Last Updated: 4 October 2026
Scholarly Work (“Scholarly Work”, “we”, “us” or “our”) respects your privacy and is committed to protecting your personal information.
This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, store, protect and disclose personal information when you visit scholarlywork.net, contact us, request our services, submit information to us, or otherwise interact with Scholarly Work.
This Privacy Policy should be read together with our Terms and Conditions, Terms of Use and Cookie Policy.
1. Who We Are
Scholarly Work is an academic writing, research and academic support service providing services including assignment support, research proposal writing, literature reviews, data analysis and reporting, thesis and dissertation support, proofreading and editing, transcription and related research services.
For purposes of applicable data-protection legislation, including the Protection of Personal Information Act 4 of 2013 (POPIA), Scholarly Work acts as the responsible party in relation to personal information that we process for our own business purposes.
2. Information We Collect
Depending on how you interact with us, we may collect personal information that you voluntarily provide to us or information that is generated when you use our website.
2.1 Information You Provide to Us
This may include:
- your name and surname;
- email address;
- telephone or mobile number;
- institution, university or organisation;
- academic level or programme;
- field of study or research;
- details about your academic or research project;
- assignment, dissertation, thesis, research proposal or other documents that you submit to us;
- project requirements, instructions and deadlines;
- information required to provide research, writing, editing, proofreading, transcription or data-analysis services;
- correspondence and communications between you and Scholarly Work;
- billing and payment information;
- information provided when requesting a quotation; and
- any other information that you voluntarily provide to us.
You should avoid providing personal information about other individuals unless it is necessary for the service you have requested and you are authorised to provide it.
2.2 Information Collected Automatically
When you visit our website, certain technical information may be collected automatically. This may include:
- IP address;
- browser type and version;
- device type;
- operating system;
- pages visited;
- date and time of visits;
- referring website;
- approximate location information derived from technical data; and
- information about how you interact with and use our website.
Some of this information may be collected through cookies and similar technologies. Further information is provided in our Cookie Policy.
3. How We Use Personal Information
We use personal information only for purposes that are reasonably necessary for operating our business and providing our services.
These purposes may include:
- responding to enquiries;
- understanding your service requirements;
- preparing quotations;
- communicating with you about a requested service;
- providing and managing our services;
- reviewing documents and information submitted for the purpose of providing a requested service;
- conducting agreed research, writing, editing, proofreading, transcription or data-analysis work;
- communicating with you about your project;
- requesting clarification or additional information where necessary;
- processing payments and maintaining financial records;
- maintaining records of our business transactions;
- improving our website and services;
- maintaining the security and integrity of our website and systems;
- preventing fraud, misuse or unlawful activity;
- resolving complaints or disputes;
- complying with legal, regulatory or contractual obligations; and
- protecting our legitimate business interests and legal rights.
We will not use your personal information for purposes that are incompatible with the purpose for which it was collected unless such processing is permitted or required by applicable law.
4. Academic and Project Information
Clients may provide Scholarly Work with academic, research or project-related information when requesting our services.
This may include:
- research proposals;
- dissertations and theses;
- assignments;
- questionnaires and interview schedules;
- research data;
- literature and source materials;
- research findings;
- statistical datasets;
- transcripts;
- institutional requirements; and
- other project-related documents.
We use such information only to the extent reasonably necessary to provide the requested service, communicate with you about the project, administer the client relationship, maintain appropriate records and comply with applicable legal obligations.
Because documents submitted to us may contain personal or confidential information relating to you or other individuals, clients should avoid including unnecessary personal information that is not relevant to the requested service.
Where you provide personal information relating to another person, you are responsible for ensuring that you have the necessary authority or lawful basis to provide that information to us.
5. Lawful Processing of Personal Information
Where POPIA applies, we process personal information on a lawful basis appropriate to the circumstances.
This may include:
- your consent;
- the performance of a contract or steps taken at your request before entering into a contract;
- compliance with a legal obligation;
- protecting our legitimate interests or those of another party, where permitted by law; and
- other lawful grounds recognised under applicable legislation.
Where processing is based on your consent, you may withdraw that consent, subject to applicable legal or contractual requirements and any lawful processing that occurred before the withdrawal.
6. Sharing Personal Information
Scholarly Work does not sell or rent your personal information to third parties.
We may disclose or provide access to personal information where reasonably necessary to operate our business, provide requested services, process transactions, maintain our systems or comply with legal obligations.
Depending on the circumstances, these parties may include:
- payment processors;
- website hosting providers;
- cloud-storage providers;
- email and communication service providers;
- software and technology providers;
- professional advisers;
- contractors or service providers assisting us with a client’s requested service;
- auditors or accounting service providers; and
- courts, regulators, law-enforcement authorities or other government bodies where disclosure is required or permitted by law.
