Help

This site provides step-by-step instructions for staff on how to use instructional technologies such as Blackboard and University of Galway digitally enhanced classrooms.

How to log into Blackboard

Instructions on how to access to Blackboard on and off-campus.

If you have any queries, please contact the ISS Service Desk (email[email protected]) or call them on (091) 495777

Go to Blackboard

Go to https://nuigalway.blackboard.com/

Click the “Sign in with a third-party account” drop down and select 'NUI Galway Login'.

Select “NUI Galway Login”.

You will be directed to the University Office365 login page.

Enter your O365 login details and click “Next”.

Staff: login using [email protected] (e.g. [email protected])
Students: login using your email address (e.g. [email protected])

Be sure to enter the full account detail, including "@nuigalway.ie"

Enter your password and click “Sign in”

If your account uses Multiple Factor Authentication, you will need to authenticate using your mobile phone.

Further Troubleshooting

Are you seeing one of the following messages?

Error 1: Contact your administrator for assistance

When signing into Blackboard, some users report getting an authentication expired error message (see picture below). "Blackboard is currently unable to log into your account using single sign-on. Contact your administrator for assistance."

Ensure you are logging in using the method described above.
You can also check your username and password, by logging into Office.com and verifying your account. These are the same details you will use for Blackboard, using the "Sign in with third-party" option, as described above.
If you are still unable to access Blackboard, you can ring the servicedesk on 091 495777 directly.

Error 2: The authentication request has expired.

When signing into Blackboard, some users report getting an authentication expired error message (see picture below). "Blackboard Learn is currently unable to log into your account using Single sign-on because the authentication request has expired. Please log out of single sign on and try again"

The error prevents users from logging into the Blackboard system. Even when the user clicks “Return to Login Page” and attempts to sign in again, the error reappears.

Here's how you can fix it

Once you see this error, you will need to ensure you log out of your NUI Galway Office365 account. Go to https://www.office.com/ and ensure you click the sign out option.
Close your web browser and reopen it, and try to log in again.
If you are still unsuccessful, you may also need clear the history, cache, and cookies on your web browser. Below are links for instructions for those steps ( Note that Google Chrome and Firefox are the two recommended browsers for Blackboard SaaS).

Clearing Browser Cache and Cookies

Chrome

If you are using Google Chrome:

Please copy paste this link in your browser:chrome://settings/clearBrowserData
Check the boxes for "Browsing history, Cookies and other site data, and Cached images and files" and click "Clear Data"
Completely close all tabs/windows and restart the browser

Need more help? Please follow the steps here

Firefox

If you are using Firefox:

Please copy paste this link in your browser:about:preferences#privacy
Under the "Cookies and Site Data" section, please click on "Clear Data." And the click "Clear."
Completely close all tabs/windows and restart the browser

Need more help? Please follow the steps here

Microsoft Internet explorer

If are you using Microsoft Internet Explorer:

Select Tools (via the Gear Icon) Safety Delete browsing history
Make sure to uncheck Preserve Favorites website data.
Select Temporary Internet Files, Cookies, and History, then click Delete.

Safari

If you are using Safari:

Please follow the steps here
Click on "Manage Website Data." Click "Remove All."
Completely close all tabs/windows and restart the browser

Microsoft Edge

If you are using Microsoft Edge:

Click on the "Settings and More" icon (ellipsis symbol). Click Settings.
Under Clear browsing data, select Choose what to clear.
Select "Browsing history, Cookies and saved website data, Cached data and files, and Tabs I've set aside", and then select Clear.

Here's how to prevent it

To prevent this error from occurring in the future, you should log out and click "End SSO session" when you are finished using Blackboard (see picture below).

To logout, click the logout button in the upper right corner of Blackboard.
One the next screen, click the “End SSO Session” button. Do not leave Blackboard logged in on your computer when you are not using it.