A quick guide to IT services for students

Your computer account

Your username is the same as your student number (the 6-digit number on your student ID card, for Language centre students it starts with L and is followed by a 5-digit number). Your temporary password is your date of birth in a ‘dd-Mmm-yy’ format, where the first letter of the month is in upper case. For example: 09-Aug-76. You should Change Your Password as soon as possible. You should also set up some Challenge Questions to help you log in in case you forget your password.

SOAS email

Your SOAS email can be accessed via Gmail. It is recommended to use Google chrome but you can use other browsers to access your SOAS Mail.
Your SOAS email address will be your 6 digit ID number followed by @soas.ac.uk, e.g. 123456@soas.ac.uk or L12345@soas.ac.uk (for language centre students).
Your password will be the temporary password that is set up when you enrol which is your date of birth in the following format dd-Mmm-yy, e.g. 26-May-91. Unless you have changed your password, then it will be the new password. Creating an alias: You can Create a Friendly Address or alias that uses your name instead of your student ID, like ‘jo_smith@soas.ac.uk’. You can do this on iNet (see below).

iNet Services:

Useful account related services:

• Change your password
• Create a friendly email address (alias)
• Student lookup tool (view your list memberships)
• Staff lookup tool
• Browse all available student Listserv lists
• View and adjust your Listserv subscription address
• Learn how to change your default sending address to the alias

If you’re graduating:

• Learn how to archive your Google data
• Create an Alumni SOAS Gmail account

School mailing lists

As a SOAS student you’re automatically put on some Listserv mailing lists based on your registration information. For degree students, this means membership of Year, Course and Programme of Study Lists. Course module and Programme of Study lists are discussion lists so you can post to you classmates. The Year lists will also result in inheriting membership of related Faculty-wide and School-wide lists used for administrative announcements.

File Storage

Every student gets 2GB file storage space on the network. When you log on to a computer, the ‘My Documents’ folder becomes your file store on the network. You’ll be able to access them even if you log on to a different computer. You should never save any work on the Desktop, any files saved on the desktop will be deleted once you log off.

Remote Access:

You can use the following site off campus to access some of your files, files.soas.ac.uk.

Backing up your files

You should always back up your files onto removal storage devices e.g. hard drive, flash drives (memory sticks) or CD/DVDs.

Contact

Information Security is a top priority for IT. If you notice any suspicious emails requesting payments/clicks to open files and websites, texts/sms messages, please notify IT by emailing itsec@soas.ac.uk. Remember, these dangers can come from anywhere.

Internet Access

All SOAS students, staff and visitors have access to wireless Internet.

We maintain an Eduroam enabled network for wireless and wired connectivity. This network is usable by staff and students of SOAS as well as other educational institutions who have Eduroam enabled. Once you are configured to connect to Eduroam you will be able to connect to any other 'Eduroam' enabled organisation you visit around the world.

Instructions on how to get online with your device can be found below. In addition there is guest wireless network available, 'WiFi Guest', this is provided by The Cloud and is free of charge to use.

All SOAS students can also get online on all the computer in SOAS.There are also network sockets for laptops on the Library's North Terrace (Floors D and C).

For Apple Mac OS

1. Select the Wireless symbol from the menu bar. When within range the Eduroam Network will be displayed.
2. Select Eduroam from the list of available Networks and select Connect.
3. Set SOAS email address as user ID and enter your SOAS password.
4. Your SOAS user ID must be appended with @soas.ac.uk (e.g. 123456@soas.ac.uk).
5. If successfully authenticated the status will change to Connected.

For IPhone and IPAD

1. Open the Wi-Fi Networks window; from the Home screen select Settings > Wi-Fi
2. Select Eduroam and when prompted for credentials, input your SOAS Email address and password. Your SOAS user ID must be appended with @soas.ac.uk (e.g. 123456@soas.ac.uk).
3. Select Join. You will now be connected to the Eduroam service.

For Windows 8 and 10

1. Select the icon to access the internet from the task bar in the lower-right hand side.
2. Select Eduroam from the list of available Networks and select Connect.
3. Set SOAS email address as user ID and enter your SOAS password. Your SOAS user ID must be appended with @soas.ac.uk (e.g. 123456@soas.ac.uk).
4. If successfully authenticated the status will change to connect (may briefly display Limited). You will now be connected to the Eduroam service.

For Windows 7

1. Select the icon to access the internet from the task bar in the lower-right hand side.
2. Select Eduroam from the list of Wi-Fi networks, and press Connect.
3. You will be prompted for a username and password. Enter the SOAS email address of your school. Your SOAS user ID must be appended with @soas.ac.uk (e.g. 123456@soas.ac.uk).

Your school username and password will be sent to the school server for verification. If they work, your WiFi will connect.

Please follow the instructions below to ensure your eduroam setting is correct if you are finding it difficult to connect:

1. Right click on Eduroam and then select Properties
2. Select Setting from the dialogue box, when prompted with Protected EAP Properties dialogue box.
3. Ensure that the following boxes are ticked:

• Validate server-certificate
• Connect to these serves
• AddTrust External CA Root
• QuoVadis Root CA

Under select Authentication Method: dialogue box, the following should be ticked:

• Enable Fast Reconnection
• Enforce Network Access Protection
• Enable Identity Privacy

Note: You may have to restart your PC before re-connecting it again.

For Android devices

1. Go to 'Settings', select 'Wireless & networks' and then 'Wi-Fi settings' turn on your wireless card by selecting 'Wi-Fi' (if it is not already turned on)
2. You should see a list of wireless networks, select 'eduroam'
3. You will now be asked to configure the phone by using the settings below:

• EAP method: TTLS
• Phase 2 authentication: MSCHAPV2
• CA certificate: N/A
• Domain: soas.ac.uk
• Client certificate: N/A
• Identity: 123456@soas.ac.uk
• Anonymous identity: @soas.ac.uk
• Password: your Soas password

5. Click on 'Connect'

Visit the IT Service Desk in the Library Ground Floor Area if you are unable to connect or need further help.

Our Wifi at SOAS page has further information and guidance on connecting to Eduroam.

Computer Labs

Open Access Labs

Research and other Labs

Special Needs Computer Lab

Printing

We have a number of laser printers in most labs that all students can use, as long as you have enough print credits on your account.
Every student gets a yearly print allowance:

• Undergraduates will receive £7.50, equivalent to 150 black and white, A4 sheets
• Postgraduates get £12.50
• Research students will have £20

Once you have used your print credits, you can top up your account using one of the top up stations (outside the Library entrance, on Level E in the Library, or in the lower level of SHNB).

It is important that you top up to the required amount, (any remaining balance is not refundable) when your course ends.

You can print from your own device by emailing the files you would like to print to Mobile Print (mobileprint@soas.ac.uk). More information can be found on the Printing, Photocopying and Scanning Page.

Scanning

We have scanners in the Library Reading Room and Library Floor E.

You can also scan on most of the new printer/photocopying machines in the Library and other parts of the School.

Once you’ve logged in to the machine, choose the scan option. Your scanned document will go straight to your SOAS e-mail address. (NOTE: you can't scan to USB keys on these machines).

Specialist Student Software Locations

There are a number of software applications that you can receive copies of for your personal use, such as Microsoft Office, SPSS and Nvivo. These software applications can be found on MySOAS Student, you can also either email in a request for a software to itservicedesk@soas.ac.uk or by visiting the IT Service Desk on the ground floor of the Library.

In addition all machines have Office 2010, Chrome, Firefox, Flash Player, Silverlight, PDF Creator, Apabi Reader, Audacity, etc.

NB: Students can add their own on a per session basis, (right click on language, settings…)

Diacritic Support

The Alt-Latin keyboard (English) is installed on (almost) all student machines

You can get training on basic computing and MS Office software in the autumn term. There are also online training courses available through Moodle, IT Training. Use the contact details below to find out what's available.

Support

The IT Support Desk is in the Library Reception (Floor E). The team’s there to help with computer support and general queries. But they don’t give any extensive training or support personal computer equipment.

Contacts

The IT Support Desk is in the Library Reception (Floor E). The team’s there to help with computer support and general queries. But they don’t give any extensive training or support personal computer equipment.

Library Reception Floor E

• Ext: 4950
• Tel: 020 7898 4950
• Email: itservicedesk@soas.ac.uk
• Follow us on Twitter

Opening times

Conditions of Use

The SOAS IT resources are available to assist you with your work. The use of the computer system in SOAS is governed by the “SOAS IT Policy”. Violation of the code of practice could lead to disciplinary actions (including withdrawal of services).

Student Information Desk

Student information Desk (SID) is the first point of contact for Student Advice, Support, Fees, Scholarships, Exams, Graduation, Faculties and more. You can access it using your SOAS student reference number and password.

MySOAS Student Intranet

MySOAS Student site also provides information on BLE/Moodle (virtual learning), Timetable, SOAS Online Student Services, Term Dates, Careers, Student Life and more. Log in to MySOAS Student intranet using your SOAS email address and password.

Mobile Device Information Security Guide

Phones and tablets are vulnerable to similar viruses and malware as computers and laptops. They are also an easy target for thieves, so keeping your device and data secure is important. We take information security seriously at SOAS. For more info please see Mobile Device Information Security Guide.