Privacy

This statement outlines the information gathered during your visit to the University of Glasgow's central web servers and explains how this information is treated. If you choose to request information from this site you will need to pass personal data to the University through this site. Where you actively provide personal data to the University [for example, by completing a web form] this data will be used only for the service you have requested unless you consent otherwise at the time of submitting the data.

Data protection

The gathering, storage, use, release and disposal of personal information is regulated by the General Data Protection Regulation. The University's policy and guidelines with respect to the regulations, are published by the Data Protection and Freedom of Information Office.

Quick links

The information collected

Log files

The University's website does not automatically capture or store personal data from visitors to the site, other than to log your IP address and session information. Session information includes the time and duration of your visit to the site, the files requested, and the browser used. This information will only be accessed by authorised persons of the University of Glasgow or its agents. The information will be retained by the University and will only be used for the purpose of (a) managing the site system, (b)  the identification of broken links, and (c) for statistical and audit purposes.

Web forms

You may occasionally be asked to provide personal information to gain access to specific services. The processing and retention of this information will be explained at the point of collection.

This privacy policy does not cover the links within this site to other non-University sites nor the content of external internet sites.

Cookies

Cookies are small text files placed on your device by the web server via your browser, and may be used to collect information to help identify you and prepare customised pages for you. Cookies may remain on your computer either for the duration of the session or indefinitely. You can configure most standard web browsers to refuse cookies.

Occasionally, we give users the opportunity to save settings for viewing pages. This involves the setting of a cookie. We do not track such cookies. 

Information on cookies can be obtained from www.allaboutcookies.org.

Performance cookies

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Google Analytics

The University and our authorised agents make use of Google Analytics to produce anonymised statistics on website usage: to help us to improve our site and the experience of our users. Google Analytics uses cookies in this process. The information generated by the cookie about your use of the website will be transmitted to and stored by Google on servers in the United States. Google will use this information for the purpose of evaluating your use of the website, compiling reports on website activity for website operators and providing other services relating to website activity and internet usage. Google may also transfer this information to third parties where required to do so by law, or where such third parties process the information on Google's behalf. All data collected is anonymised. 

Key GA4 Cookies and Their Purpose

The main GA4 cookies are set by the gtag.js library and have specific roles:

  • _ga: This is the primary cookie used to distinguish individual users. It assigns a unique identifier (Client ID) to each visitor, allowing GA4 to track their activity over multiple sessions.

    • Persistence: 2 years

  • _ga_<container-id>: This cookie is used to persist session state. It's crucial for understanding user activity within a single session, tracking details like session duration, and ensuring that GA4 can accurately link a user's actions to a specific visit.

    • Persistence: 2 years

  • _gac_gb_<container-id>: This cookie contains campaign-related information. It's set when a user arrives from a Google Ads campaign and is used to track conversions and attribute them correctly to the ad.

    • Persistence: 90 days

It's important to note that while the default expiration for some of these cookies is set to two years, browser policies (like Safari's Intelligent Tracking Prevention) can enforce a shorter lifespan, often limiting them to a maximum of 400 days or 7 days.

How to Opt Out

  • Using our consent settings: 

  • Browser-level settings: Most modern browsers have settings that allow you to block all cookies or specific types of cookies. Disabling cookies will prevent GA4 from setting them, but it may also affect the functionality of other websites.

  • Google Analytics Opt-out Browser Add-on: Google provides a dedicated browser add-on that prevents the GA4 JavaScript (gtag.js) from sharing information with Google Analytics. This is a simple and effective way to opt out of tracking without affecting other website features.

  • Ad personalization settings: Users can manage their ad settings in their Google account to opt out of ads based on their interests. While this doesn't stop all data collection, it does prevent some of the data from being used for personalized advertising.

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Clarity

Microsoft Clarity is a free web analytics tool that provides heatmaps, session recordings, and other behavioral insights to help website owners understand user interactions. Like other analytics platforms, it uses cookies to function.

Key Microsoft Clarity Cookies and Their Purpose

Microsoft Clarity sets several cookies to track user sessions and behavior:

  • _clck: This cookie is used to persist the Clarity User ID and preferences. It ensures that a user's actions on the same website are linked to a consistent user ID across multiple visits.

    • Persistence: 1 year

  • _clsk: This cookie's purpose is to connect a user's multiple page views into a single Clarity session recording. This is crucial for the session replay feature.

    • Persistence: 1 day

  • CLID: This cookie identifies the first time a user has been seen on any website that uses Clarity.

    • Persistence: 1 year

  • ANONCHK: This cookie indicates whether a Microsoft User ID (MUID) is transferred to a Microsoft advertising cookie (ANID). For Clarity, this is always set to 0, meaning it doesn't use the ANID cookie for advertising purposes.

