Terms of Use

Part I – Student and public use

2. Purpose of the Platform

Pathwise Universities is designed to help students and prospective students identify possible next steps in their education.

The Platform may provide:

• university search;
• program search;
• country and subject search;
• guided university discovery;
• AI-assisted university and program matching;
• university and program information;
• filtering and comparison tools;
• links to university websites;
• publicly available university contact information;
• inquiry and communication tools;
• student accounts;
• saved searches and shortlists;
• educational guidance;
• consultation or support services;
• sponsored university placements;
• university promotional content; and
• other education-related discovery services.

Pathwise is intended to simplify the discovery process while preserving the student’s ability to make their own educational decisions.

3. Pathwise is not a university or admissions authority

Pathwise Universities is an education discovery and connection platform.

Unless expressly stated otherwise for a specific service, Pathwise is not:

• a university;
• an awarding institution;
• an accreditation body;
• an admissions authority;
• an immigration adviser;
• a financial adviser;
• a professional licensing authority;
• an employment agency; or
• an official university-ranking organisation.

Universities remain independently responsible for their admissions processes, academic programs, qualifications, fees, recognition, accreditation, communications and contractual relationships with students.

4. No guarantee of admission or outcome

Information provided through Pathwise does not constitute an offer or guarantee of:

• admission;
• enrolment;
• acceptance;
• scholarship;
• financial aid;
• visa approval;
• credit recognition;
• professional recognition;
• employment;
• salary;
• career progression;
• academic success; or
• any particular educational outcome.

A university appearing in a search or guided result does not mean that the student will meet that institution’s admission requirements.

Students are responsible for reviewing the final admission criteria of the relevant university.

5. Search and direct discovery

Students may use Pathwise to search directly for universities, programs, subjects, countries or other available educational information.

Search results may be generated from information obtained from:

• universities;
• public university websites;
• participating institutions;
• licensed databases;
• authorised data providers;
• APIs;
• public datasets;
• other reliable sources; and
• information organised or processed using automated systems.

Pathwise does not guarantee that every university, program or educational opportunity available globally will be represented on the Platform.

6. Guided matching and AI-assisted discovery

Pathwise may provide a guided wizard or similar tool to help identify educational options based on preferences selected by the student.

These preferences may include:

• degree level;
• field of study;
• country or region;
• study mode;
• language;
• delivery format;
• academic interests;
• career interests;
• other preferences voluntarily supplied by the user.

Artificial intelligence, algorithms, rules-based systems or other automated methods may be used to process these preferences and present potentially relevant universities or programs.

The purpose of this functionality is to assist discovery.

It does not replace independent judgment.

7. No automated academic judgment

Pathwise does not intend AI-assisted matching to determine:

• whether a student should attend a particular university;
• whether one university is objectively superior to another;
• whether a student will succeed in a particular program;
• whether a qualification will guarantee employment;
• whether admission should be granted; or
• any similarly significant academic or legal decision.

The student remains responsible for deciding which institutions or programs to investigate, contact or apply to.

8. Matching is not a university ranking

Pathwise matching is based primarily on relevance to the preferences, criteria and information available within the Platform.

A university appearing earlier in a set of organic results does not necessarily mean that Pathwise considers it academically superior.

Unless specifically identified otherwise, Pathwise does not assign independent academic-quality rankings to institutions.

Where a recommendation rationale is displayed, it should be interpreted as an explanation of relevance to the student’s stated preferences rather than a formal evaluation of academic quality.

9. Information accuracy

Pathwise aims to provide useful and reasonably current educational information.

However, university information changes frequently.

Information that may change includes:

• available programs;
• admissions requirements;
• tuition;
• fees;
• scholarships;
• deadlines;
• intakes;
• delivery formats;
• locations;
• teaching languages;
• academic credits;
• ECTS;
• course duration;
• accreditation;
• recognition;
• faculty;
• visa-related information; and
• contact details.

Students should confirm material information directly with the relevant university before applying, enrolling, paying fees or making substantial educational decisions.

10. Accreditation and recognition

Where accreditation or recognition information is displayed, Pathwise may obtain that information from the university, public registers, accreditation bodies or other sources.

Pathwise does not itself accredit institutions.

Students should independently verify whether:

• the institution is recognised;
• a program is accredited;
• a qualification is recognised in their country;
• a program satisfies professional licensing requirements; or
• credits or qualifications will transfer or be accepted elsewhere.

Where applicable, students should verify information with the relevant governmental, accreditation or professional authority.

11. University contact information

Pathwise may display publicly available or institutionally supplied contact details, including:

• email addresses;
• telephone numbers;
• websites;
• admission office information;
• inquiry links;
• application links.

Pathwise may also provide mechanisms through which students may send inquiries.

A student choosing to contact a university does so voluntarily.

12. Student inquiries

Where a student submits an inquiry through Pathwise, the Platform may transmit the information necessary to process that inquiry to the selected university or other relevant recipient.

The student will be informed, as appropriate, about relevant data sharing through the Platform’s Privacy Policy or point-of-collection notice.

Pathwise does not guarantee that a university will:

• respond;
• respond within a particular time;
• provide particular information;
• admit the student; or
• continue communicating with the student.

13. Student accounts

Students may be offered the ability to create an account.

Account functionality may include:

• saved searches;
• university shortlists;
• saved programs;
• inquiry history;
• communication tracking;
• matching preferences;
• recommendations;
• account settings.

Students must provide accurate information and maintain the security of their login credentials.

Users are responsible for activity conducted through their accounts.

14. Guest use

Pathwise may permit students to access certain functionality without registration.

Guest functionality may be more limited than functionality available to registered users.

Pathwise may invite a guest user to register in order to save searches, track inquiries or access other account functionality.

Registration should not be unnecessarily required merely to perform basic educational discovery unless technically or legally necessary.

15. Age and eligibility

Pathwise is intended primarily for prospective higher-education students.

The Platform is not intended for children under the age of 13.

Where a user is below the age at which they may independently consent to relevant services or data processing under applicable law, parental or guardian involvement may be required.

Additional safeguards may be implemented for younger users where appropriate.

Part II – Pathwise Partners and educational guidance

16. Role of ICARUS AI, GHU and Thrive Thrace

Pathwise Universities is a collaborative initiative.

The Pathwise Partners may contribute different services.

These may include, without limitation:

ICARUS AI

• technology;
• Platform development;
• artificial-intelligence functionality;
• search and discovery infrastructure;
• matching systems;
• data infrastructure;
• analytics;
• platform administration;
• university onboarding; and
• related technical services.

Global Humanistic University (GHU)

• academic expertise;
• educational guidance;
• consultation;
• institutional knowledge;
• academic-quality input;
• university relationships; and
• related educational services.

Thrive Thrace

• student engagement;
• educational outreach;
• community participation;
• student support;
• institutional engagement;
• program development; and
• related initiative activities.

The exact responsibilities may evolve as the Platform develops.

Nothing in this section should be interpreted as assigning a legal role that is inconsistent with the actual activity performed by the relevant organisation.

17. Educational guidance and consultation

Pathwise may offer students optional educational guidance or consultation.

Such guidance may be provided by one or more Pathwise Partners or appropriately qualified collaborators.

Guidance may assist a student in understanding:

• possible study options;
• program characteristics;
• study modes;
• institutional choices;
• application processes;
• educational pathways.

Guidance is advisory only.

The final decision remains with the student.

No guidance provided through Pathwise guarantees admission or academic success.

Part III – University participation

18. University partner accounts

Universities or authorised institutional representatives may register, request registration or participate as institutional partners.

The individual creating or managing an institutional account represents that they are authorised to act on behalf of the relevant institution.

Pathwise may request verification of:

• institutional identity;
• official domain;
• authorised representative;
• accreditation or recognition;
• address;
• program information;
• institutional status; and
• other relevant information.

Pathwise may decline or suspend a profile where the institution cannot reasonably be verified.

19. University information

Participating institutions are responsible for maintaining accurate information concerning their institution and programs.

