MyCreds at Waterloo

There are many benefits to students and graduates. Not only does an individual have stronger control over who their documents are shared with, but documents issued through the network are authentic, show proof of tampering, and legally valid. Additionally, using the network will speed up the time it takes to process requests. Once issued, individuals will have 24/7 access to their documents. 

One share credit must be purchased to access the document types listed in the table below. To share a document with a recipient, such as an employer or educational institution, you may need to purchase additional share credits. Please refer to the following table for more information. As new documents become available, they will be added to this chart.

Document	Fee	Share period
Digital official transcript	$15, plus tax	Pay per share

When shared through the MyCreds^TM Learner portal, the official transcript is authentic, tamper evident, and legally valid. Documents issued through MyCreds^TM contain digital signatures that meet the legal requirements of certified digital documents in countries around the world. When you share your documents with third parties through the MyCreds^TM portal, these digital signatures ensure their authenticity. MyCreds^TM stores your documents securely and your data remains under Waterloo’s control, and you control who you share your documents with. More information can be found on the MyCreds^TM website.

All certified documents carry a digital signature that meets the legal standards set by the European Union for authentic electronic documents, which meets and exceeds requirements in Australia, New Zealand, and North America.

An authentic document will always have a blue-ribbon symbol that validates the document has not been altered after it has been downloaded. If a document has been altered or if the digital signature is not authentic, a symbol with a red cross will signify the document is not valid.

• Visit the MyCreds^TM website for Learner FAQs. 
• Watch the MyCreds^TMHow-To Videos.

Make your request to order a digital transcript directly in Quest; this option is available to any student who was enrolled at Waterloo since 2001. See instructions on requesting a digital official transcript or other ordering options if you studied at Waterloo prior to 2001. By requesting a digital copy, you authorize the University of Waterloo to share your data with MyCreds^TM.

1. You will receive an automated email from the University of Waterloo indicating your Quest request is being processed.
2. When your digital transcript is ready, you will receive an email notification from MyCreds^TM. Use the sign-in link directly from the email.
3. You will be prompted to use your Waterloo username (email) and password.
4. You may be prompted to provide your mobile nubmer to set up Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA)
5. You will see your issued transcript on your Documents landing page. At least one share credit must be purchased to access your transcript. The share credit can then be used to share your transcript with a third party or yourself via an email address. Additional share credits are available for purchase.

Note: If it is your first time using the MyCreds^TM Learner portal, you will be prompted to register for a MyCreds^TM account. You will also need to set up Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) with your mobile phone. To add or update your mobile number select Account Settings in the top right corner.

Digital transcript orders are processed and transmitted from Waterloo to MyCreds^TM daily. You will receive an email notification from MyCreds^TM once your digital transcript is available for you to share.

All official transcripts, in either digital or paper formats, include a transcript legend and grading scale.

Digital and paper copies of your official transcript must be purchased separately. Visit the official transcripts request page for ordering instructions.

The MyCreds^TM Learner portal uses the premise that the document is yours, you are in full control of it, and thus you “share” access to it with others.

In order to share your transcript, you must pay the $15 share fee for each unique share by buying share credits (see below for more details). If you don’t have any share credits, the SHARE button will be grey. At least one share must be purchased to initially access your transcript. 

When you have purchased a share credit, the SHARE button will become blue.

Select the SHARE button to send your transcript to your chosen destination.

Note: Should there be any updates to a document, the third-party recipient will immediately be able to access the updated version. 

When sharing your official transcript through MyCreds^TM, you have the option to include a reference number on the share screen.

MyCreds^TM does not allow for additional cover sheets to be included with the transcript. If your recipient requires a cover sheet, request a paper copy of the transcript. When ordering a paper copy, you will have the option to upload a cover sheet to be included with your transcript.

Your digital transcript is not available for download directly from your MyCreds^TM account. This is one of the ways that the Office of the Registrar ensures the integrity and authenticity of academic records for employers, graduate schools, government authorities, and other verifiers.

When you share the document with a third-party recipient directly through the MyCreds^TM Learner portal, the recipient is able to verify with Waterloo that the document is authentic and current and will have access to the transcript in PDF format which they will be able to download and retain for their record-keeping purposes.

As a Learner, if you do need to download a copy of your official transcript for your own records, you have the option to share the document with yourself. Select the share button, then select "email", and input your email address in the recipient email field. You will then receive an email with a link to download a pdf copy. This option will use up one share credit; if you also need to share the document securely with another third party within the Learner portal, you will need to purchase additional share credits and share the document via the MyCreds^TM Learner portal.

IMPORTANT: If you choose to download your transcript, and if you send this downloaded transcript to a third party, institutions and organizations may not consider it valid. By receiving a copy of a downloaded transcript, third-party recipients will have no way of verifying that the document you send them is valid, current, and up to date, as none of the security features will be available.

