Terms and Conditions

These Terms and Conditions explain the rules that apply when you use The UK Research Academy website, register for one of our programmes, pay for a place, attend online teaching, or use our learning materials.

Last updated: 25 May 2026

1. Who we are

The UK Research Academy is an independent provider of academic preparation for international students preparing for UK postgraduate study.

For the purposes of these Terms:

“UKRA”, “we”, “us” and “our” means The UK Research Academy.

“You” and “your” means the student, customer, parent, sponsor or other person who uses our website, registers for a programme, pays for a place, or participates in our services.

“Programme” means a course, seminar series, clinic, consultation, resource package or other academic preparation service provided by UKRA.

“Cohort” means the group of students enrolled on the same scheduled version of a programme. For example, students who begin the same 10-week programme on the same start date would usually be part of the same cohort.

“Materials” means learning resources, slides, templates, worksheets, recordings if ever provided, written guidance, examples, handouts and other content made available by UKRA.

Our contact details are:

The UK Research Academy Limited
Contact: co*****@***************my.com

The UK Research Academy
Clyde Offices
2nd Floor
48 West George Street
Glasgow G2 1BP
United Kingdom

2. Our status and independence

The UK Research Academy is an independent educational organisation.

We are not a university. We do not award degrees, academic credit or university qualifications. We do not guarantee admission to any university or degree programme.

Unless expressly stated otherwise in writing, UKRA is not endorsed by, affiliated with, or delivered on behalf of the University of Sheffield or any other university.

Any references to the founder’s professional background are provided for biographical context only.

3. What we provide

UKRA provides online academic preparation for students who are preparing for UK postgraduate study.

Our flagship Pre-Master’s Research and Writing Programme is designed to help students understand the expectations of an UK master’s degree and develop skills such as:

• critical reading;
• academic writing;
• argument-building;
• literature review structure;
• research questions;
• basic research methods;
• responsible use of AI;
• seminar participation;
• independent study and workload management;
• preparation for the first semester of a UK Master’s degree.

The exact content, timetable, duration, teaching format and included resources will be set out on the relevant programme page or in the information provided before enrolment.

4. What our programmes are not

Our programmes are not:

• university degree programmes;
• university pathway programmes;
• English-language qualifications;
• visa or immigration services;
• university admissions services;
• guarantees of admission, progression, grades, scholarships or employment outcomes;
• substitutes for the academic rules, policies or guidance of your university.

Students are responsible for checking the rules and requirements of their own university, course, visa status and academic programme.

5. Suitability and eligibility

Our programmes are intended for students preparing for UK postgraduate study.

The flagship Pre-Master’s Research and Writing Programme is especially suitable for students preparing for Master’s study in the humanities and social sciences. It is also relevant to students in business, education and related fields where critical reading, analytical writing, research thinking and seminar participation are important.

Students should have sufficient English to participate in live online teaching, understand academic guidance and complete written tasks. However, a formal English-language qualification, such as IELTS, is not required unless stated for a specific programme.

We may decline, delay or cancel enrolment if we reasonably believe that:

• the programme is not suitable for the student;
• the student has provided false or misleading information;
• the cohort is full;
• payment has not been received;
• the student’s participation would be inappropriate or unsafe;
• we are unable to provide the service requested.

6. Registration and enrolment

You may register interest, apply or enrol through our website, by email, through an authorised agent, or through another process we specify.

A place is not confirmed until we have accepted the enrolment and received any required payment or deposit.

You are responsible for ensuring that the information you provide is accurate, complete and up to date.

If a parent, sponsor, agent or other third party registers or pays on behalf of a student, the student must still comply with these Terms. Where the student is aged 18 or over, we will normally communicate directly with the student about participation, progress and personal information, unless the student has authorised us to communicate with someone else.

7. Fees and payment

Programme fees will be stated on the relevant programme page or provided before enrolment.

Unless stated otherwise, fees cover only the services and materials described for the relevant programme.

Fees do not include:

• bank charges;
• card charges;
• currency conversion fees;
• internet access;
• computer equipment;
• third-party software or platform costs;
• textbooks or external resources;
• university application fees;
• visa or immigration costs.

Payment must be made by the deadline we provide. If payment is not received on time, we may suspend or cancel your place.

Fees may change for future cohorts, but we will not normally change the price of a confirmed booking unless there has been an obvious error or a change agreed with you.

8. Cancellation and refunds

Cancellation and refund rights are explained in our separate Cancellation and Refund Policy.

Please read that policy carefully before registering or paying for a programme.

In summary:

• you usually have a 14-day legal right to cancel if you enrol online, by email, by telephone or through another distance-selling method;
• if teaching, support or access to materials has already begun, we may deduct a fair and proportionate amount for services already provided;
• missed classes are not normally refundable;
• refunds after the 14-day cancellation period are not automatic and will be considered in accordance with our Cancellation and Refund Policy.

