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Canvas Course Enrollment and Access for Non-UW Students/Participants

This article provides instructions on how to self-enroll and access a Canvas course for students and participants who are not officially enrolled at UW-Milwaukee or any other university in the University of Wisconsin system. These instructions are not intended for individuals who are provided access to university services like an email account e.g. name@uwm.edu, name@uwosh.edu, name@wisc.edu, etc.

Before non-UW students/participants can gain access to a UW-Milwaukee Canvas course, they must create an account in UW-Milwaukee's Canvas instance. Students will need to provide a course-specific join code when they create their account. Once an account has been created, there are a variety of options for subsequent enrollments.

Create an Account

Option 1: Use the Registration Invitation Link

  1. Select the registration invitation link provided by your instructor.
  2. Select I'm a student. 
    Free account creation page. Teacher, student, and parent options available. Student option is outlined.
  3. Enter the provided alpha numeric code (approximately 6 characters long), complete all fields, and select start learning.
    Student account creation screen. Fields include: join code, full name, username, password, and confirm password. Start learning button included after all fields.

Option 2: Create an Account from the Login Page 

Be sure you have the course-specific join code.

  1. Go to Canvas for Other Users on the UWM Canvas homepage
  2. Select Log in to Canvas for Other Users
    Other Canvas Users tab of Canvas home page. Log in to Canvas for Other Users button highlighted.
  3. Select Need a Canvas Account? Click Here, It's Free!
    Blue Universities of Wisconsin login page. Need a Canvas Account? Click Here, It's Free! is outlined
  4. Select I'm a student.
    Free account creation page. Teacher, student, and parent options available. Student option is outlined.
  5. Enter the provided alpha numeric code (approximately 6 characters long), complete all fields, and select start learning.
    Student account creation screen. Fields include: join code, full name, username, password, and confirm password. Start learning button included after all fields.

Accept a Course Invitation

Once you have an account, your instructor may choose to invite you to a course. When you are invited to join a course on Canvas, you will receive an email. You must accept the invitation.

  1. Navigate to your inbox.
  2. Locate your email. The subject line should include the words, Course Invitation. If you don't have an invitation, check your spam folder or reach out to your instructor.
  3. Open the email.
    Course invitation email begins, "you've been invited to particiate in the course..." Placeholders indicate name, email, and username would be shown. Get started button is outlined.
  4. Select the Get Started button.
  5. If you are not logged in to Canvas, do so by entering your email address and password when prompted. Be sure to use the email address listed in your course invitation.
  6. Click the Login button. Accept the course invitation.

Alternatively, you may log in to Canvas directly, using the Log in to Canvas for Other Users button on the Canvas for Other Users tab of the UWM Canvas homepage and accept the course invite on your dashboard.

Use a Self-Enrollment Link

Once you have an account, your instructor may choose to provide you with a self-enrollment link. 

  1. Select the self-enrollment link provided by your instructor.
  2. Select UW Continuing Education Student.
    Red University of Wisconsin System Select Login Type Screen. Arrow pointing to UW Continuing Education Student button
  3. Enter the email address and password used to created your account. Click the Forgot Password link if you need to reset your password. If you are experiencing issues while logging in, contact Canvas Support. 
    Blue Universities of Wisconsin login screen
  4. Select Enroll in Course
    Enroll in Course confirmation screen

Accessing Your Course

Once you have an account and are fully enrolled, you can return to your course by logging in to Canvas directly using the Log in to Canvas for Other Users button on the Canvas for Other Users tab of the UWM Canvas homepage. You will find your course(s) on your course dashboard and your course list in navigation.


For Further Assistance

Contact Canvas Support by chat or call 414-251-5050.


Keywords:
canvas, access, login, special link, register, enroll, join, non-uw, MATC, m-cubed, continuing education, CE, self-enroll, invite 
Doc ID:
158655
Owned by:
Lynn M. in Advancing Learning
Created:
2026-02-16
Updated:
2026-02-16
Sites:
UW-Milwaukee Center for Advancing Student Learning, UW-Milwaukee Help Desk