Activate Your Accounts

Welcome to the University of Louisville!

Before you log in to any of UofL's online services, you will need to activate your UofL accounts.

**Please note: you will need your 7-digit student ID to activate your account. This number can be found in your New Cards Gateway. 

All students will be required to enroll in UL2FCTR / Duo.

UofL requires UL2FCTR (Duo) authentication for login to the Student System (on ULink). This is separate from your university userID and password. You must first enroll to create an account in order to use UL2FCTR (Duo) when required.

Enroll in UofL’s Duo to set your account preferences. Using a desktop, laptop, tablet or mobile device, log into our system with your UofL userID and password. The enrollment process registers you in our UL2FCTR / Duo and sets your preferred two-step confirmation process. You can download the free mobile app for easy verification, set up a text or SMS confirmation code option, or provide your preferred phone number for confirmation calling. It also is recommended to set more than one choice for an alternative option.

Please visit ITS’s UL2FCTR webpage for information regarding UL2FCTR / Duo.

After activating your account, please log in to both ULink and your UofL email to ensure your activation is complete. It may take 24 hours for your New Cards Gateway checklist item to show as completed.

Activating your University of Louisville accounts will give you access to your:

  • UofL student email - Communications will be sent to your UofL email regarding financial aid, and campus housing. Your professors will contact you at your UofL email address.
  • ULink - Use ULink to register for classes, access your financial aid, tuition balance, and more
  • Blackboard - Blackboard is the University of Louisville's technology platform for in-person and online classes.  You can access your syllabus, grades, assignments and more in Blackboard for each of your classes.
  • CardSmart - You will use CardSmart to find your Academic Advisor and schedule an Academic Advising appointment. Note: Traditional, first-time freshmen will not need to use CardSmart before attending freshman orientation, as they do not schedule their advising appointments.

Activating your UofL student accounts does not change your New Cards Gateway login and password.  You will need to continue to monitor your Gateway to complete important steps to officially join the Cardinal Family.  Check your New Cards Gateway regularly for items such as:

  • Updates to your application status
  • Scholarship application and action items
  • Paying your required enrollment deposit (for first-time freshmen)
  • New Cards Orientation registration and access