THE INSTITUTE OF HERALDIC & GENEALOGICAL STUDIES
Online Course Terms & Conditions
1. About Us
1.1. “We”, “us” and “our” refers to The Institute of Heraldic and Genealogical Studies
(IHGS), a long-established educational charitable trust dedicated to family history,
heraldry education and research based in Canterbury.
Address: 80-82 Northgate, Canterbury, Kent, CT1 1BA
Website: www.ihgs.ac.uk
Email: admin@ihgs.ac.uk
Telephone: 01227 768 664
1.2. We provide distance-learning Courses, online Courses, in-person tuition, and
recognised qualifications including the Higher Certificate in Genealogy and the
Diploma in Genealogy. Some Courses award academic qualifications; others
provide continuing personal study.
1.3. These terms apply when you buy a Course from us as a consumer: that is, an adult
purchasing for personal study and not for your trade, business, craft or profession.
1.4. If you are purchasing on behalf of an organisation or for workplace training, please
contact us so we can discuss this further.
2. Key Information You Need to Know
2.1. When you buy a Course through our website, you may be purchasing one or more
of the following:
a. Digital Content – online learning materials, documents, videos, downloads,
assessments and resources;
b. Online Services – tutor support, guidance, feedback and marking delivered
digitally;
c. Educational Services – teaching, assessment, examinations and academic
administration; or
d. a mix of the above.
2.2. As most of our Courses begin immediately and provide instant access to Digital
Content and Services, you will be asked at checkout to confirm:
a. that you want access to the Course to begin straight away, and
b. that you understand this means you lose your 14-day statutory cancellation right
as soon as you access any Digital Content or receive any Services.
c. Therefore, by accessing any Digital Content, you are explicitly agreeing that they
have been provided to you. You acknowledge your right to cancel will be lost,
and you accept that you will not receive a refund not a waiver of any fees you
are liable to pay. It is therefore important that you are satisfied with your choice

of Course before you access the Digital Content (that is, only if you delayed
starting the Course right away). If you access the Course and have any
immediate concerns about its suitability, we encourage you to contact us for
advice and guidance.
d. This requirement comes from the Consumer Contracts Regulations 2013 and is
explained again in Section 10.
2.3. We keep essential student records, including assessment history, for at least six
years after your Course ends, or longer where professional, academic or legal
requirements apply.
2.4. Full details of your Course, including what is included, how long you have access
for, and any specific rules, are provided on the Course webpage and form part of
the Contract.
3. Definitions
3.1. In these terms:
a. “Contract” means the legally binding agreement between you and IHGS for the
supply of Digital Content and/or Services once we accept your order.
b. “Course” means the distance-learning, online or in-person programme you
purchase from us including any course with additional terms in a Schedule to
these terms.
c. “Digital Content” means online or downloadable materials we supply, including
Course notes, videos, assessments, recordings and other electronic resources.
d. “Services” means tutor support, marking, teaching, assessment, examination
administration and any other educational services supplied by IHGS.
e. “Platform” means our website, any online learning facilities, or any software
application we provide, including (for example) Calibrae, Microsoft Teams, our
website login areas, or any other secure platform made available for
smartphones, smartwatches, tablets, laptops, computers or similar devices from
time to time, which you use to access your Course, Digital Content or Services.
f. “Higher Certificate” and “Diploma” mean our formal qualification Courses with
additional rules as set out in the applicable Schedules to these terms, which form
part of the Contract.
3.2. Headings do not affect the interpretation of the Contract.
3.3. If any of these terms or other aspects of the Contract are translated, the original
English version takes priority.
3.4. Any reference to legislation includes updates, replacements and any related
subordinate legislation.
3.5. Words in the singular include the plural and vice versa.
3.6. If a party is prohibited from doing something, that party must also not permit or allow
any other person to do it on their behalf.

3.7. Words such as “including”, “include”, “in particular”, “for example” or similar
expressions are for illustration only and do not limit the meaning of the words before
them or after them.
3.8. “will” and “shall” have the same meaning as “must”.
3.9. A reference to “writing” or “written” includes email and any valid electronic signature
method (such as DocuSign).
4. How Your Contract With Us Is Formed
4.1. When you buy a Course through our website, you are making an offer to study with
us. We will only be legally bound to provide you with the Course, and requisite Digital
Content, Services and Platform once we accept your order.
4.2. Before you place your order, you will see:
a. the Course title and description,
b. the total price including taxes,
c. any Course-specific rules (for example, duration or deadlines),
d. the mandatory cancellation waiver wording (if you choose immediate access),
e. the main features of the Course (Digital Content and Services),
f. the minimum technical requirements.
4.3. At checkout, you must actively tick a box confirming that:
a. you want your Course and Digital Content to start, and be provided, straight
away (before the end of the 14-day cooling-off period); and
b. you understand and agree that:
• you will lose your statutory 14-day cancellation right for that Course once you
access any Digital Content; and
• if we begin providing any Services during the cooling-off period before you
cancel, you may be required to pay for the Services provided up to the date
you cancel (see clause 10 below).
4.4. After you submit your order, you will automatically receive an email confirming that
we have received it. Your Contract with us begins when we send you the Order
Confirmation email.
4.5. If we discover an error in the price or in the Course description before we send you
the Order Confirmation, we will contact you to correct it. We will not accept your
order until you confirm you wish to continue.
4.6. We may decline an order, for example, if:
a. the Course is no longer available,
b. we reasonably believe the order is not being placed by a consumer,
c. we cannot process your payment, or

