Check-In
Step-by-step guide to checking in
Inputting a 6 digit code
- On your computer or mobile device use the MyUoY app to access Student Check-In or visit checkin.york.ac.uk on your web browser
- Enter your University email address and password (and Duo authentication if prompted).
- Once logged in, you will see a list of that day's sessions. To register your session engagement, click the green Present button attached to that individual session.
- Enter the code provided by teaching staff in that session into the box at the top of your screen.
- You will then see confirmation that you have successfully registered at the session (the green Present button will turn into a green tick).
Using a QR code
Hover your device’s camera over the QR code and click the link that appears. You will automatically be logged into the event. Please note that the system uses Duo authentication.
What if I can’t check in?
If, for any reason, you are unable to use the system for a teaching event, you can ask the teaching staff member to manually check you into the system.
If this is not possible during the teaching session, a member of your department can assist you afterwards.
Please do not share codes outside of the session. If you share codes, you could prevent others from receiving the support and help they may need.
What counts as a teaching session?
Check-in at on-campus timetabled sessions such as:
- lectures
- tutorials
- seminars
- workshops
- lab sessions
- Independent Study Module project meetings
Some departments don't use Check-In - see below.
Departments and students NOT using Check-In
All departments are expected to use Check-In from September 2023 with the exception of the following where separate, agreed arrangements are in place:
- CPD students
- Postgraduate researchers (though 1st years will need to check-in to taught classes)
- International Pathway College
- Hull York Medical School
- York Online
Certain programmes may require engagement above the baseline of two engagement points per week, particularly if they are subject to Professional Statutory and Regulatory Body requirements.
Can I see my engagement data?
Yes, you can see a timeline of your engagement data. When you log into Check In, you will see ‘Attendance’ and a drop down menu: select Check from this menu to see a breakdown of your teaching sessions which will look similar to this screenshot:

You can also see 'Attendance by Activity', which will show you a percentage analysis of attendance at module-based teaching, eg percentage of attendance at lectures and seminars under a specific module.

What if I can't attend a teaching session?
You should try to attend all timetabled sessions unless informed otherwise by your department. However, we understand that from time to time there are good reasons why you cannot attend a timetabled session. To report your absence, follow the existing processes in your department (see your departmental handbook) or use e:Vision for self-certification.
Will I be penalised for not attending sessions?
Make sure you know of any sessions that are compulsory to attend, especially if there are Professional, Statutory and Regulatory Bodies (PSRBs) requirements for your course. You should attend those sessions, and communicate with your department at the earliest opportunity if for any reason you can’t attend one of these sessions.
How will we help?
Student engagement is observed over a five to eight week period (depending on the academic year) from the start of semester and then again over the second half of the semester. These periods are known as a ‘block’.
- If engagement is below the baseline expectation, you will receive a supportive email from your department encouraging you to increase your engagement and giving you details of all support available. You don't need to respond directly to the email.
- If your engagement does not improve over the next block, or there is no exceptional reason for low engagement, your department or school administration team will ask you to get in touch to discuss your continued absences and support you in re-engaging with your studies. Student support services will also get in touch to offer support and advice.
Blocks for 2025/26
Block 1
22 September - 24 October 2025
Block 2
3 November - 12 December 2025
Block 3
9 February - 27 March 2026
Block 4
13 April - 8 May 2026
We may also send you an email in the first few weeks of Semester 1 and/or Semester 2, with a reminder of where you can access support.
We want you to be supported throughout your time at the University and these phone calls and emails are to help us identify any concerns you may have about your studies and enable us to signpost you to relevant support. The calls are from +44 (0)1904 809578.
What if I have a student visa?
Student visa holders have always been required to engage with their studies as a condition of their visa. The Visa Compliance Team uses the data from Check-In to make informed decisions regarding a student’s visa. We make every effort to support students with low engagement, particularly where there are mitigating circumstances. If you require any support please contact your department or college in the first instance.
Other useful information
The University expects students to make every effort to attend all timetabled teaching sessions. However, we know students have different learning styles and requirements. Before any action is taken, engagement data will always be contextualised to take into account additional information such as Student Support Plans and exceptional circumstances.
Support and help
If you have any problems using Check-In, please contact your departmental admin team.
Technical support
What if I can’t check-in to the teaching session?
Remember to use Duo and login with your University email account.
If you struggle to Check-In to an event, please inform the member of the teaching staff who is delivering the session. They will be able to manually check you into the system.
If you have further issues, please contact your department or school. If there are further issues, they will highlight this to the Academic Engagement Team for further investigation.
What if I don’t have a device (laptop/phone) for accessing Check-In?
You will need to have a device in order to access Check-In as it is a web-based tool. There are a number of options available for getting access to devices:
- The Library runs a Laptop Loan scheme with over 100 short-loan laptops to borrow for up to four hours (available from the University Library, King’s Manor Library and Library@Piazza) and also 20 long-loan laptops which you can borrow for up to seven days.
- You may also be eligible to apply for funding for equipment through the University’s assistance funding. Please contact staff in the Student Hub for more information about this.
- IT Services also provide information about discounts available to students buying laptops and PCs.
Teaching staff and departmental admin teams are able to check students into the Check-In system on behalf of students, where necessary, but this is something that you would need to discuss with the member of staff leading the session.
Do I need to be on the latest version of my browser to access Check-In?
