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To ensure secure and reliable access, we require customers to provide valid IPv4 address ranges when requesting IP based authentication. This page explains the types of IP addresses we accept, which ones we cannot accept, and how to check the IP address your organisation is using.

Accepted IP Address Types:

✔️ IPv4 Addresses

We currently support IPv4 addresses in standard format

• IPv4 addresses ‘Single’ – Example: 203.000.113.010
• IPv4 address ‘Range’ – Example: 204.025.040.010 – 204.025.040.123

These addresses must be publicly routable on the internet.

IP Address Types We Cannot Accept:

❌ IPv6 Addresses

We do not currently accept IPv6 addresses or IPv6 ranges.
IPv6 addresses typically look like this: 2001:0db8:85a3::8a2e:0370:7334.

❌ Private IPv4 Addresses

Private IP addresses are used only within internal networks (e.g., office LANs, home networks). They are not routable on the public internet, so they cannot be used for authentication.

Common private IP ranges include:

010.000.000.000 – 010.255.255.255

172.016.000.000 – 172.031.255.255

192.168.000.000 – 192.168.255.255

If your IP address falls within any of these ranges, you will need to provide your organisation’s public IP address instead. This can be obtained from your institutions network administrator.

How to Check Your Current IP Address:

If you are unsure of the IP address your organisation is using, you can check it by visiting:

👉 https://iopscience.iop.org/checkup

This page will display the public IP address seen by our systems.
If you are part of a larger institution, this may be the IP address assigned by your network administrator rather than your individual device.

For a clearer explanation of how IP addresses work and why they matter for access, take a look at our ‘IP Address Glossary’ article. It breaks down the key terms and concepts so you can understand exactly what’s happening behind the scenes.

If you have any further questions, please contact our Customer Service team.

IP (Internet Protocol):

What it is: A set of rules that allows devices to send data to each other across a network or the internet.
Why it matters: Every device needs an IP address so it can be identified and reached, much like a postal address for digital communication.
How it works: Data is broken into packets, labelled with source and destination IP addresses, and routed across networks until it reaches the right device.

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IPv4 (Internet Protocol version 4):

What it is: The fourth version of the Internet Protocol and the most widely used addressing system on the internet.
Address format: Four numbers separated by dots, for example: 192.168.1.10.
Capacity: About 4.3 billion unique addresses.
Why it matters: IPv4 has been the backbone of the internet for decades, but the number of available addresses is limited, which led to the development of IPv6.

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IPv6 (Internet Protocol version 6):

What it is: The newer version of the Internet Protocol designed to replace IPv4.
Address format: Eight groups of hexadecimal numbers separated by colons, for example: 2001:0db8:85a3:0000:0000:8a2e:0370:7334.
Capacity: Effectively unlimited—enough to give every device on Earth (and many more) a unique address.
Why it matters: Supports the growth of the internet, improves routing efficiency, and includes built-in security features like mandatory support for IPsec.

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CIDR (Classless Inter‑Domain Routing):

What it is: A method for defining IP address ranges more efficiently than the old “class‑based” system.
How it works: An IP address is followed by a slash and a number that indicates how many bits of the address define the network. Example: 192.168.1.0/24.
Why it matters: CIDR helps reduce wasted IP space, improves routing, and is essential for modern network design and firewall rules.

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Subnet (Subnetworks):

What it is: A smaller, logical section of a larger network.
Why it matters: Subnets help organise networks, improve performance, and control access by grouping devices.
Example: A company might split its network into subnets for staff, guests, and servers.

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IP Address Range:

What it is: A block of IP addresses defined using CIDR notation.
Why it matters: Commonly used for firewall rules, access control lists, and routing decisions.
Example: 10.0.0.0/16 represents 65,536 IPv4 addresses.

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Public vs Private IP Addresses:

Public IP: Routable on the internet and globally unique.
Private IP: Used inside local networks and not reachable from the internet.
Why it matters: Private IPs conserve public address space and improve security.

 

If you have any further questions, please contact our Customer Service team.

Once a member of the School Affiliate Scheme, you will have access to the following IOP content: 

• Classroom Physics – a magazine published by the Learning and Skills department that includes news, resources and classroom ideas 

• Physics World – An international monthly magazine covering all areas of physics. It is one of the largest Physic societies in the world and is aimed at those in research, industry and education. 

• Physics Education – An online journal aimed primarily at those teaching physics in secondary schools and colleges.  

 

To find out more information, please visit our School Affiliates page 

If you have any further questions, please contact our Customer Service team.

A School Affiliate is, most often, a teacher or head of faculty from a School or College i.e. Sixth form, who has formally joined the Institute of Physics Schools and Colleges Affiliation Scheme. The scheme provides access to our monthly magazine, Physics World, as well as online access to our international journal, Physics Education.

Through the affiliation scheme, an institution is charged £50 ($63) a year for schools/colleges across the UK and Northern Ireland and £76 a year for British international schools.

