History of the TLD

.education is a generic top-level domain (gTLD) created as part of ICANN’s New gTLD Program. It was delegated to the DNS root zone on December 29, 2013 and became publicly available in early 2014 to provide a distinct namespace for educational purposes globally. The registry is operated by Donuts Inc, which is also the back-end provider. This TLD was introduced to expand naming options and offer a clear and relevant extension for the education sector.

Main Use and Industry Position

.education is used to indicate websites focused on learning, teaching, training, and related educational content. It serves schools, universities, online course platforms, tutors, educators, training organisations, and educational resources. Unlike legacy educational namespaces such as .edu, which is restricted to U.S. accredited higher education institutions, .education has no strict eligibility restrictions and is open to anyone seeking to communicate an educational focus. It is positioned as a specialised alternative to generic extensions like .com or .org when an education emphasis is desired.

Comparison to Other TLDs

Compared with legacy education-related domains such as .edu, .education offers broader availability and global applicability. .edu is restricted to accredited postsecondary institutions in the United States. .education also differs from generic extensions like .com because it immediately signals an educational purpose. Other niche alternatives such as .school or .academy similarly target the education sector, but .education is more general and adaptable across all levels and types of educational content.

Pros and Cons of the TLD

Pros

• Clearly signals an education or learning focus
  

• Open registration for any individual or organisation
  

• Professional and descriptive namespace
  

• Available when popular .com or .org names are taken
  

Cons

• Less recognition and familiarity compared to .com or .org
  

• No inherent credential verification like .edu
  

• Can be more expensive than generic TLDs
  

• Not ideal for non‑education brands
  
  

Registration Criteria

.education does not enforce strict eligibility requirements. Any individual, organisation, or business can register a .education domain on a first‑come, first‑served basis, without proof of education credentials or affiliation. The name must comply with standard DNS character rules.

Summary

.education is a specialised gTLD introduced in 2013 to serve the global education community. It provides a recognisable and descriptive domain extension for entities involved in education, training, and learning. With open registration and flexible use cases, it is a viable option for educational institutions, tutors, online learning platforms, and educational content providers who want a relevant and professional online identity.