Privacy statement

This statement outlines the information gathered during your visit to the University of Glasgow's central web servers and explains how this information is treated. If you choose to request information from this site you will need to pass personal data to the University through this site. Where you actively provide personal data to the University [for example, by completing a web form] this data will be used only for the service you have requested unless you consent otherwise at the time of submitting the data.

Data Protection Act

The gathering, storage, use, release and disposal of personal information is regulated by the Data Protection Act 1998. The University's policy and guidelines with respect to the Act, are published by the Data Protection and Freedom of Information Office.

Surveillance and monitoring

Staff, students and visitors should be aware that the University operates CCTV and similar equipment to monitor safety and security and to aid the prevention and detection of crime. In addition, the University may monitor postal, telecommunications, data communications, and other communications as permitted by the relevant legislation and University Regulations. Pleas see: Monitoring & Surveillance (CCTV/WebCam).

Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act

The records of the University of Glasgow are subject to the terms of the Freedom of Information (Scotland) 2002 Act. The Act gives individuals a general right of access to all types of recorded information, of any age, held by the University. The University's policy and guidelines with respect to the Freedom of Information Act (Scotland) 2002 are published by the Data Protection and Freedom of Information Office.

The information collected

Log files

The University's website does not automatically capture or store personal data from visitors to the site, other than to log your IP address and session information. Session information includes the time and duration of your visit to the site, the files requested, and the browser used. This information will only be accessed by authorised persons of the University of Glasgow or its agents. The information will be retained by the University and will only be used for the purpose of (a) managing the site system, (b) the identification of broken links, and (c) for statistical and audit purposes.

Web Forms

You may occasionally be asked to provide personal information to gain access to specific services. By supplying such information the client consents to the University storing the information for the stated purpose. The information is held by the University in accordance with the provisions of the Data Protection Act 1998.

This privacy policy does not cover the links within this site to other non-University sites nor the content of external internet sites.

Quick links

• Data protection
• Freedom of information (Scotland)

Cookies

Cookies are small text files passed to your computer by the web server via your browser, and may be used to collect information to help identify you and prepare customised pages for you. Cookies may remain on your computer either for the duration of the session or indefinitely. You can configure most standard web browsers to refuse cookies.

The University and our authorised agents make use of Google Analytics to produce anonymised statistics on website usage: to help us to improve our site and the experience of our users. Google Analytics uses cookies in this process.

Occasionally, we give users the opportunity to save settings for viewing pages. This involves the setting of a cookie. We do not track such cookies.

Information on cookies can be obtained from www.allaboutcookies.org.

Google Analytics

This website uses Google Analytics, a web analytics service provided by Google, Inc. ("Google"). Google Analytics uses "cookies", which are text files placed on your computer, to help the website analyze how users use the site. The information generated by the cookie about your use of the website (including your IP address) will be transmitted to and stored by Google on servers in the United States. Google will use this information for the purpose of evaluating your use of the website, compiling reports on website activity for website operators and providing other services relating to website activity and internet usage. Google may also transfer this information to third parties where required to do so by law, or where such third parties process the information on Google's behalf. Google will not associate your IP address with any other data held by Google. You may refuse the use of cookies by selecting the appropriate settings on your browser, however please note that if you do this you may not be able to use the full functionality of this website. By using this website, you consent to the processing of data about you by Google in the manner and for the purposes set out above.

Advertising Cookies

We also set cookies for advertising or remarketing purposes: enabling us to serve more tailored advertising as well as helping improve our site for users.

Google uses cookies like NID and SID to help customize advertising on Google properties, like Google Search. Such cookies remember your most recent searches, your previous interactions with our website, search results, and engagement with our advertising. This helps us to show you customized advertising on Google.

We also use cookies for advertising we serve across the web. The main advertising cookie on non-Google sites is called ‘id’ and it is stored in browsers under the domain doubleclick.net. With the DoubleClick product, a cookie called ‘__gadvertising’ may be set on the domain of the site you are visiting. Unlike cookies that are set on Google's own domains, this cookie can't be read by Google when you're on other sites. It serves purposes such as measuring interactions with the advertising on that domain and preventing the same advertising from being shown to you too many times.

Some of our other cookies may be used to measure conversion events as well. For example, DoubleClick and Google Analytics cookies may also be used for this purpose.

We also use the MediaMath provider to deliver advertising on behalf of the University. Details of their policies and opt-out mechanisms can be found at www.mediamath.com/privacy-policy

More information on cookies can be obtained from www.allaboutcookies.org.

Disclaimer

The content of the University's main external website is overseen by the Web Team. At departmental and other levels, content is maintained locally. Whilst every attempt is made to ensure that information is accurate and up-to-date, some information is subject to change. The University will not be held liable for information that is subject to change and reserves the right to alter the content of the external website at any time.

