Privacy Policy

Last updated: 2026-03-26

StudyChops ("we," "our," or "us") is committed to protecting your privacy. This policy explains how we collect, use, and disclose your personal information in connection with our service.

It applies to our website and associated subdomains (collectively, our "Service"), including the StudyChops platform. By using our Service, you agree to the collection, storage, use, and disclosure of your personal information as described here and in our Terms of Service.

Pilot notice: StudyChops may be in pilot phase in certain programmes. Data collected during this period is used for service improvement and system reliability. Participants may opt out of research use of data while retaining access to core services.

Definitions

  • Company:When we say "Company," "we," "us," or "our," we mean Elvis Tapfumanei (PTY) LTD, responsible for your information under this policy. Address: StudyChops (Elvis Tapfumanei (PTY) LTD)
    The Foundry, 74 Cardiff Street
    De Waterkant, Green Point
    Cape Town, 8005
    South Africa
  • Cookie: A small piece of data stored by your browser to identify it, provide analytics, or remember preferences (e.g. language or login).
  • Country: South Africa, where StudyChops and its operators are based.
  • Customer: The organisation or person that signs up to use StudyChops to deliver or participate in programmes.
  • Device: Any internet-connected device (phone, tablet, computer) used to access StudyChops.
  • Personal Data: Information that, alone or with other data, identifies a natural person.
  • Service: The service provided by StudyChops as described in our terms and on this platform.
  • Website: studychops.com and related URLs.
  • You: A person or entity registered to use the Service.

Information we collect

We collect information when you visit our site, register, place an order, subscribe to communications, or complete forms. This may include:

  • Name and username
  • Email address and phone number
  • Job title and organisation
  • Billing address and payment details (processed by our payment provider; we do not store full card numbers)
  • Account credentials (stored securely)

Simulation and learning data

To deliver the StudyChops experience we collect and process:

  • Decisions and rationale: Your strategic decisions and written rationale submitted in the platform
  • Decision Quality Score (DQS): Scores and analytics generated by our systems
  • Progress and round data: Round outcomes, market reactions, and progress through the programme
  • Usage data: How you interact with the platform to improve the service
  • Key learnings (structured debrief): Short reflections you submit after a round in the debrief flow. When you participate through an institution or cohort, these may be shown to your course instructor. This is disclosed in this Privacy Policy and may be repeated in the product when you submit them. They do not change your engine-scored Decision Quality Score. See the section Instructors and institutional programmes below.

We retain simulation and learning data as needed to provide the service and for legitimate educational and operational purposes. You may request deletion of your data via account settings or by contacting us.

Instructors and institutional programmes

When you use StudyChops as part of a course, cohort, or institution that has invited an instructor or teaching staff, those authorised users may access a limited teaching view of your activity. This supports legitimate educational oversight; it is not the same as sharing every word you type in the simulation.

Your instructor may see (where the product provides these features):

  • Outcomes and scores: Decision Quality Score (DQS), dimension scores, round-by-round progress, and related analytics generated by the platform
  • Engagement and participation: Summary metrics such as Socrates usage counts, participation status, and cohort-level or team-level aggregates shown in instructor tools
  • Key learnings:Text you submit in structured debrief fields after a round, as described under "Simulation and learning data" above
  • Teaching intelligence: Cohort-level patterns (for example reasoning dimensions, bias frequency aggregates, and labels derived from learning signals) where we surface them to instructors — not your private chat logs

Your instructor does not receive through StudyChops instructor tools:

  • The full text of your decision rationales as entered in the decision workflow (we keep this separate from the instructor teaching view)
  • Socrates conversation transcripts or chat logs

Transparency: DQS remains engine-scored; instructor access does not change your score. If you are unsure what your programme shares, ask your instructor or institution. Where we show additional notices at the point you submit key learnings or other reflections, those notices supplement this policy.

How we use your information

  • To provide and personalise the Service
  • To improve our website and platform
  • To process transactions and communicate with you
  • To send service-related and, where consented, marketing communications
  • To run surveys, promotions, or other features where you participate

Third-party information

We may receive information from third parties when you contact us (e.g. fraud detection) or when you link accounts or make information available on social platforms. You can control what you share on those platforms via their privacy settings.

We may share information with service providers who help us operate the Service (hosting, email, payment processing, analytics). We do not sell your personal information. We may disclose information where required by law or to protect our rights, safety, or property.

Error monitoring and performance

We use error-monitoring and performance services to identify and fix issues and improve the experience. These services may collect error messages (with sensitive data removed), performance metrics, and anonymised session data. We do not send full personal identifiers, passwords, or payment data to these providers.

Email and communications

By submitting your email you may receive service and, where you have opted in, marketing emails. You can unsubscribe at any time via the link in each email. We do not send unsolicited commercial email. Email addresses are used in line with this policy and our Terms of Service.

Retention and security

We keep your information only as long as needed to provide the Service and fulfil the purposes in this policy. When no longer needed we delete or anonymise it. We use technical and organisational measures to protect your data; no system is completely secure, and we cannot guarantee absolute security.

You may request access, correction, or deletion of your personal information. Contact us to do so. Verification of identity may be required. Some data may remain in backups for a period after deletion.

Governing law and consent

This policy is governed by the laws of South Africa. By using StudyChops or contacting us you accept this Privacy Policy. If you do not agree, do not use our website or services. Continued use after we post changes means you accept those changes where they do not materially reduce your rights.

We may update this policy to reflect changes in our Service or law. We will notify you of material changes (e.g. via the Service) and give you an opportunity to review before they take effect. Continued use after the effective date means you accept the updated policy.

Cookies and similar technologies

We use cookies and similar technologies to operate the site, remember preferences, and analyse use. You can set your browser to block cookies, but some features may not work correctly. See our Cookie Policy for details.

Children

We do not knowingly collect personal information from anyone under 13. If you are a parent or guardian and believe your child has provided us with personal data, contact us. We will delete such information once we are aware of it.

EU and UK users (GDPR)

If you are in the European Union or UK you have rights including: access, rectification, erasure, restriction of processing, data portability, objection, and withdrawal of consent. To exercise these rights contact us at support@studychops.com. We will respond within 30 days. You may also have the right to lodge a complaint with a supervisory authority.

California residents (CCPA)

California residents have rights to know what personal information we collect, whether we sell or disclose it, to opt out of sale, to delete, and to non-discrimination. We do not sell personal information. To exercise your rights contact us at support@studychops.com. We will respond within 45 days.

Contact

For questions about this Privacy Policy or your data:

  • Email: support@studychops.com
  • Contact page: https://studychops.com/contact
  • Post: StudyChops (Elvis Tapfumanei (PTY) LTD)
    The Foundry, 74 Cardiff Street
    De Waterkant, Green Point
    Cape Town, 8005
    South Africa

Related

Terms of Service · Cookie Policy · Disclaimer