Plain-English Summary: These Terms govern your use of AEC Consultant's website and services. Our guidance, applications, and support are provided completely free to students - we are funded by partner universities, never by you. By using our service, you agree to provide accurate information, engage in good faith, and allow us to act on your behalf with partner institutions. You can stop using our service at any time with no penalty.
Definitions
In these Terms & Conditions, the following terms have the meanings set out below:
| Term | Meaning |
|---|---|
| "AEC Consultant", "we", "us", "our" | AEC Consultant Ltd, a company registered in England and Wales, with its registered office at Walter Hancock Court 1, McGrath Road, London E15 4FA. |
| "You", "Student", "User" | Any individual who accesses our website, requests our services, or engages with our team. |
| "Services" | All education consultancy services we provide, including free counselling, course matching, university application support, Student Finance guidance, and ongoing student support. |
| "Partner University" | Any UK-accredited university, college, or higher education institution with which AEC Consultant has a formal referral or partnership agreement. |
| "Application" | Any formal application for a place on a university course submitted by us on your behalf to a Partner University. |
| "Student Finance England" | The government body responsible for providing financial support to students in higher education in England. |
| "Website" | The website located at www.aecconsultant.co.uk and all associated pages and subdomains. |
About Our Services
AEC Consultant provides end-to-end education consultancy services to help students access UK higher education. Our services include, but are not limited to:
- Free initial counselling and eligibility assessments
- Course selection and pathway guidance tailored to your background and goals
- Preparation and submission of university applications on your behalf
- Assistance with documentation, personal statements, and supporting materials
- Guidance and practical support with Student Finance England applications
- Post-enrolment support including annual re-enrolment and pastoral check-ins
- Career and progression guidance throughout your studies
Eligibility to Use Our Services
To use our services, you must:
- Be at least 16 years of age. If you are under 18, you confirm that you have obtained parental or guardian consent to engage with our services.
- Be genuinely interested in accessing UK higher education for lawful purposes.
- Have the legal right to study in the United Kingdom, or be in the process of obtaining the right to do so.
- Provide accurate, complete, and up-to-date information when requested.
We reserve the right to refuse or withdraw our services at our discretion where we reasonably believe a user does not meet these eligibility criteria, has provided false or misleading information, or is using our services for any unlawful purpose.
Free Service & How We Are Funded
Our service is completely free to you
AEC Consultant is funded entirely by our Partner Universities and higher education institutions. We receive a referral fee from Partner Universities when a student we support successfully enrols. This funding model means you are never charged for any service we provide - not for counselling, applications, documentation support, or finance guidance.
By using our services, you acknowledge and accept the following:
- You will never be asked to pay any fee directly to AEC Consultant for any service we provide.
- AEC Consultant receives remuneration from Partner Universities upon successful student enrolment. This does not affect the impartiality of the guidance we provide.
- Any university tuition fees, examination fees, or other costs associated with your studies are separate from our service and payable directly to the university or through Student Finance England.
- The application fee to partner universities is £0 when submitted through AEC Consultant.
Our Obligations to You
AEC Consultant commits to the following standards in delivering our services:
Honest & Impartial Guidance
We will provide advice that is in your best interests, based on your goals, background, and eligibility - not influenced by commercial relationships with universities.
Dedicated Personal Advisor
You will be assigned a named consultant who will manage your case from initial enquiry through to enrolment, avoiding unnecessary handovers.
Prompt Response
We will respond to all enquiries within 2 working hours during office hours (Mon-Fri 9am-6pm, Sat 10am-3pm).
Data Protection
We will handle all personal data in compliance with UK GDPR. See our Privacy Policy for full details.
Accurate Applications
We will submit applications accurately and on time, only including information you have provided and authorised us to use.
Ongoing Support
We will provide support beyond enrolment - including annual re-enrolment guidance, wellbeing check-ins, and career advice throughout your studies.
We endeavour to meet these commitments at all times. However, our ability to fulfil certain obligations may be affected by factors outside our control, including actions by third parties such as universities, Student Finance England, or government bodies.
Your Obligations
In using our services, you agree to the following obligations:
6.1 Accuracy of Information
You must provide accurate, truthful, and complete information at all times. This includes your personal details, academic qualifications, immigration and residency status, prior study history, and any other information relevant to your application or Student Finance eligibility.
6.2 Timely Responses
You agree to respond promptly to requests for information, documentation, or sign-off from your advisor. Delays caused by non-response may affect application deadlines, offer validity, or Student Finance processing.
6.3 Respectful Conduct
You agree to treat all AEC Consultant staff with respect. We reserve the right to withdraw our services in cases of abusive, threatening, or inappropriate conduct directed at our team.
6.4 Compliance with University Rules
Once enrolled, you are responsible for complying with the rules, regulations, and academic requirements of your university. AEC Consultant is not responsible for any disciplinary action, suspension, or withdrawal of enrolment by a university.
6.5 Authorisation to Act
By engaging our application service, you authorise AEC Consultant to submit applications, communicate with universities, and liaise with Student Finance England on your behalf using the information you have provided.
Applications & University Offers
The following terms apply to all university applications submitted by AEC Consultant on your behalf:
- All applications are submitted subject to the entry requirements and admissions policies of the relevant Partner University.
- AEC Consultant cannot guarantee that any application will result in an offer of a place. The decision to make an offer rests entirely with the Partner University.
- Conditional offers are made by universities subject to your meeting stated academic or other conditions. AEC Consultant will notify you of any conditions but cannot guarantee you will be able to satisfy them.
- Unconditional offers may be received where a university is satisfied you already meet entry requirements. AEC Consultant will inform you of any such offer promptly.
- Offer turnaround times quoted (e.g. 48 hours) are indicative only and subject to the university's own processes. We do not guarantee any specific turnaround time.
