What are cookies?
Cookies are text files containing small amounts of information, often including a unique identifier, which are downloaded to your device when you visit a website - if your browser preferences allow it. Cookies are then accessed by the originating website on each subsequent visit. Cookies are useful because they allow a website to recognise a user’s device.
How are cookies used on the University of Birmingham website?
The cookies we use on the www.birmingham.ac.uk and intranet.birmingham.ac.uk websites are there to allow you to perform the services you require and to assist us in providing a better website for our users. We do not use cookies to store information that identifies you as an individual. Details on cookies used are provided below.
We encourage you to accept the cookies we serve. However, if you wish to restrict or block the cookies which are set by our or any other website, you can do this through your browser settings. Please see ‘How to control and delete cookies’ for more information.
Google Analytics
We use Google Analytics cookies to hold information about your visit to our site. This helps us better identify the use and popularity of our services and how successfully the website is functioning. If you do not wish us to do this, you can opt out of the Analytics service by installing an add-on for your browser. This can be found at http://tools.google.com/dlpage/gaoptout. Alternatively you can delete/restrict the cookies as for any other cookie - see ‘How to control and delete cookies’ for more information.
Types of cookies
Session Cookies
Session cookies are created temporarily when a user visits a website. Once the user leaves the site/closes the browser, the session cookie is deleted.
Persistent Cookies
A persistent cookie file remains on the user’s device and is re-activated when the user visits the website that created that particular cookie. These cookies expire after a certain period (set in the file), or can be removed manually.
Classification of cookies
The cookies on this website have additionally been categorised based on the categories found in the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) UK Cookie Guide.
Cookie Classification
| Category | Description |
|---|
| Strictly necessary cookies |
These cookies are essential in order to enable you to move around the website and use its features, such as accessing secure areas of the website. |
| Performance cookies |
These cookies collect information about how visitors use a website, for instance which pages visitors go to most often, and if they get error messages from web pages. These cookies don’t collect information that identify a visitor. All information these cookies collect is aggregated and therefore anonymous. |
| Functionality cookies |
These cookies allow the website to remember choices you make [such as your username, language or the region you are in] and provide enhanced, more personal features. For instance, a website may be able to provide you with local weather reports or traffic news by storing in a cookie the region in which you are currently located. These cookies can also be used to remember changes you have made to text size, fonts and other parts of web pages you can customise. They may also be used to provide services you have asked for such as watching videos or commenting on a blog. The information these cookies collect may be anonymised and they cannot track your browsing activity on other websites. |
| Targeting/advertising cookies |
These cookies are used to deliver adverts more relevant to you and your interests. They are also used to limit the number of time you see an advertisement as well as help measure the effectiveness of the advertising campaign. |
A list of the cookies used by this website is set out below.
Cookies used on the www.birmingham.ac.uk and intranet.birmingham.ac.uk websites
Our software vendors have assured us that all cookies used on the site are currently essential and the website will not function correctly if they are blocked or removed. They have also made a commitment to periodical review their use of cookies and to remove any cookie references that become redundant.
Common Cookies
Common Cookies
| Cookie Name | Cookie Description | Cookie Classification | Cookie Behaviour |
|---|
| ASP.NET_SessionId |
Randomly generated session ID. Our suppliers have deemed this as essential to the operation of the service.[Find out more about this cookie from Microsoft Support.] |
Strictly necessary cookie |
Session cookie - disappears when the user closes the browser. |
| _utma |
Google Analytics.
Used by Google Analytics to track user count of visits to a site, when a first visit was, and a last visit. |
Performance cookie |
Persistent cookie, lasts for 2 years |
| _utmb |
Google Analytics.
Used by Google Analytics to track exactly when a user visits a site. |
Performance cookie |
Persistent cookie, lasts for 30 minutes |
| _utmc |
Google Analytics. Used by Google Analytics to track exactly when a user leaves a site. |
Performance cookie |
Session cookie - disappears when the user closes the browser. |
| _utmz |
Google Analytics.
Used by Google Analytics to track how a user got to this site (where from), what link was used, what part of the world. |
Performance cookie |
Persistent, lasts for 6 months. |
Registration/authentication cookies. Cookies used when a user logs in to the site.Used in the following areas of the site:
Note. Blocking these cookies will prevent registration/authentication to the site and will make some content/functions unavailable.
Registration Cookies
| Cookie Name | Cookie Description | Cookie Classification | Cookie Behaviour |
|---|
| ContensisCMSUsername |
Stores information to re-authenticate a user when they have selected “Save Password” when logging in |
Strictly necessary cookie, Functionality cookie |
Session cookie - disappears when the user closes the browser. |
| ContensisDisplayName |
Stores a user's display name in the format as specified in Contensis global settings |
Strictly necessary cookie, Functionality cookie |
Session cookie - disappears when the user closes the browser. |
| ContensisLastUserName |
Stores a user's username, this is set when a user logs in for the first time |
Strictly necessary cookie, Functionality cookie |
Persistent, lasts for 25 years |
| ContensisAvatar |
Stores the URL to a user's avatar image, this is set when a user logs in for the first time |
Strictly necessary cookie, Functionality cookie |
Persistent, lasts for 25 years |
How to control and delete cookies
You can manage cookie usage through your browser settings. The help function in your preferred browser should provide you with the correct information. Some browsers provide helpful cookie guides:
Alternatively, http://www.allaboutcookies.org provides advice on how to do this, and further information on cookies and how to manage them.
N.B. In the case of some mobile devices, it may be necessary to consult the device’s instruction manual to manage cookies effectively.
If you have any questions or comments about the University’s cookie policy, please contact us by emailing webservices@lists.bham.ac.uk or by post at the address below:
Cookie Policy
University Web Services Team
IT Services
Elms Road
University of Birmingham
B15 2TT