diff --git a/backend/bec_atlas/main.py b/backend/bec_atlas/main.py
index 8bb68f0..ca95a8a 100644
--- a/backend/bec_atlas/main.py
+++ b/backend/bec_atlas/main.py
@@ -88,7 +88,9 @@ class AtlasApp:
         self.app.include_router(self.deployment_access_router.router, tags=["Deployment Access"])
 
         # BEC Access
-        self.bec_access_router = BECAccessRouter(prefix=self.prefix, datasources=self.datasources)
+        self.bec_access_router = BECAccessRouter(
+            prefix=self.prefix, datasources=self.datasources, app=self
+        )
         self.app.include_router(self.bec_access_router.router, tags=["BEC Access"])
 
         # Session
diff --git a/backend/bec_atlas/router/bec_access_router.py b/backend/bec_atlas/router/bec_access_router.py
index 974d133..a27c3eb 100644
--- a/backend/bec_atlas/router/bec_access_router.py
+++ b/backend/bec_atlas/router/bec_access_router.py
@@ -8,14 +8,22 @@ from bec_atlas.authentication import convert_to_user, get_current_user
 from bec_atlas.datasources.mongodb.mongodb import MongoDBDatasource
 from bec_atlas.model.model import BECAccessProfile, User
 from bec_atlas.router.base_router import BaseRouter
+from bec_atlas.router.user_router import UserLoginRequest
 
 if TYPE_CHECKING:  # pragma: no cover
     from bec_atlas.datasources.datasource_manager import DatasourceManager
+    from bec_atlas.main import AtlasApp
 
 
 class BECAccessRouter(BaseRouter):
-    def __init__(self, prefix="/api/v1", datasources: DatasourceManager | None = None):
+    def __init__(
+        self,
+        prefix="/api/v1",
+        datasources: DatasourceManager | None = None,
+        app: AtlasApp | None = None,
+    ):
         super().__init__(prefix, datasources)
+        self.app = app
 
         if not self.datasources:
             raise RuntimeError("Datasources not loaded")
@@ -28,6 +36,12 @@ class BECAccessRouter(BaseRouter):
             methods=["GET"],
             description="Retrieve the access key for a specific deployment and user.",
         )
+        self.router.add_api_route(
+            "/bec_access_login",
+            self.get_bec_access_login,
+            methods=["POST"],
+            description="Login and retrieve the access key for a specific deployment and user.",
+        )
 
     @convert_to_user
     async def get_bec_access(
@@ -47,9 +61,41 @@ class BECAccessRouter(BaseRouter):
         """
         if not user:
             user = current_user.email
+        out = self._retrieve_access_account(deployment_id, user, current_user=current_user)
+        return out
+
+    async def get_bec_access_login(
+        self, user_login: UserLoginRequest, deployment_id: str, user: str
+    ) -> dict:
+        """
+        Login and retrieve the access key for a specific deployment and user.
+        Exactly the same as get_bec_access, but with a login step to avoid the need
+        for an access token only to retrieve the ACL key.
+
+        Args:
+            deployment_id (str): The deployment id
+            user (str): The user name to retrieve the access key for
+            password (str): The password for the user
+        """
+        if not self.app:
+            raise RuntimeError("App not loaded")
+
+        user_info = self.app.user_router._get_user(user_login)
+        if not user_info:
+            raise HTTPException(status_code=404, detail="User not found.")
+        current_user = self.db.get_user_by_email(user_info.email)
+        if not current_user:
+            raise HTTPException(status_code=404, detail="User not found.")
+        out = self._retrieve_access_account(deployment_id, user, current_user=current_user)
+        return out
+
+    def _retrieve_access_account(
+        self, deployment_id: str, username: str, current_user: User
+    ) -> dict:
+
         out = self.db.find_one(
             "bec_access_profiles",
-            {"deployment_id": deployment_id, "username": user},
+            {"deployment_id": deployment_id, "username": username},
             BECAccessProfile,
             user=current_user,
         )
diff --git a/backend/bec_atlas/router/user_router.py b/backend/bec_atlas/router/user_router.py
index 1c7400c..2ad9949 100644
--- a/backend/bec_atlas/router/user_router.py
+++ b/backend/bec_atlas/router/user_router.py
@@ -57,17 +57,22 @@ class UserRouter(BaseRouter):
         return {"access_token": out, "token_type": "bearer"}
 
     async def user_login(self, user_login: UserLoginRequest, response: Response):
-        user = self._get_user(user_login)
-        if user is None:
-            raise HTTPException(status_code=401, detail="User not found or password is incorrect")
-        token = create_access_token(data={"email": user.email})
-        response.set_cookie(key="access_token", value=token, httponly=True, secure=self.use_ssl)
+        token = self._user_login(user_login, response)
         return token
 
     async def user_logout(self, response: Response):
         response.delete_cookie("access_token")
         return {"message": "Logged out"}
 
+    def _user_login(self, user_login: UserLoginRequest, response: Response | None) -> str:
+        user = self._get_user(user_login)
+        if user is None:
+            raise HTTPException(status_code=401, detail="User not found or password is incorrect")
+        token = create_access_token(data={"email": user.email})
+        if response:
+            response.set_cookie(key="access_token", value=token, httponly=True, secure=self.use_ssl)
+        return token
+
     def _get_user(self, user_login: UserLoginRequest) -> UserInfo | None:
         user = self._get_functional_account(user_login)
         if user is None:
diff --git a/backend/tests/test_deployment_access_router.py b/backend/tests/test_deployment_access_router.py
index 98fe1fd..b8a6220 100644
--- a/backend/tests/test_deployment_access_router.py
+++ b/backend/tests/test_deployment_access_router.py
@@ -97,3 +97,15 @@ def test_patch_deployment_access(logged_in_client, backend):
             "/api/v1/bec_access", params={"deployment_id": deployment_id, "user": user}
         )
         assert out.status_code == 404
+
+    # Test that the access can also be retrieved directly
+    client, _ = backend
+    client.post("/api/v1/user/logout")
+    response = client.post(
+        "/api/v1/bec_access_login",
+        json={"username": "admin@bec_atlas.ch", "password": "admin"},
+        params={"deployment_id": deployment_id, "user": "test1"},
+    )
+    assert response.status_code == 200
+    out = response.json()
+    assert "token" in out