Canvas Updates

Important update - Canvas now available

(Updated 13 May 2026)

We are pleased to confirm that Canvas is now available for staff and students (including online and partner students).

This follows the recent outage caused by a cyber incident affecting our supplier. We appreciate the significant disruption this has caused and would like to thank you for your continued support and patience during this period.

Please use Canvas as normal for all study, assessment submissions, and marking.

Instructure, the supplier of Canvas, has confirmed that the system is secure and that Canvas is fully operational and safe to use.

We also understand from Instructure that all personal data has been returned.

It still remains possible, though, that we will see an increase in Phishing emails trying to access sensitive information such as passwords. As always, be sure to check sender addresses and don’t open or click on anything you are not expecting. Remind yourself about how to spot and avoid Phishing with our helpful guidance - see more details below. 

Also, any multifactor authentication requests you receive should always relate to an activity you are doing (accessing email, Canvas, PCs on campus). If in doubt, don’t authenticate.

Assessments and exams

As previously communicated:

• Deadlines for assessments due between 8–22 May have been extended automatically in line with the duration of the outage
• Exams will continue with the measures already put in place to ensure students are not disadvantaged
• These arrangements apply to all students, with some variations where required for professionally accredited courses

See further details below.

Help and guidance

For any queries regarding submissions, students are asked to contact the ASK team or module leader.

If you experience issues accessing the Canvas log-in box, please clear the cache in your browser (this option will be behind the three-dot menu in your browser settings).

You can also contact the IT Service Desk by email using itsupport@wlv.ac.uk or by phoning us on 01902 322000.

(Update 11 May 2026)

Assessment submissions (non-exam)

For the period of time that Canvas is unavailable, we will update the deadline for all assessments with a due date between 8 and 22 May by the amount of time that Canvas is unavailable.

For example, assessments due to be submitted on 13 May will have the deadline extended to 18 May.

This change applies to all students and all assessments due between 8 and 22 May 2026, and will be updated automatically within our records. The university will keep this under review, and where Canvas continues to be unavailable for longer into this week or next, the revised deadlines will be updated again to reflect the additional unavailability.

Exams

Given that Canvas became unavailable on 8 May, and very shortly ahead of the main exam weeks (week commencing 11 May and 18 May 2026), we have elected to continue with exam weeks as scheduled and planned. Unless you have extenuating circumstances, you should attend your exam(s) as planned.

However, we of course recognise the disruption to your preparation resulting from Canvas being unavailable, and therefore the following approach will be adopted to ensure you are not disadvantaged:

For foundation or level 4 exams

1. Where a student attempts but fails an exam sat between 8-22 May 2026, an exceptional pass will be applied and credit awarded without a mark or the need to resit.
2. Where a student passes an exam sat between 8-22 May 2026, however the mark achieved is below the average mark for the rest of the student’s modules from the course level, then the average mark for the level will be applied. Where the exam mark achieved is higher than the average for the level then the exam mark will be applied. For example, if a student achieves a 63 in the exam, however the average mark of the rest of their modules is 81, then 81 be applied to the module concerned to reflect an apparent impact of Canvas being unavailable. If the average mark for the rest of the modules was 58, then the 63 from the exam would be applied.  

For level 5, 6, and 7 exams

1. Where a student fails an exam sat between 8-22 May 2026, and the exam was not the only assessment for the module (e.g. the module was assessed both by an exam and a piece of coursework), then the exam outcome will be disregarded and the coursework mark will apply for the whole module with credit awarded.
2. Where a student fails an exam sat between 8-22 May 2026, and the exam was the only assessment for the module, then students will be given another attempt without penalty during the July resit period (week commencing 6 July 2026)*. 
3. Where a student passes an exam sat between 8-22 May 2026, either the mark achieved in the exam or the average mark for the wider level will apply (depending on which is higher).

*Level 6 and 7 students due to complete their course and attend graduation in July (and who have passed all other credits) will still be able to do so irrespective of whether the result from the resit is known. Simply put, this means you will still be invited to graduate with your cohort even where the result is not known.   

Please note that where you are studying on a course accredited by a Professional, Statutory, or Regulatory body, some of the above approaches might not apply, with alternative approaches implemented to ensure you are not disadvantaged. Your course team will notify you if this is the case.

Beware increased Phishing attempts

It is possible that we may see an increase in Phishing emails trying to get you to provide sensitive information such as your password. Look out particularly for emails that seem to relate to Canvas but include a tag at the top of the message like this:

Subjects might cover things like: 

• your Canvas session has expired
• requests to update your student or staff account information
• you have a message in your Canvas inbox.

Remind yourself about how to spot and avoid Phishing with our helpful guidance.