This Privacy Policy explains how Via Deutschland collects, uses, and protects your personal data when you use our website or submit a registration form. We are committed to handling your information responsibly and in accordance with the EU General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).
Who We Are
Via Deutschland is a student consulting and relocation service operated by , helping international students navigate the process of studying in Germany. We assist with university admissions, scholarship applications, language preparation, and arrival logistics.
For the purposes of data protection law, Via Deutschland is the data controller responsible for your personal information.
Data We Collect
We only collect information that is necessary to provide our services. When you submit our registration form, we may collect the following personal data:
- Full name
- Email address
- Phone number or WhatsApp contact
- Country of origin
- Intended course of study
- Preferred service (admissions, language prep, logistics, etc.)
- Intended university start date
- Any additional information you voluntarily provide in the message field
We do not collect payment information, government ID, or sensitive personal data (such as health or biometric data) through this website.
How We Use Your Data
We use the personal data you provide solely for the following purposes:
- To respond to your registration and provide the services you requested
- To match you with appropriate university programs, scholarships, or service packages
- To send relevant updates about registration deadlines, DAAD scholarship dates, or intake periods
- To improve our services based on the information you share with us
- To comply with legal obligations where applicable
We will never use your data for automated decision-making or profiling without your explicit consent.
Legal Basis for Processing
Under the GDPR, we process your personal data based on the following legal grounds:
- Consent — you have voluntarily submitted your details via our registration form
- Legitimate Interests — to respond to your inquiry and provide the service you have requested
- Legal Obligation — where we are required by law to process or retain certain information
You may withdraw your consent at any time by contacting us at the email address listed in Section 12.
Data Sharing & Disclosure
We do not sell, rent, or trade your personal data to any third parties. We may share your information only in the following limited circumstances:
- Service Providers — we use Formspree (formspree.io) to process form submissions. Formspree acts as a data processor and is bound by its own privacy policy and GDPR obligations
- Legal Requirements — if we are required by law, court order, or governmental authority to disclose information
- With Your Consent — if you explicitly agree to share your data with a specific university, scholarship body, or partner organisation
Any third-party service providers we use are carefully selected and required to maintain appropriate data protection standards.
Data Retention
We retain your personal data only for as long as is necessary to fulfil the purposes for which it was collected, or as required by law. In practice:
- Registration data is retained for the duration of your engagement with Via Deutschland
- If you do not proceed with our services, your data will be deleted within 12 months of your initial enquiry
- You may request deletion of your data at any time (see Section 7)
When data is no longer needed, it is securely deleted or anonymised.
Your Rights Under GDPR
As a data subject under the GDPR, you have the following rights:
- Right of Access — you may request a copy of the personal data we hold about you
- Right to Rectification — you may ask us to correct inaccurate or incomplete data
- Right to Erasure — you may request that we delete your personal data ("right to be forgotten")
- Right to Restrict Processing — you may ask us to limit how we use your data
- Right to Data Portability — you may request your data in a structured, machine-readable format
- Right to Object — you may object to processing based on legitimate interests
- Right to Withdraw Consent — where processing is based on consent, you may withdraw it at any time
To exercise any of these rights, please contact us at viadeutschland@outlook.de. We will respond within 30 days.
You also have the right to lodge a complaint with a data protection supervisory authority if you believe your rights have been violated.
Cookies
Our website currently does not use tracking cookies, advertising cookies, or analytics cookies. The site is a static HTML page with no cookie-based tracking.
If we introduce any cookies in the future (for example, analytics or functionality improvements), we will update this policy and display a cookie consent notice accordingly.
Third-Party Services
Our website makes use of the following third-party services, each of which has its own privacy policy:
- Formspree (formspree.io) — processes form submissions and delivers them to our email inbox. View their privacy policy at formspree.io/legal/privacy-policy
- Google Fonts — we load fonts from Google's CDN. Google may collect limited technical data (e.g. IP address) when fonts are loaded. View Google's privacy policy at policies.google.com/privacy
- Amazon Web Services (AWS) — our website is hosted on AWS S3. AWS may collect server logs including IP addresses. View AWS's privacy policy at aws.amazon.com/privacy
We are not responsible for the privacy practices of these third-party providers, but we only work with providers that maintain appropriate data protection standards.
Children's Privacy
Our services are intended for individuals who are 16 years of age or older. We do not knowingly collect personal data from children under the age of 16 without verifiable parental consent.
If you believe we have inadvertently collected data from a minor, please contact us immediately and we will take steps to delete the information as soon as possible.
Changes to This Policy
We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our practices, services, or legal requirements. When we make significant changes, we will update the "Last Updated" date at the top of this page.
We encourage you to review this page periodically to stay informed about how we protect your data. Continued use of our website after changes are posted constitutes your acceptance of the updated policy.
Contact Us
If you have any questions, concerns, or requests regarding this Privacy Policy or how we handle your personal data, please contact us:
Via Deutschland
Email: viadeutschland@outlook.de
We aim to respond to all privacy-related enquiries within 30 days.