Published: 17.10.2026
The .ac zone is the country-code domain of Ascension Island, a British Overseas Territory in the South Atlantic Ocean. Like every country code, it is tied to a specific territory, even though the rules for who may hold a name are set by its own registry. Some schools, research groups and science projects choose .ac names, partly because the letters are associated with academic work. Use the availability form just below this text to see whether your name in .ac is still free.
Check if a .ac domain is available .ac Check
A short history
Ascension Island is a small volcanic island that is administered as a British Overseas Territory. Its country code belongs to the island and its registry, and it has been used by holders for many years. Because it is a country code rather than one of the newer generic endings, its rules follow the territory's own policies instead of the common framework used by open generic zones.
Who runs it
As a country-code zone, .ac is run by a registry for the territory rather than by a global operator under the contracts used for generic endings. The registry sets the registration policies, decides the conditions that apply to holders and keeps the database. Registrars may sell names to customers, so read the current policies on eligibility and documents at the time of your order.
Rules in practice
- Holder conditions: the registry sets the rules on who may register a name and whether any link to the territory is needed. Read them before you order.
- Characters: names use letters, digits and hyphens, and a single label can be up to 63 characters long.
- Term and renewal: check the registration period and the renewal process with your registrar, since they can differ from those of generic zones.
- Contact details: keep the holder information accurate and current, because the registry or registrar may ask you to confirm it.
Who uses .ac
- Schools and colleges that create project websites for classes, events and student work.
- Research groups and science teams that publish papers, datasets or project pages.
- Academic conferences, workshops and student societies that share programmes and calls for papers.
- Individual researchers and educators who want a short address for their published work.
Strengths
- The short letters suggest academic or scientific work at a glance, which can help a project look focused.
- The name is short and easy to say and spell, which helps during a talk, a lecture or a poster session.
- The address is separate from the generic endings, so a research project can keep its own distinct name for its work.
Things to keep in mind
- The ending is a country code for a small British territory, so visitors who expect a generic address may be surprised by it.
- Many people confuse .ac with academic second-level zones such as ac.uk. Those belong to different registries and follow different rules.
- Holder conditions apply, so check them before you plan a project around the name.
- Academic credibility comes from the content and the institution, not from the ending. Name the team and affiliations clearly on the site.
Tips before you register
- Check the same name in .com and in the institutional address you already use, so that visitors can find you either way.
- Confirm the current registration rules with the registry or your registrar before you order.
- Publish team names, affiliations, contact details and a privacy notice on the first page.
- Set up SPF, DKIM and DMARC records before you send project mail or newsletters from the domain.
- Keep the registrar account secure, and make sure more than one team member receives renewal notices.
Frequently asked questions
Is .ac an academic domain in the same way as .edu? No. It is the country code of Ascension Island. Many people associate the letters with academic work, but the zone itself is not reserved for educational institutions.
Is .ac the same as ac.uk? No. ac.uk is a second-level zone under the United Kingdom with its own rules, while .ac is a separate top-level country code.
Does an .ac name make a project more credible? Not by itself. Visitors judge a project by its team, its publications and its contact details, so state them clearly on the site.
