Last updated 7th August 2025
Cookies are small text files stored on your computer, phone, or tablet when you visit a website. The University of Cambridge uses cookies to collect and store information about how you interact with its websites and systems. This information helps support functionality, improve user experience, and ensure secure access. Data collected via cookies may be shared within the University and, in limited cases, with trusted third-party service providers.
For details about the cookies used on the public-facing camsis.cam.ac.uk website, please refer to the University’s cookies webpage.
Otherwise, the list below outlines the cookies used specifically within the CamSIS system itself.
List of cookies
Essential cookies
Some cookies are essential for the CamSIS system to function correctly and may be set automatically when you access the site, including on public sign-in pages. These cookies enable core features such as secure login and session management. If you choose to block or delete these cookies, parts of CamSIS may not work as intended, and you may experience issues accessing or using the system.
| Name | Used by | Description | Duration | More information |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
PS_TOKEN PS_TokenSite |
CamSIS system |
Set when the system authenticates a user. It holds user authentication information in the browser that the system uses to verify user access. Having the token in the browser memory allows the user to navigate freely within the system without having to provide user credentials repeatedly. |
Expires when your web session on CamSIS ends. | Oracle Peoplebooks website |
| PS_TOKENEXPIRE | CamSIS system |
Set by the system each time a resource is requested. Used to maintain when the user's session should expire. |
Expires when your web session on CamSIS ends. | Oracle Peoplebooks website |
| *PSJSESSIONID | CamSIS system |
Our web servers use browser cookies (containing the server path and domain) to establish session identity. These cookies have a default name that's used to retrieve the cookie on each request to the web server. In an environment where multiple web servers are in, it is necessary to define unique session cookie names between web servers to prevent one cookie from overwriting another cookie of the same name set by a different web server. |
Expires when your web session on CamSIS ends. | Oracle Peoplebooks website |
| PS_LASTSITE | CamSIS system | Helps maintain session stickiness in environments with load balancers or proxies. It ensures that a user's session is consistently routed to the same server that initiated it | Expires when your web session on CamSIS ends. | Oracle Peoplebooks website |
| PS_LOGINLIST | CamSIS system | This cookie remains in browser memory only and is not written to disk. | Expires when your web session on CamSIS ends. | Oracle Peoplebooks website |
| PS_DEVICEFEATURES | CamSIS system | Captures client device capabilities (e.g., screen size, pixel ratio, geolocation, touch support, etc.) during login. Ithelps PeopleSoft tailor the UI (especially Fluid UI) to the user's device. | Expires when your web session on CamSIS ends. | Oracle Peoplebooks website |
| psback | CamSIS system | Used to manage navigation or redirection during login or session transitions, and to provide a route back to the previous page when navigating the system. | Expires when your web session on CamSIS ends. | Oracle Peoplebooks website |
| ExpirePage | CamSIS system | Used to detect or manage session expiration. It helps redirect users to a timeout or login page when their session has expired. | Expires when your web session on CamSIS ends. | Oracle Peoplebooks website |
| lscrftoken | CamSIS system | Helps maintain secure access and protects the system against Cross-Site Request Forgery (CSRF) attacks. | Expires when your web session on CamSIS ends. | Oracle Peoplebooks website |
| X-Mapping* | University of Cambridge | Used to route data and page requests correctly via the University's Traffic Manager. | Expires when your web session on CamSIS ends. | Riverbed's privacy policy |
Non-essential cookies
These cookies are not required for the core functionality of CamSIS, such as logging in or navigating the system. However, they support enhanced features and improve the overall user experience by enabling additional interface behaviours and usability improvements. If you choose to delete or disable these cookies, CamSIS will still function, but some features may be limited or behave differently.
| Name | Used by | Description | Duration | More information |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SignOnDefault | CamSIS system | Used to default the username on the sign on page. | 24 hours | Oracle Peoplebooks website |
| ps_theme | CamSIS system | Stores the theme used by the user and helps maintain a consistent look and feel. | Expires when your web session on CamSIS ends. | Oracle Peoplebooks website |
| */refresh | CamSIS system | Manages caching of homepage pagelets. | Expires when your web session on CamSIS ends. | Oracle Peoplebooks website |
| HPTabName | CamSIS system | Date/time homepage tab was last accessed. | Expires when your web session on CamSIS ends. | Oracle Peoplebooks website |
| UcTemplate* | CamSIS system | Ensures page content is displayed using the appropriate portal template (look and feel).
Base64 encoded data in JSON format. |
Expires when your web session on CamSIS ends. | Base64 cookie value encoding is used to allow storage of characters not supported by the RFC 2109 cookie standard. |
| UcClientSide* | CamSIS system | Ensures page content is displayed using the appropriate portal template (look and feel).
Base64 encoded data in JSON format. |
Expires when your web session on CamSIS ends. | Base64 cookie value encoding is used to allow storage of characters not supported by the RFC 2109 cookie standard. |
| UcNotification* | CamSIS system | Manages caching of Self Service notifications.
Base64 encoded data in JSON format. |
Expires when your web session on CamSIS ends. | Base64 cookie value encoding is used to allow storage of characters not supported by the RFC 2109 cookie standard. |
| UcContentHeight* | CamSIS system | Used on homepage tab to reduce screen flicker. Stores the height in pixels of the table#content element between page loads. | Expires when your web session on CamSIS ends. |
Usage measurement cookies
These cookies help us understand how users interact with CamSIS, allowing us to improve system performance and usability over time. These cookies collect anonymised data about user behaviour - such as pages visited, time spent on the site, and navigation patterns. The information is used for analytical purposes only and helps us identify areas for improvement. These cookies are not essential for using CamSIS and blocking or deleting them will not affect your ability to log in or use core system features.
| Name | Used by | Description | Duration | More information |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| _ga* _ga_* |
University of Cambridge Google Inc (Google Analytics service) |
We use Google Analytics to understand how often CamSIS functionality is used and to test changes to improve the user experience. Your IP address is anonymised. | 2 years | Google’s privacy policy |
How to disable cookies
To opt out of Google Analytics
To opt out of receiving any Google Analytics cookies, you may download the Google Analytics opt-out browser extension.
To block all cookies
Your web browser will have an option you may select that will block cookies. Below are links to information about popular web browsers and how to block cookies using them.
Other web browsers – see the Information Commissioner's Office's website
Server logging
Any of the information mentioned below may be used in the investigation of unauthorised use or misuse of the CamSIS system and may also be used in the investigation of illegal activities.
The following information is logged by the CamSIS servers for the purposes of ensuring the proper running, accounting network use and planning changes:
- The date and time of connection
- The name or network address of the computer making the request. Note that the data recorded may be that of a web proxy rather than that of the originating client
- The username, when known during authenticated (logged in) access to the site
- The HTTP request, including details of the URL requested and cookies
- The status code of the request (success or failure etc.)
- The number of data bytes sent in response
- Application usage information including programme and database trace logging, process initiation data and process output distribution data.
Web server information, whether raw or processed, is deleted within 7 days of its collection except when required as evidence or for the investigation of illegal activities. On certain occasions, web server information may be backed up and subsequently kept for a longer period. Application and Process Scheduler server information, whether raw or processed, is deleted periodically.
Exceptionally, personal information may be logged by the CamSIS system and used to diagnose misoperation or failure. The recorded information is searched for indications of errors or incorrect operation. The information is not processed except for the investigation of system problems or when the information is required for evidence or for the investigation of illegal activities.