You need to complete your registration in order to officially become a Canterbury Christ Church University student and start your studies.
Once you are registered, you'll get access to the online services you need for your studies (plus a student smartcard for most students) and be eligible to receive your student loan or bursary (if you’re entitled to one).
Your course team can also start to make firm plans for your arrival, such as setting you up on Blackboard, the university’s Virtual Learning Environment and preparing your individual student timetable (where applicable).
Registration generally opens between 6 to 7 weeks before the course start date. To be eligible to register, you must have:
- met, and accepted, the academic and other conditions of your offer (you'll have an 'Unconditional Offer' against your application in MyRecord)
- started the Disclosure and Barring Service clearing process (if you will be working with young or vulnerable people as part of your course)
- completed the online occupational health questionnaire (if you will be studying a relevant Education or Health and Social Care subject).
When we are ready for you to register, you’ll receive two emails within 24 hours of one another. These emails will both be sent to the personal email address that you supplied as part of your application.
Email 1 will have this subject line:
Invitation to online registration
This email includes instructions for logging into MyRecord, where you will need to provide us with further information about you and your history, plus confirmation of your identity.
Email 2 will have this subject line:
Create your Canterbury Christ Church University computing account
This email tells you how to set up your student email account and username which you'll need to log in to your online services once you have registered.
The online registration process includes a number of tasks such as:
- confirming your course of study
- checking details the University already holds about you and providing us with further details
- uploading documents to confirm your identity and qualifications (where applicable). Please note that we will need to see evidence of qualifications (including in some cases GCSEs) as part of your registration - failure to show proof of qualifications will mean that you have not satisfied the conditions of your offer.
- uploading the photo you have chosen as your official student photo (this will be also used for your student smartcard where applicable) and
- agreeing to the University’s terms and conditions
MyRecord
When logging in to MyRecord to register, you must use the 'Applicant Login' option. Once you have a Canterbury Christ Church University computing account and username, you'll also be able to access MyRecord using the 'Student and Staff Login'.
When using the Applicant Login:
- Your username is your Student ID (you will find this at the top of the email inviting you to register) or the email address you used for your application
- Your password is the password you chose yourself if you’ve used MyRecord already. If this is the first time you have used MyRecord, or you can't remember your password, just click on the 'Forgotten your password?' button to get it re-set
Top tips!
- If any of the tiles within the 'Application(s)' area are coloured red, this means there is something you must do to be eligible to register
- Emails about the registration process will be sent to the personal email address that we have for you in MyRecord, so please check this is up-to-date
- In MyRecord, you can find copies of the emails we've sent to you during the admissions process by clicking on the 'Communications' tile
Your online registration is tailored to you, so you’ll only be asked to carry out tasks that are relevant to you and your course.
For more information about the online registration process, please see our detailed step-by-step guide.
For a short overview, watch the video below.
What happens next?
Once you have worked your way through each section of the online registration form and supplied everything we have asked for, we will check the information you have provided - normally within 5 working days - and email you to confirm your updated registration status. This will be either:
If all our checks are complete and there’s nothing else we need from you, you’ll receive an email to confirm you are fully registered. This means everything is set for you to:
- start your course
- access your online services once you have created your Canterbury Christ Church University computing account
- receive your student smartcard (if you're entitled to one)
- receive your student loan or bursary if you’re entitled to one.
In-person registration for International students and those with a non-British passport
If you are on a Student Route visa, an EU student with Pre-Settled or Settled status or have a non British passport, you must attend an in-person appointment with our Compliance team so we can verify your identity and qualifications once you arrive in the UK. You must do this within two weeks of your arrival.
Look out for the email from the Compliance Team about these ID verification drop-in sessions with further details.
At this appointment, you must present your original, hard copy qualification documents and identity and immigration documents as applicable. This is in addition to completing your online registration.
What to bring to your ID verification appointment (Student Route students)
- Your qualifications that you used for your visa application
- Your highest English language qualification as listed on your CAS
- Your passport and current UK visa vignette plus
- Your BRP (Biometric Residence Permit) if you have a Student Route visa
Once your documents have been approved, your status will be updated to fully registered (if there is nothing else we need from you) or temporary registered (if you have any outstanding clearance checks). In the meantime, you are still able to:
- attend your classes
- create your Canterbury Christ Church University computing account
However, until we have verified your identity and updated your registration status, you will be unable to:
- access materials related to your studies on our virtual learning environment Blackboard
- get your student smartcard
- get a status letter confirming you are a Canterbury Christ Church University student
What happens next?
If you are entitled to an Undergraduate maintenance loan or a Postgraduate Masters or Doctoral loan, then as long as you are fully or temporarily registered up to 7 working days before the start of your course, you will receive your first payment on the scheduled instalment date as per your Financial Notification from the Student Loans Company. This is usually the start date of your course. Once you've registered, you can check your start date in MyRecord under 'Your Course Details'; in most cases, it's also listed in your Course Essentials.
If, however, you register close to or after your course start date your loan will be paid within 7 working days.
You may notice that it continues to say 'awaiting confirmation' on your Student Finance England portal, even after you have completed registration. This is perfectly normal as it usually takes 24-48 hours for your status to be updated once we have confirmed your registration.
If you do not receive your finance after these timeframes, please contact the i-zone.
Find out more about funding and finance.
Once you are fully or temporarily registered, you are eligible for your student smartcard (some exceptions apply). This gives you access to a range of student services and is also your university student ID card. Find out more, including arrangements for getting your smartcard.
Once you are either fully or temporarily registered, you can get a variety of letters to prove you are a Canterbury Christ Church University student by clicking on the 'My Letters' tab in MyRecord. This includes:
- a letter that can be used to request a Council Tax discount with the local Council if you’re eligible, i.e. you are studying full-time. Households where everyone is a full-time student do not have to pay Council Tax. You’ll get a Council Tax bill if there’s someone in your household who’s not a full-time student, but your household might qualify for a discount.
- a letter to set up a student bank account.
- for international students, a status letter to show to employers alongside your BRP when seeking work.
If you are registered but can't see the 'My Letters' tab in MyRecord, you may need to click the '+' to reveal any additional hidden tabs along the top menu.
It's important to create your computing account as soon as you can, so you're all set to use your online services when your course begins. Also, once you are fully registered, all university-related email correspondence will be sent to your university email address.
To create your computing account, you will need access to a computer plus a smartphone or tablet to create your account.
- If you have not studied with us recently, you will receive an email titled 'Create your Canterbury Christ Church University computing account' to your personal email address within 24 hours of the 'Invitation to online registration' email'. The email will give you your student username plus a temporary password which you'll need to re-set. Find out more.
- If you’ve studied with us in the recent past, and you don’t receive the ‘Create your Canterbury Christ University computing account’ email, this means you’ve retained your previous computing account and username. To check, try accessing your email inbox in 24 hours’ time. Find out how to recover an existing password or unlock your account if you need to do so. If you can’t remember your previous username, please contact the i-zone with your Student ID number so that they can check your account.
By setting up your University computing account you are accepting our IT terms of use.
Terms and conditions of student registration
The arrangements set out in our Terms and Conditions of Student Registration apply to all students registered with us. They define the basis of the contractual agreement between you as the student and us as the University.
You’ll be asked to agree to these as part of online registration. It’s important you read them carefully so you understand the rules, regulations, policies, and procedures that are in place to help ensure all students are treated fairly.