- Who we are
- Information we collect
- How we use your information
- Legal bases (GDPR)
- Cookies & advertising (Google AdSense / DART)
- Sharing of information
- International data transfers
- Data retention
- Your rights (EU/EEA, India & worldwide)
- Children's privacy
- Security
- Changes to this policy
- Contact & grievance officer
1. Who we are
Study Guru ("Study Guru", "we", "us" or "our") operates the website https://studyguruindia.com (the "Service"), an informational platform offering guidance on international education, scholarships, universities and study destinations.
The Service is operated by Study Guru GmbH. Our registered and operating offices are:
For all privacy matters you can reach us at Help@studyguruindia.com or through our contact page. Support hours: Mon-Fri 9am-5pm IST.
2. Information we collect
Information you provide
- Account data: full name, email address and password when you register. Passwords are stored only in hashed form.
- Contact form data: name, email, phone number, study destination of interest and your message.
- Newsletter data: email address when you subscribe (you may unsubscribe at any time via the link in every email or our unsubscribe page).
- Saved content & comments: articles or scholarships you save and comments you post while signed in.
Information collected automatically
- Usage data: pages visited, time spent, referring page, and general interaction data.
- Device & log data: IP address, browser type and version, device type, operating system, and diagnostic data.
- Approximate location: derived from IP address in some cases (for example to select relevant content or advertising).
Cookies and similar technologies
We use cookies, beacons, tags and similar technologies. Full details, including a per-category breakdown, are in our Cookie Policy; you can change your choices at any time on our Cookie Settings page.
3. How we use your information
- To provide, operate and maintain the Service, including account features such as saving articles.
- To respond to enquiries submitted through the contact form.
- To send newsletters and updates where you have subscribed (opt-out available at any time).
- To analyse usage and improve content, performance and user experience.
- To display advertising, including personalised advertising via Google AdSense (see section 5).
- To detect, prevent and address fraud, abuse and technical issues.
- To comply with legal obligations and enforce our Terms of Service.
4. Legal bases for processing (GDPR, EU/EEA visitors)
Where the EU/EEA General Data Protection Regulation applies, we process personal data on the following bases:
| Purpose | Legal basis |
|---|---|
| Providing accounts and core site functionality | Performance of a contract (Art. 6(1)(b)) |
| Newsletters and marketing emails | Consent (Art. 6(1)(a)) — withdrawable at any time |
| Analytics and non-essential cookies | Consent (Art. 6(1)(a)) |
| Personalised advertising cookies | Consent where required (Art. 6(1)(a)) |
| Security, fraud prevention, legal compliance | Legitimate interests (Art. 6(1)(f)) and legal obligation (Art. 6(1)(c)) |
Where we rely on legitimate interests, you may object under Article 21 GDPR by contacting us (see section 13).
5. Cookies & advertising — Google AdSense / DoubleClick DART disclosure
Mandatory advertising disclosure: Third-party vendors, including Google, use cookies to serve ads based on your prior visits to this and other websites.
- Google's use of advertising cookies (including the DoubleClick DART cookie) enables it and its partners to serve ads to you based on your visit to our site and/or other sites on the Internet.
- You may opt out of personalised advertising by visiting Google Ads Settings.
- You can also opt out of third-party vendor cookies for personalised advertising at www.aboutads.info/choices.
- For more details on how Google uses data when you use our partners' sites or apps, see Google's Privacy & Terms — partner sites, and Google's Advertising Policies governing ads on participating sites.
Where required by law (including the EU/EEA and the UK), non-essential advertising cookies are set only after you give consent via our cookie notice, and you can withdraw consent at any time via Cookie Settings.
6. Sharing of information
We do not sell your personal data. We share information only in these situations:
- Service providers: hosting, email delivery, analytics and advertising partners (including Google, described in section 5) that process data on our behalf under contract.
- Advertising partners: Google AdSense and its certified partners, for ad serving and measurement, using cookies as described above.
- Business transfers: in connection with a merger, acquisition or sale of assets, with notice before your data becomes subject to a different privacy policy.
- Legal requirements: where disclosure is required by law or valid legal process, or to protect rights, property or safety.
- With your consent: for any other purpose where you have agreed.
7. International data transfers
Your information may be processed in countries other than your own — including Austria, India and the United States — where data-protection laws may differ. Where we transfer personal data out of the EU/EEA we rely on appropriate safeguards, such as the European Commission's Standard Contractual Clauses, and take steps to ensure your data receives adequate protection. Indian users' data is handled in accordance with the Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023 as described in section 9.
8. Data retention & storage
We store user profile information, authentication hashes, and saved preferences in an encrypted database operating over TLS connections. We retain personal data only as long as necessary for the purposes described in this policy: account data for as long as your account remains active. When you delete your account, your personal credentials, email, avatar, saved scholarships, and saved articles are immediately purged from our active databases. Newsletter data is kept until you unsubscribe; contact-form messages for up to 24 months; analytics and log data for up to 24 months.
9. Your rights & account deletion (EU/EEA, India & worldwide)
Self-Service Account Deletion (Right to Erasure): You can permanently delete your Study Guru account at any time directly through your account dropdown menu by selecting "Delete Account" or from the "Privacy & Security" tab in your Profile. Deletion takes effect immediately and completely purges your account data.
EU/EEA (GDPR) and UK
Under GDPR (Article 17), you have the absolute right to erasure ("right to be forgotten"), along with rights to access, rectify, restrict, or object to processing, data portability, and the right to lodge a complaint with your supervisory authority.
India (Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023)
As a Data Principal under the DPDP Act 2023, you have the right to access a summary of your data, request immediate correction and erasure of your personal data, nominate an individual to exercise your rights, and withdraw consent. Our self-serve Delete Account feature fulfils erasure instantly.
Other regions
If you live elsewhere, we honour verified requests for access, correction, and complete deletion regardless of residence. To request manual assistance, email Help@studyguruindia.com.
10. Children's privacy
The Service is not directed to children under 13 (and under 16 in the EU/EEA where applicable consent thresholds apply). We do not knowingly collect personal data from children below those ages. If you believe a child has provided us personal data, contact us and we will delete it promptly.
11. Security
We use commercially reasonable safeguards — including TLS/HTTPS encryption for data in transit and password hashing — to protect your information. No method of transmission or storage is 100% secure, and we cannot guarantee absolute security.
12. Changes to this policy
We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. Material changes will be highlighted on this page and the "Last updated" date above will change. Significant changes to account holders will also be announced by email or a prominent notice in the Service.
13. Contact & grievance officer
For questions, requests or complaints about privacy:
- Email: Help@studyguruindia.com
- Phone / WhatsApp: +4306787801657
- Web: https://studyguruindia.com/contact
- Postal (registered office): Study Guru GmbH, Lichtenfelsgasse 2, 1010 Vienna, Austria
- Postal (India operations): Zone 1, Maharana Pratap Nagar, Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh 462011, India
Our grievance officer (appointed under the Indian DPDP Act, 2023) handles Indian data-subject requests through the same contact details. We aim to acknowledge every privacy request within 72 hours and resolve it within the statutory period.