My UQ Login: How Students and Staff Access Their Accounts

There’s a moment every new University of Queensland student or staff member faces: the first time they need to log in to my.UQ and realise the username isn’t their email address. This guide walks through exactly how to get in — from account activation to everyday login — and what to do when things don’t work.

University of Queensland global ranking (QS 2025): 40th ·
Enrolled students (2024): over 55,000 ·
Staff members (2024): approximately 7,500

The following table summarises the essential details for accessing my.UQ.

UQ IT Support advises: If you cannot log in, ensure you have activated your account and are using the correct username format. (UQ IT Services)

What is my UQ login?

What is the my.UQ dashboard?

For students and staff at the University of Queensland, the central access point is my.UQ, the official portal managed by Information Technology Services (ITS) (University of Queensland my.UQ support). Every student and staff member has an account that serves as their key to virtually all UQ systems — courses, grades, timetable, email, and HR platforms.

Student usernames follow a specific pattern based on your student number. For student numbers beginning with 4 or 5, your username is ‘s’ followed by the first seven digits of your student number. For student numbers starting with 3, drop the first and last digits: your username is ‘s’ followed by the remaining six digits (same source).

How do I access my.UQ?

Access the portal directly at portal.my.uq.edu.au. The first time you log in, you’ll need to activate your account — this involves entering your student number or staff username, setting a password, and confirming your identity (same source).

From the my.UQ dashboard, you can launch into key services:

• Blackboard for course materials and assignments
• mySI-net for enrolment and fee management
• Student email via Microsoft 365 (UQ Pressbooks Digital Essentials)
• Staff email, SharePoint and HR systems for employees

The implication: my.UQ is the single front door. Once you’re in, everything else is a click away.

I’m having trouble logging in, what should I do?

What to do if I forgot my password?

Use the ‘Forgot password’ link on the my.UQ login page. This sends a password reset link to your personal email address you provided during account activation (University of Queensland my.UQ support). If you haven’t set a recovery email, contact the UQ IT Service Desk at +61 7 3365 6000.

What to do if my account is locked?

Accounts can lock after multiple failed login attempts. UQ recommends the following steps before contacting support:

• Check that you’re using Caps Lock correctly and that Num Lock is on for PINs
• Clear your browser cache and cookies — outdated session data can interfere with login
• Try a different browser (Chrome, Firefox, Edge are all supported)
• If still locked, call the IT Service Desk or submit a ticket through the UQ IT support portal

Why this matters: Waiting for a locked account to auto-unlock can take hours. Acting on these checks first can save you a call — but if the issue persists, UQ IT support is the only way back in.

What is the UQ username for staff?

How do I find my staff username?

Staff usernames follow a standard format: first initial + surname (University of Queensland my.UQ support). For example, John Bloggs would have the username j.bloggs. If this doesn’t work, check with your department’s IT liaison or the UQ IT Service Desk.

Staff can log in to my.UQ using the same portal URL as students: portal.my.uq.edu.au. The dashboard includes access to:

• Staff email via Microsoft 365
• SharePoint for documents and collaboration
• HR systems for leave, payroll, and personnel records
• mySI-net for administrative tasks

What is the difference between student and staff login?

The primary difference is the username format and the services available after login. Students use an ‘s’ prefix followed by digits; staff use a name-based username. Both use the same my.UQ portal, but the dashboard displays different tiles and apps based on your role (University of Queensland my.UQ support).

Important for staff with a student identity too: if you’re both a staff member and a student, you may have two UQ accounts. For accessing research notebooks like LabArchives, UQ advises using the staff account with the @uq.edu.au email, not the @student.uq.edu.au address (UQ Library Guides LabArchives activation).

The pattern: Staff and student logins share the same portal but diverge in username rules and available applications. Understanding which account to use for each service avoids lockout delays.

Account activation for new users

Whether you’re a new student or a new staff member, account activation is a required step before you can log in. The process is straightforward but differs slightly based on your role.

1. Visit the my.UQ login page at portal.my.uq.edu.au.
2. Click ‘Activate your account’.
3. Enter your student number or staff username.
4. Set a password that meets the UQ policy (at least 8 characters, mix of letters, numbers, special symbols).
5. Provide a personal email address for account recovery.
6. Log in using your new UQ username and password.

Activating your student account

Students need to visit the my.UQ login page and select ‘Activate your account’. You’ll be prompted to enter your student number, set a password, and provide a personal email for account recovery (University of Queensland my.UQ support). After activation, you can access the my.UQ dashboard and from there activate your student email.

Student email activation is done through the ‘Prepare for semester’ page on my.UQ, which contains detailed instructions (UQ Pressbooks Digital Essentials). Once activated, your email is firstname.lastname@student.uq.edu.au and can be accessed via Microsoft 365.

UQ Library Guides clarify: Do not use @uq.net.au or @uqconnect.edu.au emails for LabArchives — only @uq.edu.au (staff) or @student.uq.edu.au (student) as appropriate. (UQ Library Guides LabArchives activation)

Activating your staff account

Staff receive their account details from their department’s HR or IT liaison. Activation typically happens before your first day, and the process mirrors the student flow — use the ‘Activate’ link on the my.UQ login page. If you don’t receive activation instructions, contact your department or the IT Service Desk (UQ IT Services).

The pattern: activation is a one-time gate. Once done, your UQ username and password work across all UQ systems — no separate sign-ups required.

Frequently asked questions