Writtle University College and ARU have merged. Writtle’s full range of college, degree, postgraduate and short courses will still be delivered on the Writtle campus. See our guide to finding Writtle information on this site.

Cookie information for all website users

Cookies are small text files stored on your device (desktop, tablet, mobile phone etc.) by your device's web browser. They relate to a specific site and can be used to enhance that site's functionality and your interaction with it; they may also be used for usage tracking, research, targeting etc.

Anglia Ruskin University (ARU) uses cookies for a number of purposes including (but not limited to):

  • the logging on process for registered users
  • to help ensure the security and authenticity of registered users
  • to monitor how our Site is used, to plan improvements to user experience, and
  • to enhance the functionality of the Site.

Modifying cookie settings

You can also control the use of cookies on your device by adjusting your web browser preferences, choosing to allow them, block them, only allow them from a specific site or only allow certain types of cookies.

Further information about how to manage cookies on some of the most commonly used web browsers can be found below:

To edit settings for Local Shared Objects, also known as 'flash cookies', used by some Adobe Flash Player applications, guidance can be found on the Flash Player Help.

Other websites

Our website may contain links to other web sites which are outside our control and are not covered by this Privacy Policy. If you access other sites using the links provided, the operators of these sites may collect information from you which will be used by them in accordance with their privacy policy, which may differ from ours.

Web statistics, behaviour analytics and feedback

We monitor website traffic and user browsing and interaction behaviour to assist in the continuous improvement and development of the site. We do this only by monitoring IP addresses that are not linked in any way to any personal data, retaining the anonymity of our visitors. At times we may invite website visitors to provide feedback on their experience, responses are only linked to monitoring IP addresses that are not linked in any way to any personal data, unless you provide us with your email address as part of the feedback. If you provide your email address this will be used for the purposes of website usage research only and not linked with any other data we may hold on you.

Data from web statistics, behaviour analytics and feedback may be used to compile reports on website performance, user experience and future innovations. These reports may be shared with third parties in line with the privacy information detailed for each audience type.

What cookies does ARU use?

Cookie name Purpose Expiry More information
JSESSIONID This cookie is set as part of our Site's core successful operation, ensuring delivery of requested pages. At the end of the browsing session. It is not possible to opt-out of receiving this cookie.
ASP.NET_SessionId
SC_ANALYTICS_GLOBAL_COOKIE This cookie enables our website content management system to operate. This cookie is set to expire in 2031. It is not possible to opt-out of receiving this cookie.
COOKIE_CHECK This cookie is set if you use the dropdown navigation menu on aru.ac.uk. This cookie is a test and determines whether cookies can be set in your web browser. At the end of the browsing session. n/a
L1_SELECTED This cookie is set if you use the dropdown menu function on aru.ac.uk. This cookie records which menu section you selected as you move between pages. At the end of the browsing session. n/a
SUB_MENU_HIDDEN This cookie is set when you use the dropdown menu function on aru.ac.uk. This cookie records whether the menu is displayed or hidden as you move between pages. At the end of the browsing session. n/a
parametricnav_location,
One or more of these cookies are set if you choose to use the filtering options within our course search. At the end of the browsing session. Our course search will deliver results without the need to use the filtering. If you'd prefer cookies not to be set, please refrain from using the filtering options.
parametricnav_attendance
parametricnav_starts
parametricnav_faculty
parametricnav_department
parametricnav_final
_ga Google Analytics cookies. These cookies help us measure how our visitors use our site. The data collected by the cookie is entirely anonymous. This cookie helps us determine how many visitors we have to the site, where visitors have come to the site from and which pages are most popular with visitors. We use this data to plan and prioritise improvements to our website. 2 years from set/update. The Google Analytics developer resource provides comprehensive information about these cookies.
_gat 10 minutes from set/update.
id These cookies are used by Google AdSense DoubleClick for online advertising frequency capping and avoiding the duplication of ads on a page, meaning a user will not have to view the same ad over and over again. n/a n/a
_hjIncludedInSample This cookie is associated with web analytics functionality and services from HotJar. It uniquely identifies a visitor during a single browser session and indicates they are included in an audience sample. n/a n/a

