Web privacy and cookies

We are 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 and how you can contact us in this regard.

Use of cookies by the RACE.ED website

A cookie is a text file written by your web browser to your computer's hard disk or SSD. They are used by websites for purposes such as authentication, content personalisation, usage tracking and advertising.

The RACE.ED website makes limited use of cookies. These are detailed below.

Necessary cookies

Some cookies we place on your browser ensure that the RACE.ED website delivers you information and services securely and optimally. You must accept these cookies to be able to make use of some of our online systems and functionality.

CookieCookie name(s)Data storedWhen does it expire?Description
Drupal sessionSESSA unique identifier that represents login information for the CMS.23 days or when you log out from the CMS.

This cookie stores what’s called a ‘session ID’ that enables the content management system (CMS) to store data about your current session. If you’re not logged into the CMS, it stores nothing.

For colleagues, students and other designated users who are logged into the site via the CMS (e.g. in order to edit a page), the cookie tells the CMS where to find the session file which stores your user ID, and allows you to remain logged in during the current browser session.

Performance cookies

These cookies collect anonymous information on the pages visited to help improve our performance in provision of information and services. These cookies are only written with explicit user consent.

CookieCookie name(s)Data stored
Google Analytics__utma, __utmb, __utmc, __utmv, __utmz et al, _ga, 
_gat, 
_gid, 
1P_JAR, CONSENT
Our use of Google Analytics is as described in the third party cookies section of the University Privacy Policy.

Notes relating to Google Analytics

YouTube cookies

CookieCookie name(s)Data storedWhen does it expire?Description
YouTube embedded video cookiesSID, LOGIN_INFO, use_hotbox, PREF, SSID, HSID, watched_video_id_list, __utma, __utmz, demographics, VISITOR_INFO1_LIVEVarious unique identifiers, as well as login information that may relate to a Google account.Most of the cookies expire 10 years after your last visit to a page containing a Youtube video, although some expire sooner.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.

Third party cookies

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 in accordance with their own privacy policies, although many can be blocked by you without impact on your experience. The University of Edinburgh has no control over these cookies.

The RACE.ED websites makes minimal use of such cookies, limited generally to video and map embeds, as well as Google Analytics. For specifics relating to those cookies, please see the University's third party cookies listing.

Disabling cookies and opting out

You can disable cookies so that your browser does not write them to your computer or other device.

You can find out how by doing a web search for how to disable cookies on the browser or platform or use.

The Google Analytics opt-out add-on allows you to block Google Analytics in popular desktop browsers.


If you have any queries about cookies or privacy on the RACE.ED website, please email SPS Support.

This page was last updated on 18 January 2023 at 14:42