PRIVACY POLICY

1. INTRODUCTION

Glad Study Consult Limited (“Glad Study Consult”, “we”, “us” or “our”) respects your privacy and is committed to handling personal information responsibly.

This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, store and protect personal information when you interact with Glad Study Consult through our website, social-media pages, WhatsApp, email, telephone, physical office, advertising campaigns, application processes and related services.

This policy is designed to support compliance with applicable Nigerian data-protection requirements, including the Nigeria Data Protection Act 2023, and other applicable requirements where relevant.

2. WHO WE ARE

Glad Study Consult Limited 2nd Floor, Good Morning Plaza, Tank, Rumuokurushi, Port Harcourt, Nigeria Email: hello@gladstudyconsult.com Phone: +234 911 913 7641 Website: www.gladstudyconsult.com Social media: @gladstudyconsult

3. SCOPE OF THIS PRIVACY POLICY

This Privacy Policy applies to information collected or received through our website, contact forms, social-media platforms, WhatsApp and other messaging channels, email, telephone, our physical office, paid advertising campaigns, lead forms, consultations, university and visa application support, travel services and related interactions.

4. DESTINATIONS

Our study-abroad services currently focus on the United Kingdom, Canada and Ireland. Our tourism, vacation and business-visit services may include the United Kingdom, Canada, Netherlands, France and Ireland, subject to the services we offer and applicable requirements.

5. WHAT IS PERSONAL INFORMATION?

Personal information is information that identifies or can reasonably be linked to an individual. Depending on the service, this may include identity, contact, academic, employment, financial, travel, immigration and other information supplied by or about a client.

6. INFORMATION WE COLLECT

Depending on your interaction with us, we may collect: name, phone number, email address and other contact details; date of birth, nationality and identification information where required; passport and travel information; academic records, certificates, transcripts and education history; employment and professional information; financial, sponsorship and supporting information; immigration and travel history; information about parents, sponsors, dependants or other people where necessary; photographs, videos, testimonials and correspondence where voluntarily provided; and information contained in documents submitted for admission, scholarship, visa, travel or related purposes.

7. INFORMATION ABOUT OTHER PEOPLE

If you provide information about another person, such as a parent, sponsor, dependant or emergency contact, you should ensure that you are authorised to provide it and that the person has been appropriately informed where required by law.

8. HOW WE COLLECT INFORMATION

We may collect information directly from you through website forms, WhatsApp, email, telephone, social-media messages, physical office visits, consultations, application documents, advertising lead forms and other communications. We may also receive information from institutions or service providers involved in an application where lawfully permitted.

9. SOCIAL MEDIA PRIVACY

If you contact or interact with Glad Study Consult through Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, YouTube or another social-media platform, the platform may independently process information according to its own privacy policy and terms. We may receive information you choose to send or make available to us.

10. FACEBOOK & INSTAGRAM LEAD FORMS

Our advertising campaigns may use Facebook or Instagram lead forms. Information submitted through an instant form may be provided to Glad Study Consult so that we can respond to an enquiry, assess service needs and follow up with the person who requested information. The platform may also process the information under its own policies.

11. WEBSITE PRIVACY

Our website, www.gladstudyconsult.com, currently uses contact forms. Information submitted through a contact form may be used to respond to enquiries, provide requested services, maintain records and communicate with you.

12. CURRENT AND FUTURE WEBSITE TECHNOLOGIES

Our website currently uses contact forms. We may introduce additional technologies such as Meta/Facebook Pixel, WhatsApp integration, AI live chat, YouTube embeds, analytics tools and advertising technologies associated with platforms such as Google or TikTok.

A technology described as future or planned is not considered active until Glad Study Consult actually deploys it. Once deployed, applicable notices, settings and controls will be updated where required.

13. COOKIES

Our website may use cookies and similar technologies where necessary for functionality, analytics, advertising or embedded content. Your browser may allow you to manage or block certain cookies, although doing so may affect website functionality.

14. WHATSAPP AND MESSAGING

Clients may communicate with us through WhatsApp or other messaging platforms. Information shared through these services may include personal and application information. The relevant platform may independently process information under its own terms and privacy practices.

