Table of Contents
What are cookies?
Cookies are small text files that are stored on your device (computer, tablet, or mobile) when you visit our website. They contain information that is transferred to your device's hard drive and help us provide you with a better browsing experience.
Cookies serve various purposes, such as remembering your preferences, keeping you logged in, and ensuring the website functions properly. They are widely used by websites to make them work more efficiently and to provide information to website owners.
Essential cookies we use
Essential cookies are necessary for the website to function and cannot be switched off in our systems. They are usually only set in response to actions made by you which amount to a request for services, such as logging in, filling in forms, or setting your privacy preferences.
These cookies do not store any personally identifiable information and are essential for the basic functionality of our website.
| Cookie Name | Purpose | Duration | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| AWSUSER_ID | Random key of letters and numbers | 10,000 hours | Essential |
| AWSSESSION_ID | Random key of letters and numbers | Less than one day | Essential |
| _sheffield_students_union_production_vms_r4 | Random key of letters and numbers | 24 hours unless you login and check 'Keep me logged in' in which case it's 2 weeks | Essential |
| consent_prefs | If you accept cookies, by navigating the site, it will have a value containing your preferences (e.g., essential, analytics, marketing, functionality). This stores your consent choices in JSON format | 180 days (6 months) | Essential |
Optional cookies
Optional cookies help us understand how visitors interact with our website by collecting and reporting information anonymously. These cookies are not essential for the website to function and require your consent.
| Cookie Name | Purpose | Duration | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| __utma | Random number | 2 years | Optional |
| __utmb | Random number | 30 mins | Optional |
| __utmc | Random number | When you close browser | Optional |
| __utmz | Random number and information about how site was reached | 6 months | Optional |
| _gid | Random number | 2 days | Optional |
| _ga | Random number | 1 year | Optional |
| _ga_* | Random number | 1 year | Optional |
Managing cookies
While our essential cookies are necessary for the website to function properly, you can still manage cookies through your browser settings. However, please note that disabling essential cookies will significantly impact your ability to use our website.
Browser-specific instructions:
- Google Chrome: Settings → Privacy and security → Cookies and other site data
- Mozilla Firefox: Settings → Privacy & Security → Cookies and Site Data
- Safari: Preferences → Privacy → Cookies and website data
- Microsoft Edge: Settings → Cookies and site permissions → Cookies and site data
- Opera: Settings → Advanced → Privacy & Security → Site Settings → Cookies
Important
Choosing to disable non-essential cookies may affect your browsing experience on our site. Some features such as personalized recommendations, social media integration, and performance optimization may not work as expected.
