Universal College and Student Link (UCASL). The leading search platform for language courses and accommodation in the UK. Our main role is to operate the application process for British Schools.

UCASL cooperates with educational institutions in the UK and is the official representative of foreign language schools for adults and children. We provide numerous potential students with the tools and information they need to efficiently search, review and register for the courses that are right for them.

Below are explanations of some of the privacy and other terms you may read in this policy.

Personal information is information, alone or combined with other information, which may identify you. We do not consider personal information to include information that has been anonymised, so it does not allow you to be identified.

Sensitive personal information is personal information considered 'sensitive personal information', as defined by the DPA. This includes: racial or ethnic origin, religious beliefs or beliefs of a similar nature, trade union membership, physical or mental health condition, sexual life, criminal offences or proceedings.

UCASL is the abbreviation for Universal College and Student Link.

Application may refer to your completed and submitted application.

Applicant means someone using UCASL’ services to access English Language courses or to seek advice.

Provider may refer to the university, college or school who provide English Language Courses.

Internet Protocol (IP) address can uniquely identify a computer or network device on the internet. If this device can only be used by you, this can sometimes become your personal information.

A cookie is a text file or pixel tag which, when placed on your computer, will provide anonymised statistical data about your website browsing actions.

Website refers to our website addresses: UCASL – www.ucasl.com

Collecting and using your personal information

When you visit our website, we may ask for your personal information to allow us to contact you about your request or enquiry. This could include:

Corresponding with you, including by phone, letter, email or SMS.

If you complete and submit any text boxes, and choose to include any personal information.

If you register to receive a newsletter, your name and contact details.

When you access our website: your IP address if you are the only person who has access to your computer or device and it can identify you.

Sharing your personal information

We may share your personal information with:

Employees of UCASL, or our suppliers who provide services to us, who need to handle your personal information to progress your request or enquiry.

We collect your personal information so we can manage and support your application. To do this, we collect information detailed below:

If you access certain features on the Website, you are required to create an account and we will ask you for your name, date of birth, gender, country, nationality, address, your email address and, your mobile number. Your login information is used to create your account, and otherwise provide and administer the service you requested.

If you create or submit an application(s) to a provider, we will collect your name, date of birth, gender, country, nationality, your address, your email address, mobile number and any additional support you may need. You may be asked to provide additional information, such as your skills, career objectives, and personal circumstances if it is relevant to the course you have applied for.

If you submit your application and pay a fee, we will collect your chosen payment details.

If you complete and submit an application and live outside of the European Union (EU): your visa and passport details, so the providers where you apply can check your identity and confirm you are able to study in the UK.

If we need to notify you of changes to this website or to invite you to participate in surveys to help us develop our websites and services, we will use your name and contact details, and collect any personal information you provide to us.

Telling you about any changes to your application, our services or this privacy policy: your name and preferred contact details.

If we ask your opinion about our products or services, including study areas: your preferred contact details and whether you are happy to receive mailings.

If you choose to opt-in or opt-out of receiving marketing or mailings: your name, contact details, and selected preferences.

Collecting and using your personal information

To support your application, we may ask you to provide the following sensitive personal information as detailed below, which may be shared with the providers you have applied to:

For the purposes of making sure that your chosen providers can meet any specific needs you may have, we ask you to provide information about whether you have an impairment, special needs, or a medical condition, and if you have been in care.

We ask you to declare if you have any relevant unspent criminal convictions or punishments.

Sharing your personal information

We may share the personal information we collect about you with:

Employees of UCASL, or our service providers, who need to handle your personal information to progress your application or enquiry.

The provider you have applied to, so they can consider your application.

Reputable and reliable third parties. This includes combined statistics about visitors to our website and website traffic patterns, answers to questions, content entered and related website information. The information used for these purposes is aggregated (i.e. combined with other user data) and anonymised, and will not be provided in a way that identifies you.

Crime prevention or government bodies, if we are required or permitted by law to disclose the information to them for the purposes of preventing or detecting crimes of any nature.

Organisations who provide services to UCASL, such as our information technology providers. Some of these services are located in countries outside of the European Economic Area (EEA) and we have taken steps to ensure that any personal information they handle is treated in a manner consistent with the requirements of the DPA.

Our Website may contain links to other websites that UCASL does not own or operate, including the websites of third party partners. Also, links to our Website may be featured on third party websites on which we advertise. Except as provided herein, we will not provide any of your personal information to these third parties without your consent. We cannot be held responsible for the protection and privacy of any information you provide whilst visiting other sites. This privacy policy applies to this website only. Please make sure you read the privacy policy of the website you are visiting.

We take steps to make sure we hold your personal information securely and share it with people or organisations who need to access it. We also make sure any personal information we need to transfer to other organisations to provide our services commit to keeping your personal information secure. Your password must not be disclosed to anyone, even your nominated representative. We will not be liable to you for loss or damage suffered by you as a result of any unauthorised third party has accessed your application.

You may access your account information and our service only through the use of an individual user login and password. To protect the confidentiality of personal information, you must keep your password confidential and not disclose it to any other person. Please advise us immediately if you believe your password has been misused. In addition, always log out and close your browser when you finish your session.

Our website uses cookies to distinguish you from other users of our website. This helps us to provide you with a good experience when you browse our website and also allows us to improve our site.

Collecting and using your personal information

When you attend a UCASL event, we collect and use your personal information in the following ways:

We ask you to provide your name, address, email address, date of birth, gender, phone number. We also ask you to tell us when you want to start your course, the areas of the country where you want to study.

We use this personal information to provide you with updates about the event(s) you are attending and to ask your opinion about our services.

We also use this personal information to help ensure any information and advice we send to you is relevant and useful, such as open days that are likely to be of interest to you.

We retain your personal information to produce research about things such as attendance at events and their impact on access to education in the UK. Any statistical analysis reports that we produce will not allow you to be identified.

Sharing your personal information

When you attend a UCASL event, we collect and use your personal information in the following ways:

We will provide exhibitors with your date of birth, when you want to start your course, the areas of the country where you want to study, and which course are you interested in.

Collecting and using your personal information

If you apply for a job at UCASL through our website, we will collect your name, contact details and details of the vacancies you are interested in. We will receive a copy of your CV if you upload it.

Sharing your personal information

Relevant employees of UCASL, such as those handling applications, line managers who have a vacancy, or our service providers.

The police and any other authorised authority who has a legal right to that information if we are required to do so by law – such as for the purposes of crime or fraud prevention.

This Privacy Policy may be updated periodically to reflect changes to our personal information practices. The revised Privacy Policy will be posted on the Website. We strongly encourage you to please refer to this Privacy Policy often for the latest information about our personal information practices.