“Cookies” is commonly used as a general term, but modern websites can store or access information on a device in several different ways.
This policy therefore covers cookies and other comparable storage or access technologies used through My Academic Tutor.
Because the platform is still being developed, the final production technology configuration must be reviewed before commercial launch and this policy updated to reflect what the website actually uses.
What are cookies and similar technologies?
A cookie is a small piece of information that a website may store on your browser or device and later access.
Websites can also use other technologies that perform similar functions, including browser storage, scripts, pixels, tags and other mechanisms that store or access information on a device.
These technologies may be used for different purposes, such as:
- keeping a website secure;
- remembering a user's choices;
- maintaining a session;
- understanding how a website is used;
- measuring performance; or
- supporting advertising or cross-site tracking.
Different purposes may have different legal and consent requirements.
Current website status
My Academic Tutor is currently in active development. Learner accounts, payment processing and personalised progress tracking are not yet live.
We have also not intentionally built behavioural advertising or cross-site advertising tracking into the core application.
Before public commercial launch, the deployed website should be tested to identify every cookie, browser storage item, embedded third-party technology and similar storage or access mechanism actually used. This policy should then be updated with the verified results.
Hosting and security infrastructure may also process technical request information without necessarily using browser cookies. Information about broader personal-data processing is covered by our Privacy Notice.
Categories we may use
Storage and access technologies can be grouped according to why they are used.
Essential technologies
Some storage or access technologies may be necessary for a website or requested feature to function.
Examples can include technologies used solely for:
- security;
- network and service delivery;
- maintaining an authenticated session;
- remembering a privacy choice; or
- providing functionality specifically requested by the user.
The precise technologies used by My Academic Tutor will depend on the final production infrastructure and features.
Analytics and website measurement
We may in future use analytics to understand matters such as which pages are visited, whether pages work properly and how the learning experience can be improved.
The exact privacy requirements depend on how the analytics technology operates and the purpose for which information is used.
Where an analytics implementation falls within an applicable legal exception, we will provide the required information and user controls.
Where consent is required, the relevant technology should not be enabled until the required choice has been made.
We will update this section with the actual provider, purpose, technology and applicable controls if website analytics are added.
Preference technologies
The platform may eventually remember choices such as appearance, accessibility settings or other interface preferences.
If such functionality is introduced, this policy will explain the relevant technology and the controls available to users.
Advertising and cross-site tracking
Behavioural advertising and cross-site tracking are not currently intended as part of the core My Academic Tutor learning experience.
If advertising, retargeting or comparable tracking is introduced later, this policy and the website's consent controls will be updated before such technology is activated where required.
We will not describe advertising technology as “essential” merely because it may be commercially useful.
Third-party technologies
Some future platform features may depend on third-party services.
Examples could include:
- authentication;
- payment processing;
- video or interactive content;
- analytics;
- customer support; or
- embedded external services.
Third-party technologies will be reviewed before integration so that relevant information and choices can be provided.
Once production services have been selected, this section should identify relevant third parties and explain what their technologies do where required.
Your choices
Where the law requires consent before a storage or access technology is used, users should be given a genuine choice.
Where consent controls are required, the intended design is to allow visitors to:
- understand the purpose of optional technologies;
- accept relevant optional technologies;
- reject relevant optional technologies;
- make more granular choices where appropriate; and
- change or withdraw a previous choice.
Where an applicable exception instead requires an objection mechanism, an appropriate way to exercise that choice should be provided.
A dedicated cookie-preference control will be added if the final production configuration contains technologies that require or materially benefit from such controls.
Browser controls
Most browsers provide controls for viewing, deleting or blocking cookies and other stored website information.
The exact steps vary between browsers and devices.
Blocking storage that is genuinely required for a requested feature may prevent that feature from working correctly.
Changes to this policy
This policy will be reviewed when website technologies, providers or purposes change.
In particular, it should be reviewed before introducing learner accounts, payments, analytics, embedded third-party media, marketing technology or advertising.
The latest revision date appears at the top of this page.
Questions about cookies or privacy
If you have a question about technology used by My Academic Tutor or about how your information is handled, please contact us.