What Are Cookies
Cookies are small text files that a website stores on your device when you visit it. They allow the site to recognise your browser on later visits, remember your settings and measure how pages are used. Similar technologies — such as local storage, session storage, pixels and software development kits — work in comparable ways, and we refer to all of them as “cookies” on this page.
Cookies can be session cookies, which are deleted when you close your browser, or persistent cookies, which remain for a set period. They can be set by us (first-party cookies) or by third-party services we use (third-party cookies).
How We Use Cookies
We use cookies for four broad purposes:
- To make the platform work — signing you in, keeping your session secure and remembering your cookie choices.
- To remember your preferences — your interface language, your saved programs and universities, and your last pathway selection.
- To measure and improve — understanding which lessons, guides and universities are most useful so we can prioritise what to build next.
- To communicate — showing relevant study-abroad reminders and, where you consent, supporting marketing campaigns.
We do not use cookies to sell your personal data, and we do not use intrusive cross-site tracking for advertising without your consent.
Categories of Cookies We Use
| Category | Purpose | Consent required |
|---|---|---|
| Strictly necessary | Core functions such as authentication, security and load balancing. The site cannot work without them. | No |
| Functional | Remembering your language, region, saved programs and accessibility preferences. | Yes, in most regions |
| Analytics | Measuring visits, lesson completion and engagement so we can improve content and usability. | Yes |
| Marketing | Measuring the reach of study-abroad campaigns and showing relevant reminders where permitted. | Yes |
Detailed Cookie List
The table below shows representative examples of the cookies we set. Names and durations may change as we update the platform; the categories and purposes remain as described above.
| Name | Category | Purpose | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
session_id | Strictly necessary | Maintains your signed-in session securely. | Session |
csrf_token | Strictly necessary | Protects forms against cross-site request forgery. | Session |
cookie_consent | Strictly necessary | Records the cookie choices you have made. | 12 months |
ui_lang | Functional | Remembers your preferred interface language. | 12 months |
saved_programs | Functional | Stores the programs and universities you shortlist. | 6 months |
pathway_pref | Functional | Remembers your last pathway selection and quiz answers. | 6 months |
_ga | Analytics | Distinguishes visitors so we can measure usage. | 13 months |
_gid | Analytics | Groups activity within a short window for reporting. | 24 hours |
lesson_progress | Analytics | Helps measure completion rates of lessons. | 12 months |
campaign_ref | Marketing | Attributes visits to study-abroad campaigns, where permitted. | 3 months |
Third-Party Cookies
Some cookies are set by services we rely on, such as analytics providers, video hosting for lessons, and email and support tools. These providers process data on our instructions and are bound by agreements that limit how they may use it. Where a provider acts as an independent controller under its own policy, we link to that policy so you can review it.
Embedded content — for example, a video player or a university map — may also set its own cookies. We try to load such content in privacy-friendly mode wherever the provider supports it.
Managing and Disabling Cookies
You can control cookies in several ways:
- Our consent banner — where a consent banner is shown, you can accept, reject or tailor individual categories.
- Browser settings — every major browser lets you view, block and delete cookies. Look under “Privacy”, “Security” or “Site data” in your browser preferences.
- Private browsing — most browsers offer a private or incognito mode that discards cookies when the window is closed.
- Analytics opt-out — many analytics providers offer a browser add-on or setting to opt out of measurement.
If you block strictly necessary cookies, parts of the platform — such as signing in and saving programs — will not work. Blocking analytics or marketing cookies does not affect your ability to study.
Do Not Track Signals
Some browsers send a “Do Not Track” (DNT) signal. There is still no common industry standard for how websites should respond to it, and we do not currently change our practices solely on the basis of a DNT signal. Where required by local law, we honour recognised opt-out preference signals instead, and we always respect your choices made in our consent banner.
Updates to This Policy
We may update this Cookie Policy when we change the cookies we use or when the law or guidance changes. The “last updated” date at the top of this page shows when it was last revised. We encourage you to review this page periodically so that you always know how we use cookies.
Contact Us
If you have a question about cookies or about privacy on this platform, please write to [email protected]. For more information about how we handle personal data generally, see our Privacy Policy. We respond to every message within 24 hours.