On campus
eduroam and govroam: roaming Wi-Fi for education and the public sector
eduroam lets students, staff and visitors log on to Wi-Fi at any participating organisation with one profile and one set of credentials. Here is how it works, what it costs Jisc members, and where govroam fits in.
On this page
At a glance
- eduroam gives authenticated network logon and internet access through a single Wi-Fi profile and set of credentials.
- Jisc says over 560 UK organisations offer it, and it is available in 101 countries.
- It is available at no extra cost to organisations eligible for Jisc services.
- govroam, for public sector staff, is included “visited only” in Jisc FE and HE membership.
What eduroam does
eduroam gives users “authenticated network logon and access to the internet through a single wifi profile and set of credentials” wherever participating organisations offer it. Wired connections can be supported too. Visitors from other institutions get access “without the need for guest account management”.
Behind the scenes, each organisation connects to national RADIUS systems run by the national research and education network — in the UK, by Jisc.
Jisc’s key facts
| Availability | “24/7” |
|---|---|
| Cost | “Available at no extra cost to organisations eligible for Jisc services” |
| UK organisations offering it | Over 560 |
| Countries | 101 |
eduroam is listed as included in both the FE and HE membership catalogues. eduroam Visitor Access is an optional extra in the FE catalogue. Jisc’s eduroam page also covers the geteduroam app, an eduroam companion app and OpenRoaming.
eduroam has its own technical standards, set out in Jisc’s connection guide, linked from the eduroam page.
govroam
govroam lets public sector staff whose organisations use govroam log on at other govroam sites. It is included “visited only” in Jisc FE and HE membership (Jisc’s wording). The Janet connection policy also allows guest access through eduroam or govroam under each federation’s rules.
In Wales, the Hwb wireless standard for schools recommends deploying govroam where public sector services share a school building.
Where to go next
- Campus networks: Wi-Fi and switching
- Who can connect to Janet — including rules for public users
Sources
Checked 25 October 2026. We wrote this guide from these sources, in our own words:
- Jisc: eduroam (jisc.ac.uk)
- Jisc: Catalogue of services for further education (jisc.ac.uk)
- Jisc: Catalogue of services for higher education (jisc.ac.uk)
- Jisc: Janet Network connection policy (jisc.ac.uk)
- Hwb: Wireless networking standards (Wales) (hwb.gov.wales)
Broadband for Education is an independent guide. It is not a broker or a supplier, and it is not owned by, or connected to, Jisc, any network provider, framework or government body. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.