Terms of Service · Privacy Policy · Cookie Policy · Refund Policy · Impressum
UniSkilled is not subject to a sector-specific supervisory authority. Data protection matters are handled by the competent German state data protection authority (Datenschutzaufsichtsbehörde) for the operator's place of business.
UniSkilled ("we", "us", "the platform") is an online marketplace that connects university students offering tutoring services ("Tutors") with individuals seeking tutoring ("Students"). UniSkilled acts as an intermediary platform only — we are not a party to the tutoring contract between Tutors and Students, and we do not employ Tutors.
To use UniSkilled you must:
You are responsible for maintaining the confidentiality of your login credentials and for all activity under your account. You must notify us immediately at info@uniskilled.com if you become aware of any unauthorised use of your account.
We reserve the right to suspend or terminate accounts that violate these Terms, contain false information, or engage in harmful behaviour.
The following are strictly prohibited on UniSkilled:
UniSkilled provides a technology platform to facilitate connections between Tutors and Students. We do not guarantee the quality, safety, legality, or accuracy of any content posted by users, nor the ability of Tutors to teach or Students to learn.
To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, UniSkilled's liability for damages arising from platform use is limited to the fees paid by the user to UniSkilled in the three months preceding the event giving rise to the claim. This limitation does not apply to damages arising from intentional misconduct or gross negligence, or to liability that cannot be limited under German law (including the German Civil Code §§ 305–310 on standard terms).
All platform content, design, code, and branding are the property of UniSkilled or its licensors. Users grant UniSkilled a non-exclusive, royalty-free licence to display content they submit (such as tutor profiles and reviews) for the purpose of operating the platform.
Either party may terminate the user relationship at any time. Users may delete their account by contacting info@uniskilled.com. We may suspend or terminate accounts for violations of these Terms. Termination does not affect any rights or obligations that arose before the termination date.
We may update these Terms at any time. Material changes will be communicated to registered users by email at least 14 days before taking effect. Continued use of the platform after that date constitutes acceptance of the revised Terms.
These Terms are governed by the law of the Federal Republic of Germany. The UN Convention on Contracts for the International Sale of Goods (CISG) does not apply. For consumers within the EU, mandatory consumer protection provisions of your country of residence also apply.
The data controller responsible for your personal data is the operator identified in the Impressum above. Contact: info@uniskilled.com
| Category | Examples | Legal Basis (GDPR Art. 6) |
|---|---|---|
| Account data | Name, email address, password (hashed), role (tutor/student) | Art. 6(1)(b) — contract performance |
| Profile data | University, degree, subjects, bio, photo, availability, hourly rate | Art. 6(1)(b) — contract performance |
| Transaction data | Booking history, session status, payment records | Art. 6(1)(b) — contract; Art. 6(1)(c) — legal obligation |
| Communication data | Messages sent via platform, notifications | Art. 6(1)(b) — contract performance |
| Technical data | IP address, browser type, session timestamps | Art. 6(1)(f) — legitimate interest (security, fraud prevention) |
| Reviews & ratings | Written reviews, star ratings | Art. 6(1)(b) — contract performance |
We work with the following sub-processors who may process your personal data:
| Provider | Purpose | Location |
|---|---|---|
| Supabase (via AWS eu-north-1) | Database, authentication, file storage | EU (Stockholm) |
| Resend | Transactional email delivery | EU (based on sending region) |
| GitHub Pages | Static website hosting | Global CDN |
| Zoom / Google Meet | Video call sessions (link only — not controlled by UniSkilled) | Global (user's own account) |
| Google Fonts | Font delivery (Manrope typeface) | Global CDN |
All EU-based processors operate under Data Processing Agreements (DPAs) compliant with GDPR Article 28. For transfers outside the EU/EEA, Standard Contractual Clauses (SCCs) are in place.
To exercise any right, contact info@uniskilled.com. We will respond within 30 days. You also have the right to lodge a complaint with your national data protection authority. In Germany: Bundesbeauftragte für den Datenschutz und die Informationsfreiheit (BfDI).
In the event of a personal data breach likely to result in risk to your rights and freedoms, we will notify the competent supervisory authority within 72 hours and, where required, notify affected users without undue delay, in accordance with GDPR Article 33–34.
UniSkilled uses cookies and similar technologies. Under German law and the ePrivacy Directive, non-essential cookies require your prior explicit consent. Our current cookie usage is as follows:
| Cookie / Technology | Type | Purpose | Duration | Consent required? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Supabase auth token | Essential | Keeps you logged in — required for the platform to function | Session / 7 days (if "Keep me signed in") | No — strictly necessary |
| localStorage (session data) | Essential | Stores authentication state in the browser | Session | No — strictly necessary |
| Google Fonts | Functional | Loads the Manrope typeface from Google's CDN | 1 year | Yes — transfers IP to Google |
You can manage or delete cookies through your browser settings at any time. Note that disabling essential cookies will prevent you from using the platform. Instructions for common browsers:
Refunds under this policy are issued automatically and instantly by using the "Cancel" option on your session in your UniSkilled dashboard — no need to email support for a standard cancellation. Refunds are processed through PayPal, back to the original payment method, and typically appear within a few business days depending on your bank or PayPal account. For any cancellation outside these standard cases, or a payment issue that the automatic system doesn't resolve, contact info@uniskilled.com with your booking reference.
If a valid refund is approved after a tutor's payout has already been released, UniSkilled reserves the right to recover the refunded amount from the tutor's future earnings or to otherwise seek reimbursement where permitted by law.
