Moodle Resources for Faculty

How to Add Self Enrollment to Your Moodle Course

Self Enrollment allows users to enroll themselves in a course, rather than the Instructor enrolling them manually. They can do this by 1) visiting the course URL, either from the Course Index or as provided by the Instructor, then 2) clicking "Enroll me in this course" (and entering an enrollment key, if required).

Best Practices for Self Enrollment

• Share clear instructions with students, including the course link and enrollment key if one is set.
• Regularly monitor your Participants page to track enrollments.
• Combine Self Enrollment with other methods (e.g., manual enrollment) for flexibility.
• Consider adding an expiration date to your Self Enrollment

Step 1: Access the Course Settings

1. Log in to Moodle and navigate to your course.
2. In the course's top navigation tabs, select Participants.
3. Click the "Enrolled Users" drop-down in the upper left, then select Enrollment Methods.

Step 2: Enable Self Enrollment

1. On the Enrollment Methods page, locate the dropdown menu labeled Add Method.
2. Select "Self Enrollment" from the list.

Step 3: Configure Self Enrollment Settings

1. The default settings for Self Enrollment allow unrestricted, open-ended enrollment in the course. Be sure to note the following settings:

   • ​​​​​​​Keep current self enrollments active: Set to Yes to avoid un-enrolling existing users.

   • Allow new enrollments: Set to Yes to enable self enrollment.

   • Default Assigned Role: Confirm this is the role you would like your users to assign to themselves.

   • Unenroll inactive after: Set a pruning threshold for inactive users; 180 days (six months) or 365 days (one year) provides flexibility for users while effectively clearing out inactive users from your roster.

2. Adjust any additional settings based on your preferences. Examples include:
   • Custom Instance Name: If you would like a more specific name than the default ("Self Enrollment"), enter it here. This is visible in the Enrollment Methods list and in users' enrollment details in the course Participants list.
   • Enrollment Keys and Group Enrollment Keys: Create a password to limit who can enroll in the course. Distribute the password to your intended learners. Group Enrollment Keys can additionally sort users into designated Groups when they enroll with the corresponding passwords.
   • Enrollment Duration: Set a specific length of time that the user should remain enrolled before being automatically unenrolled.
   • Start Date / End Date: Designate a specific window of time that users may self-enroll (aka a registration period).
   • Send Course Welcome Message: If you would like to send an email to users who register using Self Enrollment, select your desired sender for the message, then write your message in the Custom Welcome Message box that appears.
3. Click Add Method to activate Self Enrollment.

Step 4: Verify the Enrollment Method

• Return to the Enrollment Methods page to confirm that your new Self Enrollment method appears in the list.

Step 5: Distribute

• With Self Enrollment active, you can now share the course URL with anyone you would like to enroll. When they open the URL you've shared, they will be prompted to enroll themselves in the course.