Moodle accessibility statement 

Moodle is the University of Glasgow’s Virtual Learning Environment. This website is run by the University of Glasgow; however, the core product is a third party developed open source solution, with some customisations applicable to the University of Glasgow’s usage.

Moodle's goal is to be fully accessible and usable for all users. Moodle has an ongoing commitment to accessibility. Moodle aims to provide the same functionality and information to all people. There should be no barriers regardless of disabilities, assistive technologies, different screen sizes, or input devices.

This is the Moodle service accessibility statement in line with Public Sector Body (Websites and Mobile Applications) (No. 2) Accessibility Regulations 2018.

Moodle LMS has WCAG 2.1 level AA accreditation for Moodle 4. Moodle will continue to keep this accreditation up to date with follow up audits for future releases.

Using this website

We want as many people as possible to be able to use this website. For example, that means you should be able to:

  • Change colours, contrast levels and fonts
  • Zoom in up to 300% without the text spilling off the screen
  • Navigate most of the website using just a keyboard
  • Navigate most of the website using speech recognition software
  • Listen to most of the website using a screen reader
  • Use the custom Accessibility Tools feature in the UofG Moodle to adjust the text size, font and colour scheme.

We’ve also made the website text as simple as possible to understand.

AbilityNet has advice on making your device easier to use if you have a disability.

How accessible this website is

In July 2024 the University of Glasgow upgraded to Moodle LMS 4.4.2.

Moodle LMS includes various features, tools, and integrations to ensure educators and administrators create courses, resources, and activities that enhance accessibility.

One example of this is in the "Atto text editor" which includes an "Accessibility checker" and an "Accessibility helper" which provide additional information for content authors on the accessibility of their content. One example of this is a check to ensure that content meets WCAG AA colour contrast requirements.

The University of Glasgow subscribes to Anthology Ally accessibility checker. Moodle content creators are encouraged to use the tool to improve the accessibility of their content.

We know that some parts of the website may not be fully accessible:

  • Older PDF documents may not be fully accessible to screen reader software i.e. those with complex mathematical notations etc.
  • Some older images embedded on course pages may lack text alternatives.
  • Some older PDF or other document types which have been created/published by staff and students may not be fully accessible.
  • Some older video content hosted on course pages or accessed through external links may not have captions.
  • Live video streams which may be accessed via a link hosted on the Moodle environment will not have captions (i.e. this could be live lectures being delivered over Zoom).

Listed above are the known / common accessibility issues for which the University of Glasgow are aware of in relation to the use of the Moodle Virtual Learning Environment. Moodle also host further information relating to accessibility:

Alternative Accessible formats

The accessibility plug in Anthology Ally is integrated with Moodle (as of September 2020). This tool has two purposes.

  • To help content / course owners to improve the accessibility of content hosted on UofG Moodle courses.
  • To provide alternative accessible formats (where applicable / appropriate) for content hosted on UofG Moodle courses.

The University of Glasgow's Alternative Formats Service provides accessible copies of library resources and teaching materials to print for disabled students.

Feedback and contact information

If you need information on this website in a different format like accessible PDF, large print, easy read, audio recording or braille (and are not able to obtain a required alternative format via the Anthology Ally service mentioned above) please contact:

We’ll consider your request and get back to you in 5 days.

British Sign Language

BSL users can contact us via contactSCOTLAND-BSL, the online British Sign Language interpreting video relay service.

Find out more about BSL assistance: contactSCOTLAND 

Reporting accessibility problems with this website

We’re always looking to improve the accessibility of this website, either through internal customisations (i.e Anthology Ally, Moodle Accessibility Tool), or through engagement with the Moodle for core product capabilities. If you find any problems that aren’t listed on this page or think we’re not meeting the requirements of the accessibility regulations, contact:

We’ll consider your request and get back to you in 5 days.

Enforcement procedure

The Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) is responsible for enforcing the accessibility regulations. If you’re not happy with how we respond to your complaint, contact the Equality Advisory and Support Service (EASS).

Technical information about this website’s accessibility

The University of Glasgow is committed to making its Moodle Virtual Learning environment accessible, in accordance with the Public Sector Bodies (Websites and Mobile Applications) (No. 2) Accessibility Regulations 2018.

Compliance status

This website is partially compliant with the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines version 2.1 AA standard, due to the identified non-compliances listed below.