This may include:

• institution name;
• description;
• logo;
• imagery;
• degree programs;
• course descriptions;
• academic credits;
• ECTS;
• tuition;
• fees;
• duration;
• delivery format;
• study location;
• language of instruction;
• admissions requirements;
• application deadlines;
• accreditation;
• recognition;
• contact information.

Universities should promptly update information that becomes inaccurate or outdated.

20. University content

A university providing content to Pathwise represents that it is authorised to provide that material.

The university grants the Pathwise Partners a non-exclusive, worldwide, royalty-free licence to host, reproduce, format, display and distribute that material as reasonably necessary to:

• operate Pathwise;
• display the institution;
• promote the institution’s participation;
• provide student discovery services; and
• deliver purchased promotional services.

The university remains the owner of its trademarks and original content.

Part IV – Sponsored visibility and commercial services

21. University promotional services

Pathwise may offer universities paid promotional opportunities.

These may include:

• sponsored banners;
• featured university placements;
• priority program spotlights;
• scholarship promotion;
• open-day promotion;
• enhanced profiles;
• featured institutional content;
• campaign visibility;
• other promotional services.

Specific terms, duration, pricing and inventory may be provided through the Platform, an order form, commercial proposal or separate agreement.

22. Sponsored content will be identified

Pathwise intends to distinguish paid promotional content from organic discovery results.

Paid content may be labelled:

• Sponsored
• Advertisement
• Paid Placement
• or another clear designation indicating its commercial nature.

Pathwise may also use appropriate visual differentiation.

23. Universities may pay for visibility, not for a better match

A central principle of Pathwise is:

Sponsored visibility does not automatically modify the organic matching logic used to determine which universities appear relevant to a student’s stated preferences.

Where sponsored content is shown because it relates to a student’s search context, its commercial nature will remain identifiable.

24. No guarantee of commercial results

University advertising or promotional services do not guarantee:

• impressions;
• clicks;
• inquiries;
• applications;
• admissions;
• enrolments;
• revenue;
• particular student volumes; or
• other commercial outcomes,

unless expressly stated in a written commercial agreement.

25. Advertising standards

University partners must not provide promotional content that is:

• misleading;
• materially inaccurate;
• deceptive;
• discriminatory;
• unlawful;
• defamatory;
• infringing;
• inconsistent with recognised educational integrity; or
• likely to create unjustified expectations.

Claims concerning:

• accreditation;
• rankings;
• graduate outcomes;
• employment;
• salaries;
• scholarships;
• admission rates; or
• similar matters

must have a reasonable factual basis.

Pathwise may refuse or remove promotional content that does not meet these standards.

26. University payments

Where universities purchase commercial services, the applicable:

• price;
• currency;
• billing cycle;
• duration;
• renewal terms;
• cancellation terms;
• applicable taxes; and
• service scope

will be disclosed before purchase or specified in the relevant commercial agreement.

The entity legally contracting for a particular paid university service will be identified in the applicable checkout, invoice, order form or contract.

This may be ICARUS AI, GHU, Thrive Thrace or another authorised entity acting for the Pathwise initiative.

Part V – Privacy and data

27. Personal data

Pathwise processes personal information in accordance with applicable data-protection law and the Pathwise Universities Privacy Policy.

The Privacy Policy should be read together with these Terms.

28. Roles of the Pathwise Partners

Depending on the particular activity, ICARUS AI, GHU and Thrive Thrace may act as:

• independent controllers;
• joint controllers;
• processors; or
• service providers.

The applicable role depends on who determines the purposes and essential means of the relevant processing activity.

The Privacy Policy will identify the relevant roles where required.

29. Joint processing

Where two or more Pathwise Partners jointly determine the purposes and essential means of a processing activity, the relevant entities may act as joint controllers in accordance with applicable law.

Where required, they will maintain appropriate arrangements allocating their respective responsibilities.

Participation in Pathwise does not mean that every Pathwise Partner automatically receives all student information.

