What is ID verification?
When we verify your ID we match your ID with a picture of you, so that we know it’s you who has been learning with us. This lets you earn credit from universities and build trust in your Certificates of Achievement.
Once you've verified your ID, we will show an 'ID verified' badge on your Certificates of Achievement and on your profile page.
You don't have to verify your ID if you don't want to. Your certificate will be sent even if you don't verify your ID.
This article covers:
If you're having trouble with ID verification, try our article on what to do.
Accessing the ID verification system
You will find a link to access the ID verification system in your order confirmation email. If you have not received this email for any reason, please contact orders@futurelearn.com and we will be able to resend this for you.
ID verification is currently only available to learners who have made a purchase on the platform.
How the process works
- You take or upload a picture of your ID (passport, driver’s license or government issued ID) using your webcam.
- You take or upload a picture of your face.
- The system checks that they are pictures of the same person.
- See our ‘how it works’ page for a detailed step by step flow of what happens.
What formal identity documents do I need?
You can use:
- your passport
- your driver’s license
- a government issued ID.
Driver’s licenses and government issued IDs must be made out of plastic. All IDs must be valid.
Who will be able to see my ID?
Only FutureLearn can see your identity information and we store the full information only for five days. Beyond this, we only store the document name from successful ID verification attempts.
What happens to my ID data?
Apart from sharing your information with Jumio to carry out the ID verification, none of the information you submit will be shared with anyone outside FutureLearn unless you give your permission. Your details will be automatically checked and – if verified – only your document name is stored by FutureLearn.
What happens to my identity documents?
Your ID document is shared with Jumio whose servers are based in the UK. They run an automatic and manual check on your ID document and return information about the match to FutureLearn.
If the verification is successful FutureLearn will store a copy of your ID document on file with Jumio for five days. Beyond this, FutureLearn will privately store only the document name from successful ID verification attempts. Your document name will only be shown to you in your profile. In the case where you plan to continue your studies with a University partner, you will be given the option to share this document name with the University. This is so that they know it’s still you, and can recognise your learning on FutureLearn.
Is my identity information secure?
Yes. Your information is transferred over secure, encrypted HTTPS at all times and Jumio are PCI Level 1 compliant. You can find out more about their approach to security on their website.
Is ID verification mandatory?
ID verification is optional for learners who have upgraded a course.
If you're taking a program for academic or professional credit, you should verify your identity so partners can issue your credit.
What happens if I don't verify my ID?
Your Certificates are still valuable proof of learning without ID verification.
We offer ID verification mostly for learners who need additional security to prove who they are, or need to prove their identity to use their learning on FutureLearn to gain credit with a Partner University or other accrediting body.
How much does ID verification cost?
Once you purchase an upgrade from FutureLearn, verifying your identity is free.
Who is behind the ID verification?
The company behind this ID verification is called Jumio. Jumio specialises in ID recognition and has developed a secure mechanism to verify IDs online.
How long does it take to verify my ID?
This process can take between 5 seconds and 4 minutes depending on the options selected and the quality of lighting, camera resolution and ID type selected.
Comments
0 comments
Article is closed for comments.