Cookie policy
This policy covers cookies used on warwick.ac.uk and various sub-domains, such as search.warwick.ac.uk. Our web content is provided by more than one platform, including SiteBuilder and Optimizely; where a cookie is specific to a certain platform this is stated below.
1. What is a cookie?
Most websites use cookies to remember information about you and your preferences, either for the duration of your visit or for repeat visits. A cookie is a simple text file that is stored on your computer or mobile device by a website, and that website can then retrieve the contents of that cookie.
If we didn't use cookies, our website would think you are a new visitor every time you move to a new page on the site. For example, if you were to enter your login details and then move to another page, our site wouldn't be able to remember that you'd previously signed in.
Cookies may be set by the website you're visiting ('first party cookies') or by other websites which provide content on the page you're viewing ('third party cookies').
2. What cookies do we use?
Necessary cookies
These cookies are necessary for the operation of our website. For example, those that determine whether you're signed in and who you are.
| Cookie name | Cookie purpose | Cookie duration |
|---|---|---|
| WarwickSSO | Enables you to sign in to the University of Warwick website | If you choose "Until I close my browser" - until you close your browser If you choose "All day" - 12 hours If you choose "Three months" - three months If you choose "Indefinitely until I sign out" - indefinitely In all cases, the cookie is removed if you choose to sign out. |
| ai_session | Used with Microsoft Application Insights to collect statistical usage and telemetry information and is a unique anonymous session identifier on the Optimizely DXP (digital experience platform) | 30 minutes from last activity |
| ai_user | Used with Microsoft Application Insights to collect statistical usage and telemetry information and is a unique user identifier for counting the number of users accessing an application over time on the Optimizely DXP | 1 year |
| ARRAffinity | Ensures your requests related to Optimizely webpages are handled by the same server so that you receive a consistent response |
Until you close your browser |
| .AspNetCore.Antiforgery.# | Protects against the use of Cross-Site Request Forgery to post unauthorised Optimizely content |
Until you close your browser |
| .AspNetCore.Identity.Application | To keep you signed in to the Optimizely CMS (content management system) for the duration of your browsing session | Until you close your browser |
| SitebuilderPassword | Enables you to view password-protected SiteBuilder webpages |
Until you close your browser |
| TiPMix | Determines which web server to direct you to for a consistent experience when using the Optimizely DXP |
Until you close your browser |
| x-ms-routing-name | As above (determines which web server to direct you to for a consistent experience when using the Optimizely DXP) |
Until you close your browser |
Functional cookies
These cookies improve your experience on the Warwick website, for example by storing your user preferences so that you don't have to re-enter them every time you visit the website.
| Cookie name | Cookie purpose | Cookie duration |
|---|---|---|
| EPi:NumberOfVisits | Stores the number of times you access Optimizely pages over time to enable personalisation of content based on the frequency with which you view it |
One year |
| EpiStateMarker | Stores whether information about your visits to Optimizely content, such as page views, should be remembered after you close your browser |
Until you close your browser |
| EPiViewedPages | Used to remember if you have previously visited specific Optimizely pages, during your current visit to the site, to personalise the content you see |
Until you close your browser |
| HideDeletedComments | Remembers your preference to hide deleted comments on webpages you edit in SiteBuilder | One year |
| ImageEditorFileSize | Used to manage the size of images for you within Edit Mode in the Optimizely Image Editor |
Until you close your browser |
Performance cookies
These cookies allow us to track the performance and usage of the Warwick website with anonymised "statistics". We use cookies to track your route around the Warwick website and use the statistics that these create to improve the website's performance and user experience.
| Cookie name | Cookie purpose | Cookie duration |
|---|---|---|
| _ga, _gat, _utma, _utmb, _utmc, _utmz | For Google Analytics software to distinguish users. The information we gather includes, but is not limited to, how users interact with the Warwick website, which pages are most frequently viewed, how frequently the users visit the website, traffic source of user visit, demographics data (age and gender), location and device information (make and model). Any data collected is anonymous and used for statistical reporting only. Other cookies created by Google Analytics include _gid, AMP_TOKEN and _gac_<property-id>. These cookies store other randomly generated IDs and campaign information about the user. |
Up to two years after last website visit. |
We also sometimes embed photos and video content from third-party websites such as YouTube, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Flickr. As a result, when you visit one of our pages containing such content, you may be presented with cookies from these websites.
Our website may also use the website session recording service Hotjar or Mouseflow. We may collect information on your use of our website, such as pages visited, links clicked, non-sensitive text entered, and mouse movements, as well as information more commonly collected such as the referring URL, browser, operating system and Internet Service Provider. The purpose of collecting usage information is to better understand how visitors use the website in order to improve our website usability. We don't use the usage information to identify its visitors. Data collected is for aggregated, statistical reporting and internal use only. If you prefer to opt-out of these session recording services you can do so by following the Hotjar opt-out instructions and the Mouseflow opt-out instructions. Please note you will need to opt-out on each browser that you use.
We don't control the dissemination of these third-party cookies and you should check the relevant third party's website for more information.
We don't sell the information collected by cookies, nor do we disclose the information to third parties, except where required by law (for example to government bodies and law enforcement agencies).
Advertising cookies
These cookies allow us to track your usage of the Warwick website so we can show you ads that are more likely to interest you.
| Cookie name | Cookie purpose | Cookie duration |
|---|---|---|
| AdWords Remarketing _gac | To indicate to other websites that 'this person visited a particular page, so show them ads relating to that page.' |
Between 30 days (the default) and 540 days |
We sometimes use Google AdWords Remarketing pixels to assist with our marketing and delivery of online advertising across the Internet, in particular on the Google Display Network. By better understanding what our audiences are interested in, we can more efficiently promote the University. The technology to do this is made possible by cookies and as such we may place a "remarketing cookie" during your visit.
AdWords remarketing will display ads to you based on what parts of the University of Warwick's website you have viewed by placing a cookie on your web browser. This cookie does not in any way identify you or give access to your computer or mobile device. The cookie is used to indicate to other websites that "This person visited a particular page, so show them ads relating to that page." This way we can show you ads that are personalised to you.
If you do not wish to see personalised ads from the University of Warwick you can opt-out in several ways:
- Opt-out of Google's use of cookies by visiting Google's Ads Settings
- Opt-out of a third-party vendor's use of cookies by visiting youradchoices opt-out.
Please note that opting out won't stop you seeing adverts, just that they won't be tailored specifically to you.
3. What to do if you don't want cookies to be set
If you don’t want websites to store cookies on your computer, tablet or phone, you can modify your browser so that it asks for your permission when a website wants to set a cookie, or you can refuse cookies altogether. You can also delete cookies that have already been set. If you wish to restrict or block web browser cookies on your device then you can do this through your browser settings; the Help function within your browser should tell you how.
For Google Analytics cookies, Google provide a Google Analytics opt-out tool which allows you to specify that you don't want to accept their cookies, not just for our site, but for all sites which use Google Analytics.
To find out more information and opt-out of third party cookies, please visit the relevant privacy and cookie policy pages on third-party websites.
To opt-out of the Hotjar and Mouseflow session recording services you can follow the Hotjar opt-out instructions and the Mouseflow opt-out instructions. Please note you will need to opt-out on each browser that you use.
To disable personalised ads you can update your preferences by visiting Google's Ads Settings and for third-party vendors' cookies by visiting youradchoices opt-out.