General Terms and Conditions
Summary
Serious education depends upon clarity, continuity, and mutual respect for the work itself. Our work is a partnership, sustained by trust and by the integrity of those who take part in it. These Terms and Conditions exist to uphold that standard, ensuring that every engagement reflects the commitment, continuity, and high standards which define Academeum.
This Summary is provided for ease of reference only. It does not replace, limit, or amend the full Terms and Conditions. The full Terms and Conditions below, together with Our Offer, form the binding Agreement between Academeum and the Client.
Services
The Services to be provided, the applicable fees, the Student, the timetable, and any specific arrangements are set out in Our Offer. These may include Tutorials, Classes, Seminars, Consultations, Assessments, academic mentoring, admissions-related guidance, written feedback, asynchronous materials, full academic-year programmes, or other educational services agreed in writing.
Payment
Services must be paid in full in advance unless Our Offer expressly states otherwise. Cleared funds must reach Academeum no later than forty-eight (48) hours before the first scheduled Service.
Tutorials
Tutorials are individual or small-group sessions. They may be cancelled or rescheduled only with at least forty-eight (48) hours' written notice. Where less notice is given, the full fee is charged. Academeum may consider serious illness, bereavement, emergency, or other extenuating circumstances reasonably and in good faith, but is not obliged to waive fees unless required by law.
Classes, Seminars, and programmes
Classes, Seminars, fixed programmes, and academic-year programmes are reserved in advance. Once booked, they are non-cancellable, non-refundable, and non-transferable to the fullest extent permitted by law, except where Our Offer states otherwise, where Academeum agrees otherwise in writing, or where Academeum is unable to provide the relevant Service and no reasonable substitute, rescheduling, credit, or alternative is offered.
Academeum cancellations
Where Academeum or a Teacher is unable to deliver a scheduled Service, Academeum will seek to reschedule, provide a suitable substitute Teacher or alternative session, issue credit, or, where no reasonable alternative is possible, refund unused prepaid fees for the affected Service.
Access and equipment
The Client is responsible for ensuring that the Student has suitable devices, software, and a stable internet connection. Academeum is not liable for disruption caused by inadequate access, equipment, software, or connectivity outside its control.
Conduct and safeguarding
Courtesy, discretion, and professionalism are expected at all times. Students must participate constructively and comply with Academeum's reasonable academic, behavioural, safeguarding, and technical standards. Serious misconduct may lead to suspension or termination.
Teacher contact and non-solicitation
Teaching arrangements, scheduling, payment, and contractual matters must be conducted through Academeum's authorized channels. Teachers engaged through Academeum may not be approached, engaged, or employed directly during the Agreement or for twelve (12) months afterwards without Academeum's written consent.
Data protection
Academeum processes personal data in accordance with applicable data protection law and its Privacy Notice. Personal data is used for lawful purposes connected with the Services, administration, payment, compliance, safeguarding, and Academeum's legitimate institutional functions. Personal data is not sold to unrelated third parties.
Confidentiality and intellectual property
Academeum's materials, methods, course structures, academic resources, and non-public information must be treated confidentially and used only for the Student's personal educational purposes. Sessions may not be recorded without Academeum's prior written consent.
Compliance
The Client must disclose relevant sanctions, Politically Exposed Person, banking, regulatory, legal, or reputational matters concerning the Client, Student, immediate family members, or close associates where required by these Terms.
Liability
Academeum provides the Services with reasonable skill and care. It does not guarantee academic results, admissions outcomes, examination results, scholarships, university offers, or other external decisions. Academeum's liability is limited as set out below, subject always to rights and liabilities that cannot lawfully be excluded or limited.
Governing law
These Terms are governed by Swiss law. Subject to any mandatory consumer protection or jurisdiction rules, disputes are subject to the courts of the Canton of Zug, Switzerland.
Fee review
Academeum may review its fees annually. Fees stated in Our Offer apply only to the Services, period, number of sessions, programme, or academic year specified in that Offer. Revised fees apply only to future Services, renewals, extensions, new terms, new academic years, additional Services, or continuing arrangements after notice, in accordance with these Terms.
All enquiries may be addressed to legal@academeum.org.
General Terms and Conditions
1. Definitions
1.1 "Academeum" means Academeum AG, a company incorporated in Switzerland, identification number CHE-249.396.160, with its registered office at Chamerstrasse 176, 6300 Zug, Switzerland.
1.2 "Client" means the person or entity entering into the Agreement with Academeum. In most cases, the Client will be a parent or guardian contracting on behalf of a Student. Where the Student is eighteen (18) years of age or older, the Student may also act as the Client.
1.3 "Student" means the person receiving the Services.
1.4 "Services" means the educational services provided or arranged by Academeum, including Tutorials, Classes, Seminars, Consultations, Assessments, academic mentoring, admissions-related guidance, written feedback, asynchronous materials, full academic-year programmes, and any other service specified in Our Offer.
1.5 "Tutorial" means an individual or small-group session arranged for one or more named Students outside a fixed Class or Seminar structure.
1.6 "Class" or "Seminar" means a scheduled teaching session or course delivered to a defined group of Students, whether as a single session, a course, a programme, or part of an academic-year structure.
1.7 "Consultation" means an advisory session, whether individual or group-based, relating to the planning, delivery, support, assessment, or development of a Student's education with Academeum.
1.8 "Assessment" means any diagnostic, academic, admissions-related, or advisory assessment provided by Academeum.
1.9 "Teacher" means any teacher, tutor, mentor, academic adviser, assessor, consultant, faculty member, contractor, employee, or other person engaged or appointed by Academeum to deliver or support the Services.
1.10 "Our Offer" means the written offer, proposal, engagement letter, service specification, or other written document issued by Academeum to the Client setting out the Services, applicable fees, Student details, timetable, start date, payment terms, specific policies, authorized communication channels, and any other agreed arrangements. An invoice may form part of Our Offer where it expressly incorporates these Terms and identifies the Services to be provided.
1.11 "Agreement" means the legally binding agreement between Academeum and the Client, consisting of these General Terms and Conditions and Our Offer.
1.12 "Parties" means Academeum and the Client.
1.13 Words importing the singular include the plural and vice versa. Headings are provided for convenience only and do not affect interpretation.
2. Contract Formation
2.1 Before Academeum decides whether to make an offer, the Client shall provide complete and accurate information reasonably requested by Academeum, including:
(a) the full name, contact details, and billing address of the Client;
(b) the full name and date of birth of the Student;
(c) confirmation of the Client's relationship to the Student and, where the Student is under eighteen (18), the Client's authority to contract on the Student's behalf;
(d) the location from which the Student will normally access the Services;
(e) the Student's academic history, current school or educational arrangements, and relevant academic objectives;
(f) any special educational needs, disabilities, medical circumstances, safeguarding considerations, or other requirements relevant to the delivery of the Services;
(g) any information required for payment, compliance, tax, data protection, safeguarding, or risk-management purposes; and
(h) any other information reasonably necessary for Academeum to determine whether and how it may provide the Services.
2.2 The provision of information to Academeum, the making of an enquiry, participation in a Consultation or Assessment, or discussion of possible Services constitutes an invitation to treat. Academeum is under no obligation to make an offer.
2.3 Academeum provides Services selectively. Participation in any Consultation, Assessment, interview, discussion, or preparatory exchange does not oblige Academeum to issue Our Offer or to provide any Services.
2.4 Academeum may decline to provide Services where, in its sole discretion, it determines that the Student's objectives, requirements, conduct, academic circumstances, family expectations, timetable, location, regulatory position, or any other relevant matter is not aligned with the delivery of the Services.
2.5 Academeum may assess a request against its available Teachers, timetable, academic standards, safeguarding obligations, institutional judgement, and operational capacity. It may request further information before deciding whether to proceed. These steps are preparatory only and do not constitute a binding offer.
2.6 If Academeum elects to proceed, it shall issue Our Offer to the Client. Our Offer shall set out the Services proposed, the applicable fees, and any specific terms or operational arrangements.
2.7 The Agreement is formed only when:
(a) the Client accepts Our Offer and these Terms in writing or by any acceptance mechanism specified by Academeum; and
(b) the Client pays any fees required in advance in accordance with clause 4, unless Our Offer expressly states otherwise.
2.8 Any verbal statement, side agreement, informal understanding, marketing material, website text, or preliminary discussion is of no legal effect unless expressly incorporated into Our Offer or confirmed in writing by an authorized representative of Academeum.
2.9 Where the Client enters into the Agreement on behalf of a Student under eighteen (18), the Client confirms that they have legal authority to do so and accepts responsibility for the Student's compliance with the Agreement.
2.10 The Client acknowledges that Academeum processes personal data in accordance with its Privacy Notice.
3. Mandatory Consumer Rights
3.1 Where the Client is a consumer, nothing in the Agreement excludes, restricts, or prejudices any mandatory consumer protection, jurisdiction, data protection, or other mandatory rights applicable under Swiss law or any other law that cannot lawfully be excluded.
3.2 If any provision of these Terms would be invalid, unfair, or unenforceable against a consumer, it shall apply only to the maximum extent permitted by law.
4. Services and Academic Discretion
4.1 Academeum shall provide the Services with reasonable skill and care, in accordance with its academic judgement, professional standards, teaching methodologies, and institutional framework.
4.2 Academeum's teaching is based upon professional judgement, disciplinary knowledge, educational research, and the particular needs of the Student or group. The content, sequence, method, pace, exercises, reading, feedback, assessment, and academic emphasis of the Services shall remain matters for Academeum and its Teachers.
4.3 Teachers engaged by Academeum are selected with care, including such interviews, reference checks, credential checks, professional review, safeguarding checks, or other enquiries as Academeum considers appropriate in the circumstances.
4.4 Academeum may appoint, replace, reassign, or substitute Teachers where it considers this necessary or appropriate for academic, safeguarding, operational, scheduling, illness, availability, or institutional reasons.
4.5 Where a particular Teacher is named in Our Offer, Academeum will make reasonable efforts to provide that Teacher. The naming of a Teacher does not guarantee that the same Teacher will remain available for the full duration of the Services.
4.6 Academeum does not guarantee academic results, examination grades, university admissions outcomes, scholarship awards, interview invitations, entrance-test results, school placements, predicted grades, references, or any other decision or outcome dependent upon the Student, an examination body, university, school, admissions authority, third party, or external process.
4.7 The Client acknowledges that educational progress depends on the Student's attendance, attention, preparation, effort, honesty, punctuality, participation, independent work, prior attainment, health, circumstances, and willingness to act upon feedback.
4.8 Academeum may provide advice, guidance, predictions, academic judgement, or strategic recommendations. Such advice is given in good faith and with reasonable care, but no advice can remove uncertainty or guarantee the decisions of external institutions.
4.9 The Client shall ensure that the Student attends punctually, prepares appropriately, completes any agreed work, behaves respectfully, and participates in a manner consistent with Academeum's reasonable academic and behavioural expectations.
4.10 The Client shall promptly inform Academeum of any material change affecting the Student's circumstances, needs, health, availability, location, school position, examination plans, safeguarding position, or ability to participate in the Services.
5. Fees and Payment
5.1 All Services must be paid in full in advance unless Our Offer expressly states otherwise.
5.2 No Service shall be delivered until cleared funds have been received in Academeum's account at least forty-eight (48) hours before the first scheduled Service, unless Academeum expressly agrees otherwise in writing.
5.3 The standard payment term is ten (10) days net from the invoice date. Where the Client requests an earlier start date, payment must be made immediately in order to satisfy the clearance requirement in clause 5.2.
5.4 Fees are as set out in Our Offer and are payable in the currency specified therein. If no currency is specified, fees are payable in Swiss francs (CHF).
5.5 Where Our Offer permits payment by instalments, each instalment must be paid in full by its due date. Failure to pay an instalment when due shall entitle Academeum to suspend or terminate the Services and to require immediate payment of any outstanding amounts to the extent permitted by law and by Our Offer.
5.6 Invoices not disputed in writing within ten (10) days of the invoice date may be treated as accepted, except in the case of manifest error, fraud, mandatory consumer rights, or rights that cannot lawfully be waived.
5.7 Payment is considered made only once funds are received in Academeum's account in full, cleared, and without restriction. If payment is reversed, recalled, charged back, blocked, disputed, or otherwise unavailable after Services have been delivered or reserved, the Client remains liable for the full amount and any associated costs.
5.8 All payments shall be received net of bank charges, currency-conversion costs, intermediary fees, withholding, deductions, or other charges. Any shortfall resulting from such deductions or fluctuations remains payable by the Client.
5.9 The Client may not set off, deduct, withhold, or counterclaim against fees due to Academeum, except with Academeum's prior written consent or where the Client's counterclaim is undisputed, finally determined by a competent court or tribunal, or may not lawfully be excluded.
5.10 Invoices not settled by the due date shall be overdue. From the day after the due date, default interest of five percent (5%) per annum shall apply until full payment is received.
5.11 Academeum may charge reasonable reminder fees of up to CHF 30, or the equivalent amount in the currency of the invoice, per reminder. Academeum may also recover reasonable costs incurred in connection with collection, legal advice, enforcement, chargebacks, payment disputes, currency shortfalls, and recovery of overdue sums.
5.12 Academeum may suspend Services for non-payment without waiving its right to full payment. Suspension does not relieve the Client of payment obligations. Academeum is under no obligation to reserve specific tuition slots, Teachers, Classes, Seminars, or programme places during suspension.
5.13 In accordance with Art. 21 para. 2 no. 11 MWSTG:
(a) educational services provided by Academeum, including Tutorials, Classes, Seminars, and educational Consultations directly linked to the planning, delivery, or support of a Student's tuition with Academeum, shall be exempt from Swiss VAT;
(b) services not qualifying for exemption, including advisory work unrelated to the tuition of a specific Student, shall be subject to Swiss VAT at the prevailing standard rate; and
(c) where a service comprises both exempt and taxable elements, Academeum may apportion the fee at its discretion in accordance with Swiss VAT law.
5.14 Academeum may review its fees annually and may adjust fees for future Services, renewals, extensions, new academic years, new terms, additional Services, or continuing arrangements by giving the Client written notice.
5.15 Unless Our Offer expressly states otherwise, any fee stated in Our Offer applies only to the Services, period, number of sessions, programme, or academic year specified in that Offer.
5.16 A fee adjustment shall not apply retrospectively to Services already delivered or to a fixed package of Services already paid for, unless required by law or expressly agreed with the Client.
5.17 Where Services continue beyond the period specified in Our Offer, or where the Client books further Services after that period, Academeum's then-current fees shall apply unless Academeum agrees otherwise in writing.
5.18 Where Academeum proposes a fee adjustment for ongoing Tutorial arrangements, Academeum shall give reasonable written notice before the revised fee takes effect. If the Client does not accept the revised fee, either Party may terminate the affected ongoing Tutorial arrangements in accordance with clause 20.3.
5.19 For Classes, Seminars, fixed programmes, academic-year programmes, Assessments, Consultations, written-feedback packages, asynchronous materials, and other reserved Services, the fee stated in Our Offer remains payable for the Services booked, subject to the cancellation, refund, and non-transferability provisions of these Terms. Fee reviews apply to future bookings, renewals, extensions, or additional Services unless Our Offer expressly states otherwise.
6. Scheduling, Attendance, and Communication
6.1 The scheduling of Services shall be set out in Our Offer or otherwise agreed in writing between the Client and Academeum.
6.2 All scheduling, cancellation, payment, contractual, and lesson-related administrative communication must be conducted through Academeum's authorized channels. These may include Academeum email addresses, Academeum's scheduling system, Academeum-approved platforms, and any other channel specified in Our Offer.
6.3 The Client and Student shall not use a Teacher's personal contact details for scheduling, payment, contractual arrangements, complaints, changes to Services, fee discussions, or engagement outside Academeum unless Academeum expressly authorizes this in writing.
6.4 Academic communication between a Teacher and Student may take place through such channels as Academeum permits or specifies. Academeum may restrict, review, redirect, or require the use of particular channels for safeguarding, operational, quality, confidentiality, or administrative reasons.
6.5 Any arrangement made outside Academeum's authorized channels without written authorization shall not bind Academeum and may result in suspension or termination of the Services without refund, subject to any mandatory rights that cannot lawfully be excluded.
7. Tutorials
7.1 A minimum of forty-eight (48) hours' written notice is required to cancel or reschedule a Tutorial. Where less than forty-eight (48) hours' notice is given, the full fee shall be charged.
7.2 Shortening a Tutorial with less than forty-eight (48) hours' notice shall result in the full fee being charged for the original duration.
7.3 Failure to attend a Tutorial without notice shall result in the full fee being charged.
7.4 If a Student arrives more than twenty (20) minutes late without prior notice, the Tutorial may be treated as a failure to attend and the full fee charged.
7.5 Cancellations or rescheduling requests must be communicated in writing to Academeum through the authorized scheduling channel. Unless otherwise specified in Our Offer, cancellations should be sent to scheduling@academeum.org.
7.6 Serious illness, bereavement, emergency, or other extenuating circumstances may be considered by Academeum reasonably and in good faith. Academeum may request reasonable supporting information and may offer rescheduling, credit, partial credit, or another appropriate accommodation, without being obliged to do so unless required by law.
7.7 Where Academeum agrees to reschedule a Tutorial as a discretionary accommodation, it may impose reasonable conditions, including limits on the number of permitted rescheduled sessions, availability of Teachers, timetable constraints, and a deadline for using any credit.
8. Classes, Seminars, and Programmes
8.1 Classes, Seminars, and programmes require advance planning, Teacher allocation, preparation, timetable protection, and, in many cases, the reservation of a limited place within a group. The Client acknowledges that withdrawal, non-attendance, or attempted transfer may cause loss of teaching capacity and disrupt the educational structure of the group.
8.2 Once booked, Classes, Seminars, fixed programmes, and academic-year programmes are non-cancellable, non-refundable, and non-transferable, except where required by mandatory law, where Our Offer states otherwise, where Academeum agrees otherwise in writing, or where Academeum is unable to provide the relevant Service and no reasonable substitute, rescheduling, credit, or alternative is offered.
8.3 Non-attendance by the Student does not entitle the Client to a refund, credit, transfer, replacement session, or fee reduction.
8.4 Non-attendance should be notified in advance through Academeum's authorized scheduling channel. Unless otherwise specified in Our Offer, notice should be sent to scheduling@academeum.org.
8.5 Students arriving more than twenty (20) minutes late to a Class or Seminar may not be admitted. This policy exists to protect the continuity of the session and to minimize disruption for other Students.
8.6 Academeum may make reasonable changes to the timetable, Teacher allocation, sequence, format, content, or delivery method of Classes, Seminars, and programmes where necessary or appropriate for academic, operational, safeguarding, illness, availability, technical, or institutional reasons, provided that the substituted provision remains reasonably capable of fulfilling the educational purpose of the Service.
8.7 Where a Class, Seminar, or programme includes asynchronous materials, written tasks, recordings created by Academeum, reading, independent work, supervised study, feedback, or alternative service formats, those elements may form part of the Services and do not entitle the Client to a fee reduction merely because they are not live sessions.
8.8 Nothing in this clause excludes or limits mandatory consumer rights that cannot lawfully be excluded.
9. Academeum Cancellations and Teacher Unavailability
9.1 If Academeum or a Teacher is unable to deliver a scheduled Service, Academeum shall act reasonably and may, as appropriate, seek to:
(a) reschedule the affected Service;
(b) provide a suitable substitute Teacher;
(c) provide a suitable alternative session, format, task, written assignment, feedback arrangement, or academic resource;
(d) credit the value of the affected Service to the Client's account; or
(e) refund the unused prepaid fee for the affected Service where no reasonable alternative is possible.
9.2 If a Teacher becomes unavailable for ongoing Services, Academeum will make reasonable efforts to arrange a suitable alternative Teacher or delivery structure so that the agreed Service continues with minimal disruption.
9.3 The Client acknowledges that a change of Teacher, timetable, platform, sequence, format, or method does not by itself constitute non-performance, provided that Academeum continues to provide a Service reasonably capable of fulfilling the educational purpose of the original arrangement.
9.4 Where a credit is issued, it may be applied to future Services within twelve (12) months unless Academeum expressly agrees otherwise in writing.
9.5 Refunds, where due, shall be limited to unused prepaid fees for the affected Service and shall not include compensation for indirect loss, inconvenience, alternative arrangements, travel, accommodation, examination fees, third-party costs, or loss of opportunity.
10. Consumer Rights and Early Commencement
10.1 Nothing in the Agreement excludes or limits any mandatory consumer rights, withdrawal rights, cancellation rights, jurisdiction rights, or other protections that cannot lawfully be excluded.
10.2 Where the Client has a mandatory statutory right to withdraw from or cancel the Agreement, that right shall apply only to the extent required by applicable law.
10.3 Where the Client requests, accepts, or permits Services to begin before the expiry of any applicable statutory withdrawal or cooling-off period, the Client expressly requests early performance of the Services. Academeum may require the Client to confirm this request expressly in Our Offer, by signature, by tick-box, by written confirmation, or by any other acceptance mechanism specified by Academeum.
10.4 If the Client exercises a mandatory withdrawal or cancellation right after early performance has begun, Academeum may charge for Services already supplied. Academeum may also charge for reserved Teacher time, preparation, materials supplied, non-recoverable costs incurred, and any other amount to the extent permitted by applicable law.
10.5 Where a Service has been fully performed before the Client exercises a withdrawal or cancellation right, the Client acknowledges that cancellation rights may be lost to the extent permitted by applicable law.
10.6 The non-refundable and non-transferable provisions applicable to Classes, Seminars, programmes, Assessments, Consultations, and other Services apply to the fullest extent permitted by law and remain subject only to mandatory rights that cannot lawfully be excluded.
11. Conduct, Safeguarding, and Standards
11.1 The Client and Student shall treat Academeum, Teachers, staff, other Students, families, and third parties with courtesy, discretion, and respect.
11.2 The Student shall participate constructively, attend punctually, comply with reasonable academic instructions, behave appropriately in online environments, and refrain from conduct that disrupts teaching or undermines the learning of others.
11.3 The Client and Student shall comply with Academeum's reasonable academic, behavioural, safeguarding, technical, privacy, and communication standards, including any standards set out in Our Offer or in policies notified by Academeum.
11.4 The Client shall inform Academeum promptly of any safeguarding concern, welfare concern, medical issue, disability, special educational need, behavioural issue, or other circumstance that may affect the Student's participation in the Services or the safety and wellbeing of any person.
11.5 Academeum may take reasonable safeguarding, welfare, disciplinary, or protective action where it considers this necessary or appropriate. Such action may include contacting the Client, pausing a session, requiring parental presence, restricting communication channels, changing Teacher arrangements, suspending Services, reporting a concern to an appropriate authority where legally required or professionally necessary, or terminating the Agreement.
11.6 Serious misconduct, breach of confidentiality, harassment, abuse, discriminatory conduct, dishonesty, threats, inappropriate communication, misuse of technology, academic misconduct, safeguarding risk, or repeated failure to comply with reasonable standards shall constitute a material breach of the Agreement.
11.7 Academeum may suspend or terminate Services immediately where it reasonably considers that continuation would create a safeguarding risk, legal risk, reputational risk, serious disruption, or unacceptable burden on Teachers, Students, or Academeum.
12. Access, Equipment, and Technical Requirements
12.1 The Client is responsible for ensuring that the Student has suitable equipment, software, internet access, workspace, and any required materials for participation in online Services.
12.2 The Student must have access to a stable, high-speed internet connection, functioning audio and video where required, suitable lighting, and any platform or software reasonably specified by Academeum.
12.3 Academeum is not liable for disruption, delay, non-attendance, reduced quality, or loss of service caused by the Client's or Student's inadequate equipment, software, internet connection, technical environment, settings, permissions, device failure, power failure, or platform access.
12.4 Where a Student cannot participate effectively because of technical issues on the Client's or Student's side, the affected Service may be treated as attended and charged in full.
12.5 The Client and Student shall not misuse Academeum's platforms, links, accounts, materials, recordings, documents, communication channels, or digital systems.
13. Compliance, Sanctions, and Reputational Risk
13.1 The Client shall promptly disclose if, to the best of the Client's knowledge, the Client, the Student, any immediate family member, or any close associate:
(a) appears on any sanctions list maintained by the United Nations, the Swiss Confederation, the European Union, the United States of America, the United Kingdom, or any other relevant authority;
(b) is a Politically Exposed Person, or is a family member or close associate of a Politically Exposed Person, as defined under applicable law;
(c) is subject to investigation, restriction, asset freeze, banking limitation, regulatory measure, criminal proceeding, or other circumstance that may be relevant to Academeum's legal, banking, compliance, tax, regulatory, or reputational position; or
(d) may otherwise present a material reputational, regulatory, banking, sanctions, legal, or compliance risk to Academeum.
13.2 For the purposes of this clause, "immediate family member" includes a spouse or partner, parent, child, sibling, or any person living in the same household. "Close associate" includes any person with whom there is a close business, financial, political, family, advisory, or personal relationship.
13.3 Any change in the matters described in clause 13.1 during the Agreement must be notified to Academeum without delay where the Client becomes aware of it.
13.4 Failure to provide accurate and timely disclosure under this clause constitutes a material breach of the Agreement and entitles Academeum to suspend or terminate the Agreement immediately.
13.5 The Client shall indemnify Academeum against any loss, liability, cost, banking restriction, regulatory consequence, professional fee, enforcement cost, or expense arising from inaccurate, incomplete, misleading, or late disclosure under this clause.
13.6 Academeum may refuse, suspend, or terminate Services where it determines, in its sole discretion, that continuing the relationship would create an unacceptable sanctions, banking, regulatory, legal, reputational, safeguarding, or institutional risk.
14. Data Protection and Privacy
14.1 Academeum processes personal data in accordance with applicable data protection law and its Privacy Notice.
14.2 Academeum may process personal data relating to the Client and Student, including contact details, billing information, educational records, attendance information, academic performance, communications, safeguarding information, and, where necessary, information concerning health, disabilities, special educational needs, or wellbeing.
14.3 Such data is processed only where there is a lawful basis, including performance of the Agreement, compliance with legal obligations, legitimate educational and safeguarding interests, consent where required, and the establishment, exercise, or defence of legal claims.
14.4 The Client shall ensure that all personal data provided to Academeum is accurate, complete, and up to date.
14.5 Where the Client provides personal data relating to the Student or any third party, the Client confirms that they have the authority or other lawful basis required to provide that data to Academeum.
14.6 Academeum shall not sell personal data to unrelated third parties.
14.7 Academeum may share personal data with Teachers, staff, professional advisers, payment processors, IT providers, safeguarding professionals, examination or admissions-related bodies, regulators, public authorities, and other persons or organizations where reasonably necessary for lawful purposes connected with the Services, compliance, safeguarding, or administration.
14.8 Requests relating to access, correction, deletion, restriction, objection, portability, or other data protection rights should be addressed to privacy@academeum.org.
14.9 Further details, including international transfers, retention periods, data subject rights, and contact details, are set out in Academeum's Privacy Notice, which may be updated from time to time.
15. Confidentiality
15.1 The Parties shall maintain confidentiality in respect of all non-public information disclosed or obtained in connection with the Agreement.
15.2 Confidential information includes personal data, academic records, family circumstances, Student work, assessment information, Teacher information, business processes, pricing, methods, curricula, lesson plans, materials, communications, institutional practices, know-how, and any other information that is confidential by nature or circumstance.
15.3 The Client and Student shall not disclose, publish, circulate, copy, adapt, reverse-engineer, exploit, or use Academeum's confidential information for any purpose other than the Student's personal educational use under the Agreement.
15.4 Confidential information may be disclosed only:
(a) with Academeum's prior written consent;
(b) where required by law;
(c) to a professional adviser bound by confidentiality;
(d) where reasonably necessary for safeguarding or protection of a person; or
(e) where necessary for the proper performance or enforcement of the Agreement.
15.5 Confidentiality obligations continue after termination of the Agreement.
16. Intellectual Property and Materials
16.1 All academic materials, teaching methods, curricula, lesson plans, exercises, assessments, structures, notes, slides, recordings, documents, feedback formats, course designs, written resources, and other works provided by Academeum or its Teachers remain the intellectual property of Academeum or the relevant rights-holder.
16.2 The Client and Student are granted a personal, non-exclusive, non-transferable, revocable licence to use materials supplied by Academeum solely for the Student's personal educational purposes in connection with the Services.
16.3 The Client and Student shall not copy, reproduce, adapt, publish, distribute, sell, license, upload, share, transmit, train, fine-tune, prompt, develop, test, evaluate, or otherwise use in connection with any artificial intelligence system or similar software, or make available Academeum materials without Academeum's prior written consent.
16.4 Materials supplied by Academeum shall not be used to compete with Academeum, provide teaching or advisory services to others, create derivative courses, train other teachers, support another educational provider, or develop any competing educational service.
16.5 Student work remains the Student's work. The Client grants Academeum permission to use Student work internally for teaching, feedback, assessment, quality assurance, safeguarding, academic planning, and record-keeping. Academeum shall not publish identifiable Student work externally without appropriate consent.
16.6 This clause applies worldwide and survives termination of the Agreement.
17. Recording
17.1 No audio recording, video recording, screen recording, screenshot, transcription, automated note-taking, AI capture, or other recording of any Service, Consultation, Assessment, Class, Seminar, Tutorial, meeting, or communication is permitted without Academeum's prior written consent.
17.2 Where Academeum gives consent to recording, that consent may be subject to conditions and may be withdrawn at any time.
17.3 Any authorized recording shall be used only for the purpose expressly permitted by Academeum and shall not be copied, shared, published, uploaded, distributed, edited, or used for any other purpose.
17.4 The Client and Student are responsible for disabling automated recording, transcription, AI note-taking, meeting assistant, or similar tools on any device, account, browser, platform, or software under their control.
17.5 Unauthorized recording constitutes a material breach of the Agreement and may result in immediate suspension or termination without refund, subject to any mandatory rights that cannot lawfully be excluded.
18. Non-Solicitation of Teachers
18.1 During the Agreement and for twelve (12) months after its termination or expiry, the Client shall not, without Academeum's prior written consent, directly or indirectly solicit, approach, engage, employ, contract with, introduce to another party, or otherwise arrange private tuition, teaching, mentoring, consultation, assessment, advisory work, or related educational services with any Teacher introduced through Academeum.
18.2 The Client shall not facilitate, encourage, or permit any Student, family member, company, trust, school, adviser, agent, or other third party to do any act that would breach clause 18.1 if done by the Client.
18.3 If the Client breaches this clause, the Client shall pay Academeum a contractual fee equal to the greater of:
(a) CHF 5,000; or
(b) three (3) months' average Service fees attributable to the relevant Teacher.
18.4 The Parties agree that the fee in clause 18.3 is a genuine pre-estimate of Academeum's loss, including recruitment, selection, training, goodwill, administrative investment, lost business, and opportunity cost.
18.5 Where Academeum's actual loss exceeds the amount stated in clause 18.3, Academeum reserves the right to claim the difference.
18.6 This clause does not prevent the Client from engaging a Teacher where the Client can demonstrate that the relationship existed independently before any introduction by Academeum and was not renewed, expanded, redirected, or facilitated as a result of Academeum's introduction.
19. Liability
19.1 Academeum shall provide the Services with reasonable skill and care.
19.2 To the fullest extent permitted by law, Academeum's total aggregate liability for claims arising out of or in connection with the Agreement in any twelve-month period shall be limited to the total amount paid by the Client for Services in that same period.
19.3 Nothing in the Agreement excludes or limits liability for unlawful intent, gross negligence, death or personal injury, fraud, fraudulent misrepresentation, mandatory statutory liability, or any liability that cannot lawfully be excluded or limited.
19.4 Subject to the foregoing, Academeum shall not be liable for indirect, consequential, punitive, speculative, or economic loss, including loss of chance, loss of expected academic results, loss of opportunity, loss of admissions prospects, examination consequences, school consequences, university consequences, or decisions of schools, universities, examination bodies, admissions authorities, or other third parties.
19.5 Academeum shall not be liable for technical failures beyond its reasonable control, including internet outages, poor connectivity, device failure, software malfunction, platform interruption, power failure, cyber incident affecting third-party systems, or any similar issue preventing or affecting the provision of Services.
19.6 Academeum shall not be liable for loss arising from inaccurate, incomplete, late, or misleading information provided by the Client, Student, school, examination body, university, admissions authority, or other third party.
19.7 Academeum shall not be liable for any failure or delay caused by the Client's or Student's non-attendance, lack of preparation, failure to complete work, failure to follow advice, misconduct, illness, timetable conflict, travel, relocation, school commitments, examination arrangements, or other circumstances outside Academeum's reasonable control.
19.8 The Client shall indemnify Academeum against any claim, loss, liability, cost, or expense arising from the Client's or Student's breach of the Agreement, misconduct, unlawful act, misuse of materials, breach of confidentiality, unauthorized recording, non-solicitation breach, data inaccuracy, or failure to make required disclosures.
20. Suspension and Termination
20.1 Academeum may suspend Services where:
(a) fees are overdue;
(b) required information has not been provided;
(c) the Client or Student has breached the Agreement;
(d) there is a safeguarding, welfare, compliance, sanctions, banking, legal, reputational, technical, or operational concern;
(e) the Client or Student has used unauthorized channels or made unauthorized arrangements with a Teacher;
(f) the Student's conduct disrupts teaching or the learning of others; or
(g) Academeum reasonably considers suspension necessary or appropriate.
20.2 Suspension does not affect the Client's obligation to pay fees due or incurred.
20.3 Either Party may terminate ongoing Tutorial arrangements by giving fourteen (14) days' written notice, unless Our Offer states otherwise. Fees remain payable for all Tutorials scheduled to occur within the notice period.
20.4 Classes, Seminars, fixed programmes, academic-year programmes, Assessments, Consultations, written-feedback packages, asynchronous materials, and other reserved Services are not terminable for convenience by the Client once booked, except where Our Offer expressly permits termination or where mandatory law requires otherwise.
20.5 If the Client has prepaid for ongoing Tutorials beyond the notice period, Academeum shall refund the unused portion, less any non-recoverable costs already incurred and any amounts due under the Agreement.
20.6 Academeum may terminate the Agreement immediately if the Client or Student:
(a) commits a material breach of the Agreement;
(b) fails to pay fees when due;
(c) provides false, incomplete, or misleading information;
(d) fails to make a disclosure required under clause 13;
(e) engages in serious misconduct;
(f) breaches confidentiality, intellectual property, recording, non-solicitation, safeguarding, or communication obligations;
(g) creates a material safeguarding, legal, regulatory, banking, reputational, or operational risk; or
(h) repeatedly fails to comply with Academeum's reasonable academic, behavioural, technical, or administrative standards.
20.7 Where Academeum terminates for material breach, misconduct, non-payment, unauthorized recording, non-solicitation breach, safeguarding risk, compliance risk, or failure to disclose required information, no refund shall be due except to the extent required by mandatory law.
20.8 Where Academeum terminates without Client breach and no reasonable alternative Service can be provided, Academeum shall refund unused prepaid fees for Services not yet delivered, less any non-recoverable costs already incurred.
20.9 Termination shall not affect any accrued rights, obligations, fees, liabilities, or remedies.
20.10 Provisions intended to survive termination shall remain in force, including clauses relating to fees, confidentiality, intellectual property, recording, non-solicitation, indemnity, liability, data protection, governing law, and jurisdiction.
20.11 In the event of any dispute arising out of or in connection with the Agreement, the Parties shall first seek to resolve it through good faith discussions before commencing formal proceedings, except where urgent protective, injunctive, debt-recovery, safeguarding, or enforcement action is required.
21. Force Majeure
21.1 Neither Party shall be liable for failure or delay in performance caused by events beyond its reasonable control, including war, terrorism, civil unrest, strikes, labour disputes, pandemics, epidemics, public-health restrictions, natural disasters, fire, flood, power failure, government action, legal restrictions, sanctions, banking restrictions, platform failure, internet disruption, cyber incident, or other events outside reasonable control.
21.2 Where a force majeure event affects Academeum's ability to deliver the Services in the originally intended form, Academeum may substitute alternative service formats, including rescheduled sessions, substitute Teachers, pre-recorded content, written assignments, asynchronous materials, reading, feedback, supervised study, altered timetables, or other reasonable alternatives.
21.3 Substitution of format shall not entitle the Client to a refund, provided that the substituted format is reasonably capable of fulfilling the educational purpose of the affected Service.
21.4 If a force majeure event makes performance impossible for a prolonged period, Academeum may terminate the affected Services and refund unused prepaid fees for Services not capable of being delivered, less any non-recoverable costs already incurred.
22. Amendments
22.1 Amendments to Our Offer or to the specific Services agreed with the Client must be made in writing and accepted by Academeum.
22.2 Academeum may update these General Terms and Conditions from time to time.
22.3 Unless required by law or expressly agreed with the Client, updated Terms shall apply to future Services, renewals, extensions, new Offers, or Services booked after the date of notification.
22.4 Academeum may make administrative, legal, regulatory, safeguarding, technical, data protection, or policy updates during an existing Agreement where reasonably necessary, provided that such updates do not materially deprive the Client of the Services already purchased.
22.5 Material changes to price, cancellation rights, refund rights, service scope, limitation of liability, governing law, jurisdiction, or other core contractual terms shall not apply to Services already purchased unless the Client expressly accepts the change, the change is required by law, or the change is made in accordance with the fee-review provisions in clauses 5.14 to 5.19.
22.6 Where Academeum notifies the Client of non-material changes applicable to ongoing Services, continued use of the Services after fourteen (14) days shall constitute acceptance, unless the Client objects in writing before that period expires. If the Client objects, Academeum may continue the Services under the previous Terms where practicable or terminate the affected Services and refund unused prepaid fees for Services not yet delivered, less any non-recoverable costs already incurred.
23. Notices
23.1 Notices under the Agreement must be given in writing by email or registered post, unless Our Offer specifies another authorized method.
23.2 Notices to Academeum shall be sent to legal@academeum.org or to Academeum's registered office.
23.3 Notices to the Client shall be sent to the email address or postal address provided by the Client.
23.4 Notices by email shall be deemed received on the next business day after sending, unless the sender receives a delivery-failure notification.
23.5 Notices by registered post shall be deemed received on the date recorded by the postal or courier service.
23.6 The Client is responsible for keeping contact details up to date.
24. Entire Agreement
24.1 These General Terms and Conditions and Our Offer constitute the entire agreement between Academeum and the Client concerning the subject matter of the Agreement.
24.2 The Agreement supersedes all prior and contemporaneous agreements, understandings, negotiations, representations, warranties, discussions, proposals, and communications between the Parties, whether oral, written, implied, informal, or preliminary.
24.3 The Client acknowledges that they have not relied upon any statement, promise, assurance, forecast, guarantee, representation, or expectation not expressly set out in the Agreement, except in the case of fraudulent misrepresentation.
25. Severability
25.1 If any provision of the Agreement is held to be invalid, illegal, or unenforceable by a court or competent authority, the remaining provisions shall remain in full force and effect.
25.2 Any invalid, illegal, or unenforceable provision shall be deemed modified to the minimum extent necessary to make it valid, legal, and enforceable while preserving, as far as possible, the original economic, legal, educational, and commercial purpose of the provision.
25.3 If modification is not possible, the relevant provision shall be deemed deleted without affecting the validity and enforceability of the remaining provisions.
26. Waiver
26.1 No failure or delay by Academeum in exercising any right, power, remedy, or privilege under the Agreement shall operate as a waiver.
26.2 Any waiver must be in writing, signed by an authorized representative of Academeum, and shall apply only to the specific instance and purpose for which it is given.
26.3 A single or partial exercise of any right, power, remedy, or privilege shall not preclude any further or other exercise of that or any other right, power, remedy, or privilege.
26.4 Any discretionary waiver, accommodation, rescheduling, credit, refund, extension, or exception granted by Academeum in one case does not oblige Academeum to grant the same or similar treatment in any other case.
27. Assignment and Subcontracting
27.1 The Client may not assign, transfer, delegate, subcontract, or otherwise dispose of any rights or obligations under the Agreement without Academeum's prior written consent.
27.2 Academeum may assign or transfer its rights or obligations under the Agreement to an affiliated entity, successor entity, purchaser of substantially all of its business or assets, or other entity capable of performing the Services, provided that this does not materially reduce the Client's rights under the Agreement.
27.3 Academeum may subcontract, delegate, or arrange the performance of any part of the Services by Teachers, staff, contractors, professional advisers, organizations, or other appropriate persons or entities, provided that Academeum remains responsible for providing the Services in accordance with the Agreement.
28. Language
28.1 The Agreement is made in English.
28.2 If the Agreement or any related document is translated into another language, the English-language version shall prevail unless Academeum expressly states otherwise in writing.
29. Governing Law and Jurisdiction
29.1 The Agreement shall be governed by Swiss law.
29.2 Subject to any mandatory consumer protection, jurisdiction, Lugano Convention, private international law, or other rules that cannot lawfully be excluded, the courts of the Canton of Zug, Switzerland, shall have jurisdiction over disputes arising out of or in connection with the Agreement.
29.3 Where the Client is a consumer, Academeum shall bring proceedings only before the courts competent under the mandatory rules applicable to consumer contracts.
29.4 Nothing in this clause prevents either Party from seeking provisional, protective, injunctive, debt-recovery, safeguarding, or enforcement measures before any court or authority competent under applicable law.
These General Terms and Conditions were last updated on 6 June 2026.