What are cookies?
Cookies are small text files placed on to your computer by the websites you visit. They help improve your experience and allow website-owners to analyse visits.
This is how cookies work: When you first visit a site that uses cookies, a simple text file is downloaded on to your computer, which is then read each time you return to that site. The file, or cookie, can be used to remember user names, passwords and preferences, for instance, or to personalise searches that you have conducted in the past. All of this information allows you a smoother experience on site. Cookies also help website-owners make improvements by collecting information such as the number and length of visits and pages viewed.
How can cookies be managed/blocked?
You can set your device to accept all cookies, to notify you when a cookie is issued, or not to receive cookies at all. If you choose not to receive cookies you may not be able to take full advantage of the website's features and we may not be able to personalise your experience on site. Each internet browser is different, so check the 'Help' menu of your browser to find out how to change your cookie preferences. More information on cookies is available from the Information Commissioner's Office https://ico.org.uk/your-data-matters/online/cookies/
Retargeting services
We use retargeting services on behalf of education institutions partners to show you advertising that you may be interested in, based on your interactions on our sites. When you are visiting other websites, such as a news service, you may see one of these ads.
Retargeting works by analysing the areas you look at online - such as course subjects or university locations - and creating targeted online advertising campaigns on behalf of our advertising clients. The content of the adverts will specifically support your educational journey, with a particular focus on the types of subjects and institutions which you have previously viewed on our websites.
Cookies and Smart Pixel technologies support our retargeting services which are delivered via partners such as Admedo, Adroll, Facebook and Instagram.
What type of cookies do we use?
We use the following cookies:
Analytical/performance cookies.
These cookies allow us to recognise and count the number of visitors to our sites and see how users move around the sites. This information helps us to improve our websites, for example, by ensuring that users can easily find what they are looking for.
| Cookie name | Purpose | Life Time |
|---|
| _gat_newTracker | This cookie allows us to analyse website usage, by users, to improve our content and services. | 24 hours |
| _gat_salesTracker | This cookie also allows us to analyse the website usage to improve our content and services. | 24 hours |
| AMP_TOKEN | This cookie contains a token that can be used to retrieve a Client ID from AMP Client ID service.
Other possible values indicate opt-out or an error retrieving a Client ID from AMP Client ID service. | 1 year |
| __utma | This cookie is used to record anonymous information about our web traffic. This particular cookie is one of a number of cookies on the site from the third-party Google Analytics traffic statistics service. This data informs us on how to improve the pages and journeys on the site for our users. | 2 Years |
| __utmb | This cookie is used to record anonymous information about our web traffic. This particular cookie is one of a number of cookies on the site from the third-party Google Analytics traffic statistics service. This data informs us on how to improve the pages and journeys on the site for our users. | Today |
| __utmc | This cookie is used to record anonymous information about our web traffic. This particular cookie is one of a number of cookies on the site from the third party Google Analytics traffic statistics service. This data informs us on how to improve the pages and journeys on the site for our users. | At end of the session, when you close the browser. |
| __utmz | This cookie is used to record anonymous information about our web traffic. This particular cookie is one of a number of cookies on the site from the third-party Google Analytics traffic statistics service. This data informs us on how to improve the pages and journeys on the site for our users. | 6 Months |
Functionality cookies
These are used to recognise you when you return to our website. This enables us to personalise our content for you, greet you by name and remember your preferences (for example, your choice of language or region).
| Cookie name | Purpose | Life Time |
|---|
| JSESSIONID | This cookie is used to give each user a unique identifier so we can make your journey smoother while you are on the site. This might include keeping you logged in if you have registered or maintaining anything you may have shortlisted. | At end of the session, when you close the browser. |
| basketId | This cookie is used to store anything you may have shortlisted while searching. | 6 Months |
| userType | This cookie is used to store a user's status, for example 'new user' or 'returning user'. | At end of the session, when you close the browser. |
| ckeUserHomeType | This cookie is used to store the version of the homepage the user should be looking at. | 1 Year |
| wcache | This cookie is enabled when a user is logged in. | Once the user has logged out. |
| prospectusBasketId | This cookie is used to store the prospectuses you have shortlisted. | 1 month |
| gradePopup | This cookie is used to track when a user has already opened the grade popup. | At end of the session, when you close the browser. |
| CLEARING_USER_TYPE | This cookie is used track when a user is going through clearing and/or adjustment. | 1 Year |
| showFinalFive | This cookie is used to record that the user does not want to view the Final 5 ticker tape again. | At end of the session, when you close the browser. |
| grades_prepopulate | This cookie is used to store the grade value of the user from search results page. | At end of the session, when you close the browser. |
| __wuuid | This cookie is used to store the value, if the user enables 'Remember me' check box. | 60 days. |
| userTrackId | This cookie is used to store the value to track user journey within our site. | 30 days. |
| ORA_WX_SESSION | This cookie is used to give users unique identifiers so we can improve your visit to the site; this may include keeping you logged in if you have registered. | At the end of the session, when you close the browser. |
| cookie_splash_flag | This cookie is used to record that the user has accepted the cookies policy on our site and reminds us not to show the same message. | 30 days |
| AN_USER_ID | This cookie stores your user ID during Whatuni journey. | At the end of your session, when you log out. |
Third party cookies
Please note that third parties (for example advertising networks and external service providers such as web traffic analysis services) may also use cookies, over which we have no control. These cookies are likely to be analytical/performance cookies or marketing cookies.
| Third party | Type | Purpose |
|---|
| VWO | A/B Testing | To allow different tests and track visitor behaviour on the website to deliver the best user experience. No personally identifiable information is collected. |
| Facebook | Social Media | These cookies enable you to share articles on Facebook |
| Twitter | Social Media | These cookies enable you to share articles via Twitter |
| YouTube | Social Media | These cookies enable you to view embedded YouTube videos on our site |
| Admedo | Retargeting | These cookies let Admedo know when to serve ads, ensuring that ads are served only to people who have previously visited the site. |
| Adroll | Retargeting | These cookies let Adroll know when to serve ads, ensuring that ads are served only to people who have previously visited the site. This includes cross site tracking to tailor ads to user. |
| Google DoubleClick | Advertising | These cookies is used by Google's DoubleClick for Publishers system which serves the banner advertising on the site. |
| Google Adsense | Advertising | These cookies are used by Google's Adsense to measure interactions with ads and to prevent the same ad from being displayed too often |
| Vimeo | Social Media | These cookies enable you to view embedded Vimeo videos on our site |
| Piktochart | Content | These cookies enable you to view embedded infographics and presentations on our site |