We always recommend that you use the latest version of your browser to access Check-In. For students who have University Google accounts, we would also suggest using Chrome to have the best experience as this will always be available and updated. If you have an older device or no device at all, you may wish to take advantage of the Library’s Laptop Loan scheme.
Can I access Check-In via the MyUoY app or through the timetable which I downloaded into my calendar?
No, you need use checkin.york.ac.uk to register your engagement. We’ll be looking at access via the MyUoY app in the next phase of the project.
Teaching sessions
What if I am late to a session?
The Check-In code lapses at the end of the teaching session so students can record their attendance even if they are late. The code is usually shared at the start and end of the teaching session. If you encounter any problems, please contact an administrator in your department.
Will a cancelled lecture affect my attendance record?
No, it will not affect your record. If a member of staff has cancelled a session, it will be removed from your timetable and therefore will not show up in Check-In.
Student FAQs
I have a disability and I’m struggling to use Check-In. What do I do?
Please speak to your lecturer or a member of the departmental admin team in the first instance about what adjustments they can make. For example, staff are able to check-in students where students may be struggling to do so themselves.
How does Check-In impact students with disabilities, caring responsibilities, jobs, or those on Student Support Plans?
Attendance at timetabled teaching sessions is an essential part of the student learning experience on all courses at the University. Much of the curriculum content of courses is conveyed through timetabled teaching sessions. Such sessions also give students opportunities to interact with academic staff and other students about course-related themes and issues. We therefore encourage students to make every effort to attend the majority of all in-person timetabled teaching sessions.
However, we do understand that students learn in different ways due to personal preferences or due to circumstances that need to be accounted for in Student Support Plans (SSP). Students with an SSP in place have this taken into consideration before receiving an email from their department to check in about their welfare and wellbeing.
How does this apply to student visa holders?
Student visa holders follow the same process for registering their engagement at teaching sessions as all other students.
Student visa holders receive communications from their department or school, as well as Visa Compliance, regarding their engagement. The University's Academic Engagement and Wellbeing Policy and Procedure defines the steps the University is taking to ensure it complies with UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI), whilst supporting students to engage with their studies and remain on their course.
How does Check-In take into account part-time learners who may not be able to attend teaching sessions twice a week on separate days?
The procedures for Check-In are primarily focused on full-time taught students. Part-time learners are not required to meet the attendance requirements set out in the procedures; however it is still helpful for part-time students to use Check-In so that departments can keep an eye on engagement from a welfare and wellbeing perspective.
What if I change to a different course or module?
Once your department or school has processed the change, please allow 3-4 working days for your timetable to be updated as this feeds into the Check-In data.
I’m in my final year and I don’t have many taught sessions. How does this affect the trigger points for a department to get in touch with me if I miss a session?
The threshold is based on your scheduled events, which will vary depending on your year of study and department.
How are joint honours students communicated with about engagement?
Students receive communications from their home department.
What support is available to me at the University?
Whether it's a simple question or more in depth support, there's a variety of help on hand for you while studying at university. The Student Hub is a first point of contact for support and advice about a range of issues regarding finance and money, private sector accommodation, health concerns, immigration advice, academic progress issues and more.
Our health and wellbeing help and support page lists different support services, both within the University and beyond, who can help with personal matters.
Please also reach out to the departmental admin teams or your academic supervisor if you need help and support on academic issues.
Your data
Can Check-In data be used as evidence for punitive cases against students?
Check-In is not a punitive system. The purpose of Check-In is to support student welfare and wellbeing by making the University aware at a much earlier stage where students may be experiencing difficulties and are not able to engage with their programmes.
What happens to data gathered by Check-In? How long is it stored and who has access to it?
Data access and collection is agreed through the Check-In Data Protection Impact Assessment (DPIA). Engagement data is kept for six years at the end of the student relationship, which is the same as other wellbeing data retention at the University. Access to the central database is restricted and managed by the operational owner. More information can be found via the University’s Corporate Retention Schedule.
Reporting in Check-In is only available to teaching staff and a small number of professional services staff who require it to provide welfare and wellbeing support, this includes the wellbeing phone calls and emails, mentioned above.
Data can be used from Check In for engagement trend analysis. This analysis is used to improve student engagement/experience in teaching sessions/online engagement (via the VLE log in data) and overall student retention. The data is also anonymised and used to inform student wellbeing programmes, update student communications and report back to the University where support for students may be required.
The University uses Check-In as a way of identifying a students' last date of engagement. Should a student need to take a break from their studies or withdraw, the use of Check-In data helps ensure that this date is accurate and that students receive the correct amount of funding they may be entitled to.
Data from Check In is further used to aid in understanding space utilisation across the University estate. The data is anonymised before being used in this way.
Will any third party processing take place?
The University is the organisation that will be analysing and acting on the engagement data collected. The supplier of the system (and their data hosting partner) will also have access to the data in order to provide this service; however this data is secured and bound by the University’s procurement contract and Data Protection agreement. This means the data cannot be sold or transferred and will not be used by anyone other than the University. It may be that the University uses the data to inform UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) audits, if required.
Future developments
The 2025/26 academic year sees new developments for Check-In, and the system is in an annual cycle of change.
We are currently exploring new functionalities, which include the system being able to receive replies from students, assessment data and lecture capture
We are also aware that there are departments out of scope for Check-In; further exploration is being given to bring them in scope.