Non-accessible content

The content listed below is non-accessible for the following reasons.

Non-compliance with the accessibility regulations

Issues with text 

  • Some link text doesn’t make sense when read on its own (for example, ‘click here’). This means that the links do not make sense when they are taken out of context, and for some links it is not possible to know what the purpose of the link is. This does not meet WCAG 2.4.4. We are working on fixing historical links and will try to ensure when new content is published, this also meets accessibility standards. The use of the Anthology Ally tool will help to identify such problems to content owners and will provide guidance to correct such content.  
  • Moodle is developed by a third-party and colour contrast for the standard product should meet accessibility regulations. However, it is possible that content owners may alter defaults which results in some text being hard to read. This does not meet WCAG 1.4.3. 

Issues with images, video and audio 

  • Live video streams which you may access via links in Moodle don’t have captions. This does not meet WCAG 1.2.4. We don’t plan to add captions to live video streams because live video is exempt from meeting the accessibility regulations. 
  • Pre-recorded video will have autogenerated transcripts which provide closed captioning but much of this will remain uncorrected. This does not meet WCAG 1.2.2. The University of Glasgow is working to improve this situation and is actively exploring technologies and processes to meet the requirements.
  • Some images may not have alt text. This does not meet WCAG 1.1.1. We will take steps to make sure lecturers are aware of the requirement for images to have alternative text. This does not apply where images are purely decorative, and do not add anything to the content of the page.

Issues with interactive tools and transactions 

Some content within Moodle comes from ‘content packages’, which the University buys from external suppliers. This includes essential staff training such as Health and Safety, Equality and Diversity, and other third party software which is integrated/accessed through Moodle (i.e. Turnitin for Similarity Checking).

Some of these content packages may not be entirely accessible. However, when the licences such content expire and they are due for replacement, accessibility will be a requirement of their replacement.

If you experience any problems with third party software which is integrated into Moodle, please use the contact details above to report issues or concerns. It is important that we are able to provide constructive feedback to third party vendors on accessibility matters.

Issues with navigation and access

The core Moodle platform has been designed/implemented so that it provides accessible navigation. However, due to possible customisations of content and decisions taken by the authors of content hosted in the University of Glasgow’s Moodle environment, we can not guarantee:

  • that all headings and labels describe topic or purpose in a meaningful manner (WCAG 2.4.6)
  • that navigation / how you move around Moodle on differing courses is consistent (i.e. the use of Block formats vs collapsed topics) (WCAG 3.2.3)

Statuses and Error Messages

The Moodle application should alert users in a meaningful manner when an error or warning is encountered. It is impossible to test for every scenario where an error or warning may be presented and as such we cannot guarantee the following:

  • that all error messages are accompanied by suggestions for correction (WCAG 3.3.3)
  • that all warning/error messages can be read by assistive technologies such as screen readers (WCAG 4.1.3)

Content that’s not within the scope of the accessibility regulations

  • Many of our older PDFs and Word documents may not meet accessibility standards - for example, they may not be structured so they are accessible to a screen reader. The accessibility regulations don’t require us to fix PDFs or other documents published before 23 September 2018 if they’re not essential to providing our services. For example, we don’t plan to fix documents from older Moodle courses that are archived and no longer being taught. 
  • Pre-recorded audio and video content published before 23 September 2020 may not be accompanied with a text alternative, captions, audio description or sign language interpretation. We do not plan to create a text alternative, captions, audio description or sign language interpretation to content pre-dating 23 September 2020.

What we’re doing to improve accessibility

The University of Glasgow’s Moodle site has an annual upgrade cycle. With each upgrade we will continue to assess and redevelop (where possible and practical) existing features, integrations and interfaces based on the WCAG 2.1 success criterion.

In addition, as and when required we will:

  • Continue to provide guidance to authors on designing and creating accessible content in the Moodle VLE environment
  • We will continue to engage with Moodle (and any other third party vendors whose products are integrated with Moodle), and make them aware of any accessibility issues we find
  • Actively explore new technologies and systems to assist in meeting the requirements

Preparation of this accessibility statement

This statement was prepared on 20 September 2019. It was last updated and reviewed on 10 December 2024.

Testing was carried out as part of the annual Moodle 2024 summer upgrade.

This page was last updated 11 December 2024.