Setting up a website and hosting options

Find out who can have web space on the Sussex domain and how to get it.

Do you need a website?

The Digital and Creative Media (DCM) team can advise on best practices and solutions for creating an online digital presence, including hosting options.

If you need a website, blog, app or other online system to support your work at the University, email dcm@sussex.ac.uk.

University website hosting policy

All websites use the central University templates and branding. This is to ensure consistency and good web practices. The design of the University templates have been agreed with University management and are regularly tested by the DCM team for good web standards including accessibility, it is a legal requirement to meet with WCAG 2.1 AA standards.

All University websites should use the sussex.ac.uk domain name. This domain name is established and trusted with search engines and users, meaning you rank higher when people search for you and visitors can be confident it’s a genuine University of Sussex web presence. It also forms part of the University brand.

The only exemption to the above is when there is an affiliation with another organisation where use of the University brand could be adapted. See below for more information about affiliated websites. If you need advice, email dcm@sussex.ac.uk.

Who can ask for a website

University-hosted websites can only ever be owned by current Sussex staff or students.

Choose from this list:

Schools and departments

All core academic unit websites (including departments, schools and graduate centres) are managed using a website content management system (called the WCM).

To become an editor of a school or departmental site, you’ll need to get your departmental head or school administrator to contact us, requesting you become an editor: dcm@sussex.ac.uk.

Research centres, programs, labs and projects

All research centres, programs, labs and projects websites are managed using a website content management system (called the WCM).

To edit the content on an academic research site you’ll need the permission of your unit head.

To set up a new research centre or group website, the centre or group needs to be offically endorsed by The Research and Knowledge Exchange Committee. See the Research and Knowledge Exchange website for more information.

Professional services

All Professional Services websites are managed and built using a website content management system (called the WCM). Contact us to request a new site: dcm@sussex.ac.uk.

USSU societies

University of Sussex Student Union Societies are entitled to a sub-section of the Students’ Union web presence. Email m.j.riley@sussex.ac.uk from your Sussex email account for details.

Contact

Contact dcm@sussex.ac.uk if you have any other queries about website hosting or developments (including blog use).

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