DomainName.edu.au - Frequently Asked Questions

Questions

Answers

Information about the .edu.au Domain Name space

What is the .edu.au domain?
Within .au there are a number of second level domains serving specific communities, such as .com.au (for Australian companies) and .id.au (for Australian individuals). .edu.au was created to allow a unique space for recognised Australian education and training entities. As such, only approved organisations are eligible for an .edu.au address, ensuring that only educational related material can be found on .edu.au sites.
Who administers the .edu.au domain?
The .au Domain Administration Ltd (auDA) is the body with responsibility for the entire Australian Domain Space. auDA has delegated responsibility for .edu.au to the Australian Information and Communications Technology in Education Committee (AICTEC), a cross-sectoral, national committee responsible for providing advice to the Ministerial Council on Education, Employment and Youth Affairs (MCEETYA) on the economic and effective utilisation of online technologies in Australian education and training. AICTEC has in turn delegated .edu.au policy authority to a subcommittee, the .edu.au Domain Administration Committee (eDAC).
How do I find out if an .edu.au domain name is available?
To find out if a name is available, or who has registered a particular name, type the name into the 'whois' search.
What if the name I want is already taken?
.edu.au domain names are issued on a 'first-come, first-served' basis. The use of a trademark or business name does not imply authority to use of a domain name.
Can I register a name directly in .edu.au or will I need to register a name under my state or territory sub-domain?
At present entities registered directly on .edu.au (for example; anyname.edu.au) are normally universities and bodies with national interests and responsibilities. Schools, vocational and training institutions and other bodies based in a particular state or territory are normally registered at the fourth level (anyname.anystate.edu.au). In order to assist in maintaining the utility of the space it is expected that registrants other than universities and national entities will continue to seek to register at the fourth level.
Can I transfer the domain name to another party?
The licence to use an .edu.au domain name cannot be transferred or sold to another party.

Registering a Domain

Can I register an .edu domain without the .au?
Eligibility for a .edu domain name is limited to postsecondary institutions that are institutionally accredited, i.e., the entire institution and not just particular programs, by agencies on the U.S. Department of Education’s list of Nationally Recognized Accrediting Agencies.
How does an institution apply for a name in the .edu.au domain?
Have a look at the Policy Section to find out if you are eligible then if so, apply here.
What are the eligibility requirements for obtaining a name in the .edu.au domain?
The .edu.au domain is intended for recognised Australian education and training entities. Please see the .edu.au policy document for further information. Please click on the document below to view some examples of domain names that would not be accepted in the .edu.au domain space. Explanations have also been included for reference.

Domain Rejection Examples
How long will the approval process take?
We hope to send you a response to your application within ten working days, although during periods of heavy registration, this may not be possible.
What other restrictions are there on choosing domain names?
In order to ensure the reputation of the .edu.au domain, there are a number of naming restrictions in place. These include ensuring that there is a credible link between the domain name being sought and the name of the entity, that no names containing obscene or offensive language are allowed and that no names expressing a value judgment or political statement are allowed. For complete details of suitable and unsuitable domain names, please read the .edu.au Reserved List Policy.
What are the valid characters and valid lengths for domain names?
.edu.au names can contain a combination of the English-language letters A through Z, and the digits 0 through 9. You can also use hyphens (-), but hyphens cannot begin or end your domain name. Spaces and special characters (such as !, $, &, ë, and so on) are not permitted. The minimum length is 2 characters, and the maximum length is 63 characters (excluding the "http://www" portion).
I have placed my application for a new domain name. What happens now?
It can take up to ten days for a new application to be processed, as each new application must be assessed to ensure that it meets eligibility policy 1 and 2.
Once the registrar has assessed the application, if there is sufficient information to accept the application, you will receive an automated confirmation email containing your login details. Otherwise, the registrar will contact you via email with follow-up questions.
If no payment has been provided during the initial application process, the registrar will provide you with an invoice to pay upon.
I don’t have a credit card; can I still gain a .edu.au domain name?
Of course, on the payment screen, if you select the dropdown box there will be an option to “organise payment offline”. Selecting this option will allow you to pay upon the invoice the registrar will provide you, once they have ensured that your application meets policy requirements.
I paid during the application process; can I have an invoice for our records?
Certainly, all you need to do is send an email to the registrar requesting an invoice; if you can supply your domain name or order number that will ensure your request is fulfilled promptly.
What methods of payment are available?
The following payment options are available:

** Pay By Credit Card over the phone by calling (08) 8334 3245
** Pay by Direct Deposit Education Services Aust Ltd, Westpac Bank. BSB: 035-041 account No. 206232 - fax notice to 08 8334 3220
** Pay by Mail by simply printing the attached invoice, attach a cheque payable to Education Services Australia limited and post to:

The Registrar
Education Services Australia
Level 1
182 Fullarton Road
DULWICH SA 5065
What is the cost for having a name in the .edu.au domain?
Domain licences cost $110 inc GST. The licence period is two years. The licence fee is also payable on renewal of the domain name.