Name Domain Purpose Expiry More information
__utmc .distancelearning.anglia.ac.uk Google Analytics cookies. These cookies help us measure how our visitors use our site. The data collected by the cookie is entirely anonymous. This cookie helps us determine how many visitors we have to the site, where visitors have come to the site from and which pages are most popular with visitors. We use this data to plan and prioritise improvements to our website. Session n/a
__utmb 30 minutes from set/update.
__utmz 6 months from set/update.
__utma 2 years from set/update.
__ga .google-analytics.com Google Analytics cookies. These cookies help us measure how our visitors use our site. The data collected by the cookie is entirely anonymous. This cookie helps us determine how many visitors we have to the site, where visitors have come to the site from and which pages are most popular with visitors. We use this data to plan and prioritise improvements to our website. 2 years from set/update. n/a
__gid 10 minutes from set/update.
__gat
olfsk distancelearning.anglia.ac.uk These cookies are temporary session cookies for Olark Live Chat. These are usually destroyed upon the user closing the browser. Maintains message history across page. n/a
_okbk Provides functionality for websites to engage in instant messaging with visitors. Contains software state information.
_ok Provides functionality for websites to engage in instant messaging with visitors. Contains a site identifier, used for security purposes.
_oklv Provides functionality for websites to engage in instant messaging with visitors. Ued to improve caching of software.
_okdetect Identifies a unique visitor between visits.
hblid A session identifier to keep track of a single chat session.
wcsid
id .doubleclick.net These cookies are used by Google AdSense DoubleClick for online advertising frequency capping and avoiding the duplication of ads on a page, meaning a user will not have to view the same ad over and over again. n/a n/a
_hjIncludedInSample distancelearning.anglia.ac.uk This cookie is associated with web analytics functionality and services from HotJar. It uniquely identifies a visitor during a single browser session and indicates they are included in an audience sample. n/a n/a

Cookie name Purpose Expiry More information
CompatibilityDeviceId Effective site functionality 7days  
CCSInfo Effective site functionality 3days  
FedAuth Effective site functionality Session  
rtFa Effective site functionality Session  
_ga Google Analytics cookies. These cookies help us measure how our visitors use our site. The data collected by the cookie is entirely anonymous. This cookie helps us determine how many visitors we have to the site, where visitors have come to the site from and which pages are most popular with visitors. We use this data to plan and prioritise improvements to our website. 2 years The Google Analytics developer resource provides comprehensive information about these cookies.
_gid Google Analytics cookies. These cookies help us measure how our visitors use our site. The data collected by the cookie is entirely anonymous. This cookie helps us determine how many visitors we have to the site, where visitors have come to the site from and which pages are most popular with visitors. We use this data to plan and prioritise improvements to our website. 24 hours The Google Analytics developer resource provides comprehensive information about these cookies.
_ga_<container-id> Google Analytics cookies. These cookies help us measure how our visitors use our site. The data collected by the cookie is entirely anonymous. This cookie helps us determine how many visitors we have to the site, where visitors have come to the site from and which pages are most popular with visitors. We use this data to plan and prioritise improvements to our website. 2 years The Google Analytics developer resource provides comprehensive information about these cookies.
DWELL_TIME Effective site functionality Manual  
O365Shell_BootInfo_KeyStore Effective site functionality Manual  
mssearchux-header-search-config Effective site functionality Manual  
LAST_DWELL_TIME_SENT Effective site functionality Manual  
SPPPLATSuiteNavdata Effective site functionality Manual  
odThemecachetoken Effective site functionality Manual  
SPPPLATSuiteNavcacheversion Effective site functionality Manual  
odThemecacheversion Effective site functionality Manual  
O365Shell_BInfo_https://
shell.cdn.office.net/api/
ShellBootInfo/business/OneShell/en-us
Effective site functionality Manual  
SPPPLATSuiteNavcachedate Effective site functionality Manual  
SPPPLATSuiteNavsuitenavservice Effective site functionality Manual  
SPPPLATSuiteNavthemedata Effective site functionality Manual  
odsp-ds-HubDataSource-version Effective site functionality Manual  
odsp-ds-HubDataSource Effective site functionality Manual  
odThemedata Effective site functionality Manual  
sharePointNewsDigest
TeachingBubbleHomePage
Effective site functionality Manual  
O365Shell_ThemeInfo_Business Effective site functionality Manual  
odsp-ds-ViewNavDataSource Effective site functionality End of Session  
lastCortexDisableFlagLogged Effective site functionality End of Session  
msameid Effective site functionality End of Session  
experimentLogCacheTime Effective site functionality End of Session  
odsp-ds-SiteDataSource({[GUID]}) Effective site functionality End of Session  
odsp-ds-FavoriteFeed Effective site functionality End of Session  
mssearchux-cache-spsites-activitiesprefetch Effective site functionality End of Session  
odsp-ds-SPHomeDataSource Effective site functionality End of Session  
mssearchux-cache-pspd Effective site functionality End of Session  
experimentLogCache Effective site functionality End of Session  
mssearchux-cache-warmupSubstrateSearch Effective site functionality End of Session  
mssearchux-cache-searchConfigurationFromEcs Effective site functionality End of Session  
odsp-ds-ViewNavDataSource-version Effective site functionality End of Session  
odsp-ds-SiteDataSource({[GUID]})-version Effective site functionality End of Session  
mssearchux-cache-personalaccountname Effective site functionality End of Session  
ms-oil-datasource-search-news-suggestions Effective site functionality End of Session  
mssearchux-cache-searchcenterurl Effective site functionality End of Session  
mssearchux-cache-warmupMsb Effective site functionality End of Session  
odsp-ds-SPHomeDataSource-version Effective site functionality End of Session  
odsp-ds-FavoriteFeed-version Effective site functionality End of Session  
mssearchux-cache-site-activities-rawsprefetch Effective site functionality End of Session  
SPPPLATSuiteNavcachedthissession Effective site functionality End of Session  
mssearchux-cache-psst Effective site functionality End of Session  
ms-oil-datasource-search-news-suggestions-version Effective site functionality End of Session  
mssearchux-cache-searchConfiguration Effective site functionality End of Session  