30. Data sharing with universities

Personal data may be provided to a university where:

• the student requests contact;
• the student submits an inquiry;
• sharing is necessary to provide a requested service;
• the student has provided required consent; or
• another lawful basis applies.

Once an independent university receives the student’s information, that institution may process the information as an independent data controller subject to its own privacy notice.

31. Notice at collection

Where required by applicable law, Pathwise will provide appropriate notice at or before the collection of personal information.

Such notice may explain:

• what information is collected;
• why it is collected;
• who receives it;
• how long it is retained;
• relevant user rights;
• whether information is sold or shared as defined by applicable privacy law; and
• where additional information can be found.

32. No sale of student data as a core business model

Pathwise is intended as an education discovery, guidance and institutional-connection Platform.

Its principal business model is not intended to depend upon selling personal student information to unrelated data brokers.

Any processing or disclosure that constitutes a “sale” or “sharing” under applicable law will be addressed in the Privacy Policy and through legally required user controls.

33. Cookies

Pathwise may use cookies and similar technologies for purposes including:

• essential Platform operation;
• security;
• preference storage;
• analytics;
• performance;
• functionality.

Non-essential cookies will be subject to consent where required by applicable law.

Further information will be provided through the Cookie Policy or consent interface.

Part VI – Responsible platform use

34. Acceptable use

Users must not:

• use Pathwise unlawfully;
• impersonate another person;
• impersonate a university;
• submit false information;
• gain unauthorised access to accounts;
• interfere with Platform security;
• distribute malware;
• scrape or systematically extract Platform content without permission;
• use bots to impose excessive load;
• harvest student or university contact information for spam;
• infringe intellectual-property rights;
• abuse Platform users; or
• use the Platform for fraudulent purposes.

35. Security

Users must take reasonable steps to protect their accounts and credentials.

Pathwise may implement measures including:

• account verification;
• authentication;
• rate limiting;
• fraud monitoring;
• encryption;
• security logging;
• automated security systems.

Users should notify Pathwise if they become aware of suspected unauthorised account access.

Part VII – Intellectual property

36. Pathwise intellectual property

The Platform and its original:

• software;
• technology;
• design;
• interface;
• branding;
• text;
• graphics;
• selection and arrangement of content;
• databases;
• matching systems; and
• other proprietary materials

are owned by or licensed to one or more Pathwise Partners and are protected by applicable intellectual-property law.

37. Third-party intellectual property

University names, logos, trademarks, images and other third-party materials remain the property of their respective owners.

Displaying such content does not mean that Pathwise owns the relevant rights beyond the licence or lawful basis permitting use.

Part VIII – Third-party services

38. External links

Pathwise may link to:

• university websites;
• admissions platforms;
• application portals;
• scholarship websites;
• governmental resources;
• external educational resources;
• payment providers;
• social platforms;
• other websites.

Third-party sites operate independently.

Pathwise does not control their:

• content;
• security;
• availability;
• privacy;
• terms;
• accuracy;
• services.

Users should review the relevant third-party terms before using external services.

Part IX – Platform operation

39. Platform availability

Pathwise aims to provide a reliable service but does not guarantee uninterrupted availability.

The Platform may be temporarily unavailable because of:

• maintenance;
• security updates;
• technical failures;
• network interruptions;
• third-party failures;
• legal requirements;
• circumstances beyond reasonable control.

40. Changes to the Platform

The Pathwise Partners may add, modify or discontinue:

• functions;
• interfaces;
• recommendation methods;
• search tools;
• data sources;
• university listings;
• account features;
• commercial services.

These changes may occur as the Platform develops.

Part X – Disclaimers and liability

41. Platform provided “as is”

To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, Pathwise is provided on an “as is” and “as available” basis.

No guarantee is made that:

• all information will always be accurate;
• all universities will be represented;
• all programs will remain available;
• matching will be perfect;
• AI-generated recommendations will be error-free;
• every student will find an appropriate institution;
• every inquiry will receive a response;
• Platform operation will be uninterrupted.

42. Student decision-making

Students remain responsible for evaluating educational opportunities.