The University permits its students and staff to maintain personal pages on this web site, and associated sites such as academicblogs.co.uk. Any views expressed on these pages do not necessarily represent the views of the University.

Prospectuses

The Undergraduate and Postgraduate Prospectuses are intended to help you choose your course of study at the University of Glasgow. They do not replace the University Calendar as a statement of the University regulations. All students will be required as a condition of enrolment to abide by, and to submit to the procedures of, the University's rules and regulations, as amended from time to time. A copy of the current regulations is available at: www.gla.ac.uk/calendar/ or on request, from the Registry: www.gla.ac.uk/registry/

Every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the information contained within the prospectuses but it is subject to alteration without notice. The University will use all reasonable endeavours to deliver courses in accordance with the descriptions set out in the prospectuses. The University, however, reserves the right to make variations to the content or methods of delivery of courses, to discontinue courses and to merge or combine courses, if such action is reasonably considered to be necessary by the University. If the University discontinues any course, it will use reasonable endeavours to provide a suitable alternative course. In the event of industrial action or other circumstances beyond the control of the University that interferes with itsability to provide these courses or services, the University will undertake to minimise disruption as far as is practicable.

The University prospectuses are normally published circa 18 months prior to the academic year to which they relate. Any changes such as newly announced courses of study or changes to contact details will be incorporated into our website. Changes may be made to Entrance Requirements during the summer months post publication of the printed prospectus, but before commencement of the Admissions Cycle to which the prospectus relates ( Admissions Cycle commences in October each year). These changes will be incorporated into our website prior to October. No changes will be made to Entry Requirements after commencement of the Admissions Cycle.

Programme alteration or discontinuation

The University of Glasgow endeavours to run all programmes advertised at the beginning of an application cycle. However, all programmes run subject to a minimum number of students registering for the programme and academic staff being in place to run the programme. Therefore, in exceptional circumstances, the University may withdraw a programme during an application cycle.

If a programme is withdrawn or altered then the University will inform any applicants at the earliest opportunity of the withdrawal or significant change. In cases where a programme is withdrawn completely then all offer holders will be offered the closest alternative that is available. If an alternative programme is not available then Admissions will offer advice regarding any other suitable programmes.

If an applicant does not wish to accept the University's offer of a replacement programme or the University is unable to offer a replacement programme, the University will withdraw the application.

In the event that an application is withdrawn due to a programme alteration or withdrawal, the University will offer a full refund of any application fee and/or deposit paid.

Programmes may occasionally be advertised and accept applications prior to full approval by the University’s Senate. In these cases it will be made clear on the University’s website and in the offer letters that the programme is subject to approval. In the unlikely event that the programme is not approved then all applications will be withdrawn and applicants offered an opportunity to apply for an alternative programme where one is available.

Freedom of Information

The Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002 [FoISA] gives the general right of access to all recorded information that is held by the University. Some information may be exempt from disclosure by the University if it is considered that one of the Act's 17 exemptions applies. However many of these exemptions are not absolute and are subject to a 'public interest test' and a 'harm test'. The Act is intended to promote openness and accountability within all Scottish Public Authorities - including Universities.

The University is committed to a policy of meeting its obligations under FoISA to allow access to University information unless a specific and valid exemption applies. The exemptions that might apply include:

• Information already publicly available via, for example, the University's Publication Scheme - section 25
• Information intended, but not yet ready, for publication - section 27
• Prejudice to the effective conduct of public affairs - section 30
• Commercially sensitive information - section 33
• Information supplied in confidence - section 36
• Personal information about a third-party - section 38
• Legal advice - section 36(1)

All enquiries about access to information held by the University may be made to the relevant department within the University. Alternatively you may contact the Data Protection & Freedom of Information Office via the Requesting Information link to the left.

Any complaints concerning the handling by the University of issues related to FoISA should be immediately reported to the University according to the procedures displayed via the Complaints and Requests for Review link to the left.

The links to the right give access to advice and guidance on specific areas, covering a range of FoISA issues, directly related to the operation of the University. The A to Z Guide provide brief explanations on the terminology, descriptions, procedures, and basic issues relasting to FoISA and other related legislation plus the Data Protection Act 1998.

The Scottish Information Commissioner [SIC] is the regulator of FoISA and is independent of the Scottish Parliament, the Scottish Executive, and other Scottish public authorities. The SIC's duties include the promotion of the right of access to official information held by Scottish Public Authorities [SPAs], ensuring SPAs observe the FoISA and EISR requirements, encouraging SPAs to introduce and follow procedures that will help them make their information available, and to carry out investigations when information has not been provided by an SPA upon request.

• FOI Publication Scheme for Subsidiary Companies