Unless specified, the cookies above are set by default by Microsoft and support the effective functioning of the SharePoint platform.

Cookie name Purpose Expiry More information
EVISIONID_TEST This cookie detects whether cookies are enabled in your web browser. At the end of the browsing session. n/a
EVISIONID This cookie is necessary for session security. At the end of the browsing session. n/a
EVISIONLOGINHTV This cookie ensures the correct pages are shown for the user type. At the end of the browsing session. n/a
EVISIONLOGINLANG This cookie holds the browser language setting during the login process. At the end of the browsing session. n/a
JSESSIONID This cookie is necessary to facilitate your current visit to e:Vision. At the end of the browsing session. n/a
ARU_EV This cookie is used by the Cookie Control tool to record your preference for accepting cookies. 12 months from set n/a

Cookie name Purpose Expiry More information
CODE3 This cookie holds an agent code during the creation of an application. At the end of the browsing session. n/a
EVISIONLOGINHTV This cookie ensures the correct pages are shown for the user type. At the end of the browsing session. n/a
EVISIONLOGINLANG This cookie holds the browser language setting during the login process. At the end of the browsing session. n/a
JSESSIONID This cookie is necessary to facilitate your current session within the Online Application. At the end of the browsing session. n/a
SITSIPPID This cookie detects whether cookies are enabled in your web browser. At the end of the browsing session. n/a
EVISIONID This cookie is necessary for session security. At the end of the browsing session. n/a
ARU_OA This cookie is used by the Cookie Control tool to record your preference for accepting cookies. 4 Months from set/update. n/a

We also link to other external services to enhance the functionality of our Site. Where possible we've opted to limit their use of cookies, however these services are beyond Anglia Ruskin University's control and their cookie usage will be subject to their individual privacy policies. The services you find on our site may include:

  • YouTube: we use this to provide videos on our site which showcase our University. We've opted to use YouTube's enhanced privacy mode which limits the use of cookies. Cookies set by this service will fall under Google's privacy policy.
  • Facebook: we use this to include news feeds from some of our Facebook Pages. Cookies set by this service will fall under Facebook's data use policy.
  • Twitter: we use this to include feeds from some of our Twitter accounts. Cookies set by this service will fall under Twitter's privacy policy.
  • Soundcloud: we use this to include audio material showcasing the work of our students/staff. Cookies set by this service will fall under SoundCloud's privacy policy.
  • LivePerson: we use this to provide live chat services on parts of our website. Cookies set by this service will fall under LivePerson’s privacy policy.
  • FlipHTML: we use this to provide interactive versions of some of our publications. Cookies set by this service will fall under FlipHTML's privacy policy.
  • ZMags: we use this to provide interactive versions of some of our publications, notably our Connect magazine for alumni. Cookies set by this service will fall under ZMags' privacy policy.

