Last updated: 26 November 2025

1. Who We Are

Data Controller:

Study Quest Ltd

Company Number: 14931910

Registered Address: Flat 26, The Sphere, 1 Hallsville Road, London, England, E16 1BE

Email: info@studyquest.com

Phone: +44 7845 571 578

Note: We do not currently have a designated Data Protection Officer (DPO), but we have appointed an internal privacy lead to handle data protection inquiries.

2. What Data We Collect

To provide our university application services, we collect more extensive data than a standard website. We categorize this data as follows:

• Identity Data: Name, date of birth, gender, nationality, passport details (including copies), and visa/immigration status.
• Contact Data: Email address, phone/mobile number, and residential address.
• Sensitive / Special Category Data:
  • Health Data: Information regarding disabilities, long-term illnesses, or medical notes (required for university accessibility adjustments).
  • Immigration/Criminal Data: EU Settlement codes, visa history, and background checks where required by universities.
  • Biometric Data: Passport photos or scans provided for identification.
• Education & Employment Data: Academic certificates, transcripts, employment history, and references.
• Technical & Usage Data: IP address, browser type, pages visited, and interaction with our forms.

3. How We Use Your Data & Legal Bases

We will only use your personal data when the law allows us to. Most commonly, we use your personal data in the following circumstances:

4. Cookies and Tracking Technologies

We use cookies and similar technologies (including social media widgets like WhatsApp) to:

• Analyze site traffic and performance.
• Understand user preferences.
• Facilitate direct communication.

Google DoubleClick & Analytics:

We may use third-party tracking tools to measure the effectiveness of our services. You can manage your preferences via your browser settings or opt-out via Google’s Ads Settings.

5. Advertising and Third-Party Services

We may display content or links from third parties. Interacting with these links (e.g., social media buttons) may allow third parties to collect or share data about you. We do not control these third-party websites and are not responsible for their privacy statements.

6. Data Sharing

We do not sell your personal data. However, to provide our services, we must share your data with:

• Universities and Admissions Departments: This is essential for your application assessment. These institutions act as independent Data Controllers; we recommend reviewing their individual privacy policies.
• Service Providers: Companies that provide IT, system administration, and hosting services (bound by confidentiality).
• Regulatory Authorities: When required by law (e.g., UK Home Office).

7. International Transfers

Due to the nature of our business (international students and global education partners), your data may be transferred, stored, and processed outside the UK or the European Economic Area (EEA).

When we transfer your data internationally (e.g., receiving data from Brazil or sending data to international campuses), we ensure a similar degree of protection is afforded to it by ensuring at least one of the following safeguards is implemented:

• The country has been deemed to provide an adequate level of protection; or
• We use specific Standard Contractual Clauses (SCCs) or the International Data Transfer Agreement (IDTA) approved for use in the UK.

8. Data Retention

We will only retain your personal data for as long as necessary to fulfill the purposes we collected it for:

• Application & Student Records: Up to 24 months after the end of the relevant academic cycle. This allows us to assist with deferred entries or further inquiries.
• Contact/Inquiry Records: Up to 24 months.
• Legal/Contractual Data: Retained as required by UK tax and legal statutes (often up to 6 years).

Note: While our application forms may mention a 6-month active period, we generally retain records for 24 months for consistency, audit purposes, and to assist with future applications, unless you explicitly request deletion earlier.

9. Data Security

We have put in place appropriate security measures to prevent your personal data from being accidentally lost, used, or accessed in an unauthorized way. This includes:

• Encryption: Sensitive documents are stored securely.
• Access Controls: Access to your personal data is limited to employees, agents, and partners who have a business need to know. They are subject to a duty of confidentiality.

10. Your Data Protection Rights (Under UK GDPR)

You have the following rights regarding your personal data:

• Access: Request a copy of the personal data we hold about you.
• Rectification: Request correction of inaccurate data.
• Erasure: Request deletion of your data (subject to legal retention requirements).
• Restriction: Request limits on how we use your data.
• Objection: Object to processing based on legitimate interests.
• Portability: Request transfer of your data to another party.

To exercise any of these rights, please contact us at info@studyquest.com. We try to respond to all legitimate requests within one month.

11. Right to Lodge a Complaint

If you feel that your data has not been handled correctly, you have the right to lodge a complaint with the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO):

• Website: https://ico.org.uk
• Phone: 0303 123 1113

12. Automated Decision-Making

We do not use automated decision-making or profiling that produces legal effects concerning you. Admission decisions are made manually by the respective universities.

13. Children’s Privacy

Our services are generally intended for individuals over the age of 16 applying for higher education. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13.

14. Policy Updates

We review and update this policy every 6 months or when required by law. Changes will be posted here with a new revision date.

15. Contact

For any questions regarding this policy or your privacy rights, please contact us at:

Email: info@studyquest.com

(Note: For specific application data removal requests, you may also reference your application ID via admissions@studyquestuk.com, but info@studyquest.com remains our primary privacy contact).

Address: Flat 26, The Sphere, 1 Hallsville Road, London, E16 1BE