Cookies
To help improve this site we place small files, known as cookies, onto your computer. Some are essential for the site to work properly, others are to improve the experience you have.
You can stop this site using non-essential cookies by updating your settings above1.
You can also decide to stop this or any site from using any cookies. To learn more about cookies and how to manage them visit AboutCookies.org.
How we use cookies
We use cookies for several purposes on this website – we’ve listed each of them below with more details about why we use them and how long they’ll last.
Cookies to improve your experience
You can tell us to stop using these at any time by updating your settings above.
Measuring website usage (Google Analytics)
We use Google Analytics to collect information about how people use our site, and rough demographics as to what groups of people are using our site. We do this to make sure it’s meeting your needs and to understand how we could improve it. As well as controlling this above - you can opt out of Google Analytics tracking directly.
Google Analytics stores information about:
- the pages you visit
- how long you spend on each page
- how you got to the site
- what you click on while you're here
The following cookies are set by Google Analytics:
| Name | Purpose | Expires |
|---|---|---|
| _ga | This helps us count how many people visit the site by tracking if you've visited before | 2 years |
| _utma | Like _ga, this lets us know if you’ve visited before, so we can count how many of our visitors are new to the site or to a certain page | 2 years |
| _utmb | This works with _utmc to calculate the average length of time you spend on the site | 30 minutes |
| _utmc | This works with _utmb to calculate when you close your browser | when you close your browser |
| _utmz | This tells us how you reached the site (like from another website or a search engine) | 6 months |
| _gat_UA-376728-1 | This is used by Google Analytics to ensure its work doesn't have a big impact on the site's performance | 1 day |
Essential cookies
Website operation
The system that runs our website sets cookies to allow it to run smoothly.
| Name | Purpose | Expires |
|---|---|---|
| has_js | This tells the site whether you're using JavaScript or not | when you close your browser |
| visitedPreviously | randomly generated number | 60 days |
| ssess | Allow the page to provide you with content | |
| adaptiveLibraryDefaultState | Used to remember your display preferences | |
| jisc_eprivacy | Used to remember your privacy preferences | 90 days |
Logged in access
Our system uses cookies to allow you to log into the site, and access restricted content and services.
| Name | Purpose | Expires |
|---|---|---|
| _saml_idp | Allow our identity provider to recognise you | six months after last visiting the site |
| _shibsession_<number> | Allow the page to provide you with restricted content | when you close your browser |
| authcache drupal_user drupal_uid | Used to improve the performance of the site for logged-in users | when you close your browser |
Other cookies
YouTube
We've tried to replace all our embedded videos with cookie free versions. However, if you've seen embedded videos on our site in the past then these cookies may be on your system.
| Name | Purpose | Expires |
|---|---|---|
| VISITOR_INFO1_LIVE | This tries to estimate your bandwidth and deliver a video of appropriate quality | 240 days |
| YSC | A unique identify given to a user on a site with videos | when you close your browser |
| GEUP | Allows Google to track viewers across sites that use YouTube videos | 2 years |
| PREF | Allows Google to track viewers across sites that use YouTube videos | 240 days |
| GPS | Allows basic tracking based on location on mobile devices (where permitted) | 30 minutes |
NB: Cookie guidance wording adapted from gov.uk, shared under the Open Government License.
Footnotes
- 1 Please note, if you have used the site in the past these cookies may still be on your computer - but by disabling them in your settings we will no longer access them.