Request new web-password

AUTOMATIC TRANSLATION OF THIS PAGE IN GERMAN

In this page, you will find assistance for the Password Self Service function, which is linked on the login page, but you can also access it directly.

Why a Password Self Service

The Self Service is designed to help you restore access to the university's IT systems at any time and from anywhere if you have forgotten your password. Here you can reset your web password, which is used for many services - see this overview page. The password reset can be done in two ways:

The option for everyone: 'Start password request' button

Start by entering identification factors

First, you need to provide some personal data in the form. This helps the system locate your login data. We ask for multiple pieces of information to prevent misuse. In the first step, you choose one of the following identification factors:

• Your Uni-ID / Matriculation Number
• Your UniCard Number
• Your BITS email address: Your email address ending with @uni-bielefeld.de. Addresses ending with @iwt.uni-bielefeld.de, @philosophie.uni-bielefeld.de, and @wiwi.uni-bielefeld.de are also included.

Choose the option that you currently have at hand. There will be one or two more steps. You will be asked for additional identification factors until the system has gathered enough information.

Special case 'Private email address'

There is another identification option:

• Private email address (eKVV or Identity Management)

The private email address is compared with the address entered in the eKVV - see the eKVV page 'My email address'. This address is taken from the application process for newly enrolled students.

Additionally, a comparison is made with the private email address entered in Identity Management (PRISMA). This address is recorded by the HR department for new employees during the hiring process.

The email addresses from eKVV and Identity Management are only used as identification factors if they do not end with uni-bielefeld.de, as such addresses are too easy to guess. Such addresses cannot be registered here.

Verification of identification factors only in the final step

During the input, you will not receive any feedback on whether your Uni-ID, for example, is known. Only when enough identification factors have been collected will it be checked if your data record can be found. If the information does not match, only a general error message will be displayed. This is to prevent others from guessing your data with the help of the password reset.

Selecting the e-mail address

The address to which the following emails will now be sent is obtained from up to four sources and the password reset page then offers you a corresponding selection:

• BITS mail address: This is your university-provided email address, which with a few exceptions is ending in '@uni-bielefeld.de'. It is available to all members of the university
• eKVV: The address you have entered in the eKVV is used here, see the eKVV page 'My e-mail address'. This address is automatically taken over from the application procedure for newly enrolled students and is therefore already available upon enrolment
• PEVZ: If you are an employee and have an entry in the personal directory, this will also be included. Only personal addresses are used, not functional addresses. Faculty e-mail addresses can be used for the password reset via the PEVZ
• Private address in Identity Management (PRISMA): A private address can be entered in the PRISMA portal (can be found in the 'My data' section). This address is set for employees as part of the recruitment process and may therefore already be available before the BITS email address can be used

The password reset searches these sources and offers all those in which email addresses were found. However, this prevents the same address from being offered more than once under a different name. Two examples:

• Your BITS e-mail address is in your PEVZ entry. Then only the BITS mail address is offered as an option
• You have stored the same private e-mail address in the electronic course catalogue (ekvv) and in PRISMA. Then only the electronic course catalogue (ekvv) address is displayed as an option

This reduction of the selection options is intended to avoid the impression that different addresses are available when it is actually always the same address.

The addresses are not displayed directly here to prevent someone who already knows some of your data from finding out your e-mail address in this way.

Starting the password reset

Afterward, you need to confirm the start of the password reset again. The reset process takes place via email. First, you will receive an email with your BITS login name. This email contains a link, which is valid for a short time, through which you can perform the second step of the reset.

Step 2 of the password reset

The second step begins when you click the link in the email, which actually resets the password. You will then receive another email with a new initial password. You should change this immediately. You will be automatically redirected to the password change page.

Option for employees: Start password request via your own PEVZ entry

This option is only available for individuals with an entry in the PEVZ. Here, the process is started via your own PEVZ entry and is therefore a bit more convenient than the first option. These steps must be completed:

• Search for your own PEVZ entry by entering your name in the search field. If you do not find an entry, a link to PEVZ data maintenance will be offered. You can still perform the password reset at any time using the previously described option.
• When your PEVZ entry is displayed, click on it to proceed to the next step. It may happen that no Uni-ID is assigned to your PEVZ entry. In this case, you can also use the alternative option. However, this issue should be resolved to gain access to the employee applications in BIS.
• Now you need to confirm your identity by entering your Uni-ID or your date of birth. The further process then proceeds as described for the first password reset option.

Where can I change my other passwords

Other passwords, such as for the BITS email account, WLAN access, and VPN, can be set in the PRISMA portal:

https://prisma.uni-bielefeld.de/

For logging into PRISMA itself, you also use the web password.