15. EMAIL

We may use email to respond to enquiries, provide service information, communicate about applications and maintain business records. Please avoid sending unnecessary sensitive information unless it is required for the service.

16. INFORMATION SUBMITTED AT OUR OFFICE

Information or documents submitted physically at our office may be collected, copied, scanned, reviewed or stored where necessary to provide the requested service. Physical records should be handled with appropriate security and access controls.

17. HOW WE USE PERSONAL INFORMATION

We may use personal information to provide study-abroad counselling and application support; assist with university and scholarship applications; assist with accommodation and travel arrangements; provide tourist, vacation and business-visit visa support; communicate with clients and relevant institutions; review documents and prepare applications; maintain client and transaction records; process payments and administer services; improve services, website and communications; conduct advertising and campaign follow-up where permitted; prevent fraud, misuse and security incidents; and meet legal, regulatory or contractual obligations.

18. LEGAL BASIS FOR PROCESSING

Depending on the circumstances, we may process personal information on the basis of consent, performance of a contract or steps requested before entering into a contract, legal obligations, legitimate interests, or another lawful basis recognised by applicable law. Where consent is relied upon, you may have the right to withdraw it, subject to applicable legal limitations.

19. SHARING PERSONAL INFORMATION

We may disclose information where necessary and lawful to universities, colleges, application platforms, scholarship providers, immigration authorities, embassies, consulates, visa centres, accommodation providers, travel providers, professional advisers, technology providers, payment-related providers and other service providers involved in delivering the requested service.

20. INTERNATIONAL TRANSFERS

International study and travel services may require personal information to be processed or transferred outside Nigeria, including to the United Kingdom, Canada, Ireland, Netherlands, France or another relevant jurisdiction. Where applicable, Glad Study Consult will take reasonable steps to use appropriate safeguards and comply with applicable data-protection requirements.

21. THIRD-PARTY SERVICE PROVIDERS

We may use third-party providers for hosting, communications, advertising, analytics, application support, document handling, payment-related services and other operational functions. Providers should receive only information reasonably necessary for the relevant purpose and may be subject to their own legal and privacy obligations.

22. PAYMENT INFORMATION

Where you make payments, we may retain transaction details needed for accounting, reconciliation, customer support, fraud prevention and legal obligations. Where payment is processed by a third-party provider or bank, that provider may independently process payment information under its own terms.

23. MARKETING & ADVERTISING

We may use personal information to manage enquiries and, where permitted, to support marketing and advertising activities. We may use platforms such as Facebook and Instagram for paid advertising and may expand to Google, TikTok or other platforms in future. Advertising platforms may independently process information under their own policies.

24. MARKETING COMMUNICATIONS

Where we send promotional communications, you may have the opportunity to opt out or withdraw your marketing preference. Service-related communications may still be sent where necessary to provide a requested service or meet an obligation.

25. TESTIMONIALS, SUCCESS STORIES, PHOTOS & VIDEOS

We may ask clients to provide testimonials, reviews, photographs, videos or success stories. Promotional use should be based on appropriate permission or another lawful basis. We will avoid publishing unnecessary sensitive information and may provide a separate Marketing & Testimonial Consent Form.

26. CHILDREN AND STUDENTS UNDER 18

Some of our services may involve students under 18. Where required by applicable law or the nature of the service, we may require a parent or lawful guardian to participate in or authorise the engagement. We will seek to apply appropriate safeguards to information relating to minors.

27. DATA SECURITY

We take reasonable technical and organisational measures to protect personal information against unauthorised access, loss, misuse, alteration or disclosure. No electronic or physical system can be guaranteed to be completely secure, so clients should also take reasonable precautions when transmitting information.

28. DATA STORAGE

Client information may be stored across different physical and electronic storage locations and tools used for business operations. Access should be limited to authorised personnel and service providers who need the information for legitimate purposes.