Domain Renewals

What happens if I do not pay the invoice?
If your domain name is not renewed by the expiry date on the renewal invoice, it will become inactive. You will not be able to access your website using the domain name. The domain name will remain inactive for a period of 60 days, after which, it will be deleted from the system and the name will become available for other parties to apply for. If you wish to reactivate your domain name during this inactive period, you can do so by paying the licence renewal fee either online, by telephone (call 08 8334 3245) or by cheque. Full details of payment methods are included on your invoice.
What happens if my domain expires?
If your domain name is not renewed by the expiry date on the renewal invoice, it will become inactive. You will not be able to access your website using the domain name. The domain name will remain inactive for a period of 60 days, after which, it will be deleted from the system and the name will become available for other parties to apply for. If you wish to reactivate your domain name during this inactive period, you can do so by paying the licence renewal fee either online, by telephone (call 08 8334 3245) or by cheque. Full details of payment methods are included on your invoice.
How do I pay online?
You can pay online from here. You will need to login with your client id and password, then select Renewal Invoices from the menu. If you do not know your client id and password, please follow the password recovery procedure.
How often will I need to renew the domain licence?
Licenses are granted for a period of 2 years (including national projects with a shorter timeframe), after which they must be renewed. Entities which already have an .edu.au address at the time that this policy takes effect will be required to renew their licences within two years from that date. In order to achieve the objective of making the .edu.au name space fully self funding in the second year of the new arrangements, current licence holders will be required to renew their licences progressively from May 2004. Details of the operation of this requirement will be advised in the near future.

Managing your domain

How do I log into the domain management system?

There are two methods to log into the domain management system.
1. Single Domain Management
  
  This will give you limited access to the domain name registration. You can change the registrant details and the name server delegation.
  
  When you enter your domain name into the login page, be sure to leave off the "www."
2. Client Account Login
  
  For FULL access so that you can change Client, Registrant and Technical Contact Details
  Go to http://www.domainname.edu.au/, click on Manage Domain, enter the Username and Password under “Log into your Client Account” and then click on Log In. The screen will then say “Your login was successful. Please click here to proceed”.
  
  If you wish to access the details of a specific domain name, click on the Editing Menu next to the Domain Name that you want to access, and click on Edit Domain Name. You can then update your details and nameserver information.
What is the difference between client and domain level access?
When you first apply for a domain name, you will be provided with a client level set of login credentials. Once your application has been accepted, you will be supplied with a domain level set of credentials.

The domain level set of credentials allow you to access details specific to your domain name. This includes the contact details for the primary administrator of the domain name, and the nameserver information which specifies the set of nameservers your domain name is presently pointing to.

The client level set of credentials allow you to manage multiple domains from the same account. Renewal invoices are sent to the email and physical address listed within the client account for each domain that the client account is managing.
How do I delegate my domain name?
To delegate a domain name you can be logged into either the single domain or client login management section. If you log into the single domain manager, on the initial screen that pops up you can enter your name server information into the fields located under “NAME SERVERS”. The same screen can be accessed if logging in via the client account through the method outlined above

Each nameserver field is comprised of an IP Address and a Name; you must fill in both fields for each nameserver you need to insert. Once you have inserted the new nameservers, press the “Update Name Servers” button to make the update.

To confirm that the delegation has gone through successfully, you can use the whois tool located on our website. The whois information should display the new nameservers you have inserted; if the old nameservers are still displayed, please contact us and we will investigate.
Where can I update my contact information?
Registrant information can be accessed on either of the domain or client login sections.

On the single domain login section you able to edit the primary registrant contact.
On the client login section it is possible to edit the primary registrant contact, the Technical contact, the Admin contact and the Billing contact. These can all be edited by selecting “View NIC” next to the contact and editing the fields. On this screen you can also create NIC’s if the sections weren’t filled in during the registration of the domain name.

The technical, billing, and admin contact details allow you to add additional trusted individuals to domain accounts; contact from Education Services Australia will primarily be to the client level account.
How do I retrieve the password(s) for my domain?
In order to retrieve your password you will need to go to our website www.domainname.edu.au and click on Manage Domain.

Towards the bottom of the page is a hyperlink that says password retrieval. You can either use the field provided to automatically retrieve your password, however if your contact details are not up to date we recommend downloading a password retrieval form from the blue box as this will give us authorization to send the details to an alternate email address or fax number to what is currently on file.

If the domain that you are requesting a password for is on a client account with more than one domain registered, we will only be able to provide the password for the domain level account, unless you are the primary contact of the client account.

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Domain Rejection Examples		157 Kb