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ChatGPT connects to Vacademy MCP as a custom MCP server (OpenAI has also called these apps, connectors and plugins). You add the server URL, choose OAuth, and sign in.
OpenAI is still changing this area. Menu names, plan availability and what is allowed differ between accounts and change often. Check OpenAI’s current help before you start: Developer mode and MCP apps in ChatGPT and Connect from ChatGPT.

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Before you start

  • An admin has turned the server on and allowed your role. See the Quickstart.
  • You have the server URL from Settings → MCP Server. It looks like https://<your backend>/ai-service/mcp/i/<institute_id>.
  • You are using ChatGPT on the web.
  • Your ChatGPT plan allows custom MCP apps. At the time of writing, OpenAI offers full MCP support, including actions that change data, as a beta on Business, Enterprise and Edu. Other plans may be limited to reading, or may not offer it. On a workspace plan, your ChatGPT workspace admin may need to allow it first.

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Steps

1

Open Plugins

In ChatGPT on the web, open Plugins (chatgpt.com/plugins) and click +, then Add custom MCP server.If you don’t see this option, your account may first need developer mode. On some accounts it is under Settings → Apps → Advanced settings.
  • Business: only workspace admins and owners can use developer mode. Each one turns it on for themselves.
  • Enterprise and Edu: your workspace admin can give developer mode to selected people.
If you still don’t see it, ask your ChatGPT workspace admin.
2

Name it and add the URL

  • Name: your institute’s name, so you recognise it in chats.
  • Description: for example Our institute’s courses, website, learners and leads.
  • Connection: choose the public endpoint option and paste the server URL.
  • Authentication: OAuth.
Review the warning, select I understand and want to continue, and create it.
3

Sign in and approve

ChatGPT sends you to your institute’s admin portal. Sign in with your own account and click Approve. ChatGPT then reads the list of tools you are allowed to use.
4

Use it in a chat

Start a new chat and pick your server from the message box (for example with +, or by typing @ and its name, depending on your account). Then ask:
No client ID is needed. Let ChatGPT register itself. If you must use a fixed client, an admin copies the callback URL shown in ChatGPT’s app settings and creates a client ID with it under Settings → MCP Server → Client IDs for other apps. Leave the secret empty. Menus and callback formats change; see OpenAI’s auth guide.

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Things to know

  • ChatGPT asks before it changes things. By default ChatGPT asks you to allow actions that write data. On top of that, most of Vacademy’s live edits show a preview and wait for you to confirm in the chat. See Confirmations.
  • Tool list is read when you connect. If an admin turns on a new area, open the connection under Plugins and select Refresh, or reconnect, so ChatGPT sees the new tools. Areas that are switched off stop working at once, without a refresh.
  • Each person signs in. In a workspace, everyone who uses the server connects with their own account, and the AI app acts as them.

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Example prompts

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If it does not work

Your plan or workspace may not offer it, or your workspace admin has not allowed it. Check OpenAI’s help article linked above. You can use Claude or Cursor in the meantime.
  • No tools at all: the server is off, the settings were not saved, or your role is not under Who can connect.
  • Only whoami (Who is connected): you are connected, but every area is Off for your role. Ask an admin to set one to View.
Then select Refresh on the connection under Plugins.
Read the message on the approval page. You may be signed in to another institute, the request may have expired (requests last 15 minutes), or your role may not be allowed.