Students should conduct appropriate due diligence before:

• applying;
• enrolling;
• making tuition payments;
• relocating;
• entering visa arrangements;
• relying upon professional-recognition claims;
• making significant financial commitments.

43. University responsibility

Universities remain responsible for:

• their admissions decisions;
• programs;
• academic quality;
• accreditation claims;
• tuition;
• fees;
• university communications;
• student contracts;
• refunds;
• education delivery;
• regulatory compliance.

The Pathwise Partners are not responsible for the independent acts or omissions of participating universities.

44. Limitation of liability

To the fullest extent permitted by law, the Pathwise Partners and their respective directors, officers, employees, contractors and affiliates will not be liable for indirect, consequential, incidental, special or punitive damages arising from or related to use of the Platform.

This includes, without limitation, loss relating to:

• opportunity;
• anticipated admission;
• education;
• scholarship;
• visa;
• employment;
• salary;
• profit;
• data;
• goodwill.

Nothing in these Terms excludes liability that cannot legally be excluded under applicable law.

45. Consumer rights

Nothing in these Terms limits mandatory consumer rights that apply to a user and cannot legally be waived.

Where local consumer law provides greater protection than these Terms, the mandatory legal protection will apply.

Part XI – Suspension and termination

46. User termination

Users may stop using Pathwise at any time.

Registered students may request account closure subject to applicable legal, security and record-retention requirements.

47. Platform suspension

Pathwise may restrict or suspend access where reasonably necessary because of:

• fraud;
• abuse;
• security risk;
• unlawful activity;
• serious breach of these Terms;
• infringement;
• misleading institutional content;
• threats to Platform integrity.

Where reasonable, users may be given an opportunity to address the issue.

Part XII – Contractual terms

48. Governing law

Unless a different governing law is required by mandatory consumer protection rules or specified in a separate commercial agreement, these Terms will be governed by the laws applicable to the primary Platform contracting entity identified for the relevant service.

For services contracted through ICARUS AI, Inc., California law may apply subject to mandatory rights available to users in their jurisdiction.

49. University commercial agreements

University partners may enter into separate:

• partnership agreements;
• order forms;
• advertising agreements;
• data processing agreements;
• institutional participation agreements;
• subscription agreements.

If a signed commercial agreement conflicts with these Terms regarding the purchased institutional service, the signed agreement will govern that service to the extent of the conflict.

50. Severability

If any part of these Terms is found invalid or unenforceable, the remaining provisions will continue in effect.

51. No waiver

Failure to enforce any provision does not constitute a waiver of that provision or any other right.

52. Assignment

Users may not assign their rights under these Terms without permission.

The Pathwise Partners may allocate or transfer responsibilities within the initiative where lawful and appropriate, subject to applicable contractual and data-protection obligations.

53. Changes to these Terms

These Terms may be updated from time to time because of changes in:

• law;
• technology;
• Platform functionality;
• institutional relationships;
• privacy requirements;
• commercial operations.

The current effective date will be displayed at the top of the document.

Where legally required, material changes will be communicated appropriately.

Part XIII – Contact and legal information

54. Pathwise Universities

Pathwise Universities
https://universities.icarus.education/

An initiative by:

ICARUS AI, Inc.
Santa Monica, California, United States
https://icarus.education/

Global Humanistic University (GHU)
[Insert registered address / jurisdiction]
[Insert official website]

Thrive Thrace Non Profit Civil Law Company
Vas. Georgiou B' 74
Soufli - Evros - Greece
PC 684 00
https://thrivethrace.eu
Email: info@thrivethrace.eu

55. General contact

For general Platform questions:
Email: support@icarus.education

For privacy requests:
Email: [INSERT PATHWISE PRIVACY EMAIL]

For university partnership and advertising matters:
Email: [INSERT UNIVERSITY PARTNER EMAIL]

56. Related policies

These Terms should be read together with the current versions of the:

• Pathwise Universities Privacy Policy
• Pathwise Universities Cookie Policy
• University Partner / Advertising Terms, where applicable
• Accessibility Statement
• any relevant consent notice or institutional agreement