Privacy Policy

1. Introduction

Student Choice Education ("we", "our", "us") is committed to protecting your personal data and respecting your privacy. This policy explains how we collect, use, store, and protect your information when you use our website and services.

For the purposes of the Data Protection Act 2018 and the United Kingdom General Data Protection Regulation (UK GDPR), Student Choice Education is the Data Controller.

2. Information We Collect

We collect personal data that you voluntarily provide to us, including:

• Identity Data: Full name, date of birth, and gender.
• Contact Data: Email address, phone/WhatsApp number, and postal address.
• Academic Data: Current school/university, grades, transcripts, and English language test scores.
• Application Data: CVs, personal statements, and reference letters uploaded via our forms.
• Technical Data: IP address, browser type, and device information collected via cookies.

3. How We Use Your Information

We process your personal data for the following purposes:

• To evaluate your eligibility for university courses and scholarships.
• To submit applications to educational institutions on your behalf.
• To communicate with you regarding visa requirements and accommodation options.
• To comply with legal and regulatory obligations.
• To improve our website performance and user experience.

4. Legal Basis for Processing

We rely on the following legal bases to process your data:

• Consent: When you voluntarily submit forms or sign up for newsletters.
• Contractual Necessity: To fulfill our service agreement with you (e.g., processing your application).
• Legitimate Interests: To manage our business effectively and prevent fraud.
• Legal Obligation: To comply with applicable laws (e.g., UK Visas and Immigration requirements).

5. Data Storage and Security

Your data is stored securely using enterprise-grade cloud services (including Google Cloud and secure CRM systems). We implement strict security measures, including:

• Encryption of data in transit (SSL/TLS) and at rest.
• Strict access controls limiting data access to authorised personnel only.
• Regular security audits and vulnerability assessments.

6. International Data Transfers

As an international education consultancy, we may need to transfer your data to universities or partners outside the United Kingdom and the European Economic Area (EEA).

Whenever we transfer your personal data out of the UK or EEA, we ensure a similar degree of protection is afforded to it by ensuring appropriate safeguards are in place, such as Standard Contractual Clauses (SCCs) or adequacy decisions.

7. Data Retention

We will only retain your personal data for as long as necessary to fulfill the purposes we collected it for, including satisfying any legal, accounting, or reporting requirements. Typically, student application data is retained for up to 6 years following the end of our services.

8. Your Legal Rights

Under the UK GDPR, you have the right to:

• Request access to your personal data.
• Request correction of inaccurate data.
• Request erasure of your personal data ("right to be forgotten").
• Object to processing of your personal data.
• Request restriction of processing.
• Withdraw consent at any time.

Right to Complain

You have the right to make a complaint at any time to the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO), the UK supervisory authority for data protection issues (www.ico.org.uk). We would, however, appreciate the chance to deal with your concerns before you approach the ICO, so please contact us in the first instance.

9. Contact Us

If you have any questions about this privacy policy or our privacy practices, please contact us at: