Getting a Computing Service email account

For further details of how to obtain an email account select the relevant link in the left-hand navigation bar. Note that some Departments and Colleges also provide mail facilities for their users.

If you have a Hermes account, then your email address will look like this xxxxx@hermes.cam.ac.uk, where xxxxx is your "user identifier" issued by the Computing Service, and consists of your initials followed by a number. You normally also have an alternative address, xxxxx@cam.ac.uk, and mail addressed to you like this will also arrive at Hermes unless you specifically arrange otherwise. Your @cam address (provided you have given permission) appears in the University-wide directory.

If you prefer to continue using the mail address you already had on arrival, you are nevertheless recommended to obtain a Hermes address and forward mail from it, since you can then be found (if you so choose) via the University mail directory. Students should also note that Colleges, supervisors etc. will expect to be able to use a Hermes address to reach them. See the FAQ: Do I need my Hermes account?

If you are forwarding your mail outside Cambridge, you should be aware that support staff within the University and Colleges will not be able to help you with email problems where these involve external systems. Note also that there may be issues of privacy and/or reliability with external email systems which you should consider. University and College administrative and teaching staff are unlikely to be sympathetic to problems arising from such forwarding.

When you leave the University your Computing Service accounts will be closed and your email address will no longer work. The University Development Office has a scheme for lifetime email forwarding addresses for alumni of the University.