The core pages of cam.ac.uk will set cookies on your device (either because they are necessary to make the site work and keep it secure, or if you give your consent). The core pages mostly begin www.cam.ac.uk but also include:
www.festival.cam.ac.uk
www.opencambridge.cam.ac.uk
map.cam.ac.uk
search.cam.ac.uk
Cookies are small text files that sit on your computer, phone or tablet. This information is collected by the University of Cambridge to record and store information about how you use cam.ac.uk and the University’s other core pages. Information is shared within the University of Cambridge, and in limited cases, with our third-party providers. Below is more detail about the cookies we use, what they record, how you may choose which cookies you’re happy for us to use and with whom the information is shared.
List of cookies
Necessary cookies
Necessary cookies maintain the security of our website’s connection to you. They also make our site work. They always need to be on.
| Name | Used by | Description | Duration | More information |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ssess* | University of Cambridge | Used by our web servers to show you the correct version of our web pages. | Expires when your web session on our site ends. | Privacy policy for the University's core website |
| has_js | University of Cambridge | Checks to see whether your system has JavaScript turned on or off. | Expires when your web session on our site ends. | Privacy policy for the University's core website |
| X-Mapping-* | University of Cambridge | Used to route data and page requests correctly. This cookie is associated with the Stingray Traffic Manager platform from Riverbed. | Expires when your web session on our site ends. | Riverbed's privacy policy |
| uoc_cookie_choices CookieConsent CookieControl |
University of Cambridge | Remember the cookie choices that you have made on your device. Once these cookies expire or when you change devices, you will be asked to reconfirm your choices. | 365 days | Privacy policy for the University's core website |
| esri_aopc esri_locale |
University of Cambridge Esri (ArcGIS Online service) |
When you use our University Map, these cookies identify your device to ArcGIS Online servers to establish a secure connection and to prevent the duplicate loading of localised (different language) resources. The cookies do not contain information by which we can identify you. | Expires when your web session on our site ends | Privacy policy for the University Map |
| user-id | University of Cambridge Squiz Group (Funnelback search service) |
When you use our site search, this cookie identifies your device to our search engine’s servers to establish a secure connection. It does not contain information by which we can identify you. | Expires when your web session on our site ends | Privacy policy for the University's core website |
Site usage measurement cookies
Unless you opt in to receive ‘site usage measurement’ cookies, we will not set these cookies on your device. Site usage measurement cookies allow us to analyse anonymised navigation patterns, to learn how people use our website and to make it better for our users.
| Name | Used by | Description | Duration | More information |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| _ga* _ga_* |
University of Cambridge Google Inc (Google Analytics service) |
We use Google Analytics to understand how users are navigating our website, see how often content we publish is used and to test changes to improve the user experience. Your IP address is anonymised. | 2 years | Google’s privacy policy |
Personalisation cookies
Unless you opt in to receive ‘personalisation’ cookies, we will not set these cookies on your device. Personalisation cookies allow you to tailor your experience on our website.
| Name | Used by | Description | Duration | More information |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| _dc _qst q_inter qsi* qst* xrsf-token |
University of Cambridge Qualtrics LLC (experience research service) |
We use Qualtrics to ask users questions about what they want to do on our website. We use these answers to improve how we build and develop it. Your IP address is collected, and any answers you give. | Up to 90 days | Qualtric's browser compatibility and cookies notice |
Social and marketing cookies
Unless you opt in to receive ‘social and marketing’ cookies, or interact with these features, we will not set these cookies on your device. Social and marketing cookies on our site connect to third-party providers, such as Vimeo and YouTube. These cookies will be set when you take an action, such as watching an embedded video. Data will be passed back to the third-party provider, allowing that organisation to record how you use their service on our site and show you relevant content, including advertising.
| Name | Used by | Description | Duration | More information |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| _cf* Flags Optanon* player* vuid |
Vimeo.com Inc | We use Vimeo embedded videos on selected web pages. Where we do this, Vimeo uses cookies: to deliver the embedded video service and track your interactions with embedded content, to remember your video player preferences when using embedded video, and to make improvements to its services. | Up to 24 months | Vimeo’s privacy policy |
| AEC APISID HSID NID SAPISID SID* SSID SOCS _Secure* VISITOR_* YSC yt.innertube* yt-remote*
|
Google LLC (YouTube video service) | We use YouTube embedded videos on selected web pages. Where we do this, Google uses cookies: to deliver the YouTube service and track your interactions with embedded content, to remember your video player preferences when using embedded video, and to make improvements to its services. The cookies do not directly identify individual users and YouTube will not store information to personalise your experience unless you are logged in to a Google account. | Between 180 and 400 days | Google’s privacy policy and YouTube's terms of service |
How to disable cookies
To opt out of Google Analytics
To opt out of receiving any Google Analytics cookies, you may download the Google Analytics opt-out browser extension.
To block all cookies
Your web browser will have an option you may select that will block cookies. Below are links to information about popular web browsers and how to block cookies using them.
Other web browsers – see the Information Commissioner's Office's website
Page last updated: 04 June 2025