Electronic Resources and Athens authentication

Use the Online Library page to access electronic resources.

Most electronic resources are available using the Athens authentication system. You do not need a separate user name and password for Athens; you will be directed to enter your University of Surrey computer account user name and password.

Getting started: How do I get my username and password?

The Computer Account username and password is usually provided automatically at registration and can be used to login to Athens-authenticated electronic resources, ULearn, University of Surrey e-mail and other University of Surrey on-line resources.

You can use the Computer Account Self Service to find your own username, select a new password and initialise your account, at the following web page:

https://magic.surrey.ac.uk/userquery

IMPORTANT: You must know your University Registration Number before you start this process.

Before you can start to use your Athens account, you must:

1. Locate your Surrey Computer username through the website above

2. Change your initial Surrey password to a new one of your choice

Tips for changing the password:

Ensure that the new password is at least 8 characters long.

Ensure that the new password has at least one number and at least one letter in it and that the number is within the first six characters of the password

Check that the correct username has been entered and that the username is in lower case

Ensure that the new password has been entered in twice exactly the same, using both boxes provided for the new password.

REMEMBER: that Athens logins should not be shared with any other person.

Getting Started: Accessing e-resources from off campus.

You need to download the Athens cookie on to all computers you use to login to electronic resources OR use the "Alternative login" method.

Go the University Library homepage, and click on Online Library. To the right of the screen, you will see a link "Set Cookie". Click on this to load the cookie onto the computer. This usually only needs to be done once on each computer.

Please see the Athens FAQ web page for much more information and step-by-step instructions with illustrations. There are also instructions for logging in via an alternative method if you are unable to download the cookie onto the computer you are using.

Most questions should be covered by the Athens FAQ but if you have difficulties, please contact usersupport@surrey.ac.uk , including your university registration number in the email.

Secure Remote Access. A few databases, including past exam papers and some electronic journals require unique usernames and passwords. For these you will need to login to the Secure Remote access service first.

To login to Secure Access:

Username: Enter your network username in lower case

Password: Enter the password you have chosen in the case that you normally use

Realm: Ensure this is set to Active Directory

Click on Sign In

You will then see the link to Library resources not usually accessible from off campus