Cookie Policy

Version: 2.0 Date of Issue: 18 June 2026

1. Context

Trinity College Dublin, The University of Dublin, hereafter referred to as “Trinity College” provides and is responsible for the principle tcd.ie website and a number of other websites directly associated with Trinity College.

Trinity College may use information gathered from cookies on these websites to help improve the user experience of our websites. Cookies are used to remember visitor preferences and to allow Trinity College analyse how people use the website.

Under GDPR, consent must be freely given, specific, informed and unambiguous. Implied or assumed consent is not compliant with the legislation. Cookies may identify information about the website user, therefore consent to gather, hold and process this information is required.

2. Purpose

The purpose of this policy is to inform users of Trinity College websites about the use of cookies and similar technologies on any website within the .tcd.ie domain. It outlines how and why cookies are used across the .tcd.ie domain, the types of cookies employed and how users can manage their cookie preferences.

Trinity College, its agents and partners, may use cookies on Trinity College websites. This policy ensures transparency and compliance with data protection legislation including the EU General Data Protection Regulation 2016 (GDPR) and the ePrivacy Directive 2002, as amended in 2009.

3. Benefits

This policy provides clear, transparent and accessible guidelines regarding the use of cookies on Trinity College websites. It helps users understand:

What cookies are and how they function
The types of cookies used and their purposes
How cookies enhance user experience and website functionality
How users can control or opt out of cookie usage.

By doing so, the policy supports informed user consent, enhances trust in the University’s digital services and ensures compliance with legal and regulatory requirements.

4. Scope

This policy applies to all Trinity College websites within the .tcd.ie domain and to all users who access these websites, including students, staff, alumni, prospective students and the general public. It covers all cookies set by Trinity College as well as third-party cookies that may be set through embedded content or advertising and marketing services.

This policy applies to all web developers, authors and hosts of Trinity College webpages, whether employed directly by Trinity College or by a third party and to any user or organisation using techniques to track user activity on a Trinity College website.

This policy does not apply to external websites that may be linked from Trinity College websites. Users are encouraged to review the cookie policies of those external sites separately.

5. Principles

Trinity College respects the privacy of all visitors to our websites and is committed to maintaining the following principles with regard to the management and use of cookies across the University’s digital platforms.

Transparency

We provide clear and accessible information about the cookies we use and their purposes.

User Control

We respect website users’ rights to control their personal data and we provide mechanisms to manage individual cookie preferences.

Data Minimisation

We only use cookies that are necessary for the functionality, performance and improvement of our websites.

Security and Confidentiality

We ensure that any data collected through cookies is handled securely and in accordance with applicable data protection laws.

Accountability

We regularly review and update our practices to ensure compliance with legal and regulatory requirements.

6. Definitions

What are Cookies?

Cookies are small text files that are downloaded and stored in the user's web browser while the user is browsing a website. They are used to remember visitor preferences and analyse how people use the website and may be saved by the user's browser on their computer or mobile device. Cookies can be set as first or third party.

First party cookies

First party cookies are cookies set by Trinity College websites within the .tcd.ie domain. Only these websites can read them.

Third Party Websites' Cookies

Some cookies that have been set on our websites are not related to Trinity College. When you visit a page with content embedded from service providers such as YouTube or Facebook, ‘X’ (Twitter), Instagram and Google Ads these service providers may set their own cookies on your web browser. Also, if you share a link to a Trinity College web page, the website you share it on (e.g. Facebook) may set a cookie on your browser. Trinity College does not control the use of these cookies and cannot access them due to the way that cookies work, as cookies can only be accessed by the party who originally set them.

Trinity College recommends that you check third party websites for more information about these cookies. Trinity College uses information gathered from cookies to help improve your experience of our websites.

Strictly Necessary Cookies

These cookies are essential in order to enable you to move around a website and use its services or features. You can set your browser to block or alert you about these cookies (see information below on how to do this), but some parts of the website will not perform as intended and without certain services or features. These cookies do not store any personally identifiable information.

Functional Cookies

These are used to store user preferences, including log-in credentials, bookmarks, favourites, menu preferences etc. and record information about how a website is used. When a user visits the same website again, the browser may send cookies back to that website allowing the website to recognise the user and remember things like their personalised details or preferences. Persistent cookies may expire after a predefined period of time or until the user deletes the cookie.

Session Cookies

These cookies make it possible to navigate through a website smoothly. However, these are transient and are automatically deleted after you close your web browser. They are only visible to your browser and are not shared with third parties. Session cookies do not collect information that can identify someone from the user’s computer and only store information in the form of a session identification.

Performance Cookies

Trinity College uses Google Analytics and other relevant technologies to collect anonymous traffic data to our websites to help us analyse how users use the sites. Cookies are used to collect anonymous data on user behaviour and standard Internet activity. The information stored in the cookie is transmitted to Google and then used to evaluate visitors' use of the websites and to compile statistical reports on website activity. Technical details in connection with visits to Trinity College websites may be logged by Trinity College’s Internet Service Provider for accounting and auditing purposes.