Instead, consider viewing and downloading your unofficial transcript as a PDF directly from Quest. This can be done at any time and at no cost to you.

If you have a hold on your account that restricts you from receiving a transcript, the format of that transcript (digital or paper) does not matter. Quest will prevent you from placing a request for a digital transcript until the balance and/or other obligations have been cleared to the satisfaction of the University. View your hold details in Quest and reach out to the appropriate unit on campus to clear your hold.

If you would like an updated version, submit a new request in Quest. Once your new request has been processed, you will receive an email notifying you that your previous transcript in MyCreds^TM has been updated. Any previous shares of your document will also be updated for the recipients; however, a notification is not sent to those previous recipients. Note: A new share credit must be purchased to access an updated transcript if you do not have any available share credits. 

You may only have one active official transcript at a time in the MyCreds^TM Learner portal. If you have made a request for an official transcript and you had previously had one issued to you in MyCreds^TM, the University will update the previously issued document instead of issuing a new one.

Yes! If you have a transcript from another institution that uses MyCreds^TM, within your MyCreds^TM Learner portal account, you can share your transcript by selecting “University of Waterloo” (for undergraduate studies applications) or “University of Waterloo – Graduate Studies” (for graduate studies applications). Complete the required information and once shared, the University of Waterloo will receive it.

No. You are not required to provide a copy of your transcript from past education completed at the University of Waterloo. Graduate Studies and Postdoctoral Affairs will upload a copy of your transcript on your behalf when you declare your previous University of Waterloo education. Transcripts sent in error are non-refundable.

With the digital transcript you will purchase a specific number of share credits for that document. Each share credit will allow you to share the secure digital transcript with one recipient, such as an employer or an educational institution. At least one share credit is required to be purchased to initially access your official transcript. A new share credit must also be purchased to access an updated transcript if you do not have any available share credits. 

In the MyCreds^TM Learner portal, you will be able to see how many share credits you purchased for your digital transcript, how many you have already used, and how many are remaining. If it is your first time on the MyCreds^TMportal, you must purchase share credits (see purchase information below) by selecting the desired quantity and paying for your order.

Example, first time purchasing share credits

 

Example, no share credits remaining:

 

Example, share credits purchased:

When you have used all of the share credits that you purchased for your digital transcript, you will no longer be able to share it with any further recipients. If the remaining share credits reach zero and you need to share your digital transcript with another recipient, you will need to purchase more share credits.

You have full control over how your document is shared - you designate your recipients, specify how long they can access your document, or require them to use a PIN that you set. You can also send the document to another post-secondary institution directly through the MyCreds^TM Learner portal if the school is registered on the MyCreds^TM network.

If you are accessing your digital transcript for the first time, you must purchase at least one share credit to access your transcript. A new share credit must also be purchased to access an updated transcript if you do not have any available share credits.

Each share credit will allow you to share the secure digital transcript with one recipient, such as an employer, an educational institution, or yourself.

For example, if you are applying to graduate programs at two universities (University A and University B) and need to submit a digital transcript with the application to each university, you would need to purchase two share credits in the MyCreds^TM Learner portal. You will then use the first share credit to send your digital transcript to University A, and the second share credit to send your digital transcript to University B.

The fee for each official transcript share credit is $15, plus tax.

The MyCreds^TM Learner portal accepts all common credit card brands as method of payment. Payment is made directly to MyCreds^TMand is non-refundable. After purchase, you will see a purchase confirmation notice on the screen, and you will also receive an email confirmation. MyCredsTM is owned by the Association of Registrars of the Universities and Colleges of Canada (ARUCC); you will see MyCreds^TM or ARUCC on communications and credit card statements.

To add share credits to your account, select the document you would like to share.

• If this is the first time accessing your digital transcript, select the "PAY" button. At least one share credit is required to initially access your digital transcript. This share credit can still be used to share your transcript.
• If you have previously purchased share credits, select the “+ SHARE CREDITS” link to purchase additional credits.

Example, first time purchasing share credits

Example, no share credits remaining:

Example, share credits purchased:

On the payment details page, choose the number of share credits you want to purchase and enter payment information. Here is an example of the payment details page:

Entering your residential address and the billing address associated with the credit card you use is a requirement for use of the MyCreds™ payment system. If your credit card is rejected, please double check your entries and ensure the correct billing address for that card is inputted. We recommend you also ensure the correct email is provided.

If possible, try to process your payment using another credit card. 

If a payment does fail, the payment card company may still hold funds for 24 to 72 hours on your credit card after which they will release the funds, a process they fully control. 

