Frequently Asked Questions for Third Party Organisations

Frequently Asked Questions for Third Party Organisations

How do I register to use the Sunderland University Third Party Verification Portal?

Details on how to register are provided in the relevant user guide, which can be accessed via this link:

link to user guides

 

Is there a charge for using the University of Sunderland Third Party Verification Portal?

No. To view the electronic document/s shared with you by a student or graduate that you have a connection with, there is no charge.

 

What do I do if I have not received the email to confirm my email address after completing the registration process?

Please check your email spam and/or junk folders as your email provider may not yet recognise @sunderland.ac.uk as a safe sender. If after checking your spam and junk folders you still have not received your confirmation email, please contact registrydigitaldocs@sunderland.ac.uk providing the relevant details you used to register.

 

How do I log in to the University of Sunderland Third Party Verification Portal?

Visit https://dcweb-thirdparty.sunderland.ac.uk/ and log in using the username and password you set during the initial registration process. Please note that you must register to use the portal before you can log in. For details on how to register, please see the first FAQ above.

 

How do I change my personal details?

When you have logged into the portal, please click on your name in the top-right area of the screen and then click on the “My Profile” option. You can then update any details that you require. Once the relevant details have been updated, please ensure that you then click “Save” at the bottom of the screen. Failure to press Save will result in your details remaining unchanged.

 

How do I change my password?

When you have logged into the portal, please click on your name in the top-right area of the screen and then click on the “My Profile” option. Please click on the “Change Password” option to update your password as required. Once you have entered your new password, please ensure that you then click “Save” at the bottom of the screen. Failure to press Save will result in your password remaining unchanged.

 

What do I do if I have forgotten my password?

When on the login page, please click the “Forgot my Password” link and follow the information provided to reset your password.

 

I am a third-party, how do I access documents to verify?

Third-parties can view and verify official documents of past and present students through the portal but will need to have registered to use it first (see above). Once registered to use the portal, through it a request can be sent to make a connection with a particular student. If the student approves that request you will be able to view their documents, potentially for a limited time only (the time length is determined by the student, so it is advisable to let them know how long you will need access for).

Where a student provides you with an official University of Sunderland document, this will also have on it a unique QR code, which can be scanned directly to verify the authenticity of it via our Smart Verify service. Once scanned, the QR code will automatically take you to a unique webpage confirming that the award is a genuine University of Sunderland one and that it is valid.

How do I make a connection with a student?

To initiate a connection with a particular past or present student, from the dashboard click on the “Manage” button under the “Connections” section. From there, click “Add Connection” button in the top-right area of the screen. You will need to provide the student’s name and email address that have been used in the portal (we ask students to register with a personal email address, so they can continue using the portal after graduating). The student will then receive an email notifying them that you have made a connection request. Once your request has been accepted, you will receive an email notifying you. You will then be able to see and verify the documents you have been given access to.

Alternatively, you can request that a student invites you to create a connection with them, which will then be initiated by them instead. You will only be able to see the documents that the student has given permission to share with you and documents are only valid when viewed in the Verification Portal. You will receive an email to the address you provided to the student asking you to register and accept the connection invite.

 

How do I accept a connection from a student?

If a student initiates the connection request, you will receive an email to notify you of their request. If you have not yet registered to use the portal, you will need to do this first. When you are registered, you can then log into the portal to confirm that you accept their connection request. From the dashboard, navigate to the “Connections” area of the portal and a list of your connections will appear. If you wish to accept the connection request, click the tick icon under the “Actions” section. The student will then receive an email to notify them you have accepted their connection. You can then view any documents they have shared with you by clicking on the view icon under the Actions section in the connections area.

 

Can I print/download copies of documents for students?

If you have a connection set up with a student already, and they have permitted you access to view the specific documents you require, you are able to print/download copies of those if you wish to. Please note that these documents will be watermarked for document security reasons.

 

How do I extend a connection date with a student?

Log into the portal and from your dashboard navigate to the “Connections” page and manage connections. Use the Extend option under the Actions section to request an extension to the expiry date you have with a student. The student will receive an email to notify them that you have requested an extension to your connection. They will need to approve this request for the extension to be granted.

 

How do I know if a student has extended a connection with me?

If a student extends a connection with you, you will receive an email to notify you of this. When you log into the portal and view you connection you will be able to see the new expiry date for the connection. The student will then receive a notification that their request has been accepted or declined.

 

How do I cancel a connection with a student?

Log into the portal and from your dashboard navigate to the Connections page. Next to the student that you would like to cancel a connection with, click on Manage. To cancel the connection then click on the cancel button, which is represented by a waste bin symbol under Actions. The student will then receive a notification email that the connection with you has been cancelled.

 

Why can’t I see the documents I want for a particular student?

The student you wish to view documents for must give you access to view each of their documents individually. Please contact them to make this request or to clarify what documents they have given you access to.

When a student gives you access, this is potentially for a limited period of time only and is set by them. Therefore, another potential reason you cannot see the documents you need is because the expiration date has been reached. Please make a request to extend the date of expiration to gain access again, as per the above instructions.

 

I need help using the Third-Party Verification Portal – who do I contact?

In the first instance, always refer to the user guides to help you use the system. These can be accessed via the below link:

user guides

If your issue cannot be resolved using the user guide, please email registrydigitaldocs@sunderland.ac.uk providing your name, organisation, the email used to register on the system and detail the issue you require assistance with.