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The University of Southampton
iSolutions

Away from campus

When working remotely you may need a little extra IT support. Here you will find all the information you need, so you can move seamlessly between studying online and on campus.

Working away from campus
Working away from campus

Below are a few links to get you started:

Remember, if you need help with anything – just ask. There is a lot of support available, whatever the circumstances: 

Connecting to the network remotely 

When working or studying remotely you will be able to access the same systems, services and files as if you were working in a university location.

You can access many of these by simply entering the web address into your internet browser and logging in with your university username and password – see the table below for more details.

For some services you will need to connect to the university’s secure network – either via the Southampton Virtual Environment (SVE), which provides a similar experience to an on-site computer – or via Global Protect. There are more details on this below.

Services available directly through a web browser (e.g. Chrome or Firefox)

This list shows all the services you can access when you are away from campus, simply using a web browser and internet connection:

ServiceWeb address to accessService Description
Blackboard https://blackboard.soton.ac.uk/ Student Virtual Learning Environment including ‘Turnitin’ submission
SUSSED https://sussed.soton.ac.uk/ University Information Portal
Microsoft 365 (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, email, calendar, OneDrive, Teams, SharePoint) https://www.southampton.ac.uk/365/ Microsoft 365 is available to all staff and students and is the best way to access your email, communicate and collaborate with other students or staff
ServiceNow https://sotonproduction.service-now.com/serviceportal  University ticket management system for staff and students to use to request help or assistance from HR, IT, Finance and Student Services
Subscribe https://subscribe.soton.ac.uk/ University account system to change passwords etc.
Web room bookings https://timetableportal.soton.ac.uk/ Room booking system
Software download site https://software.soton.ac.uk/ Software download site for university software
eAssignments https://www.assignments.soton.ac.uk/ Online submission and moderation tool for assignments
Banner self service https://student-selfservice.soton.ac.uk/ Banner self-service – student records
PGR Manager https://pgrmanager.soton.ac.uk/do/southampton-login/login Postgraduate research tracking tool
Timetable https://timetable.soton.ac.uk/ Timetable system
MySouthampton App https://my.southampton.ac.uk/get MySouthampton App

Services that require you to log on to the university network first

To be able to use some systems away from campus, you will need to connect securely to the university network. There are different ways to do this and the best option for you will depend on whether you are using a personal or a university-owned device.

Southampton Virtual Environment

The Southampton Virtual Environment (SVE) gives you full access to everything, exactly the same as if you were on site. This includes filestore services, software, library resources and licensing of university software applications such as SPSS.

If you are using a personally owned device that’s not provided by the university, using the SVE will give you the best all-round experience.

Important: Please disconnect from the VPN when you are not using systems or services that need this connection, as each system has a maximum capacity. 

For more information on the SVE service and which software is available visit https://sve.soton.ac.uk
 
Global Protect 

If you have a university provided computer set up by iSolutions, the best experience for you would be to use the Global Protect VPN service. This connects your computer to the university network, so you can access all university web and filestore services.

You can find more information on how to connect to the university’s VPN using Global Protect here. 

Accessing Library Resources 

Once you’re connected the university network – either through SVE or Global Protect – just enter the following address in your internet browser to access the Library:  https://library.soton.ac.uk/home. Please note, the Library recommends using Global Protect for the best user experience.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I get help with Blackboard?

Information on how to access blackboard, user guides and frequently asked questions can be found on the Blackboard Support Pages.

My courses are missing, what do I do?

There could be several explanations for this:

When you look at the ‘My Courses’ box, you can only access courses showing as ‘available’ to students. You may see some courses listed in black with the word ‘unavailable’ next to them. When instructors are preparing a course, the status will say it’s ‘unavailable’ until they are ready for students to use the course. This can also explain why the list of courses shown in Blackboard does not match the list of courses shown in the SUSSED Portal.

Once per day, Blackboard synchronises information with the Banner Student Information System, which holds your enrolment details. Please wait until the next day before expecting to see the course in Blackboard. The process may be delayed as some schools do not action enrolment queries immediately, such as changes of course or programme.

For some courses, there is no mechanism to enrol students automatically and you may need to self-enrol using Blackboard. Instructions are available online. If this is the case, your course instructor should have provided you with the joining details.

Click here for more Blackboard support and FAQs.

