The University of Manchester is providing students with the opportunity to study for and receive a Microsoft Office Specialist certification. This page contains all of the information you will need to prepare and take an exam. Please note there are a limited number of licenses available and these will be given out on a first-come, first-served basis until July 2026.
Microsoft Office certifications demonstrate your skills as a proficient user of Microsoft Office applications. Holding this certification can therefore set you apart from other candidates when applying for work.
After gaining a Microsoft Office certification, you will get immediate access to a Digital Certificate and Transcript, as well as the Microsoft Office logo and digital badges to put on your CV.
For Microsoft Office Specialist certifications, there are two places where you can find your preparation materials:
for video content
for practice tests
In the guide linked below, you will find out how to prepare for the assessment using LinkedIn Learning and the online platform called G-metrix used for completing practice tests.
If you just want to find the video materials for your chosen certification, the links below will take you straight to the relevant LinkedIn Learning pathways.
To be ready to take your test, you should have completed at least 2 practice tests with a score of 70% or more, which is the pass mark for all of the Microsoft Office Specialist exams. The tabs below will guide you through the steps of booking your assessment.
The assessments are taken on Certiport’s Compass Cloud which has been installed on University computers for you. If you don’t have one already, you will need to set up a Certiport account. You will use your Certiport email and password to log in to Compass Cloud to take the assessment on the day, so you will need to remember this email address and password on the day of the exam.
If needed, please request any assessment accommodations, such as extra time, from Certiport more than 2 weeks before the assessment.
If you would like any exam accommodations, such as additional time for the assessment, you will need to apply directly to Certiport for these. Information on the accommodations process and how to apply is available on the Certiport website.
This process can take up to 2 weeks to be approved, so please apply more than 2 weeks in advance of your assessment.
When you book your place to take your assessment we will ask you to complete an additional form to let us know which exam you are taking and – if you have applied for exam accommodations - to let The University know what accommodations you have been granted by Certiport.
This information will be shared with those administrating the exam/pilot and staff present on the day. Microsoft Fundamentals Certifications assessments are external assessments by an external provider (Certiport) that does not have access to the University’s Disability Advisory and Support Service or other information that The University of Manchester might have.
Use the Library booking system to book a seat for your assessment. Please book only one date for your assessment. The assessments will take place on campus in The University of Manchester Library in the Blue 4.1 Teaching Suite. A University computer with the assessment software installed will be provided for you.
Please fill in the form below once you have booked your seat to tell us which certification you wish to take and if you have requested any exam accommodations.
You will get your result immediately after you have completed the assessment. Certificates can be accessed from your Certiport account by going to the 'My Transcript' tab at the top of the page.
We advise you to download this report and keep it somewhere safe as proof of your certification.
The Library is offering 'certification in a day' sessions for the Microsoft Office exams. These sessions are designed for you to come along to and work through the materials for a Microsoft Office Specialist certification with the aim of completing an assessment by the end of the day. They will take place in the Blue 4.1 Teaching Suite in the Main Library. You will be provided with a laptop and headphones, as well as all of the access codes you will need for the day.
You will be supported throughout the day by members of the Library's Teaching, Learning and Students team as well as IT support from the Digital Skills Support team.
We recommend that you only sign up for one certification at a time as they are completely extracurricular. Your access codes will allow you to study for multiple certifications at a time so, once you have completed a certification, you can study for and sit another one if you wish. We do allow retakes but the Certiport platform does not allow you to resit an exam within 24 hours.
If you would like to cancel your exam slot, there will be a cancellation link within the confirmation email of your booking. This cancellation link will also be contained in any reminder emails you receive.
If you will not be attending a session that you have booked onto, please make sure you cancel as you may be taking a space away from someone else.
We do not offer remote certifications to students. All certifications will be taken in the Blue 4.1 Teaching Suite in the Main Library.
These certifications are currently available to all students until July 2026. They are assigned on a first-come-first-served basis so make sure not to leave it too late!
If you aren't sure which certification to choose initially, it would be a good idea to start with the Associate level certifications. Think about which of the Microsoft Office applications you use the most in your work. For example, if you do a lot of data handling, it could be a good idea to go for the Excel certifications first. You could also think about skills you would like to get better at: if you would like to improve your presentations, try the Powerpoint Associate certification.
If you have any issues that aren't covered by the information on this page or in the linked online guides, feel free to get in touch with us at uml.teachingandlearning@manchester.ac.uk.
