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? Find out who qualifies for HDS access.
✓ Supervisory team.
✓ Higher Degrees Administrators.
✓ Higher Degrees Managers.
HDS in 3 steps A quick overview of the sign-in process.
1. DIY Services — use your NWU username and password.
2. Microsoft — use
12345678@nwu.ac.za.
3. HDS — no separate HDS password.
Before you begin What you need for a smooth sign-in.
✓ Know your NWU username and password.
✓ Know your NWU Microsoft account.
✓ Use a browser that allows pop-ups.
Understanding single sign-on (SSO) Learn how NWU sign-in connects you to HDS.
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.

Your HDS sign-in journey at a glance

From DIY Services to the HDS home page in five clear stages.

1 Start on DIY ServicesSelect Postgraduate Students and sign in with your NWU credentials.
2 Open HDSSelect the HDS tile and allow the pop-up window if your browser blocks it.
3 Microsoft confirms youUse your NWU Microsoft account and complete MFA if prompted.
4 Enter HDSSelect NWU Staff & Student Sign In on the HDS welcome page.
5 You’re inHDS opens the home page using your existing NWU sign-in.
Step-by-step login journey Open to view all 6 HDS sign-in steps.

Your route from DIY Services to HDS. Open only the section you need. The guide keeps the sign-in journey, support information and key reminders easy to scan without hunting through a long page.

1Start 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.
2Sign 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.
3Open HDS
On DIY Services, click the HDS application tile.
My Applications
◉
eFundi
🎓
HDS
＋
Other
 
iClick the HDS tile on DIY Services.
4Allow 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.
5Sign in with Microsoft
Use 12345678@nwu.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.
6Enter 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.

Help, troubleshooting and safe use

Support information when something does not work as expected.

A Troubleshooting

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.

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.

B Getting help and logging a call

IT Service Desk

Use for sign-in problems, password problems, MFA problems, pop-up problems and other login-related issues.

Faculty Postgraduate Administration

Use for registration-related access problems, supervisor-related access problems and other study-related HDS queries.

When logging a call, include:

Your student number, the exact error message or a screenshot, and the browser you were using.

Extra context helps us

Please also say whether the device is your own or a University computer.

C 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.
D In summary

Access HDS through DIY Services and 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.