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ICT Support for University Domain Names

usyd.edu.au is the University’s internet domain name and www.usyd.edu.au is the university website. The Executive Director, External Relations has overall responsibility for these.

ICT supports this and a number of related domains and websites. With ICT supported domain names:

  • your experience of accessing and navigating University systems is enhanced
  • use of managed domains is made simpler
  • you have flexibility to advertise your sites on the University domain
  • other people can find your websites more easily

Standard for web site names on ICT supported domain names

You can create University websites using this format:

www.usyd.edu.au/{service}/{community}/{document},where

  • {service} is a name that your audience associates with the site.
  • {community} is the group that will be accessing your specific content, and
  • {document} is any web-page of content that your audience will be working with.

This makes your website names easier to remember and locate.

How to request a domain

Before requesting a new domain, you might consider if there is an existing domain name that you can use. You can request a new domain from the ICT Helpdesk. In your request, please consider:

  • Differentiating it from existing domain names already owned by the University
  • Suitability of your proposed “top-level” domain, chosen from: .edu, .org, .net, .com or .info.
  • Availability of the name within the top-level domain and country code (e.g. .au)
  • Cost - some top-level domains are more expensive than others, and
  • Registration period for the nominated country domain (.au domains are typically registered for 2 years, others have a longer registration periods).

If a basic domain does not meet your needs, exceptions may also be considered, such as:

  • xxxxx.usyd.edu.au (sub-domain of the University domain)
  • another-name.top-level-domain.au (domain name for Australia), or
  • another-name.top-level-domain (domain name without country).

ICT will support your domain

We will register the domain name and create the domain on a host server for you. We can also set up your websites. Alternatively, we can link to your website if you have it hosted elsewhere.

How to include content in the domain

Style guides are available to help you with advice on best practice design, such as:
http://www.usyd.edu.au/digital_print_media/web/best_practice/index.shtml

We recommend conventional spelling of words or acronyms that your audience will recognise. Language used in the domain will, of course, conform to the acceptable use policy of the University. Choose words that will give your name priority in search engine optimisation.