Privacy Policy

London Centre of International Studies Ltd (company number: 12141214) is the data controller for the personal information we collect and process. We are committed to protecting your privacy and handling your data in an open and transparent manner.

We collect the following types of personal information:

• Contact Information: Name, email address, phone number, and postal address
• Communication Data: Messages and enquiries you send to us through our contact forms
• Technical Data: IP address, browser type, device information, and website usage data collected through cookies and analytics
• Application Data: Information provided during the admissions process for our educational programs

We collect this information when you contact us through our website forms, apply for our programs, subscribe to our communications, or visit our website.

We use your personal information for the following purposes:

• Admissions Processing: To process your applications and provide information about our educational programs
• Customer Support: To respond to your enquiries and provide assistance
• Marketing Communications: To send you information about our services (with your consent)
• Website Analytics: To understand how our website is used and improve user experience
• Security and Fraud Prevention: To protect our systems and prevent unauthorized access

Our lawful bases for processing include: your consent, performance of a contract, compliance with legal obligations, and our legitimate interests in providing educational services and improving our website.

We do not sell your personal information. We may share your data with the following trusted service providers:

• Hosting Services: Vercel (website hosting and infrastructure)
• Analytics: Google Analytics (website usage analysis)
• Customer Relationship Management: CRM systems for managing enquiries and applications
• Communication Tools: Chat and email delivery services for customer support

These service providers are contractually bound to protect your data and only process it according to our instructions. Some of these services may involve transfers to countries outside the UK/EEA, which are protected by appropriate safeguards such as Standard Contractual Clauses.

We retain your personal information only for as long as necessary to fulfill the purposes for which it was collected:

• General Enquiries: 24 months from last contact
• Application Data: 7 years for regulatory compliance
• Marketing Contacts: Until you unsubscribe or withdraw consent
• Website Analytics: 26 months (Google Analytics default)

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

• HTTPS encryption for all data transmission
• Access controls and authentication systems
• Encryption of data at rest
• Regular staff training on data protection
• Due diligence on third-party vendors
• Regular security assessments and updates

Under UK GDPR, you have the following rights regarding your personal information:

• Right of Access: Request a copy of your personal information
• Right to Rectification: Correct inaccurate or incomplete information
• Right to Erasure: Request deletion of your information (subject to legal requirements)
• Right to Restrict Processing: Limit how we use your information
• Right to Data Portability: Receive your data in a portable format
• Right to Object: Object to processing based on legitimate interests
• Right to Withdraw Consent: Withdraw consent for marketing communications

To exercise these rights, please contact us using the details below. We will respond within one month of receiving your request.

Our website uses cookies and similar technologies to:

• Ensure the website functions properly (essential cookies)
• Analyze website usage and improve user experience (Google Analytics)
• Remember your preferences and settings

You can control cookies through your browser settings. However, disabling certain cookies may affect website functionality.

Some of our service providers may process your data outside the UK/EEA. Where this occurs, we ensure appropriate safeguards are in place, such as Standard Contractual Clauses or adequacy decisions, to protect your personal information to the same standard as required in the UK.

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our practices or legal requirements. We will notify you of any significant changes by posting the updated policy on our website and updating the "Last Updated" date below.

If you have concerns about how we handle your personal information, you have the right to lodge a complaint with the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO), the UK's supervisory authority for data protection matters.