01 / INTRODUCTION
Introduction and Data Controller
Beijing Explore the Unknown (BETU) respects the privacy of people who visit our website, contact our team, explore educational or professional opportunities, or use our services.
This Privacy Policy describes how personal information is collected, used, shared, stored and protected, together with the choices and rights available to individuals under applicable law.
For its own website, enquiries, assessments and services, BETU generally determines the purposes and means of processing personal information. A university, authority or other independently operating organisation may determine the processing of information it receives for its own purposes.
Nothing in this policy limits rights that individuals have under mandatory applicable law.
02 / SCOPE
Scope
This policy applies to information processed in connection with BETU's website and activities, including:
- Website visits, general enquiries, free resources and preliminary eligibility assessments.
- Study in China opportunities, including bachelor's, master's and Chinese-language pathways.
- University applications, scholarship-related information, document preparation, arrival and ongoing support.
- Study tours, internships, executive programmes, professional learning, business visits and organisational partnerships.
- Agreed services, billing and payment administration.
- Communications by email, telephone, WhatsApp, WeChat, meetings or other agreed channels.
Where relevant, this policy also applies to information supplied by parents, guardians, employers and authorised representatives. Third-party websites and institutions may issue separate privacy notices for their own activities.
03 / INFORMATION WE COLLECT
Information We Collect
The information BETU collects depends on the nature of your enquiry, application or requested service. We seek to collect information relevant to that purpose.
Some information, including identity documents, financial records or information about children, may require additional protection. Please do not send sensitive personal documents through an initial website enquiry unless BETU has specifically requested them and explained an appropriate channel.
04 / SOURCES OF PERSONAL INFORMATION
Sources of Personal Information
We may receive information directly from you, from an authorised representative, from relevant educational institutions or service providers, and through the technical operation of our website.
Someone supplying another person's information should have the necessary authority to do so and arrange any legally required notice or permission. Where applicable, BETU may request confirmation of that authority.
When information is received from another source, we will provide any additional notice required by applicable law, subject to lawful exceptions.
05 / PURPOSES AND LEGAL GROUNDS
Purposes and Legal Grounds
We use personal information for specified activities related to the request, service or operation of our business.
| Processing activity | Purpose |
|---|---|
| General enquiries | Respond to questions and discuss requested options. |
| Free Study in China Guide | Record and deliver a requested resource. |
| Eligibility Check | Provide an indicative assessment and handle elected follow-up. |
| Applications and services | Prepare, coordinate and administer requested assistance. |
| Professional programmes | Discuss and coordinate proposed organisational arrangements. |
| Payments | Manage invoicing, transfers, accounts and required records. |
| Website operation | Maintain functionality, security and service reliability. |
| Marketing and analytics | Send optional news or measure traffic where permitted. |
The applicable lawful basis depends on the activity and jurisdiction. Where EU or UK GDPR applies, processing may be based on consent, steps requested before entering a contract, contractual performance, legal obligations or legitimate interests where appropriately assessed. Where China's Personal Information Protection Law applies, the basis must be one permitted under that law, such as consent, contractual necessity or a legal obligation.
Marketing consent is separate from the information needed to handle an enquiry, deliver a guide or process a preliminary assessment. If requested information is essential to provide a particular service, we may be unable to complete that service without it.
06 / FREE ELIGIBILITY CHECK AND PRELIMINARY RESULTS
Free Eligibility Check and Preliminary Results
BETU's Free Eligibility Check uses information provided by the visitor to produce an indicative study-planning outcome. The assessment may consider intended study level, educational background, age group, graduation status, language preparation, preferred teaching language and relevant funding considerations.
An outcome does not independently determine university admission, scholarship entitlement, visa approval or final programme eligibility. Institutions and competent authorities make their own decisions.
You can ask us to correct inaccurate information or seek an explanation or human consideration of the assessment. Where applicable law provides additional rights in relation to qualifying automated decisions, we will respect those rights.
07 / SENSITIVE PERSONAL INFORMATION
Sensitive Personal Information
Some application documents contain information requiring additional legal protection. BETU seeks to limit collection to information appropriate to the relevant application or service.
- Information is requested for an identified purpose, not for unrelated future uses.
- Additional notices, explicit or separate consent, or other lawful authorisations are addressed where required.
- Access and transfer methods are chosen according to the sensitivity of the documents and the recipient's role.
Applicants should not send passports, bank statements or other sensitive records through an unsolicited initial enquiry. When detailed documentation is needed, an adviser can explain the requested materials and the available transmission method.
08 / INFORMATION SHARING
Information Sharing
Depending on your request, relevant personal information may be shared with universities, scholarship administrators, competent public authorities, programme providers and service partners.
We may also use technology and communications providers necessary to operate our website, process enquiries and administer services.
We aim to limit disclosures to information relevant to a recipient's role. A general website enquiry does not authorise unrestricted circulation of your application documents. Where the law requires separate notice, recipient information or consent, those requirements must be met before disclosure.
Independent institutions may handle received information under their own privacy notices. BETU does not sell student application documents as a commercial data product.
09 / INTERNATIONAL PROCESSING AND TRANSFERS
International Processing and Transfers
BETU is established in mainland China, where its internal enquiry and application-handling team operates. Individuals overseas may provide information that is processed in China.
Some hosting, communications, analytics, advertising and other service providers may also process information in additional jurisdictions. Relevant data may be sent to universities or other organisations involved in a requested service.