How to apply:
If your school or college is not yet part of the scheme:

UK and Irish institutions:
• Download (UK and Irish Application Form from the IOP website) and email it to affiliation@iop.org

British international schools
• Download (The British International form from the IOP website) and email it to affiliation@iop.org

If you have any further questions, please contact our Customer Service team.

Affiliated schools receive full access to Physics Education and Physics World via the IOPscience platform. After you receive an email from the IOP Publishing Customer Service team inviting you to activate your account, simply follow the steps provided.

How to log in:

Username: (Your registered email address)

You will need to reset your password before logging into our content.

How to reset your password:

1. On the IOPscience login screen, please use the ‘Reset your password’ feature.
2. Follow the instructions sent to your registered email address.
3. Once logged in, you will need to complete the short user-profile form when prompted.

You will then be able to access our content by using your confirmed login details.

Need help?

If having trouble accessing your content, please contact the IOP Customer Services team at and they will be happy to assist.

Your institution’s COUNTER usage reports for IOP Publishing are available Here

Please log in using your COUNTER admin credentials.  

Additional information regarding IOP Publishing and COUNTER can be located Here

If you do not know or have your login credentials, please contact our Customer Service team for assistance. 

As an IOP Member, you will have opportunities to expand your knowledge and benefit from the support of a vibrant and far-reaching physics community. Membership provides access to the tools and resources that can help you progress in your chosen career, offering professional recognition and continuous development along the way.

What you can experience as an IOP Member:

• Stay informed and inspired:

• • Keep up to date with the latest scientific discoveries through IOP conferences and specialised events
  • Access helpful materials from Physics World magazine including subject briefings, career guides and up to 30% off at the IOP Bookstore
  • Receive quarterly member newsletters and bi-weekly event bulletins

• Grow your knowledge and career:

• • Explore a wide range of journals published by IOP Publishing
  • Gain recognition through professional registration, supporting your academic and career development
  • Join our University Student community, helping you immerse yourself in university life and take confident next steps

• Connect and contribute:
  • Get involved with one of our 53 specialist interest groups across a variety of disciplines, interests and areas of practice
  • Volunteer your time to run National and UK/Ireland committees, supporting visits, talks and public activities

For further information on the benefits of becoming an IOP Member, please click the following link: IOP Member Benefits

If you have any further questions, please contact our Customer Service team.

To access your related content on the IOP Publishing website, you will need to sign in to the IOP member portal which can be found on our Membership page. From here, you will be able to access our resources, manage your user profile and update or renew your membership.

How to Link Your IOP Connect Profile with Your physicsworld.com Account

Follow the steps below to connect your IOP Connect member profile with your physicsworld.com user profile:

1. Sign in to your physicsworld.com account
   Head to your Physics World website and select Sign in at the top left of the page.
2. Open your account settings
   Once signed in, choose My Account from the top left corner.
3. Access the IOP membership section
   In the menu that appears, select My IOP membership (this is the second option in the list).
4. Start linking your accounts
   Tick the box labelled ‘I am a member of the Institute of Physics (IOP)’.
   The green Next button will change to Link my accounts – click this.
5. Enter your IOP Connect details
   You’ll be prompted to sign in using your IOP Connect
   These are the same details you use to access your IOP membership account and the digital Physics World magazine.

If you have any issues logging in, please contact our Customer Service team.

To reset your password, go to the Login page from the main IOPscience website.  Please follow these steps depending on your login account preference.

IOPscience User Account:

For this user type, please click on ‘Don’t remember your password’ link

The following screen will be the ‘Reset your password’ page

Enter the email address linked to your user account and click ‘Send Email’.

You will receive the following email:

Click ‘Confirm’ and you will be asked to enter a new password

Please note that the password you enter must contain the following:

**You cannot reuse the same password as before**

ORCID User Account:

For this user type, please click on ‘Sign in with ORCID’ link

Click on the ‘Forgot your password or ORCID ID?’ link and follow the on screen instructions.

If you have any further questions, please contact our Customer Service team.

If your librarian has already confirmed that your institution subscribes to IOP Publishing content, you’re almost there. You can access the content on IOPscience in one of two ways: automatically through your institution’s network or by signing in through your institution.

Automatic access on campus (IP authentication)

If you are using a device connected to your institution’s network, we’ will recognise your IP address automatically.
That means:

• No login needed
• You’ll be able to open any subscribed articles and journals straight away

If you’re off campus but using your institution’s VPN, this may work the same way.

For a clearer explanation of how IP addresses work and why they matter for access, take a look at our ‘IP Address Glossary’ article. It breaks down the key terms and concepts so you can understand exactly what’s happening behind the scenes.

Signing in through your institution (Federated Access)

If your institution uses Shibboleth or OpenAthens, you can sign in with your usual institutional username and password.
Just:

1. Visit IOPscience
2. Select Access through your institution
3. Search for your institution
4. Sign in when prompted

Once you are signed in, you’ll have access to everything included in your institution’s subscription.

Not sure whether your institution has access?

If you haven’t checked with your librarian yet, or you’re unsure, please see our article: “How do I know if my institution has access to IOPP products?”

 

If you have any further questions, please contact our Customer Service team.