Studydoor

Studydoor

General Terms & Conditions

For Studydoor OÜ Juan de Dios Hanke-Estevez & Eva-Maria Hanke-Estevez Musterstraße 1 xxxx Tallinn Dated: 17.04.2026

Preamble

Studydoor provides individual counselling and support services for international prospective students along the application and immigration process to Germany, without any promise of success (in particular with regard to admission to a study programme, visa, or accommodation). There are structured service packages: Level A (preparation/language course/studienkolleg) as well as Level B (Bachelor) and Level C (Master), each with standard and all-inclusive variants for levels B and C.

§ 1 Scope and Subject Matter of the Contract

1.1 These General Terms and Conditions (hereinafter “GTC”) apply to all contracts for counselling and support services provided by Studydoor (the “Contractor”) to clients (the “Customer”). They also apply to all future legal transactions concluded between the parties.

1.2 The subject matter of the contract is the provision of fee-based counselling and support services for study preparation and applications in Germany, including analysis of individual prerequisites, counselling on study paths (Bachelor/Master/studienkolleg/language course), support in programme selection and documentation, as well as process-accompanying support (visa preparation, health insurance, account set-up, orientation on housing), in each case according to the booked package.

1.3 The Contractor does not owe any specific result, in particular no promise to obtain admission to a study programme, a visa, or accommodation. Such decisions are generally taken by universities, authorities or the housing market. Accordingly, there is no liability for defects under a contract for work and services; the provisions on service contracts pursuant to §§ 611 et seq. BGB (German Civil Code) apply.

1.4 The Contractor reserves the right to amend these GTC at any time. Amendments shall apply to orders or uses made after publication of the amended GTC. For existing contracts, the Contractor shall inform the Customer in text form. The amendments shall become effective if the Customer does not object within 30 days of receipt. The Customer will be separately informed of this. Mandatory statutory consumer rights remain unaffected.

1.5 Individually agreed arrangements between the parties, including separate offers or individual agreements on services and prices, take precedence over these GTC. Such arrangements require text form.

1.6 The German version of these GTC is binding and authoritative. Any translations are for information purposes only.

§ 2 Services of the Provider and Scope of Services

2.1 Depending on the service package, the Contractor provides, inter alia, the following non-exhaustive services:

Study-related services:

  • Admission and qualification counselling for universities
  • Guidance regarding university entrance qualification (HZB)
  • Recommendations regarding study perspectives
  • Handover dossier (with checklists and timeline)
  • Research on studienkollegs and shortlist preparation
  • Support with documents
  • Portal support
  • Coordination of communication
  • Application support

Residence-related services:

  • Pre- and post-arrival support – visa orientation and preparation, health insurance, account set-up, basic housing orientation
  • Orientation regarding financing

2.2 The following are in particular not owed:

  • Filing visa applications in the name of the Customer
  • Brokerage of accommodation with a guaranteed result
  • Legal representation
  • Preparatory courses for entrance examinations in the form of lessons (depending on the package, only partner recommendations)
  • Carrying out official procedures or conclusion of rental agreements
  • Complete handling of applications, unless expressly provided for as limited execution in the all-inclusive package

2.3 Changes or extensions to the scope of services require a separate agreement and remuneration. Unless expressly stated otherwise in the booked package, the Contractor’s main activity consists of advisory services. Regular assumption of actions on behalf of the Customer does not take place.

2.4 Communication between Contractor and Customer takes place primarily via video call and email. The exchange of contractually relevant declarations, documents and other legally significant content shall take place exclusively via email. Communication services such as WhatsApp or WeChat serve only for supplementary coordination in case of interim questions or urgent matters and are not intended for the exchange of essential content.

2.5 Group coaching is not offered. Only individual support is covered by the contracts.

2.6 Services described as “unlimited” are available to the Customer within the framework of usual and reasonable use. Use that significantly exceeds the customary utilisation by comparable customers or leads to a disproportionate burden on the Contractor’s resources is not permitted.

2.7 Templates and documents created by the Contractor are subject to the Contractor’s copyright. For the purpose of fulfilling the contract, the Customer is granted a simple, non-transferable licence to use them.

§ 3 Service Packages and Service Models

3.1 The Contractor offers its Customers different levels of intensity of counselling and support within which the Customer may choose between different packages. Depending on the level and package, there are service-specific and price differences.

3.2 The provisions of these GTC apply in addition to the information provided at the time of the Customer’s order.

§ 4 Conclusion of Contract

4.1 The contract is concluded digitally via the website. After a free initial consultation, the Customer may select and book a package online or directly select a package via the website and conclude the contract without prior consultation.

4.2 By clicking the order button “Order with obligation to pay” (“Zahlungspflichtig Bestellen”), the Customer submits a legally binding declaration and agrees to the Contractor’s terms and conditions. Receipt of the order is confirmed electronically without undue delay; this order confirmation constitutes acceptance. The contract is concluded at the latest upon commencement of the performance of services.

4.4 Contracts with minors are concluded only with the consent of the legal representative. For this purpose, the consent of the legal guardian(s) and the submission of a digital identity document are required.

4.5 The language of the contract is German. Translations are for information purposes only.

§ 5 Prices, Remuneration and Payment Terms

5.1 The package prices displayed prior to conclusion of the contract apply.

5.2 Payment is made via Stripe. Accepted means of payment include, inter alia, WeChat Pay or Alipay, credit card and, as agreed, bank transfer. The accepted means of payment will be indicated at the latest at the start of the ordering process.

5.3 Unless otherwise agreed, 70% of the contractual remuneration is payable by the Customer before commencement of the service. The remaining remuneration is due upon complete performance of services by the Contractor.

5.4 Any fees of third parties, e.g. examination/portal fees, translations, certifications, are borne by and to be paid by the Customer, unless expressly included in the package.

5.5 If the Customer is a minor, payment shall be made for the Customer by the legal guardian(s).

5.6 The invoice amount is payable on the due date stated in the invoice, but no later than within 14 calendar days of receipt of the invoice.

§ 6 Duties to Cooperate of the Customer

6.1 The Customer shall provide complete and truthful information and documentation (certificates/grades, passport, language level, contact details, objectives, budget framework) in due time and shall cooperate within the relevant deadlines.

6.2 The procurement of required documents, translations, certifications, apostilles, APS (China) shall be initiated by the Customer; the Contractor coordinates and advises in accordance with the booked package.

6.3 Responsibility for filing the required documents depends on the booked package.

6.4 The Customer is liable for the accuracy, completeness and authenticity of his/her information and documents. Any changes identified must be notified to the Contractor without undue delay.

6.5 The relevant deadlines are those of universities, studienkollegs or authorities. The deadline for providing essential information, documents and account access data is five months before the relevant submission deadlines of the aforementioned institutions.

6.6 The Contractor can only provide services if the necessary prerequisites, documents and powers of attorney from the Customer are available in due time. Replies and required approvals must be given by the Customer within a maximum of five business days after receipt of the respective request.

6.7 Delays due to inconsistent spellings of names, strong parental involvement or regional specificities of the Customer (e.g. mandatory assessment by the Academic Evaluation Centre, certification by apostille) are borne by the Customer.

6.8 In the event of delays and additional work, the Contractor is entitled to make reasonable adjustments to agreed deadlines and dates, plus a reasonable restart period.

6.9 The documents provided by the Contractor under the contract (e.g. manuals, checklists, guidelines, presentations, other documentation) are protected by copyright and are provided exclusively for the Customer’s own use in accordance with the contract; the Customer is granted a simple, non-transferable and non-sublicensable right of use. Disclosure to third parties, making available to the public or distribution – in particular by uploading to publicly or semi-publicly accessible chat groups, forums, social media platforms, websites or cloud services – as well as any reproduction or other use beyond the Customer’s own internal use is prohibited without the Contractor’s prior express consent; this also applies to adaptations, translations or other modifications of the documents.

§ 7 Disruptions in Performance

7.1 If the Customer fails to cooperate or if documents are not provided to the Contractor within the recommended period pursuant to clause 6.5, the Customer bears responsibility. In such case, the Contractor may demand compensation for any additional expenses. This includes, for example, time spent beyond the contractual or planned scope. Time spent is invoiced on an hourly basis.

7.2 In the event of delays and additional work, the Contractor is entitled to make reasonable adjustments to agreed deadlines and dates, plus a reasonable restart period.

7.3 If the Customer is in default of payment or fails to cooperate, the Contractor is entitled, after expiry of a reasonable notice period, to suspend performance of services for the duration of the respective circumstances.

7.4 Obstacles to performance due to force majeure lead to postponement of deadlines and dates, plus a reasonable restart period. Force majeure within the meaning of these GTC are events beyond the Contractor’s control, which were not foreseeable at the time of conclusion of the contract and the effects of which could not have been prevented by reasonable care. These include in particular:

  • natural disasters, pandemics and officially ordered measures
  • war, acts of terrorism, civil unrest or comparable events
  • wide-ranging power or infrastructure failures
  • other comparable events not attributable to the Contractor, such as IT failures of third parties

The Contractor shall inform the Customer without undue delay when such circumstances occur.

