Qualtrics surveys as LMS assignments

Qualtrics surveys can be used as a type of LMS assignment. This guide provides instructions on how to set up scoring in Qualtrics surveys and how to link a Qualtrics survey to an LMS assignment.

To use Qualtrics surveys for LMS assignments, you will need to request a Qualtrics LTI installation in your LMS subject.

How to set question scores in Qualtrics

Before you can set up the scoring for a Qualtrics survey, you will have to log in to Qualtrics and create the survey.

Next, refer to the Scoring guide on how to assign scores to the answers of specific question types. Note: Not all question types can be marked automatically.

Important

  • Qualtrics surveys need to be created before they can be linked to LMS assignments. There are separate processes on how to set the final grade and transfer Qualtrics scores to the LMS.
  • You will have to enable third-party cookies on your web browser for your Qualtrics survey to launch properly from the LMS assignment.
  1. In Canvas LMS, navigate to the assignment settings of a new or existing assignment
  2. For the Submission Type dropdown menu, select External Tool. Click Find and select Qualtrics from the tool list. We strongly advise checking the Load This Tool In A New Tab option as Qualtrics link will fail if this option is not selected.

Screenshot showing the submission type settings in a LMS assignment, displaying the type being selected as external tool and options to find the external tool and load it in a new tab

  1. Click Save or Save and Publish.
  2. On the assignment instruction page, click Load Assignment in a new window.

The assignment instruction page showing a button to load the Qualtrics assignment in a new window

  1. You will be redirected to a Qualtrics login page. Log in with Single sign-on (SSO) using melbourneuni as the Organisation ID and your University of Melbourne username and password.

The Qualtrics login screen showing the option for users to log in with the University of Melbourne Single Sign-On

  1. In the survey linking page:
    1. Select a survey to link to the LMS assignment.
    2. Choose whether students are allowed multiple attempts on this survey.
    3. Enter any messages you want students to read before starting and after submitting the survey.
    4. Click Save settings to record these changes.

Qualtrics-LMS assignment linking page showing a list of settings including list of Qualtrics surveys to select, score calculation, introduction and end-of-survey texts

  1. Confirm the linking by clicking on the Yes, link it button.

Set the final grade

After the LMS assignment has been linked to the Qualtrics survey, you will be able to set up Qualtrics for the transfer of scores to the LMS.

  1. Return to the Qualtrics survey (access via Qualtrics) and click Survey flow on the left-hand side menu.

Qualtrics survey menu showing different options with the Survey flow being selected

  1. Click Add a New Element here under Show Block: Default Question Block.

Survey flow configuration screen showing the Add a New Element Here button

  1. Click Embedded Data.

A range of elements that can be added to the survey flow. Embedded Data element is selected.

  1. In the Create New Field or Choose From Dropdown… men, type final_grade.

A text field where name of the new data element can be inserted

  1. Click Set a Value Now and use the dropdown menu to click through Insert Pipe Text > Scoring > Score > Score.

Setting value for the new data field, steps include Insert Piped Text, Scoring, Score and Score

  1. Click Apply. You can now publish your Qualtrics survey.

Important

To ensure Qualtrics scores can be sent to the LMS, you must follow the processes below in the order shown:

  • Link the survey to an LMS assignment.
  • Set up the final_grade option via the Qualtrics survey flow menu.
  • Publish the Qualtrics survey.

Transfer scores to the LMS gradebook

To transfer scores calculated in Qualtrics to the LMS gradebook:

  1. Navigate to your assignment in the LMS.
  2. Click Load Assignment in a new window.
  3. Log in to Qualtrics with SSO, using melbourneuni as the Organisation ID and your usual University of Melbourne username and password, if you are not already signed in.
  4. On the Qualtrics LTI screen, select the appropriate option from the Score to keep dropdown menu. If students have made multiple attempts of the Qualtrics survey, select which score to sync to Canvas LMS from highest, latest, average and first .
  5. Click Sync grades. Note: Steps 1-4 can be repeated as needed.

Qualtrics LTI score transfer screen showing the Sync grades button and options for score calculation

From the Qualtrics LTI menu, you can also view student progress, delete the LMS-Qualtrics link, and edit the text students see before and after taking the Qualtrics survey.

Important notes

  • The LMS-Qualtrics link cannot be deleted if students have already made submissions to the Qualtrics survey. However, the link can be deleted if a student has started but not yet submitted (completed) the survey.
  • Staff are strongly advised to avoid linking the same Qualtrics survey to multiple LMS assignments as all survey attempts, including previous survey attempts, will be taken into account when the button Sync grades is clicked and may contaminate the final grade.
  • Staff must have access to the Qualtrics survey as owner or collaborator before they can sync Qualtrics scores to the LMS.

This guide was last updated 08 Dec 2025.

Submit an LMS support request for further assistance or to report any errors or omissions in this guide.