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

This article provides instructions on account creation, accepting a course invitation, self-enrollment, and accessing courses 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. Required actions vary according to user account status and course-specific enrollment choices made by programs and instructors.

Create an Account by Accepting a Course Invitation

If your course enrollment is managed by course invitation and you do not have a UW-Milwaukee Canvas account, follow these instructions:

  1. Navigate to your inbox.
  2. Locate your Course Invitation email from Universities of Wisconsin Canvas notifications@instructure.com If you don't have an invitation, check your spam folder or reach out to your instructor.
  3. Open the email.
    Course invitation shows name, email address, username: none, and highlights get started button
  4. Select the Get Started button.
    Screen displaying welcome message. Lists course name, provides option to indicate I have a Canvas account or the highlighted option to create my account.
  5. Select Create My Account
    Login field displays blurred email address. Password field labeled A. Time zone field. Register button labeled B.

  6. A. Provide password. B. Select Register. You will then be taken to your course.

Accept a Course Invitation using an Existing Account

If your course enrollment is managed by course invitation and you have a UW-Milwaukee Canvas account, follow these instructions to accept the course invitation:

  1. Navigate to your inbox.
  2. Locate your Course Invitation email from Universities of Wisconsin Canvas notifications@instructure.com 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 with an Existing Account

If your course enrollment is managed by a self-enrollment link and you have a UW-Milwaukee Canvas account, follow these instructions:

  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

Access Your Course After Enrollment

Once you have a UW-Milwaukee Canvas account and are fully enrolled in a course, 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, CP 
Doc ID:
158655
Owned by:
Lynn M. in Advancing Learning
Created:
2026-02-16
Updated:
2026-05-29
Sites:
UW-Milwaukee Center for Advancing Student Learning, UW-Milwaukee Help Desk