Applicable international-transfer conditions can include specific notice, consent, contractual safeguards, assessments or another legally recognised basis. The requirements depend on the relevant location, recipient, information and legal framework.
You may contact us to ask about the processing arrangements relevant to your particular request. This policy does not claim that information remains exclusively within China.
10 / COOKIES, ANALYTICS AND ADVERTISING
Cookies, Analytics and Advertising
Our website uses technologies supporting essential operation, security, analytics and advertising measurement. Relevant providers include Hostinger, Cloudflare, Google Analytics, Google Site Kit and Google Ads.
Where applicable law requires consent, non-essential analytics and advertising technologies are controlled through cookie preferences. Optional permissions are distinct from essential website functions. The cookie consent interface identifies the available choices, relevant technologies and their applicable duration.
You may accept, reject or change optional preferences. Withdrawing permission does not prevent you from using general website information or submitting ordinary enquiries.
11 / MARKETING COMMUNICATIONS
Marketing Communications
BETU may send information about programmes, educational opportunities and related news where the recipient has chosen to receive such communications or another lawful basis applies.
Marketing permission is independent from submitting an enquiry, requesting a free guide or using the Free Eligibility Check. Declining optional marketing does not prevent requested service communications.
You may withdraw marketing consent through unsubscribe instructions or by contacting info@beijingexploreunknown.com. Limited records may be retained to demonstrate consent and ensure that an opt-out continues to be respected.
12 / COMMUNICATION PLATFORMS AND MEETINGS
Communication Platforms and Meetings
BETU may communicate through Hostinger-hosted email, telephone, WhatsApp, WeChat, Tencent Meeting, Google Meet or another channel agreed with you.
Third-party platforms may independently process information under their own privacy policies. Information may be retained where necessary for the enquiry, requested service or another lawful purpose.
Sensitive documents should be exchanged using a method appropriate to their nature. Meetings are not automatically recorded; where recording is proposed, BETU will provide appropriate notice and address any legally required consent.
13 / CHILDREN AND YOUNG PEOPLE
Children and Young People
BETU's principal Study in China services are intended for adults aged 18 or over. Younger prospective students and families may seek general information about future educational opportunities.
Children under 14
A parent or legal guardian should contact BETU on the child's behalf. A child under 14 should not independently submit detailed personal information, identity documents or academic records. Where relevant processing is needed, we will address applicable guardian consent, child-specific notice and protective requirements.
Young people aged 14 to 17
Young people may request limited general guidance. Detailed applications, sensitive document collection or contractual arrangements may require parent or guardian involvement and legally appropriate authorisation.
A preliminary enquiry does not mean that BETU's adult-only programmes are immediately available to a minor. If we receive a child's information without necessary safeguards, we will assess and address it, including deletion where required.
14 / PAYMENTS AND FINANCIAL RECORDS
Payments and Financial Records
BETU currently handles service payments outside the website, including through bank transfers. We may process billing, invoice, payer and transaction information relevant to service administration, accounting and legal obligations.
University tuition, accommodation and other third-party charges may be paid to the relevant provider according to the agreed arrangement. If BETU later introduces an integrated online payment service, the applicable processor disclosures and practices will be reviewed before it goes live.
15 / DATA RETENTION AND DELETION
Data Retention and Deletion
Our general operational retention standard is up to three years after the last meaningful interaction, where continued retention is justified.
A meaningful interaction may include substantive correspondence, an application update or agreed service activity. Three years is not an automatic minimum and does not replace a statutory retention period.
| Information type | Retention approach |
|---|---|
| General enquiries | Up to three years after the last meaningful interaction, where justified. |
| Eligibility records | Up to three years after relevant interaction, subject to necessity. |
| Guide requests | As needed to fulfil the request and appropriate related records, generally within the three-year standard. |
| Sensitive application documents | For the necessary application or service period, with shorter retention where appropriate. |
| Marketing preferences | While needed for communications or to respect a withdrawal request. |
| Accounting and legal records | For applicable statutory or legitimate legal retention periods, potentially longer than three years. |
| Technical data and backups | Under documented operational and security schedules appropriate to each system. |
Information is deleted, anonymised or otherwise lawfully handled when no longer necessary. Deletion can be deferred where retention is legally required or a legally recognised exception applies.
16 / SECURITY AND PRIVACY RIGHTS
Security and Privacy Rights
BETU takes organisational and technical measures appropriate to the nature and risks of the information it processes, including access restrictions, account safeguards and protected handling of application materials.
No online service can promise complete security. Suspected incidents are assessed and handled, including notification to individuals or authorities where required by law.
Your privacy rights
Depending on the circumstances and applicable law, you may be entitled to:
- Access your personal information.
- Request correction or completion.
- Request deletion where appropriate.
- Withdraw consent.
- Object to specified processing.
- Request restriction or portability.
- Seek human review where applicable.
- Complain to a competent authority.
Applicable rights may arise under Chinese law, the EU or UK GDPR, relevant US state laws or other laws that apply to the particular processing. Not every regional law applies to every visitor or BETU activity.
Send requests to info@beijingexploreunknown.com. We may verify identity or authority as reasonably necessary. Requests are handled in accordance with applicable time limits and lawful exceptions.
17 / UPDATES AND CONTACT
Updates and Contact
This Privacy Policy is effective from 13 October 2026. We may update it to reflect changes in services, technology, business practices or applicable law.
Material changes will be communicated appropriately, and additional consent sought where legally required. A revised effective date will be shown on the updated policy.