A cookie is a piece of information in the form of a very small text file that is placed on an internet user's hard drive. It is generated by a web page server, which is basically the computer that operates a web site.
The information the cookie contains is set by the server and it can be used by that server whenever the user visits the site. A cookie can be thought of as an internet user's identification card, which tells a web site when the user has returned."
www.aboutcookies.org
How to Manage Cookies
Please be aware that restricting cookies may impact on the functionality of some of the University of Aberdeen's websites.
Most standard web browsers may be configured to refuse cookies: consult your browser's help pages for instructions on how to do this. You may wish to visit http://www.aboutcookies.org/ which contains comprehensive information on how to manage cookies on a wide variety of browsers.
University of Aberdeen Cookies
General Purpose Cookies
The following cookies may be set by certain pages within our websites as necessary, usually when dealing with our web forms. In these cases the use of cookies is necessary to ensure that the flow of data between your browser and our servers is private and secure.
| Cookie Identifier | Purpose | Expires |
|---|---|---|
| S followed by 12 random characters | PHP session ID Used to maintain the security of your browsing session |
When you close your browser |
| abdn_maps | Used to store geolocation, if you have agreed to share that information | 30 minutes |
| abdn_forms | SimpleForms Used to check that cookies are enabled so that the PHP session ID can be used without displaying it in the browser's URL |
1 hour |
| abdn_session_cookie_check | Intranet/standard SimpleCMS login Used to check that cookies are enabled so that the PHP session ID can be used without displaying it in the browser's URL |
1 hour |
| abdn_show_cookie_advisory | Used to determine whether the cookie advisory notice has been displayed | 1 year |
| events_carousel_containerpersist | Used for the operation of the University Events carousel | When you close your browser |
| com_jw_fpss | Used by the Frontpage slideshows implemented on the University landing pages | When you close your browser |
Online Store
The following cookies are set set by the third-party company WPM Education for the operation of the University's Online Store.
| Cookie Identifier | Purpose | Expires |
|---|---|---|
| ASPSESSIONIDCSBBRDCQ | Session ID Used to maintain the security of your browsing session |
When you close your browser |
| WPM%5FStore | Used to maintain the security of your browsing session | Immediately |
| WPM%5FStore%5FSession | Used to maintain the security of your browsing session | Immediately |
AURA
The following cookie is set when using the University's DSpace installation, the Aberdeen University Research Archive (AURA).
| Cookie Identifier | Purpose | Expires |
|---|---|---|
| JSESSIONID | Session ID Used to maintain the security of your browsing session |
When you close your browser |
MyAberdeen
The following cookies are set when using MyAberdeen.
| Cookie Identifier | Purpose | Expires |
|---|---|---|
| JSESSIONID | Session ID Used to maintain the security of your browsing session |
When you close your browser |
| cookies_enabled | Used to store cookie setting | When you close your browser |
| NSC_301884.qspe1_wjq1.hspvq | Used to maintain the security of your browsing session | When you close your browser |
| s_session_id | Used to maintain the security of your browsing session | When you close your browser |
| session_id | Used to maintain the security of your browsing session | When you close your browser |
Additionally, MyAberdeen may occasionally display reminders related to your course in popup windows, and uses a cookie to determine whether you have already seen a given reminder. An example would be the scefpopup cookie. All such cookies expire when you close your browser.
Other Cookies
The University of Aberdeen relies on statistics generated by your visits to our webpages to plan further improvements to our websites. The cookies which are set in order to enable us to collate these statistics are not strictly necessary for the operation of our websites. Links are provided below which will enable you to opt out of receiving these cookies if you wish.
