Your Athena User Account (sometimes called a Kerberos or MIT or email account) is your online identity at MIT. Once you set up your Athena account, you will be able to access your MIT email, educational technology discounts, student records, computing clusters, printing services and much more.
Benefits
Registering for an Athena account establishes your identity in MIT's Kerberos security system and provides you with access to a vast array of technology services and resources on campus
Key Features
Many electronic systems on campus use your Kerberos identity to confirm that you are who you say you are. When these systems ask for your username and password, they're really asking for your centrally-maintained MIT Kerberos username and password. You create your MIT Kerberos identity in the process of registering for an account on MIT's Athena system.
Requirements
MIT ID
Getting Started
MIT Faculty and Staff
Once you have your MIT ID number, proceed to the Account Registration page.
Freshmen
Freshman registration is available through the my.mit.edu admissions portal. Freshmen will receive an email from the admissions office once they register for an account. They can then log in to the my.mit.edu portal and click the link to register for an Athena Account ("Kerberos ID").
Graduate Students
Students new to MIT need an Account Coupon that contains personalized keywords. (Sloan School Graduate Students will use their Apply Yourself PIN instead of a coupon). Graduate students receive their coupons from their department. Those who have misplaced or never received a coupon, can pick up an account coupon from the Student Services Center or the User Accounts Office. (You must bring your MIT ID card with you to pick up your account coupon.)
Guests and Voucher/Temporary Employees
Accounts for Temporary and Voucher employees and guests of MIT should be requested only for individuals who are not registered MIT undergraduate or graduate students, MIT faculty, or MIT on-campus staff, but are working on Institute projects that make use of Athena or its related services. Sponsored guest accounts must be sponsored by MIT faculty or staff. The sponsor should complete the Sponsoring an Account form.
Getting Help
Most of our correspondence is done via email; however, you can also call us or visit us in person.
You can learn more about how to activate an Athena User Account.
Email: accounts@mit.edu
Phone: 617.253.1325
Fax: 617.258.6176
Location: Building E17, 40 Ames Street
Phone Support/In-person Service Hours:
Monday-Friday 9AM - 5PM, excluding Institute holidays