Nothing in these Terms affects any statutory rights you may have as a consumer.

9. Changes to programmes

We aim to deliver programmes as advertised. However, we may make reasonable changes where necessary.

These may include changes to:

• session dates or times;
• teaching staff;
• platforms or delivery methods;
• programme materials;
• clinic arrangements;
• class activities;
• order of topics;
• examples or resources.

We will try to give reasonable notice of significant changes.

If we need to cancel or reschedule an individual class, we will aim to provide a suitable alternative, such as a rescheduled session, an equivalent session, additional guidance, or replacement learning support.

If we cancel an entire programme and cannot offer a suitable alternative, we will offer a refund of the programme fee paid, in accordance with our Cancellation and Refund Policy.

10. Minimum cohort size

Some programmes may require a minimum number of students to run.

If a cohort does not reach the required number, we may postpone or cancel it. If this happens, we will tell students as soon as reasonably possible and offer either:

• a place on a later cohort; or
• a refund of the programme fee paid.

11. Attendance and participation

Students are expected to attend live sessions wherever possible. Live participation is an important part of the learning experience.

If you know in advance that you will miss a class, you should tell us as soon as possible.

If you miss a class, this does not normally entitle you to a refund. Where possible, we may provide summary materials, follow-up guidance, or an opportunity to attend an equivalent session with another cohort at a different time. However, live participation cannot always be fully replaced.

Students are expected to:

• arrive on time;
• prepare for sessions where required;
• participate respectfully;
• complete guided tasks where appropriate;
• use online teaching tools responsibly;
• treat tutors and other students with courtesy.

12. Online teaching and technology

Our programmes are delivered online unless stated otherwise.

You are responsible for ensuring that you have:

• a suitable device;
• a reliable internet connection;
• access to the required online platform;
• a working microphone and, where appropriate, camera;
• a suitable environment for participating in live sessions.

We are not responsible for problems caused by your equipment, internet connection, local restrictions, device settings or third-party platform access outside our reasonable control.

If UKRA experiences a technical problem that prevents a session from taking place, we will aim to provide a reasonable alternative arrangement.

We do not record teaching sessions. Students should not record, photograph, screenshot or share teaching sessions, chat discussions, learning materials or other students’ contributions without permission.

13. Tests, grades, feedback and certificates

Our programmes are designed for academic preparation and development.

Unless stated otherwise:

• there are no formal exams;
• there are no formal grades;
• guided tasks are for learning and development;
• feedback is educational guidance, not formal university assessment;
• completion of a UKRA programme does not provide university credit.

Students may ask for guidance on how their work might typically be assessed on a UK master’s degree, including in relation to argument, structure, evidence, critical analysis and academic writing.

Where we provide a certificate of completion, it confirms participation in a UKRA academic preparation programme. It is not a degree, university qualification, professional licence or guarantee of admission.

We may set minimum requirements for receiving a certificate, such as attendance and completion of core tasks.

14. Student conduct

Students must behave respectfully and appropriately during all UKRA activities.

You must not:

• harass, bully, abuse or discriminate against tutors, staff or students;
• disrupt teaching or prevent others from participating;
• share offensive, unlawful or inappropriate material;
• record, screenshot or distribute teaching sessions without permission;
• share other students’ personal information;
• misuse online platforms;
• impersonate another person;
• provide false or misleading information;
• use UKRA services for unlawful or harmful purposes.

If a student behaves inappropriately, we may take reasonable action. This may include a warning, removal from a session, suspension, refusal of feedback, cancellation of enrolment, or removal from the programme.

Where serious misconduct occurs, we may cancel participation without a refund, where this is fair and lawful in the circumstances.

15. Academic integrity

Students are expected to complete tasks honestly and responsibly.

You must not submit work that is copied, plagiarised, fabricated, purchased, written by someone else, or produced through inappropriate use of AI or other tools.

You are responsible for understanding and following the academic integrity rules of any university or programme you later join.

UKRA may discuss academic integrity issues as part of teaching and feedback. However, UKRA does not replace the rules, policies or judgement of your university.

16. Responsible use of AI

UKRA may teach students how to use AI tools responsibly in academic work.

Students must understand that different universities, departments and modules may have different rules about AI use. You should always check and follow the rules of your own university and assignment.

UKRA does not authorise students to use AI in ways that are prohibited by their university.

Students should not rely on AI outputs without checking them. AI-generated content may be inaccurate, generic, misleading or contain fabricated references.

17. Learning materials and intellectual property

UKRA owns or licenses the learning materials we provide.

When you enrol on a programme, we grant you a personal, limited, non-transferable right to use the materials for your own private study and participation in the programme.

You must not, without our permission:

• copy, sell, publish or distribute UKRA materials;
• upload UKRA materials to public websites, shared drives, social media or AI training datasets;
• use UKRA materials to teach, train or advise others commercially;
• remove copyright notices or branding;
• adapt materials for use outside your own personal study.