    • Persistence: 10 minutes

  • MUID: This cookie is set by Microsoft to identify unique web browsers visiting Microsoft sites. It's used for advertising, site analytics, and other operational purposes.

    • Persistence: 1 year and 24 days

  • SM: This is used to synchronize the MUID across different Microsoft domains.

    • Persistence: Session

Because Microsoft Clarity uses cookies that track user behavior, even without collecting personally identifiable information (PII) like names or emails, it is subject to data privacy laws like the GDPR. These laws require explicit, opt-in consent from users before these cookies can be placed on their devices.

How to Opt Out

  • Using our consent settings: 

  • Digital Advertising Alliance (DAA) opt-out: Microsoft utilizes the DAA system to provide opt-out experiences for customers. Users can opt out of Microsoft telemetry by visiting the DAA's consumer choice page and selecting Microsoft from the list of companies.

  • Global Privacy Control (GPC): Microsoft Clarity supports Global Privacy Control, a browser-level setting that automatically signals a user's privacy preference to websites. If a user has GPC enabled, Clarity should respect that signal and disable tracking.

  • Browser-level settings: Users can configure their web browser settings to block all cookies or to specifically block cookies from certain domains. However, this may affect the functionality of other websites.

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Baidu

Baidu Analytics is a web analytics service offered by Baidu, primarily used by websites targeting the Chinese market. It utilizes a set of cookies to track user behavior, measure website performance, and provide data for reporting.

Baidu Analytics is a web analytics service offered by Baidu, primarily used by websites targeting the Chinese market. It utilizes a set of cookies to track user behavior, measure website performance, and provide data for reporting.

Key Baidu Analytics Cookies and Their Purpose

Baidu Analytics typically sets the following cookies on a user's browser:

  • HMACCOUNT: This cookie is used to track visitor IDs. Its purpose is to assign a unique identifier to each user, allowing Baidu Analytics to differentiate between new and returning visitors and to collect data about their behavior across a website.

    • Persistence: Varies widely. Some sources indicate a session lifespan, while others report a persistence of up to 151 months or 1 year. The specific duration can depend on the implementation.

  • HMACCOUNT_BFESS: Similar to HMACCOUNT, this cookie also tracks visitor IDs for analytical purposes. It helps in identifying a user's interactions and collecting data for analytics reports.

    • Persistence: 1 year or up to 400 days.

  • Hm_lvt_<identifier>: This cookie is used to record a user's historical visit times. It tracks when a user has previously visited the website, allowing website owners to analyze user engagement and frequency of visits over time.

    • Persistence: 1 year.

  • Hm_lpvt_<identifier>: This is a session cookie that records the current visit time of the user. It helps in understanding user interactions within a single Browse session.

    • Persistence: Session.

  • Hm_ck_<identifier>: This cookie is used to collect data about the visitor's device and behavior, and to track the user across devices and marketing channels.

    • Persistence: Session.

It is crucial for website owners using Baidu Analytics to be transparent about their use of these cookies and to comply with relevant data privacy laws, such as the GDPR. While Baidu Analytics is anonymized and doesn't collect personally identifiable information (PII) by default, the use of tracking cookies still falls under the scope of these regulations.

How to Opt Out

  • Using our consent settings: 

  • Browser-Level Settings: All modern web browsers provide settings that allow users to manage their cookie preferences. Users can choose to block all cookies, block third-party cookies, or manually delete cookies from their devices. This will prevent Baidu Analytics from setting new cookies, but it may also affect the functionality of other websites.

  • Do Not Track (DNT) Signal: Many browsers offer a "Do Not Track" setting that sends a signal to websites indicating a user's preference not to be tracked. While not all websites are legally required to honor this signal, it is a privacy-conscious choice users can make.

  • Privacy-Focused Browser Extensions: Various browser extensions, such as Ghostery or Privacy Badger, can automatically block tracking scripts and cookies from Baidu Analytics and other services. These tools give users more control and transparency over the data being collected about their online activities.

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Marketing cookies

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Meta Pixel (Facebook Pixel)

The University and our authorised agents use the Meta Pixel to measure the effectiveness of our Facebook and Instagram advertising campaigns, understand user interactions with our website, and build audiences for targeted advertising. The Pixel collects information such as page views, actions taken on the site, IP address, and browser details. Data is sent to Meta and may be used for analytics, reporting, and ad personalisation in line with Meta’s Privacy Policy.

  • _fbp: Distinguishes and tracks unique users for advertising and analytics. Persistence: 3 months
  • fr: Delivers, measures, and improves ad relevancy; contains browser and user identifiers. Persistence: 3 months
  • datr: Security and fraud prevention to identify browsers. Persistence: 2 years

How to Opt Out

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Snapchat Pixel

The University uses the Snapchat Pixel to measure the effectiveness of Snapchat advertising campaigns and understand how users interact with our website after viewing or engaging with a Snap ad. It tracks page views, purchases, and other actions, which are sent to Snapchat for analytics and targeting purposes.

