Introduction
This Privacy Policy describes how the operator of this website (example.com, referred to below as “we”, “us” or “our”) handles personal data in connection with our global learning platform, our admissions advising services and our website. It applies to visitors, registered learners, applicants and anyone who contacts us.
We are an international education platform. That means we work with learners, families, schools and universities in different countries, and we take care to apply data-protection practices that respect the laws of the places in which we operate, including the EU and UK General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), and comparable regimes in other regions.
By using the platform you acknowledge this policy. If you do not agree with it, please do not use the platform or submit personal information to us.
Information We Collect
We collect information in three main ways: information you give us, information collected automatically, and information we receive from partners.
Information you provide
- Account and profile data — name, email address, country, preferred language, time zone and study interests.
- Application data — education history, qualifications, English-language test scores, subject preferences, target intake and the documents you choose to upload, such as transcripts or a personal statement draft.
- Communications — the content of your emails, form submissions, chat messages and support requests, including any attachments.
- Preferences — saved programs, shortlisted universities, pathway selections and notification settings.
Information collected automatically
- Device and technical data — IP address, browser type and version, operating system, device type and screen size.
- Usage data — pages visited, lessons watched, quiz answers, time spent and referring links.
- Approximate location — derived from your IP address, used to show relevant deadlines and currency guidance.
Information from partners
- Referrals from schools, counsellors or education agencies that you have agreed to work with.
- Confirmations from universities or testing providers where you ask us to help with an application.
We do not ask for, and we ask you not to send us, sensitive special-category data such as health records or political opinions, unless a specific program genuinely requires it and you have given explicit consent.
How We Use Your Information
We use personal data to run the platform and to help you make informed decisions about international education. Specifically, we use it to:
- Create and secure your account, and let you access courses, pathways and resources.
- Recommend programs, universities and pathways that match your interests and goals.
- Respond to enquiries, provide advising and follow up on your applications.
- Send service messages such as deadline reminders, pathway updates and answers to your questions.
- Send newsletters and program updates where you have opted in — you may unsubscribe at any time.
- Monitor usage, diagnose technical issues and improve lesson content and usability.
- Maintain the security and integrity of the platform and prevent misuse.
- Meet legal, accounting and regulatory obligations.
We do not sell your personal data. We do not use your application documents for advertising, and we do not share them with universities without your instruction.
Lawful Bases for Processing
Where the GDPR or a comparable law applies, we rely on the following lawful bases:
- Contract — to provide the account, courses and advising services you request.
- Legitimate interests — to improve our services, keep the platform secure and communicate about your studies, balanced against your rights.
- Consent — for marketing emails, optional cookies and any special-category data you choose to share.
- Legal obligation — to keep records and respond to lawful requests.
You can withdraw consent at any time where consent is the basis, without affecting the lawfulness of processing carried out before withdrawal.
International Data Transfers
Because we serve learners worldwide, your data may be stored or processed in a country different from your own. Where we transfer personal data out of the European Economic Area, the United Kingdom or another region with transfer restrictions, we put appropriate safeguards in place — such as standard contractual clauses, transfer-impact assessments and additional technical measures where required.
If you would like more detail about the safeguards used for a particular transfer, please contact us.
Data Retention
We keep personal data only for as long as we need it for the purposes described in this policy, or as required by law. As a general guide:
| Data type | Typical retention period |
|---|---|
| Account and profile data | While your account is active, then up to 24 months of inactivity |
| Application documents | Up to 24 months after the relevant admissions cycle closes |
| Support and enquiry records | Up to 3 years |
| Marketing consent records | Until you unsubscribe, plus 12 months of proof of consent |
| Usage and analytics data | Up to 26 months |
When data is no longer needed it is deleted or anonymised so that it can no longer be linked to you.
Security
We use appropriate technical and organisational measures to protect personal data against unauthorised access, loss, misuse and alteration. These include encryption in transit, access controls, least-privilege permissions, monitoring and staff training.
No method of transmission or storage is completely secure. Please use a strong, unique password, keep it confidential and tell us immediately if you suspect your account has been compromised. If we become aware of a breach that is likely to affect your rights, we will notify you and any relevant regulator without undue delay.
Your Rights
Depending on where you live, you may have some or all of the following rights:
- Access — request a copy of the personal data we hold about you.
- Rectification — ask us to correct inaccurate or incomplete data.
- Erasure — ask us to delete data we no longer need.
- Restriction — ask us to limit how we use your data.
- Portability — receive data you gave us in a structured, machine-readable format.
- Objection — object to processing based on legitimate interests or to direct marketing.
- Withdraw consent — where processing relies on consent.
- Complaint — lodge a complaint with your local data-protection authority.
To exercise any right, contact us using the details below. We will respond within the timeframe required by applicable law, usually within 30 days. We may need to verify your identity first.
Students Under 18
Many of our learners are school-age students preparing for study abroad. We take extra care with their data. Where a student is below the age of consent in their country, we ask that a parent or guardian creates or supervises the account, and we require guardian consent before we collect application documents or contact a student directly.
If we learn that we have collected personal data from a child without appropriate consent, we will delete it promptly. Parents and guardians may contact us at any time to review, correct or delete a child's data.
Third-Party Links and Partners
The platform links to university websites, testing providers, scholarship bodies and other third-party resources. Those sites have their own privacy policies, and we are not responsible for how they handle your data. We encourage you to read their policies before providing personal information.
Changes to This Policy
We may update this policy from time to time to reflect changes in our services, technology or legal obligations. When we make significant changes, we will update the date at the top of the page and, where appropriate, notify you by email or through the platform. We encourage you to review this page periodically.
How to Contact Us
For any question about this policy, or to exercise your data-protection rights, please write to our privacy team at [email protected]. Please include enough detail for us to identify you and understand your request, and we will respond within 24 hours.