Where third parties process personal information on our behalf, we will take reasonable steps to ensure that appropriate confidentiality and security measures are in place.
We will not disclose personal information to third parties for purposes unrelated to the provision of our services or the operation of our business unless permitted or required by law or otherwise authorised by you.
7. Confidentiality of Client Information
We understand that clients may provide sensitive academic, professional or research-related information when using our services.
We will take reasonable steps to maintain the confidentiality of information provided to us and will not intentionally disclose client project materials to unrelated third parties except where:
- disclosure is necessary to provide the requested service;
- disclosure is made to a service provider acting on our behalf;
- disclosure is required or permitted by law;
- disclosure is necessary to protect our legal rights or interests; or
- you have authorised the disclosure.
Clients should be aware that electronic communications and internet-based storage systems cannot be guaranteed to be completely secure.
8. Payment Information
Where you make a payment for our services, payment information may be processed by the relevant payment service provider.
Where possible, payment card information is processed directly by the applicable payment provider rather than being stored by Scholarly Work.
We may retain transaction information necessary for accounting, record-keeping, reconciliation, dispute resolution and legal or regulatory purposes.
We do not require clients to provide payment-card information through ordinary email or other unsecured communication channels.
9. International Transfers of Personal Information
Some technology, hosting, cloud-storage, communication or payment service providers that we use may process or store personal information outside South Africa.
Where personal information is transferred outside South Africa, we will take reasonable steps to ensure that the transfer complies with applicable data-protection legislation and that appropriate safeguards are in place.
10. Security of Personal Information
We take reasonable technical and organisational measures to protect personal information against:
- unauthorised access;
- unauthorised disclosure;
- loss;
- misuse;
- alteration;
- destruction; and
- other forms of unlawful processing.
However, no electronic transmission, website or storage system can be guaranteed to be completely secure.
Clients are responsible for taking reasonable precautions when communicating with us electronically, including protecting passwords and access credentials associated with their own accounts or devices.
If we become aware of a security compromise involving personal information, we will take the steps required by applicable law.
11. Retention of Personal Information
We retain personal information only for as long as reasonably necessary for the purposes for which it was collected, including:
- providing requested services;
- maintaining client and transaction records;
- resolving disputes;
- maintaining financial and accounting records;
- complying with legal or regulatory obligations;
- protecting our legal rights; and
- maintaining appropriate business records.
The length of time information is retained will depend on the type of information and the purpose for which it was collected.
When personal information is no longer required, we will take reasonable steps to securely delete, destroy or de-identify it, subject to applicable legal and regulatory requirements.
12. Your Privacy Rights
Subject to applicable law, you may have the right to:
- request confirmation of whether we hold personal information about you;
- request access to personal information that we hold about you;
- request correction or updating of inaccurate or outdated information;
- request deletion of personal information where legally permissible;
- object to certain forms of processing;
- withdraw consent where processing is based on consent;
- request information about how your personal information is processed; and
- lodge a complaint concerning the processing of your personal information.
Requests relating to your personal information should be submitted through the contact details provided on our website.
We may need to verify your identity before processing certain requests.
Some rights may be subject to limitations or exceptions under applicable law.
13. Cookies and Similar Technologies
Our website may use cookies and similar technologies to support website functionality, security, performance and analytics.
Cookies may allow us to understand how visitors use our website and help us improve the website and services.
For more information about cookies and how they are used, please refer to our Cookie Policy.
14. Third-Party Websites and Services
Our website may contain links to third-party websites, platforms or services.
These third-party websites operate independently from Scholarly Work and may have their own privacy policies and terms of use.
We are not responsible for the privacy practices, security or content of third-party websites.
We recommend reviewing the privacy policy of any third-party website before providing personal information to that website.
15. Children’s Personal Information
Our services are primarily intended for adults and students who are legally able to enter into applicable agreements.
We do not knowingly collect children’s personal information unnecessarily.
16. Changes to This Privacy Policy
We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in:
- our services;
- our business practices;
- technology;
- applicable legislation; or
- privacy and security practices.
When we make changes, we will publish the updated Privacy Policy on this website and update the “Last Updated” date at the top of the page.
We encourage users to review this page periodically to remain informed about how we protect personal information.
17. Contact Us
If you have questions about this Privacy Policy, our handling of personal information, or wish to exercise any applicable privacy rights, please contact Scholarly Work using the contact details provided on our website.
Scholarly Work
Email: support@scholarlywork.net