Cookie statement
This statement explains how we use cookies on the University's main web pages (ie those in www.ox.ac.uk).
Last updated:
Please note, however, that most units of the University run and maintain their own websites on the ox.ac.uk domain (these will be identified as www.name.ox.ac.uk or name.ox.ac.uk). These sites may carry their own cookie statement or provide additional information relating to their activities, which will supersede or supplement this Cookie statement. For information about what types of personal information will be gathered when you visit the website, and how this information will be used, please see our Privacy policy.
How we use cookies
All of our web pages use cookies, even if it is just a single cookie to remember you do not permit cookies. A cookie is a small file of letters and numbers that is stored on your computer or mobile device, if you agree. These cookies allow us to distinguish you from other users of our website, which helps us to provide you with a good experience and enables us to improve our website.
Types of cookies we use
We use the following types of cookies:
- Essential cookies - these are essential to enable you to move around the websites and use its features. The website cannot function properly without these cookies, and they can only be disabled by changing your browser preferences.
- Analytics cookies - we use Google Analytics and MS Clarity to help us to monitor and improve the performance of our website to provide you with the best possible experience.
- Performance cookies - we may work with other partners to monitor and improve the performance of our website, and applications embedded within it, to provide you with the best possible experience.
- Marketing cookies - track your activity across websites to measure how effective advertising is and to show you more relevant adverts.
Most web browsers allow some control of most cookies through the browser settings. To find out more about cookies, including how to see what cookies have been set and how to manage and delete them please visit the Information Commissioner's Office.
Specific cookies we use
Cookies may be set either by www.ox.ac.uk (first party cookies) or by another website (third party cookies). The tables below identify the cookies we use and explain the purposes for which they are used.
However, we continue to collect information about third-party cookies and the tables below are based on the work completed to date. Accordingly, we may update the information contained in this section from time to time. Additionally, some cookies may be set from time to time by functionality from third party websites that we make available on our sites.
First party cookies
| Cookie name | Purpose | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| CookieControl | (Essential) Records your cookie preferences (eg whether you accepted or rejected optional cookies) so the site can respect your choice on future visits. | 90 days |
| SSESS[random identifier] | (Essential for editors) Drupal session identifier - set only for logged in users, used to distinguish authenticated user sessions and maintain login. | 24 days |
| unquieSearchUser | (Essential) Distinguish between different users using the fees, funding and scholarship search | Session |
| cf_clearance | (Essential) Set by Cloudflare to verify that a visitor has passed a security check and to prevent repeated challenges. | 30 minutes |
Third party cookies
| Cookie name | Service | Purpose | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| _ga | Google Analytics | (Analytics) Identifies users. | 2 years |
| _ga_KJYGZYJMYR | Google Analytics | (Analytics) Managing sessions and attribution context within our particular GA4 property. | 2 years (but the data is session dependent) |
| _clck | Microsoft Clarity | (Analytics) Persists the Clarity User ID and preferences. | 13 months |
| _clsk | Microsoft Clarity | (Analytics) Connects multiple page views by a user into a single Clarity session recording. | 1 day |
| _gcl_au | Google Ads | (Marketing) Stores information about ad clicks and user behaviour. | 3 months |
| _gcl_aw | Google Ads | (Marketing) Stores a unique click ID (GCLID) when someone clicks a Google ad | 90 days |
| __Secure-ROLLOUT | YouTube | (Performance) Protect user data from unauthorised access. | 365 days |
| __Secure-YEC | YouTube | (Performance) Protect user data from unauthorised access. | 365 days |
| __Secure-YNID | YouTube | (Performance) Protect user data from unauthorised access. | 365 days |
| VISITOR_INFO1_LIVE | YouTube | (Performance) Bandwidth estimation for video quality/tracking of user behaviour and unique visitors | 180 days |
| VISITOR_PRIVACY_METADATA | YouTube | (Performance) Stores consent state for the current domain. | 180 days |
| YSC | YouTube | (Performance) Records video view statistics | Session (until you close your browser) |
| __Secure-ENID | Google reCapthca | (Performance) Remember preferences and security information. | 400 days |
| __Secure-ENID | Google maps | (Performance) Remember preferences and security information. | 400 days |
| tableau_locale | Tableau | (Performance) Stores the user's preferred language and country setting. | Session (until you close your browser) |
| tableau_public_negotiated_locale | Tableau | (Performance) Used alongside language settings to facilitate translation. | Session (until you close your browser) |
Changes to our Cookie Statement
Any changes we may make to our Cookie Statement in the future will be posted on this page.
Contact
Any queries or concerns about the use of cookies on this website should be sent by email to the Data Protection Office or addressed to the Data Protection Office, University of Oxford, University Offices, Wellington Square, Oxford, OX1 2JD.