).
  • Enter your 6 digit BSU student ID in the student ID field.
  • Click ‘Find me’.
  • You will be asked to answer a question, such as ‘What is your pet’s name?’ or ‘What was your first school?’
  • Type the answer to this question into the answer field.
  • Enter a new password into the new password field (remember to use the format letterletterletterhyphennumbernumbernumber – eg adg-864.)
  • Enter the new password in the confirm password field, making sure that you have typed it correctly.
  • Click ‘Change Password’.

Bath Spa Computing Services Helpline

If you have difficulty logging on to Bath Spa computer systems you can ring 01225 876500. This is a dedicated telephone IT help line. The Wessex Partnership also produces 'A Student Guide to Computing Services.'