- You must inform AEC Consultant immediately if you accept or decline an offer, withdraw from a course, or receive any direct communication from a university that affects your application.
- AEC Consultant is not a party to any agreement between you and a Partner University. Your enrolment contract is with the university directly.
Student Finance Guidance
AEC Consultant provides practical guidance and support to help eligible students access funding through Student Finance England. The following terms apply:
- Student Finance eligibility is determined solely by Student Finance England, based on criteria including residency, immigration status, prior study history, and course eligibility. AEC Consultant provides guidance based on the information you supply, but cannot guarantee your eligibility.
- AEC Consultant is not a regulated financial adviser. The guidance we provide on Student Finance is informational only and does not constitute regulated financial advice.
- You are responsible for submitting your own Student Finance application and for ensuring all information you provide to Student Finance England is accurate and complete. AEC Consultant may assist with preparation but you are the applicant.
- Tuition fee loans and maintenance loans are subject to Student Finance England's standard terms, conditions, and repayment thresholds. AEC Consultant has no influence over these.
- AEC Consultant accepts no liability for any funding shortfall, delay, or ineligibility arising from your individual circumstances or changes to government policy.
Intellectual Property
All content on the AEC Consultant website - including text, graphics, logos, images, course descriptions, guides, articles, and software - is the property of AEC Consultant Ltd or its content licensors and is protected by UK and international copyright law.
You are permitted to:
- Access and view website content for your own personal, non-commercial use
- Print or download a reasonable number of pages for personal reference
- Share links to our content on social media or by email
You must not:
- Reproduce, republish, or redistribute substantial portions of our website content without written permission
- Use our brand, logo, or name in any way that implies a partnership or endorsement without our written consent
- Scrape, harvest, or systematically extract data from our website
- Use our content for commercial purposes without a licence agreement
To request permission to use our content, contact info@aecconsultant.co.uk.
Limitation of Liability
To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, AEC Consultant limits its liability as follows:
- No guarantee of outcomes: We do not guarantee any specific result from our services, including receipt of a university offer, Student Finance approval, academic success, or employment outcomes.
- Third party actions: We accept no liability for decisions, delays, or errors made by Partner Universities, Student Finance England, the Home Office, or any other third party.
- User-provided information: We accept no liability for consequences arising from inaccurate, incomplete, or misleading information provided by you.
- Website availability: We do not warrant that our website will be available at all times, error-free, or free from viruses or other harmful components.
- Consequential losses: We shall not be liable for any indirect, consequential, incidental, or special losses - including loss of earnings, academic opportunity, or reputation - arising from use of our services.
Termination & Withdrawal
11.1 Your Right to Withdraw
You may withdraw from our services at any time, without penalty, by notifying us in writing at info@aecconsultant.co.uk or by telephone. If you withdraw after an application has been submitted to a university, you must also notify that university directly.
11.2 Our Right to Withdraw Services
AEC Consultant reserves the right to suspend or terminate its services to you with immediate effect if:
- You provide false, misleading, or fraudulent information
- You engage in abusive, threatening, or disrespectful behaviour towards our staff
- We reasonably believe you are using our services for an unlawful purpose
- You breach any material term of these Terms & Conditions
- Continuing to provide services would expose AEC Consultant to legal or reputational risk
11.3 Effect of Termination
Upon termination by either party, we will cease acting on your behalf with immediate effect. Any applications already submitted cannot be withdrawn by AEC Consultant - you will need to contact the university directly. Provisions regarding intellectual property, limitation of liability, and governing law survive termination.
Complaints Procedure
We take complaints seriously and aim to resolve all concerns promptly and fairly. If you are unhappy with any aspect of our service, please follow the process below:
- Step 1 - Contact Your Advisor: In the first instance, raise your concern directly with your assigned advisor, who will attempt to resolve it within 2 working days.
- Step 2 - Formal Complaint: If unresolved, submit a formal written complaint to info@aecconsultant.co.uk with the subject line "Formal Complaint". We will acknowledge within 2 working days and provide a full response within 10 working days.
- Step 3 - Escalation: If you remain dissatisfied after our formal response, you may escalate your complaint to our senior management team. We will review and respond within a further 10 working days.
- Step 4 - External Review: If the matter relates to a university application or enrolment, you may also contact the relevant university's student complaints team or the Office of the Independent Adjudicator (OIA) for Higher Education at oiahe.org.uk.
We are committed to learning from complaints and continuously improving our services.
Governing Law & Jurisdiction
These Terms & Conditions and any dispute or claim arising out of or in connection with them (including non-contractual disputes or claims) shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of England and Wales.
You and AEC Consultant irrevocably agree that the courts of England and Wales shall have exclusive jurisdiction to settle any dispute or claim arising from or in connection with these Terms or their subject matter or formation.
If you are a consumer resident in Scotland or Northern Ireland, you may also have the right to bring proceedings in the courts of your country of residence.
Changes to These Terms
AEC Consultant reserves the right to update or amend these Terms & Conditions at any time. When we make material changes, we will:
- Update the "Last reviewed" date at the top of this page
- Notify active users by email where changes are material or affect their ongoing engagement
- Display a notice on our website for at least 30 days following any significant revision
Your continued use of our services after changes have been posted constitutes acceptance of the revised Terms. If you do not agree to the updated Terms, you should cease using our services and notify us in writing. We recommend bookmarking this page and reviewing it periodically. Earlier versions of these Terms are available on request.
Contact Us
If you have any questions about these Terms & Conditions, wish to exercise any right set out herein, or need to correspond with us for any legal purpose, please use the contact details below:
For data protection enquiries, please refer to our Privacy Policy. For complaints, please follow the process set out in Section 12 above.