Website privacy notice

The University of Manchester is committed to looking after any information that is made available to us when you visit our websites in accordance with data protection law.

This notice outlines what categories of information we retain and how we use it. Our other privacy notices are also available from this website.

Personal data

You don’t have to create an account or provide us with any personal information to access University websites. However, we may ask for some personal details if you wish to access some of our services, for example:

  • to register for open days;
  • to order a publication such as a printed prospectus;
  • to subscribe to email marketing communications such as online newsletters;
  • to use online chat functionality.

The vast majority of the personal information we hold about you will be obtained via our websites’ forms or if you contact us by email.

Some of the personal data we store and process may include:

  • biographical information consisting of your name, title, birth date, age and gender;
  • your contact details including address, email address and phone number;
  • information about your time at the University;
  • your professional activities;
  • current interests and preferences;
  • records of communications sent to you by the University or received from you;
  • attendance at University events.

We may also collect and store bank card details. The University is PCI DSS compliant. We do not store credit/debit card details after authorisation and till receipts are always masked.

When you provide us with your contact details you may be asked whether you wish to receive any further communications from us.

We will ensure that all personal data you supply is held in accordance with data protection law. We do not sell or otherwise transfer personal data to any third parties unless you have consented to this or this is permitted by law.

Visits to University websites

When you visit any of the University websites the following information is received and stored by our web servers: anonymised details of your IP address, browser type and operating system; and the web pages you visited. This data is known as web server logs. We use this information strictly to analyse how the University websites are used by our visitors and we may archive this information in an anonymous form for historical records.

Cookies

'Cookies' are text files placed on your computer which help us understand how you use our websites. For more information about how we use cookies, read our cookie notice.

Email marketing

We are keen to communicate our activities, institutional views, latest news and points of excellence with staff, stakeholders, students, alumni and supporters. We do this by providing information through a range of online and offline channels including publications, events, press releases, social media and email.

In order to do this we have a database that contains personal data collected by the University during the course of our relationship with our stakeholders, staff, students, and alumni. We aim to keep your data up to date and welcome any updates to your details or corrections to any inaccuracies you may wish to provide. In addition, when you provide your personal data to a University of Manchester Faculty, School or Department, you will receive further specific information from them informing you about the ways it will be used. 

We value our relationship with you and we use your personal data to personalise our communications, improve our services and ensure we work efficiently and effectively. If you are a member of the public subscribing to any of our email communications, and you have not previously purchased any products or services from the University, our legal basis to process your personal data will be your consent.

Members of University of staff, students, alumni or others that have a pre-existing relationship with the University may receive such communication on the basis of the University’s legitimate interests.

You can unsubscribe at any time by clicking the link provided in the specific communication, or by contacting the team providing the newsletter/communication.  

You have a right to request copies of the personal data held about you by the University. To make a request or to exercise any of your other data protection rights, please contact the Information Governance Office – read more about your rights.

Unless you have requested otherwise, your data is accessible to the University and its Schools, Faculties, Institutes, Centres, divisions, directorates and recognised alumni associations connected to the University. It is used and processed for a full range of communications and programmes involving academic and administrative departments. These include the following communications and marketing activities (by mail, email and telephone):

  • Sending University publications;
  • Promoting our services;
  • Notifying you of upcoming events;
  • Promoting discounts and opportunities.

Tools may be used to help us improve the effectiveness of our communications with you, including tracking whether the emails we send are opened and which links are clicked within a message.

Lastly, we use data to undertake analysis projects to ensure only effective and relevant communications are sent to you. A list of suppliers can be provided on request.

We utilise tools and resources to help us understand our stakeholders, staff, students, and alumni and gather information from publicly available resources (eg the electoral register, press, the charity register) to assess the capacity of these groups to support the University.

Public social media data

Promoted posts on Twitter

The University of Manchester uses publicly available information, such as Twitter handles, URLs mentioned in tweets and hashtag usage, to target tweets promoting the University’s research to Twitter users who have indicated an interest in topics relevant to our research activities. This data is collected manually and through third-party analytics platforms that search for links and references to published research on Twitter.

Brand and reputation monitoring

The University of Manchester uses publicly available information, such as location data, names, user IDs, handles and other identifiers, photographs and published content on social platforms including review sites, message boards, media outlets, blogs and forums to monitor and respond to enquiries and content related to the University. This data is collected through a third-party social media and analytics platform that searches for mentions and references to the University via public online platforms.

Remarketing pixel

The University of Manchester uses remarketing tracking cookies and conversion pixels from vendors such as Google, Ecosia, Bing, StackAdapt, LinkedIn and Meta to present further communications to you about our courses and services, over the Google Content Network and via social networks.

This means you may see an ad for The University a result of visiting our website. In addition, The University of Manchester uses custom audiences based on demographic details provided based on emails and communications of prospective, current and past learners. This allows us to present specific, targeted communications to you via Meta, LinkedIn, Bing and Google. However, your personally identifiable information is not used by any remarketing service other than to present you with specific communications from us. We use the following third-party service providers for remarketing:

Conversion pixel

Conversion pixels only become active when a conversion has been made. In The University’s case, this may be when you complete an expression of interest form, application form or purchase a product such as a CPD unit or an item from the gift store. The pixel is activated once you reach the confirmation page after you have submitted your details.

This pixel allows us to receive clarify into the source of our conversions through advertising campaigns and measure the success or failure of marketing activity.

Social media pixels (TikTok, Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, Snapchat)

Social media pixels are a tool used by social networks by placing a code on The University of Manchester’s website, with cookies being used to track users who interact with any of our Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, TikTok or Snapchat ads and website.

This type of pixel is a unique code that collects data and allows The University of Manchester to:

  • Track social media ad conversions
  • Build a target audience
  • Optimize our ads
  • Remarket to our website visitors

Statement

This privacy notice applies to all University websites that link to this page. Please note that some sites related to the University may collect and use data differently. These sites will have a local privacy notice explaining these practices. If the user leaves a University website and visits a website operated by a third party, The University of Manchester cannot be held responsible for the protection and privacy of any information that users provide when visiting such third-party websites. Accordingly, users should exercise caution and review the privacy statement applicable to the website in question.

Last updated: 3 April 2024