If you require further support, please contact the Student Hub or your faculty office to check you have been enrolled. If you have been enrolled but the course is still missing, email  ServiceLine, stating which specific course is missing from your list and the course code if possible. 

Why is my timetable missing?

This is usually due to an issue with your student record. Contact your school or faculty office so they can look into it for you.

How do I attend online lectures?

Online lectures should be hosted in Blackboard. Get in touch with your tutor if you need more information.

Why am I having trouble viewing recorded online lectures?

If you are experiencing issues viewing online lectures, try an alternative web browser such as Google Chrome or Firefox and log back in. Access more Blackboard support and FAQs or get help with Panopto.

How do I submit an assignment?

There are a couple of ways you can submit an assignment depending on how your tutor is delivering your course.  For more information, speak to your course tutor or see your Faculty’s Blackboard hub pages. The following links provide more information if you know which system to use:   

Turnitin through Blackboard
eAssignments
Blackboard Assignment
Peer and self-assessment

If you require further assistance, contact your course tutor.  

I need help writing or formatting my assignment / dissertation – who can help?

Please visit the Academic Skills Hub hosted by the Library: http://library.soton.ac.uk/sash 
 
Any questions regarding assignments, course work or dissertations should be discussed with your faculty/school office or your tutor/supervisor.  

What should I do if I am having issues submitting an assignment?

If you have any issues submitting an assignment, first use an alternative web browser (Chrome or Firefox) and try to upload the assignment again. If you need further support, contact your faculty or school.

What is the best way to work together on group assignments?

Your course may have specific processes set up for you to work in groups, so get in touch with your course tutor first. Some available collaboration options include:  

Blackboard Groups 
Microsoft Teams 

Further guidance can be found here.

I'm unable to access journals and library resources. What should I do?

First, check you are connected to the university network – either via an on-site computer or remotely through SVE or Global Protect (see the information above).

If you’re still unable to access the resource or service, please contact the Library.

What should I do if I have issues paying fees online?

Contact the Student Hub and they will be able to help to help you. If you have forgotten your online web payments details or cannot log in, please email serviceline@soton.ac.uk.

What software is available to me?

There is a wide range of software available to help you with your studies. Full details are available here.

To download university software onto your personal device:  
Visit the university software download page  
Install Microsoft 365 Apps on your personal computer

If you are a student in NOCS, ECS or Engineering get more information on how to access your specific software applications. Once connected using the VMware Horizon client, select the pool that is applicable to your studies.  

How do I use Microsoft 365 Apps (Teams, SharePoint, OneDrive, OneNote, etc)?

If you need help choosing an app, getting started or with a specific task, the Microsoft 365 Centre provides app guides, updates and news.

How do I use specialist software?

If you need support using specialist software, contact your course tutor to see if there is any training available. Some is listed on the online training and workshops page.

You can also search for relevant training on LinkedIn Learning; it is free if you sign-in with your university credentials.

Where should I save my files?

All students have access to 5TB of OneDrive secure, backed up cloud storage as a part of your university Microsoft 365 account. You have this for the duration of your studies. On university computers, OneDrive is set as your default saving location and can be found under ‘Documents’. If you have downloaded OneDrive to your personal device, it will appear as a folder location. If you haven’t downloaded the app, you will still be able to access OneDrive by logging into www.office.com. For more information login to our Microsoft 365 Support Centre site.

I don't have access to a computer, or I only have a mobile or tablet (UG, PGT and PGR students).

If you do not have access to a computer, speak to your tutor or contact the Student Hub for assistance. More information can be found on the student support fund page.

I have a Mac, but I need access to Microsoft Windows. What should I do?

If you have a Mac, but need access to a Windows desktop, you can use the Southampton Virtual Environment (SVE). The SVE provides a university virtual Windows desktop from any device, including Apple devices. Read this information on how to install and use our SVE.

How do I connect to printers and other devices via Wi-Fi in halls?

If you are in halls, see our guidance on how to connect your printers and other devices over Wi-Fi.

Where can I get further advice?

If you need guidance or support using a system or service, please visit the iSolutions Service Portal where you will find a range of knowledge base articles that can help you. 

If you need specific help or advice with your IT, or for any specialist software or service that is not listed above, please contact ServiceLine who will be able to advise further. 

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