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School of Computing Science / Support / Guides & Tips / SFU Userid

SFU Computing ID (aka SFU UserID)

The SFU UserID (official term: SFU Computing ID) is used for authentication and in many other ways. Everyone in SFU has a unique SFU UserID.

  • it contains letters and digits only, and no other characters.
  • it has maximum length of 8.

Understandably:

  • many people confuse the SFU UserID and the SFU ID.
  • many people confuse the SFU UserID and the SFU email address.
  • many people confuse the SFU UserID and the SFU email alias.
  • it doesn't help that the SFU UserID is called different things in various SFU documentation.

One important reminder: please only use your SFU Computing ID (not alias of any kind) for emailing/login in SFU.

Here, we try to clarify these terms.

What it's called... What it looks like... How it's used...
  • SFU ID
  • Student number
  • Emplid

899501711

(exactly 9 digits)
  • For identity, grades.
  • Not shared widely.
  • Used for login by applicants, not students.

rwwoo93

(up to 8 letters & digits)
  • For login, along with the SFU Mail password.
  • It is a unique string that identifies a computing account - UserID.
    • It contains only lowercase letters and digits; it has max length of 8 characters.
    • It is part of SFU email address.
    • * The UserID must be used for login in CS labs *
    • It is recommended that the submitted assignments have filenames containing UserID.
    • It must be included when requesting technical support.
  • Login to "My SFU User Profile" site to find out more details
  • From SFU networks (SFU VPN is OK), login at https://www.sfu.ca/sfuds to remove the alias. i.e. change "Email Address" field to only user's UserID@sfu.ca
  • SFU email
  • SFU Mail address
  • Email address

rwwoo93@sfu.ca

(userid + "@sfu.ca")
  • For email communication.
  • For all SFU users, including instructors and fellow students.
  • Only letters and digits in front of "@sfu.ca" in your SFU Mail address.
    • No"_" (underscores) in SFU Mail address.
    • No"." (dots) in SFU Mail address.
  • SFU email alias
  • Email alias
  • Email address

rudyard_woo_93@sfu.ca

rudyard.woo_93@sfu.ca
  • An SFU email alias is an alternate email address, constructed from user's English name.
  • An email alias was designed for emailing only - nothing else.
    • an alias may have one or more "_" underscore characters
    • an alias may have one or more "." dots
    • an alias may have a number not in the UserID
  • The emails sent to an SFU email alias go to the same mailbox as the real SFU Mail address.
  • An alias is not for login to any SFU service, please always only use SFU UserID for login.
  • To remove the SFU email alias (highly recommended), please follow these steps:
  1. connect to SFU networks (e.g., establish SFU VPN connection)
  2. login to webapp https://www.sfu.ca/sfuds
  3. click "Edit My Entry" on the top
  4. change "Email Address" field to only user's UserID@sfu.ca
  5. click the button "Save Changes" at the bottom, and wait for a while
  6. click button "Logout" in the top-right corner for best security

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Changing the Display Name of an SFU Computing ID

Launch your web browser, start a new Private/Incognito/InPrivate window, and browse to SFU's directory service:

https://www.sfu.ca/sfuds

On this web page, click the "Login" button and login using your SFU credentials.

Once logged in, click the link "Edit My Entry" in the upper right.

On the Edit screen, please review your listing and fill in proper information as needed.

Notes:

  • Please make sure the Display Name is correct (if this is for a role account, make it compliant with the standard).
  • For the "From" address in SFU Mail:  someone may choose to use an alias, but please note that we recommend using userid@sfu.ca as the "From" address. This makes it easier to identify you when you email technical support. If you choose to use an alias, please be sure to include your userid in any request for support.
  • If your preferred SFU email address is not in the pull-down list, you can enter it in "Other Email:" and "Save Changes", which adds it to the pull-down list of "From" addresses the next time you edit your listing.

When you are satified with the information, please click the "Save Changes" button.

After saving the changes, please wait for 24 hours and then ask your colleagues/friends to find you in SFU Mail by using the new/updated Display Name.

If you need further assistance, please contact us.

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Using DAM (Delegated Account Management) to login as a role account

When given DAM access to a role account, you can login to it with your own password and OTP (SFU MFA) code.

 

The simple steps:

* please be sure to work either in a different web browser or in an incognito/private/InPrivate browser window.

* on the CAS login page, there are two methods to enter username:

method 1: in the format of "RoleAccount:myuserid"
    - (the role account, a colon and then your personal SFU userid)

method 2: in the format of ":myuserid"
    - (a colon in front of your personal SFU userid)
    - with this method, you can login as one of the role accounts you are assigned to.

* when prompted, key in your own password and your own OTP (SFU MFA) code.

 

Method 1 of using DAM      RoleAccount:myuserid

when prompted, key in your own password and your own OPT (SFU MFA) code.

Now, start using this role account!

 

Method 2 of using DAM      :myuserid

when prompted, key in your own password and your own OPT (SFU MFA) code.

please select the role account you want to login, and click the "Sign In" button; as showing here:

Now, start using this specific role account you just selected!

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Last updated @ 2026.07.22