This policy explains what data StepUp Courses ("we", "us") collects when you use our website, how we use it, and the choices you have. If anything here is unclear, write to us at hello@stepupcourses.com.
1. What we collect
We collect only what's needed to run the site and respond to your enquiry:
- Information you give us — name, email, mobile number, course of interest, and any preferences you submit through our counselling form.
- Automatically collected information — basic browser metadata (device type, browser, approximate location based on IP, pages visited). This helps us understand which features are useful.
- Cookies & local storage — we use browser storage to remember your comparison basket between pages. We do not currently set third-party advertising cookies.
2. How we use your data
- To respond to your counselling request — typically a phone call or WhatsApp message within 1 working day.
- To improve our website — aggregate analytics on which courses are most viewed, which filters are used, etc. (no personal identification).
- To send you occasional updates about new programs or fee changes — only if you opt in. You can unsubscribe at any time.
3. What we do NOT do with your data
- We never sell your contact information to third parties.
- We never shareyour details with universities you didn't express interest in.
- We never spam — counsellors call once, follow up once if needed, and stop unless you ask for more help.
4. Sharing with universities
If you submit a counselling request mentioning a specific university, we may share your name, contact, and stated course interest with that university's admissions team — solely so they can answer your enquiry. This sharing happens only after your form submission and only with universities you've named.
5. Data retention
We retain your contact information for as long as your enquiry is open, plus 12 months. After that, we anonymise or delete it. You can ask us to delete your data sooner — see Section 7.
6. Security
We use industry-standard measures (HTTPS encryption, restricted internal access, regular backups) to protect your data. No system is 100% secure, but we treat your information with the same care we'd want our own treated.
7. Your rights
Under India's Digital Personal Data Protection Act (DPDP), 2023, you have the right to:
- Access the personal data we hold about you
- Correct inaccurate information
- Delete your data (subject to legal requirements)
- Withdraw consent for marketing communications at any time
- File a complaint with the Data Protection Board of India if you feel your rights have been violated
To exercise any of these, email privacy@stepupcourses.com. We'll respond within 30 days.
8. Children's privacy
Our service is intended for learners 17 years and older. If you are under 18, please use the site with parental consent. We do not knowingly collect data from anyone under 13.
9. Third-party links
Our site links to official university websites and other third-party sources. Their privacy practices are governed by their own policies — please review them before sharing personal data on those sites.
10. Changes to this policy
We may update this policy occasionally. Material changes will be flagged on the homepage for at least 30 days. The "last updated" date at the top of this page always reflects the most recent revision.
11. Contact
For any privacy-related question, write to privacy@stepupcourses.com. For general queries, use our contact form.