  • sc_at: Used for attribution and tracking conversions. Persistence: 1 year
  • _sctr: Determines when to show a specific user certain content. Persistence: 1 year

How to Opt Out

  • Using our consent settings: 

  • Browser settings: Block or delete cookies.
  • Snapchat Ad Preferences

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Douyin Pixel

The University uses the Douyin pixel to understand the effectiveness of campaigns on Douyin (TikTok China) and track actions users take on our site.

  • tt_webid: Identifies users for analytics and ad targeting. Persistence: 1 year
  • tt_webid_v2: Similar to tt_webid, used for newer tracking implementations. Persistence: 1 year

How to Opt Out

  • Using our consent settings: 

  • Browser settings: Block or delete cookies.

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StackAdapt Pixel

The University uses StackAdapt’s tracking pixel to optimise programmatic advertising, retarget audiences, and measure campaign effectiveness.

  • sa-user-id: Identifies unique users for ad targeting. Persistence: 1 year
  • sa-session-id: Tracks session behaviour. Persistence: Session

How to Opt Out

  • Using our consent settings: 

  • Browser settings: Block or delete cookies.
  • StackAdapt Opt-Out

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Rednote (Xiaohongshu) Tracking

The University and our authorised agents may use Rednote (also known as Xiaohongshu or Little Red Book) tracking technologies to understand how our website traffic engages with Rednote advertising campaigns and to measure conversions. These cookies help deliver targeted advertising, provide analytics, and allow us to evaluate the effectiveness of campaigns aimed at audiences in regions where Rednote is a popular platform.

Rednote collects device and browser data, IP address, and browsing activity through cookies and pixels. This data may be shared with Rednote in accordance with their Privacy Policy.

  • xhsTrackerId: Unique identifier assigned to each visitor for the purpose of tracking ad engagement and user behaviour across sessions. Persistence: Up to 1 year
  • xhsSessionId: Used to group user actions into a single session for analytics and campaign measurement. Persistence: Session
  • xhsAdClick: Records information about when a user clicks on a Rednote ad, to attribute conversions. Persistence: 7 days
  • xhsUserMatch: Helps synchronise Rednote IDs with third-party advertising partners for retargeting. Persistence: 30 days

How to Opt Out

  • Using our consent settings: 

  • Browser-level settings: Most modern browsers allow users to block or delete cookies. Blocking these cookies may limit the ability to measure conversions from Rednote campaigns.
  • Rednote Ad Preferences: Users can manage their advertising preferences via the Rednote app under “Settings > Privacy > Ad Preferences” to limit interest-based advertising.
  • Third-party tools: Browser extensions or privacy tools such as Ghostery or Privacy Badger can be used to block Rednote tracking scripts.

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LinkedIn Tracking

The University and our authorised agents may use LinkedIn Insight Tag and associated cookies to track website visits originating from LinkedIn advertisements, measure conversions, retarget website visitors, and gain aggregated insights about our audience. This helps us evaluate the effectiveness of campaigns and improve communications with prospective students, staff, and partners.

Data collected may include IP address, device and browser information, and interactions with the website. This data may be shared with LinkedIn in accordance with their Privacy Policy.

  • li_fat_id: Member indirect identifier used for conversion tracking, retargeting, and analytics. Persistence: 30 days
  • li_sugr: Used to make a probabilistic match of a user's identity outside LinkedIn environments. Persistence: 90 days
  • UserMatchHistory: Stores the time of the last user sync with a LinkedIn partner. Persistence: 30 days
  • AnalyticsSyncHistory: Stores information about when a sync took place with the lms_analytics cookie. Persistence: 30 days
  • lidc: To facilitate data center selection and ensure load balancing. Persistence: 24 hours
  • bscookie: A secure browser cookie for LinkedIn login and ad tracking. Persistence: 2 years
  • lms_ads: Identifies LinkedIn members for advertising. Persistence: 30 days
  • lms_analytics: Identifies LinkedIn members for analytics. Persistence: 30 days

How to Opt Out

  • Using our consent settings: 

  • LinkedIn Ad Settings: Users can manage their advertising preferences directly through LinkedIn under “Settings & Privacy > Data Privacy > Advertising data.”
  • Browser-level settings: Modern browsers allow blocking or deleting cookies, which can prevent LinkedIn cookies from being set but may affect ad personalisation.
  • Third-party tools: Users may use opt-out tools such as the Digital Advertising Alliance (DAA) opt-out page, or install browser add-ons to block tracking scripts.

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