Tutoring outcomes are subjective and depend on many factors, including the student's preparation and participation. A refund will not be issued solely because a student was dissatisfied with the teaching style or expected a different outcome.
Refunds may only be considered where:
Students must report any issue within 48 hours of the session being marked complete, using the "Report an Issue" option on the session in your UniSkilled dashboard (or by contacting info@uniskilled.com if you're unable to access your account). This window matches the 48-hour period during which the tutor's payout is held, described under "Payment Processing" below. UniSkilled may request supporting information before making a decision. No dispute raised after this 48-hour window will be considered.
All payments for tutoring sessions are processed securely through PayPal. Students are charged only after the tutor has accepted the booking request. UniSkilled securely holds the payment until the tutoring session has been completed.
Tutor earnings become available 48 hours after the session is marked complete. UniSkilled reviews any issue reported to info@uniskilled.com within that window before the payout is released.
Once released, payouts are sent automatically to the tutor's chosen payout method (PayPal). UniSkilled deducts any applicable platform service fees before releasing the tutor's payout. A detailed breakdown of the payment, fees, and payout amount will be available in the tutor's account.
Where UniSkilled processes payments, funds are held until the tutoring session has been completed and the 48-hour hold period below has passed.
UniSkilled enforces a minimum session price of €25 per hour. Tutors may not list sessions below this rate. This minimum ensures quality standards and reflects the true cost of university-level tutoring.
Tutors set their own hourly rates, displayed in their chosen currency on their profile. The rate shown is the tutor's fee for the session. UniSkilled may charge a platform service fee in addition to the tutor's rate — where applicable, this will be displayed clearly before you confirm a booking.
UniSkilled currently supports payment arrangements directly between tutors and students. Supported methods include bank transfer, PayPal, and other methods agreed between the parties. Do not send cash or cryptocurrency.
Tutors who are registered for VAT in their jurisdiction must charge VAT to students as required by applicable law. UniSkilled does not automatically collect or remit VAT on behalf of tutors. Tutors operating as businesses must issue proper invoices to students upon request.
Sessions may be priced in any currency selected by the tutor. The currency displayed on the tutor's profile is the currency in which payment is expected. Exchange rate risk lies with the party making the payment.
Where payment for a confirmed session is not made, the tutor may report the matter to UniSkilled. Repeated non-payment by a student may result in account suspension.
UniSkilled reserves the right to introduce a platform service fee in the future. Users will be notified at least 14 days in advance of any such change, and the fee will be clearly displayed during the booking process.
UniSkilled operates an optional referral program that allows users to invite others to the platform in exchange for account credit. Participation is voluntary. This section describes how it works and the terms that apply.
A referral only qualifies, and credit is only issued, once the invited user's first paid session has been marked complete, has passed the same 48-hour hold period described under "Refund & Cancellation Policy" and "Payment Processing" above, and no dispute was opened against it within that window. A signup or a booking alone does not qualify a referral — the session must genuinely go through undisputed. If a qualifying session is later refunded or found to be fraudulent, UniSkilled reserves the right to reverse any credit already issued as a result of it.
Referral discounts and account credit are funded by UniSkilled as a marketing cost. They do not reduce the amount a tutor is paid for a session — tutors always receive their normal share of the full session price, calculated as if no discount had been applied, regardless of any referral discount or credit used by the student.
Referring yourself, creating duplicate or fake accounts, or otherwise attempting to manipulate the referral program is a violation of these Terms. UniSkilled may void any referral, reverse any credit, and suspend the accounts involved where fraudulent or abusive activity is identified.
UniSkilled may modify, suspend, or discontinue the referral program, its reward amounts, or its eligibility conditions at any time. Credit already earned under the terms in effect at the time it was issued will not be retroactively cancelled as a result of such a change, except where the Fraud Prevention clause above applies.
The following will result in immediate account suspension without refund:
Tutors and students who connect through UniSkilled agree not to take a booking, payment, or ongoing tutoring relationship off-platform to avoid platform fees. This includes, but isn't limited to, arranging future sessions to be paid for directly (in cash, bank transfer, or any method outside UniSkilled) after first connecting through the platform.
This isn't only about fees. A session booked and paid for outside UniSkilled has none of the protections described in this policy — no 48-hour payment hold, no dispute resolution, no refund guarantee, and no record toward a tutor's verified track record. We built this policy to protect both sides, not just to collect a commission.
Users found to be circumventing the platform may face:
Reviews must be honest and based on your direct experience. Fake reviews, incentivised reviews, or reviews submitted by someone other than the session participant are prohibited and will be removed. UniSkilled reserves the right to remove reviews that violate these guidelines or that are subject to a valid legal complaint.
To report a user or content that violates these guidelines, contact info@uniskilled.com with details of the incident. We aim to respond within 72 hours.
If you have a complaint, please contact us first at info@uniskilled.com. We will try to resolve your issue within 14 days.
The European Commission provides an Online Dispute Resolution (ODR) platform for resolving disputes arising from online contracts between consumers and traders. As required by EU Regulation No 524/2013, we link to this platform here:
https://ec.europa.eu/consumers/odr
Our email address for ODR purposes: info@uniskilled.com
We are not obligated to participate in alternative dispute resolution proceedings before a consumer arbitration board and do not currently do so voluntarily.
For disputes with business customers, the courts of the operator's registered place of business in Germany have exclusive jurisdiction. For disputes with consumers, the mandatory consumer protection rules of the consumer's country of residence apply, and the consumer may bring proceedings in the courts of their domicile.