> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://support.lena.africa/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Joining a Course

> How to join courses on Lena using entry codes, browse your enrolled courses, view past courses, and leave a course.

Courses are the core of your learning experience on Lena. To access study
materials, assignments, quizzes, and discussions, you first need to join the
course.

<Note>
  **Before you begin:** You need a Lena account with a school profile. See
  [Creating Your Account](/general/creating-your-account) and [School
  Profiles](/general/school-profiles) if you're new.
</Note>

***

## Joining with an entry code

Your teacher will give you an **entry code** — a short alphanumeric (letters and
numbers) code unique to their course. Here's how to use it:

<Steps>
  <Step title="Go to the Courses tab">
    Open the Student App and tap the **Courses** tab at the bottom of the screen. You'll see your list of enrolled courses (or an empty state if this is your first course).
  </Step>

  <Step title="Tap 'Add Course' or 'Join Course'">
    You'll see this button at the top of the courses screen.

    <Frame caption="Screenshot: Courses screen with the Add Course button highlighted">
      <img className="block dark:hidden" src="https://mintcdn.com/lenaafrica/ISsABwDXCBX0o69d/images/placeholder-light.png?fit=max&auto=format&n=ISsABwDXCBX0o69d&q=85&s=8aa659c894fa0cbcd69dca2937f31d5d" alt="Courses screen with the Add Course button highlighted at the top right" width="1600" height="938" data-path="images/placeholder-light.png" />

      <img className="hidden dark:block" src="https://mintcdn.com/lenaafrica/ISsABwDXCBX0o69d/images/placeholder-dark.png?fit=max&auto=format&n=ISsABwDXCBX0o69d&q=85&s=d8ebf01c18a25cc2bcf05b022a7d47a1" alt="Courses screen with the Add Course button highlighted at the top right" width="1600" height="938" data-path="images/placeholder-dark.png" />
    </Frame>
  </Step>

  <Step title="Enter the entry code">
    Type the entry code your teacher gave you exactly as shown — codes are **case-sensitive**.

    <Frame caption="Screenshot: Entry code input dialog">
      <img className="block dark:hidden" src="https://mintcdn.com/lenaafrica/ISsABwDXCBX0o69d/images/placeholder-light.png?fit=max&auto=format&n=ISsABwDXCBX0o69d&q=85&s=8aa659c894fa0cbcd69dca2937f31d5d" alt="Dialog box with a text field for entering the course entry code and a Join button" width="1600" height="938" data-path="images/placeholder-light.png" />

      <img className="hidden dark:block" src="https://mintcdn.com/lenaafrica/ISsABwDXCBX0o69d/images/placeholder-dark.png?fit=max&auto=format&n=ISsABwDXCBX0o69d&q=85&s=d8ebf01c18a25cc2bcf05b022a7d47a1" alt="Dialog box with a text field for entering the course entry code and a Join button" width="1600" height="938" data-path="images/placeholder-dark.png" />
    </Frame>
  </Step>

  <Step title="Confirm and join">
    You'll see the course name and teacher. Tap **Join** to confirm. The course will appear in your course list immediately, and you'll be taken to the course home screen.
  </Step>
</Steps>

<Tip>
  Entry codes are usually shared in class, on a notice board, or through your
  school's communication channel (WhatsApp group, etc.). If you don't have the
  code, ask your teacher.
</Tip>

### Why a code might not be needed

Some courses are set up so that students who match certain criteria (your
faculty, department, level, grade, or class section) can join without an entry
code. If the teacher configured student groups for the course, you may be able
to register directly — the system checks whether your school profile matches the
course requirements.

If you try to join a course and it asks for an entry code, it means the teacher
requires one. Ask your teacher for the code.

***

## Browsing your courses

All your enrolled courses appear in the **Courses** tab. Each course card shows:

* Course name
* Teacher's name
* School name

Tap any course to open it and access all its content.

<Frame caption="Screenshot: List of enrolled courses showing course names and teacher names">
  <img className="block dark:hidden" src="https://mintcdn.com/lenaafrica/ISsABwDXCBX0o69d/images/placeholder-light.png?fit=max&auto=format&n=ISsABwDXCBX0o69d&q=85&s=8aa659c894fa0cbcd69dca2937f31d5d" alt="List of enrolled courses showing course names, codes, and teacher names" width="1600" height="938" data-path="images/placeholder-light.png" />

  <img className="hidden dark:block" src="https://mintcdn.com/lenaafrica/ISsABwDXCBX0o69d/images/placeholder-dark.png?fit=max&auto=format&n=ISsABwDXCBX0o69d&q=85&s=d8ebf01c18a25cc2bcf05b022a7d47a1" alt="List of enrolled courses showing course names, codes, and teacher names" width="1600" height="938" data-path="images/placeholder-dark.png" />
</Frame>

***

## Viewing past courses

Courses from previous terms or semesters are saved in your **Past Courses**
section. These are courses whose academic period has ended.

To view past courses:

1. Go to the **Courses** tab
2. Look for a **Past Courses** section or toggle
3. Tap any past course to review its materials and your grades

<Note>
  You can still view study materials and your grades from past courses, but
  you can no longer submit new work.
</Note>

***

## Leaving a course (unenrolling)

If you joined a course by mistake or no longer need to be enrolled:

<Steps>
  <Step title="Open the course">
    Tap the course you want to leave. You'll land on the course home screen.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Go to course options">
    Look for the **menu icon** (three dots) or **settings** within the
    course. A list of course options will appear.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Tap 'Leave Course'">
    Confirm your decision when prompted. The course will be removed from
    your course list.
  </Step>
</Steps>

<Warning>
  Leaving a course removes it from your course list. If the course tracks
  grades, your submission history may no longer be accessible. You can rejoin
  later using the same entry code.
</Warning>

***

## Multiple schools

If you have profiles at multiple schools, make sure the correct school profile
is active before joining a course. Each school profile has its own separate list
of courses.

To switch school profiles, tap your **profile icon** and select the school you
want. See [School Profiles](/general/school-profiles) for details.

***

## Troubleshooting

<Accordion title="The entry code isn't working">
  * Make sure you're typing it exactly as given - Check that you're in the
    **Student App** (not Teacher or Admin) - The course may still be in draft —
    ask your teacher to publish it - The course may no longer be accepting
    students — ask your teacher to check - Your teacher may have updated the
    code — ask for the current one
</Accordion>

<Accordion title="I'm told I'm not eligible to join">
  * Your teacher may have restricted the course to specific students (by
    faculty, department, level, grade, or class section) - Check that your
    school profile details are correct and up to date — see [School
    Profiles](/general/school-profiles) - Ask your teacher if you should be
    eligible, and have them check the student group settings on the course
</Accordion>

<Accordion title="I don't see the course after joining">
  * Pull down to refresh the courses list - Make sure the correct school
    profile is active - Try logging out and back in
</Accordion>

***

## Next steps

Once you've joined a course, explore what's inside:

* [Navigating Your Course](/students/navigating-your-course) — understand the
  course layout and tabs
* [Study Materials](/students/study-materials) — access files shared by your
  teacher
* [Glossary](/general/glossary) — definitions of entry code, course code, and
  other terms