Staff Access to HDS | Secure. Clear. Step by Step.

HDS STAFF SIGN-IN GUIDE
How to sign in to HDS
from DIY Services
A quick guide to accessing the Higher Degrees System.
Follow the sign-in journey below to move from NWU DIY Services into HDS and see what to expect at each step.
Open DIY Services View login steps
 Who can use HDS? +
✓ Registered master’s and doctoral students under supervision.
✓ Registration must be current.
✓ A supervisor or promoter must be allocated.
☷ HDS in 3 steps +
1. DIY Services — use your NWU username and password.
2. Microsoft — use studentnumber@mynwu.ac.za.
3. HDS — no separate HDS password.
✓ Before you begin +
✓ Know your NWU username and password.
✓ Know your NWU Microsoft account.
✓ Use a browser that allows pop-ups.
⚙ Understanding single sign-on (SSO) +
HDS uses your existing NWU and Microsoft sign-in to confirm your identity.
DIY Services→ NWU Sign-in→ Microsoft→ HDS
HDS does not have its own password.
💻
Step-by-step login journey
Follow these 6 steps to access the Higher Degrees System (HDS) through DIY Services.
1 Start at DIY Services +
Open diyservices.nwu.ac.za. Then select Postgraduate Students.
NWU
DIY SERVICES
Undergraduate Students Postgraduate Students
 
iOpen DIY Services and select Postgraduate Students.
2 Sign in with your NWU credentials +
On the NWU Central Authentication Service page, enter your normal NWU username and password.
NWU Information Technology
Central Authentication Service
Username
Password
Sign in
 
iUse your NWU username and password.
3 Open HDS +
On DIY Services, click the HDS application tile.
My Applications
◉
eFundi
🎓
HDS
＋
Other
 
iClick the HDS tile on DIY Services.
4 Allow the pop-up +
HDS opens in a new browser window. If nothing happens, allow pop-ups for DIY Services and click the HDS link again.
🔵 Pop-up blocked
https://diyservices.nwu.ac.za wants to open a pop-up window
Allow
Block
 
iYou normally only need to allow pop-ups once per browser.
5 Sign in with Microsoft +
Use studentnumber@mynwu.ac.za. Then enter your NWU password. If prompted for MFA, approve the request or enter the verification code.
Microsoft
Sign in
Next
 
iOnly approve an MFA request that you triggered yourself.
6 Enter HDS +
On the HDS welcome page, select NWU Staff & Student Sign In. Do not use the other sign-in option.
NWU
Higher Degrees System (HDS)
Welcome
NWU Staff & Student Sign In
 
i✓ You’re in! You will see the HDS home page.
🔧
Troubleshooting
Open / Close

✕

The HDS link does not open.
Your browser may be blocking the pop-up. Allow pop-ups and try again.

✕

Your password is not accepted.
Use your normal NWU password. If it still does not work, reset it and try again.

i

Microsoft asks you to sign in again.
This is normal on a new device, in a new browser, or in a new session.

✕

HDS says you have no access.
Confirm that your registration and supervision details are current.

✕

You cannot complete MFA.
Log a call with the IT service desk to have your MFA method reset.
?
Need help?
🎧 IT Service Desk
Use for:
✓ Sign-in problems
✓ Password problems
✓ MFA problems
✓ Pop-up problems
✓ Other login-related issues
👥 Faculty Postgraduate Administration
Use for:
✓ Registration-related access problems
✓ Supervisor-related access problems
✓ Other study-related HDS queries
When logging a call, include:
✓ Your student number
✓ A clear error message
✓ A screenshot (if possible)
✓ The browser you were using
Extra context helps us
Whether the device is your own or a university computer can influence how the issue is resolved. Please include this information when you contact us.
🛡
Protect your information

✓

Never share your NWU password.

✓

Never approve an MFA request for someone else.

✓

Use HDS only for your own studies.

✓

Do not share screenshots containing personal information.

✓

Sign out and close the browser on shared computers.
☷
In summary

✓

Access HDS through DIY Services, then through your NWU Microsoft account.

✓

You may need to allow pop-ups or sign in to Microsoft again.

✓

On a new device or browser session, sign in again.

✓

There is no separate HDS password.

✓

Contact the IT Service Desk or Faculty Postgraduate Administration if you need help.
Simple. Secure. Step by step.
North-West University Information Technology