It is the policy of Trinity College not to disclose such technical information in respect of individual website visitors to any third party (apart from Trinity College’s Internet Service Provider which records such data on the University's behalf and which is bound by confidentiality provisions in this regards, and Google as outlined below) unless obliged to disclose such information by a rule of law. The technical information obtained will be used for statistical and administrative purposes only.

Find information on Google Marketing Platform

Find information on Google’s Privacy and Terms

Advertising and Marketing Cookies

We sometimes use tracking pixels to assist with our online advertising and marketing to effectively promote the University and have a better understanding of what our audiences are interested in. These cookies are anonymous and they help us collect information on our advertising campaigns. This, in turn, allows us to make our ads more relevant to our website users. This means you should generally only see ads relating to your personal interests and you won’t constantly see the same ones. They allow us to interact with you once you’ve left .

Trinity College may advertise using the Google Display Network to deliver online content such as imagery, text and videos on participating websites. For example, if you have looked at certain pages on our websites we might want to highlight upcoming events or give you more information about a specific course. This process uses Google’s remarketing technologies, is anonymised and you can opt out of these cookies at any time. On some occasions, Trinity College may also use DoubleClick which is required for advertising frequency capping.

7. Policy

Trinity College uses information gathered from cookies to help improve the user experience of our websites.

Explicit consent must be obtained before any personal identifiable information is retained in the form of a cookie or other relevant technology. Implied or assumed consent is not compliant with this policy.

Trinity College will not disclose technical information in respect of individual website visitors to any third party (apart from Trinity College’s Internet Service Provider which records such data on the University's behalf and which is bound by confidentiality provisions in this regards, and Google as outlined below) unless obliged to disclose such information by a rule of law.

The technical information obtained will be used for statistical and administrative purposes only.

Trinity College uses strictly necessary cookies to enable you to move around a website and use its services or features. These cookies do not store any personally identifiable information.

Trinity College uses Google Analytics and other relevant technologies to collect anonymous traffic data to our websites to help us analyse how users use the sites.

Technical details in connection with visits to Trinity College websites may be logged by Trinity College’s Internet Service Provider for accounting and auditing purposes.

Website authors and developers must ensure the code for the cookie consent banner is included in all Trinity College webpages. Any third party using cookies or other tracking technologies related to Trinity College websites and webpages must ensure their use is compliant and disclosed for inclusion on the Trinity College Cookie Register.

Control your Advertising experience in Google

My Ad Center and About this Ad give you more control of your ad experience by letting you give feedback on the types of ads you want to be shown. Whether you're on Google services or on sites that partner with Google to show ads, you can block an ad, report an ad, learn who paid for an ad, and much more.

Find information on Controlling Your Ad Experience.

Find information on how Google uses information from sites or apps that use its services.

Find information on Google's Privacy Policy.

Trinity College may also use Facebook Retargeting which is a remarketing service provided by Facebook Inc using the Facebook Pixel on Trinity College websites.

Opt-out: Users may opt-out of Facebook Retargeting use of cookies.

Meta’s Custom Audiences feature enables Trinity to create an audience list for sending ads through Meta software platforms (Facebook, Instagram). Trinity uses customer data such as email addresses and phone numbers to match (at an email address or telephone level) to Meta users. Trinity may use personal characteristics such as age, role, your expressed interests, your previous interactions with the University or geographical location to target our communications, and advertising and promotions so that they are relevant to you. We may also use your personal characteristics (such as those contained within your Facebook / Instagram profile) to assist us in identifying and targeting new audiences, including through online behavioural advertising (for example, through tools such as Lookalike Audiences).

Opt-out: Users may opt out of Meta Custom Audiences.

Unclassified Cookies

Cookies not classified or identified yet and under review. Please see our Cookie Register for further information.

How do I Manage Cookies?

Trinity College takes privacy concerns seriously, so if you do not want any information collected via a website cookie you can use your in-built browser settings to refuse or accept cookies at any time. The links below will take you to the browser's page where you can manage your cookies and website data:

How to enable cookies in Chrome

How to enable cookies in Firefox

How to enable cookies in Safari

How to enable cookies in Microsoft Edge

How to Manage Advertising and Remarketing Cookies

How to control online ads from Facebook

How to opt out or control preferences of Google Remarketing

How to opt out of X (Twitter) remarketing

Opt out of Advertising Cookies

You can opt out of almost all advertising cookies by updating your preferences on the ‘Your Online Choices’ website. It is worth noting that opting out of advertising cookies won't stop you seeing adverts, just that they won't be tailored specifically to you.

Opt out of advertising cookies on Your Online Choices website

Also, please see our Cookie Register for a list of cookies that are in use on the Trinity College website with a link to each providers opt out details.

How Do I Avoid Tracking Cookies?

If you are concerned about cookies, there are a few steps you can take. However, certain websites may not function properly if cookies are removed or deleted.

Be selective about which websites you visit.
Check your browser’s privacy settings. Most browsers have settings to either delete or block cookies from your computer automatically.

External Websites

From time to time we may link from our website to external websites that set cookies on your machine, please note such websites are outside the University’s control and are not covered by this Cookie statement.