Use of third party cookies for advertising
This section makes reference to two Google services.

  • Google Display Network: An advertising service delivering text, image and video advertising on participating websites.
  • Google AdWords: A tool to create and publish advertising on the Google Display Network.

We may advertise on the Google Display Network using Google's remarketing technology. Based on your visit to our website(s), through remarketing, we may request that when you visit a website which uses the Google Display Network that you are served relevant advertising from us. For example, after you've visited particular pages on our website(s), we may advertise an upcoming Open Day to you on a 3rd party website.

At present, remarketing is enabled on the following Anglia Ruskin websites:

To enable remarketing, when you visit these websites, an additional 3rd party (DoubleClick) cookie will be set. This will use non-personal information about your browsing activity on our website(s) to serve you relevant advertising.

On aru.ac.uk and distancelearning.anglia.ac.uk we offer you the opportunity to remove cookies set by our website, however we're unable to remove the remarketing cookie as this may not have been set on your visit to our website.

To opt-out of Google Display Network ads or customize your preferences you can:

Google's Policies and Principles also contain further information about their advertising.

Microsoft Clarity
This section makes reference to our use of Microsoft Clarity.

We use Clarity to analyse use of the website it is enabled for, and we use this information to help us improve our services. Clarity's normal functioning requires that we set cookies on your browser. Cookies placed to run Clarity also send non-personally identifiable information to Microsoft which may result in advertising.

If you have disabled cookies on your browser, Clarity doesn't set cookies. Find out more about Microsoft’s use of Clarity data.

At present, Clarity is enabled on the following Anglia Ruskin websites:

  • MyARU (student intranet)

Please see below for information about specific cookies set by MS Clarity and the data they collect.

Name Purpose Value passed
_clck Persists the Clarity User ID and preferences, unique to that site, on the browser. This ensures that behaviour in subsequent visits to the same site will be attributed to the same user ID. String
_clsk Connects multiple page views by a user into a single Clarity session recording. String
CLID Identifies the first-time Clarity saw this user on any site using Clarity. String
ANONCHK Indicates whether MUID is transferred to ANID, a cookie used for advertising. Clarity doesn't use ANID and so this is always set to 0. Flag
MR Indicates whether to refresh MUID. Flag
MUID Identifies unique web browsers visiting Microsoft sites. These cookies are used for advertising, site analytics, and other operational purposes. GUID
SM Used in synchronizing the MUID across Microsoft domains. Character Flags


JSON field Name Description Fields
e Envelope Contains metadata information about the payload and page. [Version, Payload Sequence, Start Time, Duration, ProjectId, UserId, SessionId, PageNumber, Upload Type, IsLastpayload]
a Analytics Contains information about user interactions on the site. Used for analytics and playback of interactions. Clarity collects the following type of events.

Interaction events: click, scroll, mouse move, window resize, selection, input, and so on.

Diagnostic events: script and image errors, logs, performance events, and so on.

Page events: document sizes, page visibility, page unload, metrics, and dimensions about the page.

Custom events: Custom variables/events set by the website based on some event.
[Time, EventType (Variable number of fields that contain information about the event based on the event type.)]
p Playback Contains information about the DOM and mutation events. Used for session playback. Data includes information about each DOM node such as:

Positional information: parent, position, previous node, and so on.

Layout details: Attributes, height, and width of the node used for display.

Content: Content within the node. For privacy-sensitive fields, this will be masked content not the actual text.
[Time, EventType, ID, ParentId, Previous Node Id, Html Tag, Position among sibling nodes, Selector, Hash, Attributes, Value, Width, and Height]