Cookie Policy

This Cookie Policy explains how we use cookies and similar technologies on thephdclub.com, how they function, and how you can manage or withdraw your consent. It forms an integral part of our Privacy Policy and should be read alongside it.

For details regarding data controller contacts, general personal data processing, data retention, international transfers, and supervisory authority details, please refer to our Privacy Policy.

1. Scope and Relation to the Privacy Policy

This policy applies to cookies and similar tracking technologies (pixels, web beacons, local storage, session storage, and SDKs) deployed on thephdclub.com, operated by EDUEARTH Ltd. Full contact and registration details are available in Section 1 of our Privacy Policy.

Where identifiers collected by cookies constitute personal data, our Privacy Policy governs those processing activities.

2. What Are Cookies and Similar Technologies?

Cookies are small text files stored on your device by your web browser when visiting a website. On subsequent visits, the site reads these files to recognise your browser and remember your preferences or actions.

We categorise cookies by lifespan:

• Session cookies — Temporary cookies that expire and are automatically deleted when you close your browser.

• Persistent cookies — Remain stored on your device for a specified period or until you manually clear them.

And by origin:

• First-party cookies — Set directly by our website.

• Third-party cookies — Set by external service providers integrated into our site, such as analytics or embedded media.

3. Legal Framework and Consent Exemptions

Under Article 4a of the Bulgarian E-Commerce Act (ЗЕТ) and Article 5(3) of Directive 2002/58/EC (ePrivacy Directive), storing information or accessing information stored on your device is permissible only with your explicit prior consent, provided after receiving clear and comprehensive information.

Statutory exemptions — no consent required

Prior consent is not required for strictly necessary cookies used exclusively for:

• Carrying out the transmission of a communication over an electronic communications network; or

• Delivering a technical service explicitly requested by you, such as remembering your session or your privacy preferences.

For all non-essential cookies (functional, analytics, advertising), we rely on your explicit consent under Article 6(1)(a) GDPR. For strictly necessary cookies, we rely on our legitimate interest under Article 6(1)(f) GDPR, as detailed in Section 4 of our Privacy Policy.

4. Cookies We Use

The list below was last verified on 6 October 2026. Cookie names and durations set by third-party providers may change without notice; we review this page periodically.

4.1 Strictly Necessary Cookies

Required for the website to function and to record your cookie choice. They are set without consent, as permitted under Art. 4a ЗЕТ, and cannot be disabled through our banner.

dps_site_id

Provider: thephdclub.com (GoDaddy)

Purpose: Identifies the hosting region serving the website so page requests are routed correctly.

Duration: Session

cookie_terms_accepted

Provider: thephdclub.com (GoDaddy)

Purpose: Stores your cookie consent decision so it can be applied on later visits.

Duration: 60 days

cookie_warning_dismissed

Provider: thephdclub.com (GoDaddy)

Purpose: Records that the cookie banner has been dismissed so it is not shown again.

Duration: 60 days

4.2 Functional Cookies

Support consistent site behaviour across pages and visits.

x-visitor-id

Provider: thephdclub.com (GoDaddy)

Purpose: Assigns a visitor identifier used by the website builder to keep site behaviour consistent across pages.

Duration: 60 days

4.3 Analytics Cookies

Collect aggregated, pseudonymous statistics — page views, traffic sources, user flows — to help us measure and improve site performance.

_ga

Provider: Google Analytics 4 (Google Ireland Limited)

Purpose: Assigns a randomly generated identifier so that returning and new visitors can be distinguished in aggregate reporting.

Duration: 400 days

_ga_HPDQX9DXEP

Provider: Google Analytics 4 (Google Ireland Limited)

Purpose: Maintains session state for this Google Analytics property, allowing page views within one visit to be grouped together.

Duration: 400 days

_tccl_visitor

Provider: thephdclub.com (GoDaddy)

Purpose: Assigns a persistent visitor identifier used by the website platform's own traffic measurement.

Duration: 365 days

_tccl_visit

Provider: thephdclub.com (GoDaddy)

Purpose: Assigns a visit identifier so page views within a single visit can be grouped in the platform's traffic measurement.

Duration: 30 minutes

_scc_session

Provider: thephdclub.com (GoDaddy)

Purpose: Counts page views within a session and records the time of the most recent interaction.

Duration: 20 minutes

4.4 Advertising and Remarketing Cookies

We do not currently set advertising or remarketing cookies on this website.

4.5 Cookies Set by Embedded Content

Some pages include video players hosted by third parties. When such content loads, the provider may set its own cookies in your browser under its own domain and privacy policy. We do not control these cookies and cannot read them.

Vimeo

Where it appears: Background video on the home page

Purpose: Player functionality and playback measurement.

More information: vimeo.com/cookie_policy

YouTube (Google Ireland Limited)

Where it appears: Embedded videos on the Learning platform page

Purpose: Player functionality, playback preferences and viewing measurement.

More information: policies.google.com/technologies/cookies

5. Giving, Managing, and Withdrawing Consent

Consent banner: When you first visit our website, a consent banner allows you to accept or decline cookies that are not strictly necessary.

Google tags: Google Analytics operates under Google Consent Mode. Until you accept, analytics and advertising storage are set to "denied" and no Google Analytics cookies are placed on your device.

Platform cookies: The cookies listed in Section 4.3 under the provider "thephdclub.com (GoDaddy)" are placed by our website platform when a page loads.

Storing your choice: Your decision is recorded for 60 days. After that period the banner is shown again so that you can confirm or change your choice.

Withdrawing consent: You can withdraw consent at any time by deleting the cookies for thephdclub.com through your browser settings, which will cause the banner to be displayed again on your next visit. Withdrawal takes effect immediately for future interactions and does not affect the lawfulness of processing carried out before withdrawal.

6. Managing Cookies in Your Browser

Most web browsers allow you to view, block, or delete cookies via their settings menus. Because browser settings are configured per device and per browser, adjustments made on one browser will not carry over to another.

Blocking strictly necessary cookies at the browser level may cause core parts of our website to malfunction.

7. Service-Specific Cookie Details

7.1 Google Analytics 4

Google Analytics 4 places cookies only after you accept cookies through our banner. Google Analytics 4 does not log or store full IP addresses; IP data is used transiently to determine coarse location and is then discarded. Event-level data is deleted after 14 months.

Before you make a choice, Google Consent Mode sends Google a cookieless signal that a page was viewed. This signal contains no identifier stored on your device.

7.2 Embedded media

Our home page includes a background video hosted by Vimeo, which loads automatically when the page opens. Our Learning platform page includes videos hosted by YouTube. In both cases the provider may set cookies under its own domain when the player loads. Please refer to the providers' own policies linked in Section 4.5.

7.3 Opt-out tools

• Delete cookies for thephdclub.com in your browser settings to reset your choice.

• Install the Google Analytics Opt-out Browser Add-on.

• Adjust your Google account settings at myadcenter.google.com.

• Use industry opt-out tools such as youronlinechoices.eu.

8. Exercise of Rights and Complaints

Because cookie identifiers can constitute personal data, you have full rights of access, erasure, restriction, objection, and consent withdrawal. To exercise these rights, or to view our regulatory complaint procedures with the Commission for Personal Data Protection (CPDP), please refer to Sections 10 and 11 of our Privacy Policy.

Effective Date: 06.10.2026