§ 8 Access to Accounts, Authorisation and Communication

8.1 Accounts are – where possible – created by the Customer; access data are provided to the Contractor if the package includes execution/communication management. In this case, the Customer is obliged to comply with third-party terms of use and is liable for breaches originating from his/her sphere of influence.

8.2 The Customer grants the Contractor the necessary consents and powers of attorney (account access, data processing, acting on behalf of the Customer in application portals, communication with institutions within the scope of the contractual measures), whereby the Contractor does not provide legal representation by an attorney-at-law or any other legal services.

8.3 Within the scope of the booked package, the Contractor monitors deadlines and coordinates communication with institutions, without any guarantee of success. The Customer remains obliged to provide information and approvals without undue delay.

8.4 Contracts with third parties fall outside the contract concluded between the Contractor and the Customer and are subject to their own terms and conditions.

§ 9 Performance Period, Process and Dependence on Cooperation

9.1 Performance begins after conclusion of the contract and receipt of the partial payment pursuant to clause 5.3 as well as provision of the essential prerequisites for cooperation.

9.2 The process follows the package-related roadmap/strategy (milestones, timeline, number/type of applications).

9.3 Delays due to external processes (universities, visa authorities, housing market) and due to the Customer’s cooperation lie outside the Contractor’s sphere of influence.

§ 10 No Success Owed

The Contractor does not owe any success with regard to obtaining admission to a study programme, a visa or accommodation. Decisions by third parties (e.g. universities, visa authorities, landlords) cannot be controlled or predicted; rejections may occur even if all requirements are fulfilled.

§ 11 Term of Contract, Termination and Abandonment of the Project

11.1 The contract ends upon fulfilment of the respective service obligations under the package (achievement of the final milestone/completion of the agreed support modules).

11.2 The right of both parties to terminate for good cause remains unaffected. Services rendered up to the effective date of termination are subject to remuneration.

11.3 If the Customer does not use, or only partially uses, the services offered despite being able to do so, the Contractor’s claim to remuneration remains unaffected, without any obligation to provide subsequent services.

§ 12 Liability and Limitation of Liability

12.1 The Contractor is liable without limitation for intent and gross negligence as well as for damages arising from injury to life, body or health.

12.2 Otherwise, the Contractor is liable for slight negligence only in the event of a breach of material contractual obligations (cardinal obligations), limited to the typical and foreseeable damage under the contract. The Contractor accepts no liability for slightly negligent breaches of non-material contractual obligations or for indirect damages.

12.3 Liability for loss of profit and atypical consequential damages is excluded, without prejudice to clauses 12.1 and 12.2.

12.4 The Contractor does not grant any guarantees unless expressly agreed otherwise in writing.

12.5 The Contractor is not liable for processes, duration, organisation or decisions of third parties, in particular universities, authorities, visa offices or other external bodies. The same applies to delays resulting from circumstances beyond the Contractor’s control.

12.6 The Contractor furthermore accepts no liability for sanctions imposed by authorities or academic institutions as a result of deceit by the Customer.

12.7 The Contractor only owes counselling services and not a specific result. The Contractor is not liable for decisions made independently by the Customer based on the counselling.

12.8 Where the Customer has direct access to accounts, platforms or application portals, the Contractor is not liable for errors, changes or other impairments originating from the Customer’s sphere or caused by the Customer’s access.

§ 13 Consumer Right of Withdrawal

13.1 Consumers generally have a 14-day right of withdrawal for distance contracts. Prior to conclusion of the contract, the Contractor informs clearly and comprehensibly about the conditions, time limits and procedure for exercising the right of withdrawal and provides the model withdrawal form. After conclusion of the contract, this information is provided on a durable medium.

13.2 The Customer may expressly request that the Contractor commence performance of services before expiry of the withdrawal period and confirm acknowledgement that the right of withdrawal lapses upon full performance of the contract. If the Customer withdraws after commencement of performance but within the withdrawal period, the Customer must pay compensation for the value of services provided up to the time of withdrawal.

13.3 The right of withdrawal expires upon full performance of the service.

§ 14 Language

14.1 The contractually owed language of counselling is English only. Counselling in Spanish or Chinese may be provided optionally and without any legal entitlement.

14.2 The language of the contract is determined in accordance with clause 4.5.

§ 15 Final Provisions

15.1 The law of the Federal Republic of Germany applies, excluding the UN Convention on Contracts for the International Sale of Goods (CISG). Mandatory consumer protection provisions of the consumer’s country of residence remain unaffected.

15.2 Should individual provisions of this contract be or become invalid or unenforceable, the validity of the remaining provisions shall remain unaffected. In place of the invalid or unenforceable provision, the statutory provision shall apply (§ 306 BGB); a reduction of invalid provisions to a permissible level shall not take place.