SCONUL Access is a co-operative venture between most of the higher education libraries of the UK and Ireland.
It enables staff and eligible students to borrow material from other libraries.
If you plan to visit a university library in the Republic of Ireland, you may wish to consider the ALCID Scheme.
Who can use SCONUL Access?
Band A members
Academic staff on open or fixed term contracts.
Postgraduate research students registered for a PhD, MPhil or similar qualification awarded purely by research.
Band B members
Part-time, distance learning and placement students.
Full-time students on a placement of six weeks or more on a course running for a minimum of one academic year and leading to a HE award.
Band C members
Full-time taught post-graduate students.
Band R members
Reference only access to members not covered above, e.g. full time undergraduates.
We expect all applicants to be registered on a course leading to a University award running for a minimum of one year.
To apply for SCONUL Access
To apply for access to the Ulster University Library you must register with the SCONUL Access Scheme. There are three initial steps:
- Go to the SCONUL access webpage.
- Select your user type and your own home institution (university). Click Find (to identify the library you wish to visit).
- From the results list select Ulster University (i.e. the Library you wish to access).
When the Ulster University details appear, click on Apply for Access and fill in the registration form and click on submit. You will receive an email acknowledging your request.
If your home institution approves your request, you will receive an Approval Email. PRINT THIS EMAIL message.
When you wish to visit our Library, members in Bands A,B,and C should apply for a Ulster University Library Borrowers card by completing this Application Form and bringing it along with your photographic ID and approval email to any campus Library, or sending everything to:
Senior Information Assistant (Circulation),
Belfast Library Issue Desk,
Ulster University,
York Street
Belfast
Co. Antrim, BT15 1ED
Your borrowers card will be posted out to you. Always have your photographic ID, approval email and Ulster SCONUL borrower card with you when you wish to borrow books from the library.
Band A borrowers will be able to borrow 6 Standard Loan Books; Band B and Band C borrowers will be able to borrow 2 Standard loan books
Band R members who have reference only access should have their Ulster SCONUL card, approval email and photographic ID available for inspection. Our Libraries have an ‘Open Door’ policy for reference access, though for the Belfast campus library they should request a visitor pass by contacting staff at Belfast library at least 24 hours in advance of visiting. On arrival at the ground floor Block BC reception they should have their Ulster SCONUL card, approval email and photographic ID to collect their visitor pass and gain access to the library.
SCONUL Access membership only covers access (all Bands) and book borrowing (Bands A-C), not access to our e-journals or databases nor use of our student PCs.
Belfast library access: Belfast campus has an access control system in place and 24hr advance notice is required to enable visitor passes to be prepared. Please contact staff at Belfast library at least one day ahead of visiting to allow a visitor pass to be prepared. On arrival SCONUL Access borrowers should present their Ulster SCONUL library card, approval email and photographic ID to staff at the ground floor Block BC reception to collect their visitor pass.
Acceptable photographic ID:
- Passport
- Driving licence
- National ID card
- Student card showing expiry date
- Staff card showing expiry date (i.e. NHS, University)
- Police / Customs / Home Office Warrant Card
- Forces ID card
- Photocard from another UK Legal Deposit Library (BL, National Libraries of Scotland and Wales, Bodleian Libraries, TCD)
To apply for access to another university library as a Ulster University member, you must register with the SCONUL Access Scheme as follows:
- Go to the SCONUL access webpage.
- Select your user type and your home institution (Ulster University). Click Find (to identify the library you wish to visit).
- From the results list select the Library you wish to access.
When the details of the library you wish to visit appear, click on Apply for Access and fill in the registration form and Submit. You will receive an email acknowledging your request.
If your request is approved by us, you will receive an Approval Email. PRINT THIS EMAIL message.
Always take a copy of your approval email and your photographic ID with you when you go to the library you want to visit.
Please note that you can use the same approval email to apply to different libraries; you do not have to submit an online application each time you want to join a new host library.
If you do not already have an Ulster University ID card, you can request one from University Registry. Distance learners should contact the Coleraine Campus Registry office.
NB. The Library at Queen's University, Belfast only permit access to Band A members.