Domain names

UIS provides advice and technical support for registering DNS domain names.

The process for registering a domain name depends on the parent domain in which it sits:

• .subdomain.cam.ac.uk (e.g. conferences.botolphs.cam.ac.uk)
• .cam.ac.uk (e.g. newinst.cam.ac.uk)
• .ac.uk (e.g. collaborativeresarch.ac.uk)
• external (e.g. researchproject.org)

There is also information about transferring in existing domains and charging and pricing.

Subdomains of cam.ac.uk

Responsibility for names of the form example.botolphs.cam.ac.uk or one.two.three.dept.cam.ac.uk is delegated to IT staff in the relevant institutions as arbitrary nested subdomains are allowed.  Please contact your institutional IT staff, who control the containing domain, if you need a domain name for use within your institution.

Note that there are some subdomains under cam.ac.uk which are reserved for special purposes and managed in the same way as new top-level domains (for example fund.cam.ac.uk).  This list of such domains is given in the domain name policy.
 

Top-level domains under cam.ac.uk

The allocation and management of names within the cam.ac.uk domain is governed by guidelines overseen by the Information Services Committee (ISC) and set out in the domain name policy.  Applications for new top-level names under cam.ac.uk should be made using the online Service Request form. Further details and a link to the form are available in our Guidelines for requesting domain names within cam.ac.uk.

Institutions with excessively short domain names can request a long-form alias for friendlier email addresses and URLs, although it is recommended a single name is used consistently.  Generally this is not required, however, as sites are typically found by entering the address or by using search engines and links.

In most instances, domains under cam.ac.uk are administered through the IP Register database although can be delegated at the DNS level.

Other domains under ac.uk

In some cases, it may be appropriate for a name directly under ac.uk, particularly for initiatives where one or more UK academic and research institution are involved.  Registrations for these are managed by Jisc and considered based on eligibility, rather than a "first come, first served" commercial basis.

Typically, one of the institutions will take on the administrative duty of providing common services, such as DNS, email and a website.  If the University of Cambridge is taking on this role, the application for a new domain should be made by the UIS Hostmaster group on behalf of the group.

Once created, the domain can be managed by the UIS, if it provides the services associated with it, such as the website or email, as the records can then be automatically maintained.  Alternatively, it can be directly managed by the corresponding group through an external provider, such as Mythic Beasts.

External domains (outside .ac.uk)

If the UIS is providing the services associated with the domain (such as the website or email), the UIS can can purchase and renew the domain on behalf of the group, and manage the DNS associated with it.

If the UIS is not providing these services, the institution can purchase the domain itself.

Note that external domains should not be used for Cambridge-only projects: these are preferred to have names under cam.ac.uk.

Transferring in a domain

If an institution or group has a domain and wishes to transfer it to the UIS (perhaps because it is engaging the UIS to provide services associated with it), they should contact the UIS with the details, including the name and the existing provider.

Some parent domains (e.g. .com) require a domain to be renewed (with associated cost), if it is transferred between registrars.  The UIS will advise of this and, if necessary, a purchase order will need to be submitted, ahead of the transfer.

Charging

The UIS charges for domains outside cam.ac.uk on a cost-recovery basis - the amount for registering or transferring in the domain is handled via an upfront purchase order.  Renewal will then happen on a monthly basis, through the Telecoms billing system (as it can do this automatically, eliminating the need to manually process invoices and payment).  The funds will be accumulated and used to pay the renewal fee, when it is due.

When an institution no longer requires a domain, it must contact the UIS and advise that it can be cancelled.  The UIS will then cease billing and renewal; the domain itself will be cancelled as soon as practicable - in many cases, it is simplest to let the domain expire, at the next renewal point, although records can be removed ahead of this.  No refund for accumulated renewal funds will be given.

At the time of writing, the latest prices for common domains are as follows:

The above prices are indicative only - the actual price charged will be that of the supplier, at the time of registration or transfer.  Requestors should confirm the amount with the UIS first, before submitting a purchase order.

The amount will also adjust, according to the renewal prices, during the lifespan of the domain.  The UIS will make adjustments as required, to accumulate funds to renew the domain, at the point where this is due.  If the amount varies significantly (e.g. by more than 50%) then the UIS will contact the institution to alert them to this.

Last updated: 16th December 2025.