Google Analytics
We use Google Analytics to generate reports on the number of visits to pages on our websites. The resulting statistics help us to plan improvements to our websites. Google Analytics is also used by third party widgets implemented on our website.
| Cookie Identifier | Description | Expires |
|---|---|---|
| _ga | Random number | 2 years |
| _gat | 1 | 10 minutes |
Google Tag Manager
We use Google Tag Manager to manage Google Analytics and other tracking cookies which may be used for marketing purposes or evaluating the effectiveness of our website.
| Cookie Identifier | Description | Expires |
|---|---|---|
| _dc_gtm_UA-209114-1 | 1 | 10 minutes |
Google Maps
We use Google Maps to provide location information to users of our website.
| Cookie Identifier | Description | Expires |
|---|---|---|
| NID | Random letters and numbers | 1 hour |
| PREF | Random letters and numbers | End of the year |
DoubleClick
We use Google’s DoubleClick on selected pages to establish the effectiveness of our degree and course information. These statistics help us continually improve the information we provide on our website.
| Cookie Identifier | Description | Expires |
|---|---|---|
| id | Random letters and numbers | 1 year |
Mathtag
We use Mathtag in conjunction with Doubleclick as part of a targeted marketing service.
| Cookie Identifier | Description | Expires |
|---|---|---|
| HRL8 | Random letters and numbers | 4 weeks |
| mt_misc | mt_bt:1/ | 1 month |
| mt_mop | Random letters and numbers | 1 month |
| uuid | Random letters and numbers | 1 year |
| uuidc | Random letters and numbers | 1 year |
Big Top
Big Top (www.bigtopapp.com) is a third party application created by Net Natives and is used by the University of Aberdeen for marketing purposes.
| Cookie Identifier | Description | Expires |
|---|---|---|
| __cfduid | Random letters and numbers | 1 year |
| _ga | Random letters and numbers | 2 years |
| _gat | 1 | Immediately |
| __vuid-5613e82b301e751500023809 | Random letters and numbers | 31 years |
Mikle
Mikle provide a widget which is used on our website to provide RSS feeds.
| Cookie Identifier | Description | Expires |
|---|---|---|
| _ga | Random letters and numbers | 2 years |
| _gat | 1 | Immediately |
Browsealoud
Browsealoud provide a widget which is used to enhance accessibility on our website.
| Cookie Identifier | Description | Expires |
|---|---|---|
| _baga | Random letters and numbers | 2 years |
SoundCloud
SoundCloud provides a platform for sharing and promoting audio.
| Cookie Identifier | Description | Expires |
|---|---|---|
| sc_anonymous_id | Random number separated by hyphens | 10 years |
| __qca | Random letters and numbers | 18 months |
| __utma | Random number | 2 years |
| __utmb | Random number | Immediately |
| __utmc | Random number | At end of session |
| __utmt | 1 | Immediately |
| __utmz | Letters and numbers with referral string | 6 months |
Hotjar
We use Hotjar to analyse online behaviour and improve the user experience across our website.
| Cookie Identifier | Description | Expires |
|---|---|---|
|
_hjClosedSurveyInvites |
This cookie is set once a visitor interacts with a Survey invitation modal popup. It is used to ensure that the same invite does not re-appear if it has already been shown. |
1 Year |
|
_hjDonePolls |
This cookie is set once a visitor completes a poll using the Feedback Poll widget. It is used to ensure that the same poll does not re-appear if it has already been filled in. |
1 Year |
|
_hjMinimizedPolls |
This cookie is set once a visitor minimizes a Feedback Poll widget. It is used to ensure that the widget stays minimized when the visitor navigates through your site. |
1 Year |
|
_hjDoneTestersWidgets |
This cookie is set once a visitor submits their information in the Recruit User Testers widget. It is used to ensure that the same form does not re-appear if it has already been filled in. |
1 Year |
|
_hjMinimizedTestersWidgets |
This cookie is set once a visitor minimizes a Recruit User Testers widget. It is used to ensure that the widget stays minimized when the visitor navigates through your site. |
1 Year |
|
_hjDoneSurveys |
This cookie is set once a visitor completes a survey. It is used to only load the survey content if the visitor hasn't completed the survey yet. |
1 Year |
|
_hjIncludedInSample |
This session cookie is set to let Hotjar know whether that visitor is included in the sample which is used to generate funnels. |
1 Year |
|
_hjShownFeedbackMessage |
This cookie is set when a visitor minimizes or completes Incoming Feedback. This is done so that the Incoming Feedback will load as minimized immediately if they navigate to another page where it is set to show. |
1 Year |
Author: Web Team
Last reviewed: 23 May 2016
Last updated: 5 Sept 2016