If you have any questions about your payment please email askthecentre@uwaterloo.ca for further assistance.

If you have the email notification you received from MyCreds^TM when the document was issued: Follow the link in the email notification and use your Waterloo username (email) and password.

If you no longer have the email notification you received from MyCreds^TM please allow 1 business day for processing and then:

1. Navigate to the MyCreds.ca sign in page.
2. Use the Sign in with your Education Provider button and select University of Waterloo from the list.
   

3. You will be prompted to use your Waterloo username (email) and password.

Note if it is your first time using the MyCreds^TM Learner portal: You will be prompted to register for a MyCreds^TM account. You will also need to set up Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) with your mobile phone. To add or update your mobile number select Account Settings in the top right corner.

All MyCreds^TM notifications will be sent to the email address indicated in the Quest request form.

• For students and alumni with a uwaterloo.ca email account on file in Quest, it will go to that account.
• For former students and alumni without a uwaterloo.ca email account on file in Quest, you will be prompted to enter another email address of your choosing and communications related to your request will be sent to it.

Even if you no longer have the email notification from MyCreds^TM, you can still access your documents by navigating to MyCreds.ca.

You can begin to share your digital transcript once you receive a confirmation email that your digital transcript is available. From the MyCreds^TM Learner portal, after you have purchased share credits, you can share your digital transcript with a recipient by selecting the SHARE button.

You will be asked to complete the document sharing form (details outlined below).

Once complete, the recipient will receive an email notification from MyCreds^TM that includes your name, indicating that you have shared a document with them. The recipient will click on the link provided in this email notification to view your transcript. The recipient will also be able to download your transcript.

There are two main sharing options:

• Option 1: “Email”
  • Use this option to share it with employers, institutions not listed in Option 2, other third-parties, or to download a copy for your own records.
• Option 2: “Organisation”
  • Use this option if the institution you are sending it to is listed in the Recipient field (i.e., they also use MyCreds^TM).
  • The fields that will need to be completed will vary by institution.

To complete the form, note the following:

• Share name (optional): The name you choose will be visible only to yourself in the Documents and Sharing tabs within the Learner portal (will not be seen by the recipient of your share).
• Purpose of share (optional): A simple note about why you are sharing the document with this recipient.
• Recipient email (required): The email address you want your transcript to be sent to.
• Reference (optional): Visible to the recipient, this might be a note they’ve asked you to provide with your transcript.
• Access PIN (optional): Creating a PIN means that the recipient will also need the PIN to view your transcript. It is your responsibility to provide the PIN to your recipient.
• Expiry date (optional): Entering an expiry date means that the recipient can only access your document before the entered date. You can change the expiry date after the share if an extension is needed.

Yes. If you set an expiry date when you used a share credit to share your digital transcript with a recipient, that recipient will lose access once the expiry date passes. An expired share still counts towards the number of share credits you have used.

Need to extend the expiry date? You can do that under the Sharing tab and editing the field in the appropriate shared document.

Yes. You have full control over access to your documents. In the MyCreds^TM Learner portal, go to the Sharing tab and you can view the individual share that you would like to change and disable the recipient’s access at any time. A disabled share still counts towards the number of the share credits you have used.

You can change your MyCreds^TM display name under account settings. Your display name will appear in all notifications sent to recipients you have shared your document(s) with. Your digital transcript will always display your legal name as indicated in Quest. To update your legal name, you must submit a Update Legal Name form. Once your legal name has been updated, you can request a new official transcript in Quest to be updated to MyCreds^TM.

Documents issued by the University of Waterloo through MyCreds^TM contain digital signatures that meet the legal requirements of certified digital documents in countries around the world. When students/alumni share their documents with third parties through the MyCreds^TM portal, these digital signatures ensure their authenticity as a document issued by the University of Waterloo.

Digital transcripts and digital credentials are official only when bearing the Blue Ribbon Symbol and a valid digital certification issued by GlobalSign CA for Adobe.

A document is only considered official and is a trusted document if a recipient receives it in an email sent by MyCreds^TM. The URL should start with https://learner.mycreds.ca. A transcript routed to a recipient from an individual personal email is not official.

When you view the document through the MyCreds^TM portal, you should see that:

• There is a cover page explaining the document features.
• Document status says Available.
• The document has the Certified blue-ribbon symbol.
• You can view the certificate information.

Students are able to set up a PIN when they share a document and it is their responsibility to share it with the recipient. Please reach out to the individual who sent you the document.

A document verification failure message will display after accessing the link if:

• A document has been revoked by Waterloo.
• The share has expired (students/alumni are able to set expiry dates and make extensions).
• The share has been disabled by the student/alumni.

Please see the MyCreds^TM Verifier FAQs.