Privacy Policy

1. Introduction

Welcome to AbroadHurdles. We are committed to protecting your personal information and your right to privacy. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, and safeguard your information when you use our platform to connect students with verified study abroad consultants.

2. Information We Collect

Personal Information

We collect personal information that you provide to us when you register on our platform, including:

• Name and contact information (email, phone number)
• Account credentials (username and password)
• Profile information (educational background, qualifications)
• For consultants: IELTS certification documents
• For students: Academic documents, transcripts, and supporting materials

Social Login Information

When you use social login (Google or Facebook), we receive:

• Your name and email address
• Profile picture
• Basic profile information as permitted by the social platform

Automatically Collected Information

• Device information and browser type
• IP address and location data
• Usage data and analytics
• Cookies and similar tracking technologies

3. How We Use Your Information

We use the information we collect to:

• Create and manage your account
• Connect students with verified consultants
• Process applications and track progress
• Send important notifications and updates
• Verify consultant credentials and qualifications
• Improve our platform and services
• Prevent fraud and ensure platform security
• Comply with legal obligations

4. Information Sharing

We may share your information with:

• Consultants and Students: To facilitate the study abroad application process
• Service Providers: Third-party companies that help us operate our platform (email services, hosting, analytics)
• Universities: With your consent, to process applications
• Legal Authorities: When required by law or to protect rights and safety

We do not sell your personal information to third parties.

5. Data Security

We implement appropriate technical and organizational security measures to protect your personal information, including:

• Encryption of sensitive data
• Secure authentication protocols
• Regular security assessments
• Access controls and authentication
• Secure cloud storage infrastructure

6. Your Rights

You have the right to:

• Access your personal information
• Correct inaccurate or incomplete data
• Request deletion of your data
• Object to processing of your data
• Export your data in a portable format
• Withdraw consent at any time

7. Cookies and Tracking

We use cookies and similar tracking technologies to enhance your experience, analyze usage patterns, and improve our services. You can control cookie preferences through your browser settings.

8. Third-Party Services

Our platform integrates with third-party services including:

• Google OAuth: For social login authentication
• Facebook Login: For social login authentication
• Email Services: For transactional communications
• Cloud Storage: For secure document storage

These services have their own privacy policies, and we encourage you to review them.

9. Data Retention

We retain your personal information for as long as necessary to provide our services and comply with legal obligations. When you close your account, we will delete or anonymize your data within 90 days, unless we are required to retain it for legal purposes.

10. Children's Privacy

Our platform is intended for users aged 16 and above. We do not knowingly collect information from children under 16. If we learn that we have collected information from a child under 16, we will delete it promptly.

11. International Data Transfers

Your information may be transferred to and processed in countries other than your country of residence. We ensure appropriate safeguards are in place to protect your data in accordance with this Privacy Policy.

12. Changes to This Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. We will notify you of any changes by posting the new policy on this page and updating the "Last Updated" date. Continued use of our platform after changes constitutes acceptance of the updated policy.

13. Contact Us

If you have any questions about this Privacy Policy or our data practices, please contact us: