Privacy Policy for Yasben Academy
Welcome to Yasben Academy. This Privacy Policy explains how Yasben Academy (“we,” “us,” “our”) collects, uses, processes, shares, and protects your personal data when you visit our website (www.yasbenacademy.com), inquire about or use our consultancy services related to helping international students study in Turkey, or otherwise interact with us.
We are committed to protecting your privacy and handling your data in an open and transparent manner, in compliance with applicable data protection laws, primarily the Turkish Law on the Protection of Personal Data No. 6698 (“KVKK”) and, where applicable, the EU General Data Protection Regulation (“GDPR”).
Information We Collect
We may collect and process the following types of personal data about you:
- Identity & Contact Data: Name, surname, date of birth, nationality, passport details, email address, phone number, residential address.
- Academic Data: Educational history, transcripts, diplomas, language proficiency test scores (e.g., TOEFL, IELTS, TÖMER), entrance exam scores (e.g., YÖS, SAT), intended field of study (e.g., study master programs).
- Application Data: Information required for applications to Turkish universities, visa applications, residence permit applications, and scholarships in turkey, including letters of recommendation, statements of purpose, and financial information (where relevant for scholarship applications or proof of funds).
- Service Usage Data: Information about how you use our services, consultation notes, communication records (emails, call logs).
- Technical Data: Internet protocol (IP) address, browser type and version, time zone setting and location, browser plug-in types and versions, operating system and platform, and other technology on the devices you use to access this website (collected via cookies or similar technologies).
- Marketing and Communications Data: Your preferences in receiving marketing from us and your communication preferences.
How We Collect Your Information
We collect data directly from you when you:
- Fill in forms on our website (e.g., contact form, consultation request form).
- Communicate with us via email, phone, or in person.
- Provide documents as part of our service engagement (e.g., application forms, academic records).
Legal Basis for Processing Your Data (Under KVKK/GDPR)
We process your personal data based on one or more of the following legal grounds:
- Consent: Where you have given clear consent for us to process your personal data for a specific purpose (e.g., signing up for newsletters).
- Contract: Where processing is necessary for the performance of a contract with you (e.g., providing the consultancy services you requested).
- Legal Obligation: Where processing is necessary for compliance with a legal obligation to which we are subject.
- Legitimate Interests: Where processing is necessary for our legitimate interests (or those of a third party), provided your fundamental rights do not override those interests (e.g., improving our services, website security).
- Explicit Consent (for Sensitive Data): Where we process sensitive personal data (as defined by KVKK), we will typically rely on your explicit consent unless another legal basis applies.
How We Use Your Information (Purposes of Processing)
We use your personal data for the following purposes:
- To provide our consultancy services regarding study in Turkey.
- To assess your eligibility and assist with applications to Turkish universities.
- To provide guidance and assistance with applications for scholarships in Turkey.
- To assist with student visa and residence permit (‘Ikamet’) applications.
- To communicate with you regarding our services, your applications, and inquiries.
- To provide pre-departure and post-arrival support, including accommodation guidance.
- To process payments for our services.
- To improve our website, services, and customer experience.
- To comply with legal and regulatory requirements.
- To send marketing communications, where you have consented to receive them.
Data Sharing and Disclosure
We may need to share your personal data with third parties for the purposes outlined above. These may include:
- Turkish Universities: When submitting applications on your behalf or inquiring about programs.
- Turkish Government Authorities: Including Embassies/Consulates for visa applications and the Directorate General of Migration Management (Göç İdaresi) for residence permits.
- Scholarship Providers: When assisting with scholarship applications.
- Accommodation Providers: (With your prior consent) When assisting with housing arrangements.
- Third-Party Service Providers: Such as IT and web hosting providers, payment processors, analytics providers, acting under our instructions and subject to data processing agreements.
- Legal and Regulatory Bodies: If required by law or during legal proceedings.
International Data Transfers: When submitting applications to Turkish universities or authorities, your data may be processed within Turkey. If data needs to be transferred outside of Turkey or the EU/EEA (e.g., communication with you in your home country), we will ensure appropriate safeguards are in place as required by KVKK and GDPR.
Data Retention
We will only retain your personal data for as long as reasonably necessary to fulfill the purposes we collected it for, including for the purposes of satisfying any legal, regulatory, tax, accounting, or reporting requirements. We may retain your personal data for a longer period in the event of a complaint or if we reasonably believe there is a prospect of litigation in respect to our relationship with you.
Data Security
We have implemented appropriate technical and organizational security measures to prevent your personal data from being accidentally lost, used, accessed in an unauthorized way, altered, or disclosed. Access to your personal data is limited to those employees, agents, and contractors who have a business need to know.
Your Rights (Under KVKK & GDPR)
Under KVKK and, where applicable, GDPR, you have certain rights regarding your personal data:
- Right to Access: Request access to your personal data.
- Right to Rectification: Request correction of inaccurate or incomplete data.
- Right to Erasure (‘Right to be Forgotten’): Request deletion of your personal data under certain conditions.
- Right to Restrict Processing: Request suspension of processing under certain conditions.
- Right to Object: Object to processing based on legitimate interests or for direct marketing.
- Right to Data Portability: Request transfer of your data to you or a third party in a structured format (where applicable).
- Right to Withdraw Consent: Withdraw consent at any time where processing is based on consent.
- Right to Lodge a Complaint: Lodge a complaint with the relevant supervisory authority (in Turkey: Kişisel Verileri Koruma Kurumu – KVKK Board; or your local EU data protection authority if GDPR applies).
To exercise these rights, please contact us using the details below.
Children’s Privacy
Our services are not primarily aimed at children under the age of 18 without parental/guardian involvement. We do not knowingly collect personal data from children without appropriate consent. If you believe we may have collected data from a child inappropriately, please contact us.
Changes to This Privacy Policy
We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. We will notify you of any significant changes by posting the new policy on this page and updating the “Effective Date” at the top. We encourage you to review this policy periodically.
Contact Us
If you have any questions about this Privacy Policy, our data protection practices, or wish to exercise your rights, please contact us at:
Yasben Academy
Email: info@yasbenacademy.com
Phone: + 90 543 731 8480
Disclaimer: Ensure this policy is reviewed by legal counsel specializing in KVKK and GDPR before publishing.