Cookies are small text files placed on to your computer by the websites you visit. They help improve your experience and allow website-owners to analyse visits.
This is how cookies work: When you first visit a site that uses cookies, a simple text file is downloaded on to your computer, which is then read each time you return to that site. The file, or cookie, can be used to remember user names, passwords and preferences, for instance, or to personalise searches that you have conducted in the past. All of this information allows you a smoother experience on site. Cookies also help website-owners make improvements by collecting information such as the number and length of visits and pages viewed.
You can set your device to accept all cookies, to notify you when a cookie is issued, or not to receive cookies at all. If you choose not to receive cookies you may not be able to take full advantage of the website's features and we may not be able to personalise your experience on site. Each internet browser is different, so check the 'Help' menu of your browser to find out how to change your cookie preferences. More information on cookies is available from the Information Commissioner's Office https://ico.org.uk/your-data-matters/online/cookies/.
We use retargeting services on behalf of education institutions partners to show you advertising that you may be interested in, based on your interactions on our sites. When you are visiting other websites, such as a news service, you may see one of these ads.
Retargeting works by analysing the areas you look at online - such as course subjects or university locations - and creating targeted online advertising campaigns on behalf of our advertising clients. The content of the adverts will specifically support your educational journey, with a particular focus on the types of subjects and institutions which you have previously viewed on our websites.
Cookies and Smart Pixel technologies support our retargeting services which are delivered via partners such as Admedo, Adroll, Facebook and Instagram.
We use the following cookies:
These cookies are required for the operation of our website.
| Cookie Name | Purpose | Life time |
|---|---|---|
| JSESSIONID | This cookie is used to give each user a unique identifier so their journey is smoother while they are on the site. This might include keeping the user logged-in if they have registered or maintaining anything they may have shortlisted. | At end of the session, when you close the browser |
| wcache | This cookie is enabled when user is logged-in. | At end of the session, when you close the browser |
These cookies allow us to recognise and count the number of visitors to our sites and see how users move around the sites. This information helps us to improve our websites, for example, by ensuring that users can easily find what they are looking for.
| Cookie Name | Purpose | Life time |
|---|---|---|
| _ga | This cookie helps us count the number of people visiting Floodlight by tracking if you've visited before. | 2 years |
| _gid | This helps us count how many people visit Floodlight by tracking if you've visited before. | 24 hours |
| _gat | Used to manage the rate at which page view requests are made. | 10 minutes |
| _gat_newTracker | This cookie allows us to analyse the website usage, by users, to improve the content and services. | 24 hours |
These are used to recognise you when you return to our website. This enables us to personalise our content for you, greet you by name and remember your preferences (for example, your choice of language or region).
| Cookie Name | Purpose | Life time |
|---|---|---|
| TRACK_SESSION_ID | This cookie is used to store the value to track user journey within our site. | 30 days |
| PAGE_VIEW | This cookie is used to set the page view in search result and provider result page like list, grid or map view to maintain the page view. | At end of the session, when you close the browser |
| SRCH_FLTR | This cookie is used to open the filter in search result and provider result page in mobile view to make the user select the multiple filter options. | At end of the session, when you close the browser |
| FLTR_POS | This cookie is used to retain the position of the selected filter option in mobile view | At end of the session, when you close the browser |
| AMP_TOKEN | This cookie contains a token that can be used to retrieve a Client ID from AMP Client ID service. Other possible values indicate opt-out or an error retrieving a Client ID from AMP Client ID service. | 1 year |
| Prv_tracking_flag | This cookie is used to track views of provider pages on Google Analytics. | At the end of the session, when you close the browser. |
| cookie_splash_flag | This cookie is used to record that the user has accepted the cookies policy on our site and reminds us not to show the same message. | 1 year |
Please note that third parties (for example advertising networks and external service providers such as web traffic analysis services) may also use cookies, over which we have no control. These cookies are likely to be analytical/performance cookies or targeting cookies.
| Third-Party | Type | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
| _gads | Advertising | This cookie is used by Google's DoubleClick for Publishers system which serves the banner advertising on the site. |
| VWO | A/B Testing | VWO cookies enable us to do A/B testing. When we do such tests, cookies may be dropped in order to compare a page's performance. |
| Social Media | These cookies enable users to contact Floodlight via Twitter and share Floodlight articles. | |
| Social Media | These cookies enable users to share Floodlight articles via Facebook. | |
| Admedo | Retargeting | These cookies let Admedo know when to serve ads, ensuring that ads are served to only to people who have previously visited the site. |
| Google DoubleClick | Advertising | These cookies is used by Google's DoubleClick for Publishers system which serves the banner advertising on the site. |
| Google Adsense | Advertising | These cookies are used by Google's Adsense to measure interactions with ads and to prevent the same ad from being displayed too often. |
| GoogleAdServingTest | Advertising | This cookie is used to serve ads and advertising banners. |
