Terms of Use

Effective Date: 01/01/2026

Welcome to the American Councils Study & Research Abroad website (“Website”), operated by American Councils for International Education (“American Councils,” “we,” “our,” or “us”). These Terms of Use (“Terms”) govern your access to and use of this Website and any related online services, applications, forms, portals, and digital content made available through the Website.

By accessing or using this Website, you agree to be legally bound by these Terms and our Privacy Policy. If you do not agree to these Terms, you must not use this Website.

You must be at least 13 years old to use this Website. If you are under the age of majority in your jurisdiction, you may use the Website only with the involvement and consent of a parent or legal guardian. By using this Website, you represent and warrant that you have the legal authority to enter into these Terms, that all information you provide is accurate and complete, and that your use of the Website complies with all applicable laws and regulations.

This Website provides information regarding international education, language study, scholarships, exchanges, fellowships, research opportunities, applications, participant services, and related programs administered or supported by American Councils. We reserve the right to modify, suspend, discontinue, or restrict access to any portion of the Website at any time without notice.

Certain features of the Website may require account registration. You agree to maintain the confidentiality of your login credentials, accept responsibility for all activities occurring under your account, notify us immediately of unauthorized use of your account, and provide accurate, current, and complete registration information. We reserve the right to suspend or terminate accounts that violate these Terms or applicable law.

You agree not to use the Website for unlawful, fraudulent, or harmful purposes; interfere with or disrupt Website operations or servers; attempt unauthorized access to systems, accounts, or data; upload malware, malicious code, or harmful content; use automated means to scrape, harvest, or extract Website data; impersonate another person or entity; submit false application materials or misleading information; violate intellectual property or privacy rights of others; or use the Website in a manner that could damage American Councils’ reputation or operations. We reserve the right to investigate violations and pursue all available legal remedies.

All Website content, including text, graphics, logos, program materials, databases, designs, videos, images, software, and trademarks, is owned by or licensed to American Councils and protected by applicable intellectual property laws. Except as expressly permitted, you may not copy, reproduce, distribute, modify, republish, transmit, display, or create derivative works from Website content; use American Councils trademarks without prior written permission; or commercially exploit any Website materials. Limited, non-commercial personal use is permitted solely for educational or informational purposes.

Any materials, applications, essays, documents, photographs, communications, or other content submitted through the Website (“Submissions”) remain subject to applicable privacy protections. By submitting content, you grant American Councils a non-exclusive, worldwide, royalty-free license to use, reproduce, process, store, and transmit such content solely for purposes related to program administration, evaluation, compliance, operations, security, and lawful institutional activities. You represent and warrant that you own or have rights to the Submissions, that the Submissions do not violate any law or third-party rights, and that the information provided is truthful and accurate.

Your use of this Website is also governed by our Privacy Policy, which describes how personal information is collected, used, stored, and disclosed. By using the Website, you consent to the collection and use of information consistent with the Privacy Policy and applicable law.

This Website may be accessed from countries outside the United States. Users are responsible for compliance with local laws applicable to their access and use of the Website. American Councils makes no representation that Website content is lawful or appropriate outside the United States.

The Website may contain links to third-party websites, applications, or services not controlled by American Councils. We are not responsible for the availability or accuracy of third-party content, third-party privacy or security practices, or any damages or losses arising from third-party services. Access to third-party websites is at your own risk.

THIS WEBSITE IS PROVIDED “AS IS” AND “AS AVAILABLE.” TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW, AMERICAN COUNCILS DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, NON-INFRINGEMENT, ACCURACY, RELIABILITY, AND AVAILABILITY. We do not guarantee uninterrupted, secure, or error-free operation of the Website.

TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW, AMERICAN COUNCILS, ITS AFFILIATES, OFFICERS, DIRECTORS, EMPLOYEES, CONTRACTORS, PARTNERS, AND AGENTS SHALL NOT BE LIABLE FOR ANY INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, SPECIAL, EXEMPLARY, OR PUNITIVE DAMAGES, INCLUDING LOSS OF DATA, PROFITS, GOODWILL, OR BUSINESS INTERRUPTION, ARISING FROM OR RELATED TO USE OF OR INABILITY TO USE THE WEBSITE, UNAUTHORIZED ACCESS TO DATA, USER SUBMISSIONS, WEBSITE INTERRUPTIONS OR SECURITY BREACHES, OR THIRD-PARTY CONTENT OR SERVICES. IN NO EVENT SHALL AMERICAN COUNCILS’ TOTAL LIABILITY EXCEED ONE HUNDRED U.S. DOLLARS (USD $100), OR THE AMOUNT PAID BY YOU TO ACCESS THE WEBSITE, WHICHEVER IS GREATER. Some jurisdictions do not allow certain limitations of liability, so portions of this section may not apply to you.

You agree to defend, indemnify, and hold harmless American Councils and its affiliates, employees, officers, directors, contractors, and agents from and against any claims, liabilities, damages, losses, costs, and expenses, including reasonable attorneys’ fees, arising from your use of the Website, your violation of these Terms, your violation of applicable law, or your infringement of any third-party rights.

American Councils is committed to digital accessibility and strives to ensure equal access to Website content and services for individuals with disabilities. Users experiencing accessibility barriers may contact us for assistance at outbound@americancouncils.org.

We reserve the right, at our sole discretion and without notice, to suspend or terminate access to the Website for conduct that violates these Terms, applicable law, or the rights or safety of others. Termination does not waive any rights or obligations accrued prior to termination.

These Terms shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the District of Columbia, without regard to conflict of law principles. Any legal action arising out of or relating to these Terms or the Website shall be brought exclusively in the state or federal courts located in Washington, D.C., and you consent to the jurisdiction of such courts.

Before initiating formal legal proceedings, the parties agree to attempt in good faith to resolve disputes informally by providing written notice describing the issue and requested resolution. Nothing in this section limits either party’s right to seek injunctive or equitable relief where appropriate.

American Councils reserves the right to modify these Terms at any time. Updated Terms will be posted on this Website with a revised effective date. Continued use of the Website following changes constitutes acceptance of the revised Terms.

If any provision of these Terms is determined to be unlawful or unenforceable, the remaining provisions shall remain in full force and effect.

These Terms, together with any referenced policies or legal notices, constitute the entire agreement between you and American Councils regarding use of the Website.

For questions regarding these Terms of Use, please contact:

American Councils for International Education
1828 L Street NW, Suite 1200
Washington, DC 20036
United States

Email: outbound@americancouncils.org