Updated 21 July 2016
If you would like to read how we may process your personal data using this website, this can be found in our privacy policy.
If we make any changes to this policy, we will revise the updated date, place a banner on the homepage of this website. Click on the sections you're interested in below to view the details.
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All about cookies
Cookies are text files or pixel tags which are placed on your computing device (this can mean your smartphone, tablet, laptop or computer – or any devices that are capable of connecting to the internet), when you visit a website. There are two main types of cookie – session and persistent – and both are used on our website.
The cookies we use do not access your computer to obtain your personal information, other than the data you may choose to share, and they do not collect information that can identify you. Please read the cookie descriptions below to find out more.
- Session cookies are temporarily stored in a computer's memory during a user's browsing session and automatically deleted when the browser is closed. They do not collect any information from your device and are typically used to allow the functionality of a website.
- Persistent (also known as permanent) cookies are stored on a user's computing device and are not deleted when the browser is closed. Persistent cookies are typically used by websites to anonymously analyse users' surfing behaviour within the website. These cookies can also be used to provide information about numbers of visitors, pages visited, the average time spent on each page, and generally the performance of the website. Please see the list of cookies for more information.
- First and third party cookies: first party cookies are set by UCAS. Third party cookies relate to cookies set on our website by other organisations on our behalf. These services provide us with anonymous information such as tracking the use of pages and services, testing, and controlling the time, number and location where advertisements may appear. Others used include on ucasevents.com to keep a user's browsing session open on our server. Some third party cookies are also set by services that may appear on our pages but are not under our control. Examples of this include Twitter and Facebook and by setting those cookies, this allows you to 'tweet' and 'like' using social media buttons. Please visit their individual privacy policies listed below in the list of cookies for more information, including details of how to opt out.
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Why we use cookies on this website
We use cookies on this website to:
- provide the website functionality, for example creating a list of courses you have searched for, remembering your activity when you are signed in or saving the information you have input
- allow the text to be spoken by your computing device if you are unable to read it
- enable users to search and select a language in which the website will display
- analyse website traffic, usage, trends and behaviour, so that we can monitor and improve the visitor experience
- manage adverts to control the time, location where ads appear, and track the number of ads including our adverts on other websites or social media
- enable us to use search tools, such as searching for learning courses
- control the amount, time and page location where advertising may appear
- enable the use of social media functionality, such as sending a 'tweet' on Twitter or clicking a Facebook 'like'
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How to control or delete cookies
Should you wish to control or delete cookies, you can do this through your browser settings. Please be aware that controlling or deleting cookies may impact the functionality of this website. The 'Help' function within your browser should tell you how.
Alternatively, you can visit www.aboutcookies.org which contains comprehensive information on how to control or delete cookies on a wide variety of browsers. You will also find details on how to delete cookies from your computer as well as more general information about cookies. For information on how to do this on the browser of your portable device, such as a mobile telephone, iPad, smartphone, tablet, you will need to refer to your handset manual.
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Checking you are happy to accept cookies
The law tells us we can store cookies on your computer if they are essential to the operation of this website but for all others, we need to take steps to confirm with you we can use them. To do this, we display a cookie banner when you visit our website which explains why we use cookies and asks for your consent by clicking 'OK'. Should you choose to move to another page without clicking 'OK', we will also consider this as your consent for the setting of cookies on your device.
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The list of cookies
Below is a list of the cookies set on the UCAS website by type, lifespan, who set it, and its purpose. Please use the scroll bar to the right of the table to view all rows.
Name of cookie (and its privacy notice if third party) Purpose of the cookie Visual Website Optimizer (VWO)
All third party set VWO
_vis_opt_exp_EXPERIMENT_ID_goal_GOAL_ID (generated when a goal is made)
Type: Persistent Lifespan: 100 days
_vis_opt_test_cookie (generated to detect if the cookies are enabled or not on the browser of the user)
Type: Session Lifespan: n/a
_vis_opt_exp_EXPERIMENT_ID_combi (generated when users reach a particular combination. This makes sure that users see the same variation that they saw earlier when they visited the page)
Type: Persistent Lifespan: 100 days
_vis_opt_exp_EXPERIMENT_ID_exclude (generated when a user has been excluded from a campaign)
Type: Persistent Lifespan: 100 days
_vis_opt_exp_EXPERIMENT_ID_split (generated during a Split URL test)
Type: Persistent Lifespan: 100 days
_vis_opt_s (detects if the user is new or returning to a particular campaign)
Type: Persistent Lifespan: 100 days
_vis_opt_out (indicates that the visitor is not part of the campaign)
Type: Persistent Lifespan: 10 years
_vwo_uuid (makes sure that a visitor is always served the same version on every visit to a campaign page and to send segmentation data (for reports segmentation). Allows you to track visits and conversions accurately. If you have the campaign running on multiple domains, you will notice campaign specific UUID values)
Type: Persistent Lifespan: 100 days
VWO uses cookies to run campaigns and track user information. The cookies keep track of the variation a user has viewed and helps to serve the same variation to the user consistently, track goals completed by a user, and determine whether a user if part of a campaign.
