Last updated 2020-03-31.
What are cookies?
A cookie is a small text file that is placed on your computer when you access certain websites. Websites can specify certain rules that control how and when that cookie may be transmitted back to the website. Cookies cannot be used to run programs, contain executable code, or deliver viruses to your computer. Cookies are uniquely assigned to you and may not be read by unauthorized individuals without physical access to your computer.
How do we use cookies?
One of the primary purposes of cookies is to provide a convenience feature to save your time. For example, we use cookies to remember that you have logged in, and to remember who you have logged in as, so that we may show you data which uniquely belongs to you and no other individual. We may also use cookies to remember certain features or preferences you have enabled, so that you do not have to opt-in or enable those features on future visits.
Additionally, we use cookies to anonymously gather metrics on how our site is performing; and we, or our partners, may use cookies to determine whether our advertising is successful.
How to manage your cookies
You have the right to accept or decline cookies placed in your browser by our website. You may do so through your browser’s settings, though you will find that your experience on our website will be reduced, and you will be unable to access certain functionality. Where required by law, you may also accept categories of cookies through functionality available in our website, i.e., a “Cookie Consent Banner.” Choosing to accept some, but not all categories of cookies, will enable you to fully access all the features of our website, however, some time-saving functionality that relate to your preferences may not work as expected. You are not bound to this choice, and you may change your preferences at any time by either:
- Clearing cookies from your browser; or, if required by law and enabled on this website,
- Managing which cookies you accept via our "Cookie Consent Banner". Look for the "Cookie Button" on the bottom-left of the browser, which will let you adjust which cookie categories you would like to opt-in to.
What types of cookies do we use?
We use four types of cookies, as described below:
- Strictly Necessary - These are essential to enable you to move around this application and use its features, such as accessing protected areas.
- Functionality - These allow us to remember choices you make and provide enhanced, or more personal features.
- Performance / Analytics - These collect anonymous, aggregated information about you and other visitors interacting with our website, so that we are able to make improvements and correct problem areas.
- Targeting / Advertising - These cookies may be used to deliver advertisements more relevant to you and your interests, or shared with third-parties when you perform certain actions within this site, to help us understand if our advertising is successful.
What cookies do we use?
During your use of our site, you might encounter some of, or all the following cookies:
Name | Category | Description |
.ASPXANONYMOUS | Strictly Necessary | This cookie is used by our technology platform to establish an identity for users who have not authenticated, so that core functionality that relates to an individual, such as ensuring the correct data is shown to you, is able to function. |
.ASPXAUTH | Strictly Necessary | This cookie is used by our technology platform to associate a database user to a real user, and is provided to you upon successful authentication. |
__RequestVerificationToken | Strictly Necessary | This cookie is used to prevent the unauthorized posting of data to website forms (Cross-Site Request Forgery.) |
a1-cookieconsent | Strictly Necessary | This cookie is used to remember your choice when opting-in to cookies. |
a1-ssopct | Strictly Necessary | This cookie is used when you authenticate with an identity provider to single sign on to our site. |
ASP.NET_SessionId | Strictly Necessary | This cookie is used by our technology platform to establish a session for you. |
FedAuth | Strictly Necessary | This cookie is used during the single sign on process to process information we received from you from your identity provider, such as your name and email address. |
FedAuth1 | Strictly Necessary | This cookie is used during the single sign on process to process information we received from you from your identity provider, such as your name and email address. |
IsMobile | Strictly Necessary | This cookie is used by our content management system to perform core functionality related to displaying the correct content based on whether you are on a mobile device. |
Language | Strictly Necessary | This cookie is used by our content management system to perform core functionality related to the display of text in your preferred language. |
LastPageId | Strictly Necessary | This cookie is used by our content management system to perform core functionality related to content management functionality. |
oidc_id_token | Strictly Necessary | This cookie is used as part of the single sign on process to ensure that when you sign out, you are taken to your identity provider to optionally single sign out. |
oidc_returnUrl | Strictly Necessary | This cookie is used when you authenticate with a identity provider to determine the resulting redirect page post-login. |
oidc_state | Strictly Necessary | This cookie is used as part of the single sign on process to mitigate Cross-Site Request Forgery attacks. |
a1-ase | Functionality | This cookie is used to remember whether you have expanded "Advanced Options" panels on certain searches. |
a1-hbm | Functionality | This cookie is used to remember your preference whether you have dismissed a site-wide broadcast message, to prevent displaying it repeatedly. |
a1-hbw | Functionality | This cookie is used to remember your preference whether you have dismissed a warning message shown due to visiting the site with an unsupported browser. |
a1-hcpc | Functionality | This cookie is used to remember your choice when opting out of creating a passport when exiting Will My Credits Transfer. |
a1-usti | Functionality | This cookie may be used to determine if it is appropriate to ask a you to take an anonymous survey |
_ga | Performance / Analytics | Part of Google Analytics, which allows us to collect anonymized information about how users use this site, in order to continue to make improvements in the delivery of content to you. Please refer to the Google Analytics Cookie Descriptions, and Google's Privacy Policy. |
_gat | Performance / Analytics | Part of Google Analytics, which allows us to collect anonymized information about how users use this site, in order to continue to make improvements in the delivery of content to you. Please refer to the Google Analytics Cookie Descriptions, and Google's Privacy Policy. |
_gid | Performance / Analytics | Part of Google Analytics, which allows us to collect anonymized information about how users use this site, in order to continue to make improvements in the delivery of content to you. Please refer to the Google Analytics Cookie Descriptions, and Google's Privacy Policy. |
(various) | Targeting / Advertising | This site may use Google Tag Manager, which gives our content partners the ability to add additional cookies and beacons which may not be listed here. We do not enable Google Tag Manager unless you have given us permission to enable Targeting / Advertising cookies. |
barometric[cuid] | Targeting / Advertising | Allows us to obtain metrics on how users such as yourself use our site, in order to allow us to determine the effectiveness of our content. This cookie is controlled by Barometric, please refer to their privacy policy. |
More information about cookies
We recommend any of the following to learn more about browser cookies.