Privacy Policy

PaidGrad ("PaidGrad", "we", "us") helps students find and apply to funded study opportunities abroad. This Privacy Policy explains what personal information we collect through paidgrad.com and our services, how we use it, and the choices and rights you have. We aim to comply with the Nigeria Data Protection Act 2023 (NDPA), the EU and UK General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) where they apply, and other applicable privacy laws.

1. Information we collect

When you join the waitlist, we collect:

• your email address;
• the degree level you are aiming for (for example master's or PhD);
• your approximate country, inferred from your IP address by our hosting provider; and
• the page that referred you to us, if your browser shares it.

When you use the full PaidGrad service (once launched), we may also collect:

• account details such as your name and login information;
• academic profile information you choose to provide, such as your grades, field of study, test scores, target countries and budget;
• documents and text you upload or write, such as CVs, statements of purpose and essays;
• payment information, which is processed by our payment providers. We do not store full card numbers; and
• basic technical and usage information, such as device type, browser and pages visited, to keep the service secure and working well.

2. How we use your information

• to add you to the waitlist and tell you when PaidGrad launches or has important updates;
• to provide the service, including matching you to programs, building your roadmap and sending deadline reminders;
• to give you feedback and coaching on your application materials, including through AI tools;
• to process payments for paid plans;
• to understand how PaidGrad is used and improve it;
• to protect PaidGrad and our users from fraud, abuse and security threats; and
• to comply with our legal obligations.

Our legal bases for this processing are your consent (for example, when you join the waitlist), performance of our contract with you (when you use the service), our legitimate interests in running and improving PaidGrad, and compliance with law. You can withdraw consent at any time.

3. What we do not do

• We do not sell your personal information.
• We do not share your profile or documents with universities, employers or other third parties without your clear permission.
• We do not use advertising or cross-site tracking cookies.

4. Who we share information with

We share personal information only with service providers who help us run PaidGrad, under contracts that require them to protect it, such as:

• website hosting and infrastructure providers (for example Vercel);
• database and authentication providers (for example Supabase);
• email delivery providers, to send waitlist and account emails;
• AI service providers, to power matching and coaching features. They process your content only to provide those features to you; and
• payment processors, for paid plans.

We may also disclose information if required by law, to protect the rights and safety of PaidGrad or others, or as part of a merger, acquisition or sale of assets, in which case this policy will continue to apply to your information.

5. International transfers

PaidGrad serves students worldwide, and our service providers may store and process information in countries other than yours, including the United States and the European Union. Where required, we use appropriate safeguards, such as standard contractual clauses, to protect your information when it is transferred.

6. How long we keep information

We keep waitlist information until PaidGrad launches and for a reasonable period afterward, or until you ask us to remove it. We keep account information for as long as your account is active, and delete or anonymize it within a reasonable time after you close your account, unless we need to keep it to meet legal obligations.

7. Security

We use reasonable technical and organizational measures to protect your information, including encrypted connections (HTTPS), access controls and reputable infrastructure providers. No system is perfectly secure, so please use a strong, unique password and contact us if you suspect any misuse.

8. Your rights

Depending on where you live, you may have the right to:

• access the personal information we hold about you;
• correct inaccurate information;
• delete your information;
• object to or restrict certain processing;
• receive your information in a portable format; and
• withdraw consent at any time, for example by leaving the waitlist.

To use any of these rights, email hello@paidgrad.com. You can also unsubscribe from our emails using the link in any email. You have the right to complain to a data protection authority, such as the Nigeria Data Protection Commission or the authority in your country.

9. Cookies

Our website uses only the cookies and similar technologies that are strictly necessary for it to work, such as keeping you signed in once accounts are available. If we add analytics or other optional cookies in the future, we will update this policy and ask for your consent where required.

10. Children

PaidGrad is intended for people aged 16 and over. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 16. If you believe a child has given us their information, please contact us and we will delete it.

11. Changes to this policy

We may update this policy as PaidGrad grows. We will post the new version on this page with a new "Last updated" date, and tell you by email about significant changes.

12. Contact us

Questions about this policy or your information? Email us at hello@paidgrad.com.