Raven is a service run by the Computing Service to securely identify people using websites. When logging in with Raven, your user ID and password is sent securely to the Raven server. Raven then sends our website your username, confirming that it is valid. We do not receive your password.

To log in, your username and password is sent securely (via an SSL connection) to the Raven server. When your details have been confirmed (authenticated), a cookie will be stored on your computer. You must allow your web browser to accept cookies for the log-in process to work. You will not have to re-enter your password during your visit to our website unless you close your browser window. When you do close your web browser, the cookie will usually be automatically deleted (it is a per-session cookie) - this is the best way to log out. Using the Raven authentication service, and accepting this cookie, does not give us access to any information other than your user ID (and your name and e-mail address if it is available in the university e-mail directory).

Your username is your Computing Service CRSid. Almost everyone has an e-mail address of the form CRSid@cam.ac.uk, and the CRSid section is your username. This should be your initials followed by a number. All new students should automatically receive a Raven password with their other user accounts. If you do not have a password, but do have an e-mail address as described above (or one on the Engineering or Biological Sciences systems), you can collect your password online.

If you do not have any Computing Service accounts, you will need to request a Raven account, and you will receive your username and password by post. If you only want a Raven account, you can complete this online form. If you would like to apply for other computing service accounts at the same time, you should download or request an application form, fill it in and deliver it to the Computing Service Reception in the New Museums Site.

If you have requested your Raven password but it won't arrive in time for you to sign up, please contact us. Please note that when bookings are made only by name it will not be possible for a friend to log in for you if they also intend to sign up themselves.

If you have just received your Raven password, you are strongly encouraged to change it to something you can remember. Click here to access your Raven account settings, which will allow you to change your password. To get to this page you will need to know your current Raven password!

If you have forgotten your Raven password, or it doesn't seem to work, please refer to this advice from the Computing Service. Computing Service User Administration can reset your password, ordinarily notifying you of the new password by post.

• When booking you will always be asked for your name. In the unlikely event that you are asked to provide a card number it must match the name you give, and only one booking will be allowed for each card number. If you are not asked for a card number, you should only book for yourself because only one booking will be allowed for each user. You must supply your full name - your surname, and either your initials or your other names, e.g. "Arthur N. Other" or "A.N. Other". This is necessary to ensure that the kitchen and college office staff can identify the person to charge.
• For most graduate formals you may invite up to 3 guests, and shortly before sign-up closes this restriction will usually be lifted. Signing up guests is not allowed for every event, though - when you choose an event to book, the rules specific to that event will be displayed.
• You can modify, cancel and restore your booking as many times as you need to while booking remains open.
• Event sign-up closes well in advance of the event itself, to allow arrangements to be made for the correct number of people. Once sign-up has closed no more changes can be accepted. For Sidney graduate formals, sign-up usually closes at 9 a.m. on Monday morning.
• For seated events - particularly graduate formals - it may be possible to reserve a block of seats for a large group of people. To request this, you should all agree a group name in advance and specify it when booking. This only applies to groups of at least 6 people. Reserving blocks of seating does require additional administration, though, so it will often not be possible to offer this option.
• Further information on how to use the sign-up system will be displayed when you have logged in.