Please read the following information to ensure you are ready for online learning at St Mary’s.
Laptop or desktop computer
- A Windows desktop or laptop running Windows 10 or later operating system.
- We recommend a minimum of an Intel i3 or equivalent processor and at least 4GB RAM.
- If possible we recommend an Intel i5 or higher processor and 8GB RAM for the best experience with university systems.
- A MacOS desktop or laptop running OSX 11.7 or later operating system.
While you can participate in your classes on a tablet or phone we recommend using one of the above devices, particularly for assessments.
Devices with small screens may make it difficult to adequately view the material provided. You should have at least 1024 pixels horizontally and 768 vertically for adequate viewing.
Internet Access
Mobile Phone
We recommend a smartphone to be able to set up the Microsoft Authenticator app. You will need to authenticate with Multifactor Authentication when logging in to your account, and the easiest way to do this is via the Authenticator App.
If you do not have a smartphone you will need a device that is able to receive SMS messages as an alternative method of authenticating.
Microphone/Speakers
This is important so you can talk and listen to your online discussions. You may have these built into your device. If not then please make sure you have an external headset/microphone and speakers so you can participate in your classes.
Webcam (optional)
An external USB webcam can be used if you do not have one built into your device. If using an external webcam, it is recommended that you also use headphones to prevent audio feedback.
An up-to-date web browser
We recommend the following browsers:
- Chrome from Google
- Firefox from Mozilla
- Edge from Microsoft
- Safari from Apple.
Please check your browser is up to date as this is important to maximise security when accessing the internet.
Up-to-date software
Please check for any updates to both the operating system, software and your preferred browser, and ensure you have installed and up to date antivirus software. St Mary’s University provides access to Microsoft Office suite of software. Please follow the link to make sure you have software needed to view and produce various files.
Remote learning FAQs
We hope the below will help to answer some of the frequently asked questions you may have about remote delivery of teaching and assessment.
What if my broadband won’t run live lectures?
Online video conferencing tools can be broadband intensive especially when using both video and audio facilities. If you experience issues during a live online lecture, please turn off both your video camera and mute your audio. If problems persist you may need to ask your lecturer to ask the other students to do the same, in this way all of your available broadband capacity is focused on the lecturer and his/her presentation.
How do I access these online tools?
If your lecturer is planning an online lecture, they will let you know the meeting URL through Moodle or an Outlook email/calendar invitation. By clicking on the link you will be able to join in. Depending on the software used it might prompt you to download a tool when you use it for the first time. If your lecturer wishes to use other collaborative tools like Padlet he/she will set this up and invite you to contribute, you will receive an invite for this in your St Mary’s email inbox. If your lecturer wishes to use online polling tools, he/she will provide you with the URL you need to participate. The Student Portal has further information on online learning tools.