Google Analytics
Third party. Set by Google
_utma
_utmb
_utmc
_utmzType: Persistent and session Lifespan: Up to two years
Track the usage of pages and services. Twitter
Third party. Set by Twitter
_twitter_sess_
k
original_referer
guest_idType: Session Lifespan: n/a
Used for the 'tweet' button. Facebook
Third party. Set by Facebook
sg
reg_fb_gate
locale
datr
reg_fb_ref
wdType: Session Lifespan: n/a
Used for the Facebook 'like' button. Userzoom
Third party. Set by Userzoom
Cookie name is set by study created in Userzoom so will vary depending on study
Type: Persistent Lifespan: Length of user study, up to 20 days
This is the software we use to run remote user testing. adtech.de
Third party. Set by AdTech
Type: Session Lifespan: n/a
Controls the time and locations where ads appear, tracks the number of ads on our website and enables those ads to work on mobile devices such as smartphones or tablets. Third party. Set by Buto TV
session_ci
Type: Session Lifespan: n/a
Used to track the user's progress through our ucas.tv site, provided by Buto TV. Third party. Set by Eventsforce
CSPSESSIONID-SP-443-UP-
Type: Session Lifespan: n/a
Used on ucasevents.com to keep a user's browsing session open on our server. JSESSIONID / JSESSIONID-GTTRAPPLY
First party
Please note: You will not be able to use Apply and Track if you disable this cookie.
Type: Session Lifespan: n/a
Used by UCAS Apply and Track services to keep a user's browsing session open on our server. Once the user signs out, or the session times out, the information in the cookie is no longer used. .ASPXAUTH
First party
Please note: You will not be able to use Track if you disable this cookie.
Type: Session Lifespan: n/a
Used by Track for user authentication. FullVersion
First party
Type: Session Lifespan: n/a
Used by Track to view the desktop version on a mobile device. ASP.NET_SessionId
First party
Type: Session Lifespan: n/a
Used by Track to store the session ID. __RequestVerificationToken
First party
Type: Session Lifespan: n/a
Used by Track to prevent Cross Site Request Forgery (CSRF) attacks. SESS
First party
Type: Session Lifespan: n/a
Used by the Provider section of the website to keep a user's browser session open on our server. Once the user signs out, or the session times out, the information in the cookie is no longer used. cookie-agreed
First party
Type: Session Lifespan: n/a
Used by the site to remember that users have agreed to use our site along with its associated cookies. has_js
First party
Type: Session Lifespan: n/a
Placed by our website management software to remember whether your browser has JavaScript enabled. rwebooks-x
First party
Type: Persistent Lifespan: 20 days
The user's last used x position of the toolbar. rwebooks-y
First party
Type: Persistent Lifespan: 20 days
The user's last used y position of the toolbar. __ba_cookies_enabled
First party
Type: Persistent Lifespan: 60 days
__ba_user
First party
Type: Persistent Lifespan: 60 days
A BrowseAloud specific user identity (encrypted). __ba_settings
First party
Type: Persistent Lifespan: 60 days
An encrypted set of user preferences to be applied when BrowseAloud is active. __ba_pdf /
__ba_use_pdf
First party
Type: Persistent Lifespan: 60 days
Denotes if the user wishes to use BrowseAloud for viewing PDF documents. __ba_simp_setting
First party
Type: Session Lifespan: n/a
Controls some internal toolbar logic. UcasSessionId
First party
Type: Session Lifespan: n/a
Used by our website to store the session ID. _baga
Third party / Google
Type: Persistent Lifespan: n/a
BrowseAloud specific Google Analytics cookie. UcasIdentity
First party
Type: Session Lifespan: n/a
Stores the user's identity on behalf of UCAS' single sign-on system. Lotame – Lotame privacy policy
Third party set by Lotame.
Type: Persistent Lifespan: Nine months
_cc_aud
_cc_cc
_cc_dc
_cc_domain
_cc_idUsed to ensure that you receive relevant content and advertising.
You can edit the information in the anonymous profile that Lotame associates with the device that you use to access digital content by going to their website. -
Who we are and how to contact us
UCAS stands for Universities and Colleges Admissions Service and our registered office is Rosehill, New Barn Lane, Cheltenham, Glos. GL52 3LZ.
Whilst we won't be able to provide you with any technical advice in relation to your personal devices, you can contact us in any of the following ways. Please note your call may be recorded for training and quality purposes.
By phone From the UK Overseas UCAS Progress 0371 468 2568 +44 371 468 2568 UCAS Undergraduate 0371 468 0 468 +44 330 3330 230 UCAS Conservatoires 0371 468 0 470 +44 330 3330 232 UCAS Postgraduate (UKPASS) 0371 334 4 447 +44 330 3330 235 UCAS Teacher Training 0371 468 0 469 +44 330 3330 231 By social media (please read our
Social media etiquette guidance)- Facebook: facebook.com/ucasonline
- Twitter: twitter.com/ucas_online
- In writing: UCAS, Rosehill, New Barn Lane, Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, GL52 3LZ