The School of Biological Sciences is committed to protecting your privacy and keeping you informed of how your information is used. This page details how and where our activities differ from the University Privacy Policy.

University of Edinburgh - Website privacy and cookies information

Websites hosted in the School of Biological Sciences may set Cookies not specified in the University Privacy Policy.

University of Edinburgh - Cookies we use

We have listed these additional Cookies below.

Strictly necessary cookies

These essential cookies are set across the University of Edinburgh's web service.

Some cookies we place on your browser ensure that the University website delivers you information and services securely and optimally.

You must accept these cookies to be able to make use of our online systems.

Session ID

Cookie name(s)
SESSxxxID , PHPSESSIONID, ASPSESSIONID, etc
Data stored
A random unique number or string of letters and numbers.
When does it expire?
The cookie is deleted when you close your web browser.
Description
A session cookie is required to follow your progress through the website. It is essential to ensure that any information you enter or routes you take are remembered by the website. Without this cookie, every page you visited would treat you as a completely new visitor. This cookie does not identify you personally and is not linked to any other information we store about you.

Functional Cookies

These are cookies that are not essential, but they enhance your use of our website.

Drupal Web Content Management

Cookie name(s)
has_js
Data stored
1 or 0
When does it expire?
The cookie is deleted when you close your web browser.
Description
A cookie to remember if your browser has javascript enabled.

Third party cookies

Cookies are set on some University of Edinburgh pages by third party products and services.

Some University pages use third party services or software, such as maps, online videos or social networking features.

Many of these services may set cookies in your browser.

Google Analytics

Cookie name(s)
__utma, __utmb, __utmc, __utmv, __utmz
Data stored
A random unique number or string of letters and numbers to identify your browser, the times and dates that you interacted with the site recently and the marketing materials or referring pages that led you to the site.
When does it expire?
The longest lasting cookie expires 2 years after your last visit to the website. Others are deleted 6 months, 30 minutes and the moment you close your browser.
Description
Google Analytics is a web analytics service provided by Google, Inc. (“Google”), to help us see how our website is used. In doing so information about your use of our website, including your IP address, may be transmitted to Google and stored on servers in the United States. The data collected by Google Analytics is used to analyse how frequently the same people revisit the University website, how the website is found (from advertising or referring websites), and which pages are most frequently viewed. This information is combined with data from thousands of other users to create an overall picture of website use, and is never identified individually or personally and is not linked to any other information we store about you.

Google Maps

Cookie name(s)
SID, SAPISID, APISID, SSID, HSID, NID, PREF
Data stored
Various unique identifiers, except for PREF which stores your options such as preferred zoom level.
When does it expire?
Most of the cookies expire 10 years after your last visit to a page containing a Google Map.
Description
Google set a number of cookies on any page that includes a Google Map. While we have no control over the cookies set by Google, they appear to include a mixture of pieces of information to measure the number and behaviour of Google Maps users.

Youtube

Cookie name(s)
SID, LOGIN_INFO, use_hotbox, PREF, SSID, HSID, watched_video_id_list, __utma, __utmz, demographics, VISITOR_INFO1_LIVE
Data stored
Various unique identifiers, as well as login information that may relate to a Google account.
When does it expire?
Most of the cookies expire 10 years after your last visit to a page containing a Youtube video, although some expire sooner.
Description
Google set a number of cookies on any page that includes a Youtube video. While we have no control over the cookies set by Google, they appear to include a mixture of pieces of information to measure the number and behaviour of Youtube users, including information that links your visits to our website with your Google account if you are signed in to one. Information about your use of our website, including your IP address, may be transmitted to Google and stored on servers in the United States.This cookie does not identify you personally unless you are logged into Google, in which case it is linked to your Google account.

Prezi

Cookie name(s)
sessionid
Data stored
Various unique identifiers
When does it expire?
2 weeks
Description
Cookies can be used to follow your activity throughout the Prezi Service and that information helps us to understand your preferences and improve your experience.

Vimeo

Uses Google Analytics (see above)

Twitter

Cookie name(s)
k, guest_id
Data stored
Various unique identifiers
When does it expire?
1 week and 2 years respectively
Description
k is used for user IP tracking within Twitter to determine whether a user is logged in or logged out. guest_id is a guest or Twitter account identifier.

Rockhopper TV

Cookie name(s)
ASP.NET_SessionId
Data stored
20-character value
When does it expire?
The cookie is deleted when you close your web browser.
Description
The Rockhopper TV player is an ASP.NET application. When a user connects to an ASP.NET application, a unique session ID will be affiliated with the user.

StatCounter

Cookie name(s)
is_unique
Data stored
Various unique identifiers
When does it expire?
About 5 years
Description
Used to remember previous visits to the page/site