Canvas

When you log into Canvas, the Dashboard is the first thing you'll see. It gives you a quick overview of your current courses and helps you stay organised and up to date.

Here’s what you’ll find on your Dashboard:

• Course Cards: Each card represents a course you're enrolled in. You can click a card to enter the course and customise the colour or nickname to help you stay organised.
• To Do List: Located on the right-hand side, this shows upcoming tasks and assignments across all your courses. It’s a great way to keep track of what needs your attention next.
• Coming Up: This section highlights events and due dates that are just around the corner, helping you plan ahead.
• Recent Feedback: If your instructors have provided feedback on assignments, you’ll see it here so you can review and improve.

To view the steps in this video guide please visit the How do I use the Dashboard as a student? guidde resource.

You can also visit the How do I use the Dashboard as a student? Canvas guide.

If the course you are looking for is not displayed on the dashboard, you can find this in the Course menu by selecting from the Global Navigation menu Courses > All Courses. 

This will include your old enrolments on courses from previous years.

To view the steps in this video guide please visit the How do I view all my Canvas courses? guidde resource.

You can also visit the How do I view all my Canvas courses? Canvas guide.

The Card View Dashboard in Canvas displays course cards for your active or favourited courses, helping you stay organised. You can personalise each card by changing its colour or adding a nickname, which also updates how the course appears in your Calendar.

By default, active courses are automatically added to your Dashboard, but if you're enrolled in more than 20, only the most recent ones (based on enrolment date) will appear.

Once a course ends, it’s removed from the Dashboard but still appears in your full course list if it was previously marked as a favourite.

To view the steps in this video guide please visit the How do I view my favourite courses in the Card View Dashboard? guidde resource.

You can also visit the How do I view my courses in the Card View Dashboard? Canvas guide.

The Global Navigation Menu is located on the left side of every page in Canvas. Global Navigation links provide quick access to frequently used Canvas features. Links include Account, Dashboard, Courses, Groups, Calendar, Inbox, History, and Help.

To learn more about the Canvas Global Navigation Menu, please watch the following video.

To view the steps in this guide please visit the How do I use the Global Navigation Menu? guidde resource.

You can also visit the How do I view global activity for all courses in the Recent Activity Dashboard? and How do I use the Global Navigation Menu? Canvas guides.

Streamlined Navigation Links

We’ve added a new, easy‑to‑use navigation menu at the top of the homepage (on desktop and mobile) to help you quickly access the most important parts of your course:

• Announcements – Instructor updates
• Module Materials – Learning resources
• Module Information – Credits, learning outcomes, teaching overview
• Module Contacts – Key staff details
• Assessment Information – Instructions, deadlines, criteria
• Reading List – Recommended texts
• ReCap – Lecture recordings

New Information Sections

Additional homepage sections highlight important course information at a glance:

• Module Introduction – What the module covers
• ReCap Details – How lecture capture is used
• School Links – School‑specific resources
• Useful Links – University support such as ASK and IT services

The Canvas Course homepage is your starting point when accessing a module on Canvas.

One of its most important features is the course navigation bar, usually found on the left-hand side of the screen. This menu gives you quick access to key areas such as Modules, Assignments, Announcements, Grades, and Discussions.

This is available whilst on the Canvas Course and can help you access different areas of the course. 

To view the steps in this guide please visit the How do I use the Course Home Page as a student? guidde resource.

You can also visit the How do I use the Course Home Page as a student? Canvas guide.

Canvas Modules are like digital folders that organise your course content into a clear, step-by-step structure.

Modules make it easier to follow the flow of your learning week by week or topic by topic.

Each module typically contains a mix of resources—such as lecture slides, readings, videos, quizzes, and assignments—all grouped together so you can access everything you need in one place.

Modules are designed to guide you through the course in a logical order.

To view the steps in this guide please visit the How do I view Modules as a student? guidde resource.

You can also visit the How do I view Modules as a student? Canvas guide.

Canvas notifications keep you informed about important activity across your courses, such as new announcements, assignment due dates, discussion replies, and feedback.

You can choose how and when you receive these updates.

Notifications are sent as one of four delivery types:

• Notify immediately
• Daily summary
• Weekly summary
• Notifications off

You can also choose how you'd like to receive these updates, either via  your university email or push notifications if you're using the Canvas Student app.

Notification settings can be customised at both a global level (for all courses) and a course level (which is just for a particular course), allowing you to tailor what you see based on your preferences and study needs. To adjust your settings, go to Account > Notifications in Canvas.

Recommendation: We recommend that you set notifications to immediate for Announcements to stay informed with messages from your course tutors. 

To follow the steps in this guide please visit the How do I manage my Canvas notification settings? guidde resource.

You can also visit the How do I manage my Canvas notification settings? Canvas guide.

The Canvas Student app is a mobile application that allows you to access your Canvas courses and groups from your smartphone or tablet. Available on both Android and iOS, it offers a convenient way to stay connected with your studies wherever you are.

Through the app, you can view course content, participate in discussions, check your calendar and To Do list, and receive notifications for important updates like announcements. It’s designed to help you stay organised and engaged with your learning, even when you're on the move.

Android Guides

• How do I download the Canvas Student app on my Android device?
• How do I use the Student app on my Android device?
• How do I get help with the Student app on my Android device?
• Canvas Student Android Guide - The Complete Guide to the Canvas Student App on Android

IoS Guides

• How do I download the Canvas Student app on my iOS device?
• How do I use the Student app on my iOS device?
• How do I get help with the Student app on my iOS device?
• Canvas Student IoS Guide - The Complete Guide to the Canvas Student App on IoS

Canvas Discussions are an area within your course where you can take part in conversations with your classmates and tutors. They’re designed to support learning through collaboration—whether you're asking questions, sharing ideas, or responding to a topic set by your tutor. You can reply to posts, comment on others’ contributions, and even include media such as images or videos to support your points.

Canvas Discussions - Canvas Guides

For detailed guidance on using Canvas Discussions, please refer to the Canvas Student Guides linked below:

• How do I view Discussions as a student?
• How do I view and sort discussion replies as a student?
• How do I reply to a discussion as a student?
• How do I like a reply in a course discussion as a student?
• How do I view a discussion thread as a student?
• How do I mention a user in a discussion reply as a student?
• How do I create a course discussion as a student? - Useful for setting up study groups amongst your peers on a module

The Canvas Calendar is a helpful tool that keeps track of important dates across all your courses in one place. It displays assignment due dates, events, and scheduled activities, making it easier to manage your time and stay organised. Each course is colour-coded, matching the colours of your course cards on the Dashboard, so you can quickly identify which events belong to which course. You can also add your own personal reminders or events to the calendar. 

Canvas Calendar - Canvas Guides

For detailed guidance on using Canvas Calendar, please refer to the Canvas Student Guides linked below:

• How do I use the Calendar?
• How do I add an event to my personal calendar?
• How do I edit or delete an event or assignment in the Calendar?
• How do I filter the Calendar view by course?