All intellectual property rights in UKRA materials remain with UKRA or its licensors.

18. Student work and examples

Students may submit written work, reflections, questions or other learning materials as part of a programme.

You retain ownership of your own original work. By submitting work to us, you allow us to read, review, comment on and use it for the purpose of delivering teaching and support.

We will not publish identifiable student work publicly without permission.

We may use anonymised or adapted examples for teaching purposes, provided students are not identifiable.

19. Parents, sponsors and agents

Parents, sponsors, guardians, agents or advisers may contact us about a student or pay for a student’s place.

However, where a student is aged 18 or over, we will normally communicate directly with the student about enrolment, participation, progress, support and personal information.

We will not normally share personal information about an adult student with a parent, sponsor, agent or adviser unless the student has authorised us to do so, or unless there is another lawful reason that allows or requires us to share the information.

Agents and advisers must represent UKRA accurately. They must not state or imply that UKRA:

• is a university;
• is a university pathway provider;
• guarantees admission;
• guarantees grades;
• guarantees visa outcomes;
• is endorsed by or affiliated with a university, unless this has been confirmed by UKRA in writing.

20. No admissions, visa or immigration advice

UKRA does not provide immigration advice, visa advice, university admissions decisions or guaranteed progression routes.

Students are responsible for checking university entry requirements, visa requirements, application deadlines and official guidance.

For immigration or visa matters, students should use official government information or seek advice from an appropriately qualified adviser.

21. Website use

You may use our website for lawful personal, educational and informational purposes.

You must not:

• attempt to gain unauthorised access to the website or systems;
• introduce viruses, malware or harmful code;
• copy website content for commercial use;
• use the website in a way that disrupts its operation;
• misrepresent your identity or relationship with UKRA;
• use website forms to send spam, abusive messages or unlawful content.

We may suspend or restrict access to the website where necessary to protect our systems, users or legal rights.

22. Third-party websites and services

Our website, teaching platforms or materials may include links to third-party websites, tools or services.

We are not responsible for third-party websites or services, and their terms and privacy policies may apply separately.

Students should review the relevant terms and policies before using third-party services.

23. Privacy and personal information

We use personal information in accordance with our Privacy Policy.

The Privacy Policy explains what personal information we collect, why we use it, who we may share it with, how long we keep it, and the rights individuals have under UK data protection law.

24. Our responsibility to you

We will provide our services with reasonable care and skill.

Nothing in these Terms limits or excludes our liability where the law does not allow us to do so, including liability for death or personal injury caused by negligence, fraud or fraudulent misrepresentation, or your statutory consumer rights.

Subject to the above, we are not responsible for:

• university admissions decisions;
• visa or immigration outcomes;
• university grades or academic results;
• scholarship decisions;
• employment outcomes;
• losses caused by inaccurate or incomplete information provided by you;
• losses caused by your failure to attend, participate or prepare;
• technical problems outside our reasonable control;
• services provided by third parties.

Our programmes are designed to support academic preparation, but we cannot guarantee any particular academic, admissions, professional or personal outcome.

25. Events outside our reasonable control

We are not responsible for failure or delay caused by events outside our reasonable control.

This may include:

• internet or platform outages;
• serious illness;
• extreme weather;
• natural disasters;
• war, terrorism or civil unrest;
• government restrictions;
• changes in law or regulation;
• industrial action;
• failures by suppliers or service providers;
• other events that we could not reasonably prevent.

Where such an event affects delivery, we will try to provide a reasonable alternative arrangement where possible.

26. Complaints

If you are unhappy with any part of our service, please contact us so that we can try to resolve the issue.

Please email: co*****@***************my.com

Please include:

• your full name;
• the programme or cohort;
• a clear description of the issue;
• any relevant evidence or correspondence;
• the outcome you are seeking.

We will consider complaints fairly and aim to respond within 5 working days.

If you are not satisfied with our response, you may wish to seek independent advice about your consumer rights. The appropriate source of advice may depend on where you live and where you made the purchase. In the UK, consumer advice is available from Citizens Advice.

27. Changes to these Terms

We may update these Terms from time to time.

The latest version will be published on our website with the date it was last updated.

If changes affect a confirmed booking in a significant way, we will take reasonable steps to notify affected students and explain their options.

28. Governing law and jurisdiction

These Terms are governed by the laws of Scotland where UKRA is registered as a limited company.

If you are a consumer living outside Scotland, you may also have rights under the mandatory consumer protection laws of the country or territory where you live. Nothing in these Terms is intended to remove rights that cannot legally be excluded.

The Scottish courts will have jurisdiction over disputes relating to these Terms, except where consumer protection law gives you the right to bring proceedings in another court.

29. Contact us

If you have any questions about these Terms, please contact us at this email address: co*****@***************my.com