Sections
Introduction and Acceptance of Terms
ScholarLink operates as a digital academic matching and discovery platform, facilitating connections between scholars and professors, sharing research opportunities, and providing AI-assisted academic tools. These Terms form a legally binding agreement between you (“User,” “Scholar,” “Professor,” or “Institution”) and ScholarLink (“we,” “our,” or “us”).
Your use of the Platform confirms that you have read, understood, and agreed to these Terms, along with our Privacy Policy and any additional policies referenced herein.
ScholarLink reserves the right to update or modify these Terms at any time in accordance with applicable provisions below.
User Accounts and Eligibility
Registration and Eligibility
To register for an account on ScholarLink, you must be at least 13 years of age. Users under 18 must obtain parental or legal guardian consent where required by applicable law. By registering, you confirm that all information provided is accurate, complete, and kept up to date.
ScholarLink may verify academic or professional information, including institutional affiliations, to maintain the integrity of the Scholar–Professor Network.
Account Security
You are solely responsible for maintaining the confidentiality of your login credentials. Any activity conducted under your account will be deemed your responsibility. You agree to notify ScholarLink immediately if you suspect unauthorized access or misuse of your account.
ScholarLink is not liable for losses arising from your failure to secure your account credentials.
User Conduct and Professional Standards
ScholarLink is built to foster respectful academic collaboration. Users agree to maintain professional conduct at all times. You are strictly prohibited from:
- Posting illegal, defamatory, offensive, discriminatory, or misleading content
- Impersonating another individual or institution
- Attempting to manipulate, scrape, reverse-engineer, or disrupt the Platform's operation
- Using automated bots without prior written authorization
- Engaging in spam, harassment, or fraudulent activity
Violation of these rules may result in immediate suspension or termination of your account.
Content Ownership and Intellectual Property
ScholarLink Intellectual Property
All intellectual property rights related to ScholarLink — including but not limited to platform architecture, AI algorithms, database structures, trademarks, logos, design elements, code, and proprietary matching systems — are owned exclusively by ScholarLink.
You may not reproduce, distribute, modify, create derivative works, or commercially exploit any part of the Platform without prior written consent.
User-Generated Content
Users retain ownership of content they upload, including academic profiles, research descriptions, CVs, publications, and communications. However, by submitting content, you grant ScholarLink a worldwide, non-exclusive, royalty-free license to host, use, reproduce, display, distribute, and adapt such content for Platform functionality, marketing, research analytics, and service improvement.
You warrant that you have the necessary rights to share any content you upload.
AI Tools, Matching Services, and Platform Functionality
ScholarLink utilizes artificial intelligence to provide academic matching, recommendations, and content suggestions. While we strive for accuracy and reliability, AI-generated outputs are informational in nature and do not constitute academic, legal, or immigration advice.
We do not guarantee admissions, funding, acceptance by supervisors, or research outcomes. Users are responsible for conducting independent verification before making academic or professional decisions.
Third-Party Content and External Services
The Platform may contain links to third-party websites, institutions, journals, funding bodies, or academic services. ScholarLink does not control and is not responsible for third-party content, data policies, or services.
Your interactions with third parties, including applications, communications, or financial transactions, are solely between you and the respective third party.
Payments, Premium Features, and Refund Policy
Certain features of ScholarLink may require payment or subscription. All fees will be clearly disclosed prior to purchase. By purchasing premium services, you agree to the stated pricing, billing cycle, and payment terms.
Unless otherwise specified, payments are non-refundable. ScholarLink reserves the right to modify pricing structures with reasonable notice.
Disclaimer of Warranties
ScholarLink is provided on an “as is” and “as available” basis without warranties of any kind, express or implied. We disclaim all warranties, including merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose, accuracy, reliability, and non-infringement.
We do not warrant uninterrupted access, error-free operation, or guaranteed matching results. Academic decisions remain the sole responsibility of users.
Limitation of Liability
To the fullest extent permitted by law, ScholarLink shall not be liable for direct, indirect, incidental, consequential, special, or punitive damages arising from your use of the Platform.
This includes, but is not limited to, loss of academic opportunity, funding, data, reputation, or business interruption. Our total liability shall not exceed the amount paid by you (if any) for Platform services within the previous twelve months.
Termination and Suspension
ScholarLink reserves the right to suspend or terminate your account at its sole discretion if you violate these Terms or engage in harmful behavior toward the Platform or its users.
Upon termination, your access rights will cease immediately. ScholarLink may retain certain data as required by law or legitimate business purposes.
Governing Law and Dispute Resolution
These Terms shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the Province of Ontario, Canada, without regard to conflict of law principles.
Any dispute arising out of or relating to these Terms shall be resolved through binding arbitration in Province of Ontario, unless otherwise required by law. Users agree to waive the right to participate in class-action proceedings.
Privacy and Data Protection
Your use of ScholarLink is also governed by our Privacy Policy. We are committed to protecting personal data in accordance with applicable data protection regulations, including Canadian privacy laws and, where applicable, international standards.
By using the Platform, you consent to data processing necessary for matching, analytics, and service improvement.
Modifications to the Terms
ScholarLink reserves the right to update these Terms at any time. Changes will be posted on the Platform and may be communicated via email. Continued use of the Platform after updates constitutes acceptance of the revised Terms.