29. DATA RETENTION

We retain personal information for as long as reasonably necessary for the purpose for which it was collected, applicable legal or regulatory requirements, legitimate business needs, dispute resolution or other lawful purposes. We periodically review records and may delete or anonymise information that is no longer required, subject to applicable retention obligations.

30. DATA ACCURACY

We rely on clients to provide accurate, complete and current information. Please notify us if information changes or if you believe information we hold about you is inaccurate.

31. FRAUDULENT OR FALSE DOCUMENTS

Clients must not provide forged, altered, fraudulent or deliberately misleading documents. Where we identify or reasonably suspect serious inaccuracies or fraudulent documentation, we may refuse to process the information, suspend services or take other appropriate action, subject to applicable law.

32. YOUR DATA PROTECTION RIGHTS

Subject to applicable law and relevant conditions, you may have rights concerning your personal information, including the right to be informed, access information, request correction, object to certain processing, request restriction, request erasure, request portability, and lodge a complaint with the relevant supervisory authority. You may also have rights relating to automated decision-making where applicable.

33. HOW TO EXERCISE YOUR RIGHTS

To make a privacy or data-protection request, contact us at hello@gladstudyconsult.com. Please provide enough information to help us identify your records and understand the request. We may need to verify your identity before acting on a request. Some requests may be subject to legal exceptions or limitations.

34. DATA PROTECTION OFFICER

At the time of publication, Glad Study Consult does not have a separately designated Data Protection Officer. Privacy-related requests may be directed to hello@gladstudyconsult.com. If a formal DPO or dedicated privacy lead is appointed, this section will be updated.

35. DATA BREACHES

If we become aware of a personal-data breach, we will assess and respond to it using appropriate internal procedures. Where required by applicable law, we will notify the relevant supervisory authority and/or affected individuals within the applicable timeframe.

36. THIRD-PARTY WEBSITES AND PLATFORMS

Our website, social-media pages, advertisements or communications may contain links or integrations to third-party websites and services. We are not responsible for the privacy practices of third parties. Please review their privacy policies before submitting information to them.

37. SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORM DISCLAIMER

Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, WhatsApp and other platforms are independently operated services. Their collection and processing of information is governed by their own terms and privacy policies. Glad Study Consult's handling of information received from those platforms is governed by this Privacy Policy and applicable law.

38. AI AND AUTOMATED TECHNOLOGIES

Glad Study Consult may introduce AI-powered live chat or other automated technologies in future. Where deployed, such technologies may process information to respond to enquiries or assist service delivery. We will take reasonable steps to provide appropriate information and safeguards. Automated tools should not be assumed to make final immigration or admission decisions on behalf of Glad Study Consult.

39. CLIENT RESPONSIBILITIES

Clients should provide accurate information, use secure contact channels where possible, avoid sending unnecessary sensitive information, protect passwords and devices, and promptly tell us if they believe information has been sent to the wrong person or otherwise compromised.

40. CONFIDENTIALITY

We treat client information as confidential and use it only for legitimate business and service purposes, subject to the disclosures described in this Privacy Policy and applicable law.

41. CHANGES TO THIS PRIVACY POLICY

We may update this Privacy Policy when our services, technology, data practices or legal obligations change. The latest version will display a revised effective or last-updated date. Where appropriate, material changes may be communicated through our website or other suitable channels.

42. GOVERNING LAW

This Privacy Policy is primarily governed by the laws of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, including applicable Nigerian data-protection requirements, while recognising that other laws may apply to particular processing activities or international services.

43. CONTACT

For privacy questions, requests or concerns:

Glad Study Consult Limited 2nd Floor, Good Morning Plaza, Tank, Rumuokurushi, Port Harcourt, Nigeria Email: hello@gladstudyconsult.com Phone/WhatsApp: +234 911 913 7641 Website: www.gladstudyconsult.com Social Media: @gladstudyconsult

44. ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

By using our website, contacting us, submitting an enquiry, providing documents, engaging our services or otherwise interacting with Glad Study Consult, you acknowledge that you have had an opportunity to review this Privacy Policy. Where specific consent is required, we will seek it through an appropriate mechanism.