d. you do not meet any published eligibility criteria.
e. If this happens, we will refund any payment already made.
5. Course Descriptions & Academic Information
5.1. Each Course description on our website sets out what is included. This may include:
a. access to digital learning materials,
b. tutor support or marking,
c. online or in-person teaching,
d. assessments, assignments or examinations (for Higher Certificate and Diploma
Courses),
e. the expected duration of the Course, and
f. any time limits to complete the Course.
5.2. We take care to ensure Course descriptions are accurate and up to date. However,
we may make reasonable changes to:
a. teaching methods,
b. tutors,
c. content delivery,
d. assessment format, and
e. availability of particular Digital Content,
f. where necessary for academic, operational, legal or safety reasons. Where we
make changes, we will always ensure the educational value is equivalent.
5.3. Some Courses (such as the Higher Certificate and the Diploma in Genealogy and
Heraldry Course) have additional rules and academic regulations. These are set out
in applicable Schedules to these terms. Such Schedules form part of your Contract
with us.
5.4. We reserve the right to update or improve Course content during your study period
where this is beneficial or required for academic integrity. This does not affect your
rights.
5.5. If a Course requires you to meet specific eligibility criteria (for example:
prerequisites, previous study or English-language ability), you must ensure you
meet them when placing your order.
6. Access to Your Course & Digital Content
6.1. Access to your Course and Digital Content is normally provided immediately after
your Order Confirmation, or within one working day. Where we need to verify
eligibility or process your enrolment manually, access may take slightly longer. We
will inform you if there is a delay.

6.2. Once access begins, your Digital Content is deemed ‘delivered’ for consumer law
purposes. If you have asked us to start immediately and you access any Digital
Content during the 14-day cooling-off period, you will lose your statutory right to
cancel for that Course (as per clause 2.2 and see clause 10).
6.3. You must ensure you have:
a. a suitable device such as a computer, laptop or tablet,
b. a stable internet connection,
c. any required software (for example, a PDF reader or word-processing software),
d. up-to-date antivirus and security software.
6.4. We are not responsible if your device, hardware, software or internet connection
prevents you from accessing the Course or using the Platform.
6.5. Your login details are personal to you. You must not:
a. share them with anyone else;
b. allow others to access the Course Digital Content; or
c. share, download or distribute the Course Digital Content.
6.6. We may suspend access if we reasonably believe your login information is being
misused.
6.7. From time to time, temporary maintenance or upgrades may limit your access to the
Platform. We will try to give advance notice where possible.
6.8. If we need to suspend access to the Platform for technical, academic or operational
reasons, we will notify you and restore access as soon as is practical.
7. Platform Rules
7.1. When you access our Platform you must use them responsibly and lawfully. This
means that you must not:
a. Share, copy, download, publish, sell, or distribute any Course Digital Content,
videos, documents, or other digital content except for your own private study.
b. Allow anyone else to use your login details or access Course Digital Content
through your account.
c. Upload or share anything unlawful, offensive, discriminatory, defamatory,
harmful, threatening, or that infringes the rights of others (including copyright or
privacy rights).
d. Upload malware, viruses, malicious code or anything that could damage or
disrupt our Platform, systems, other students, or tutors.
e. Behave in a way that disrupts the Services (i.e. teaching, learning,
communication or assessment).
f. Take screenshots, photographs, audio recordings or video recordings of any
online or in-person teaching session, unless we expressly permit it.

7.2. We may monitor activity on our Platform to protect students, tutors and our
intellectual property.
7.3. If we reasonably believe your account is being misused or compromised, we may
suspend or restrict access whilst we investigate. We will contact you as soon as
reasonably possible to explain the situation.
7.4. We may suspend access to our Platform:
a. to correct technical problems,
b. for maintenance or updates,
c. if we believe there is a security risk, or
d. if you breach these terms,
e. but we will always try to minimise any disruption and notify you wherever
reasonably possible.
7.5. We may record certain online sessions for quality, training or accessibility purposes.
If you would prefer not to appear in a recording, you must tell us before the session
starts and we will take reasonable steps to accommodate this.
7.6. If your Course uses any third-party platform (e.g., Zoom, Teams, Moodle, PayPal,
Stripe), you must also comply with that provider’s terms and privacy policy. We are
not responsible for third-party platform failures or downtime, but we will take
reasonable steps to minimise disruption.
8. Tutor Support & Learning Experience
8.1. The level of tutor support provided depends on the Course you purchase. Your
Course description explains what is included, such as:
a. Email or online support,
b. Marking and feedback,
c. Scheduled group sessions,
d. One-to-one support (if applicable),
e. Assessment marking, or
f. Examination arrangements (for Higher Certificate and Diploma Courses).
8.2. Tutor support may be delivered by IHGS staff, external tutors, assessors or subject
specialists engaged by us. All tutors work under IHGS academic standards. We may
suspend or cancel registrations for a Course where IHGS are unable to guarantee
academic standards (i.e. an unforeseen withdrawal of accreditation or validation
which we are unable to resolve within 30 days). IHGS will make reasonable efforts
to inform you of any such changes as early as possible and to provide you with
reasonable alternative arrangements wherever possible.
8.3. We may change your allocated tutor for operational or academic reasons (e.g.,
illness, workload or staff changes). This will not reduce the quality of your learning
experience or your rights under the Contract.

8.4. We will provide the Services using reasonable skill and care. You are responsible
for:
a. engaging with the Digital Content and tutor support,
b. meeting your Course deadlines,
c. checking your emails and Platform messages regularly, and
d. asking for help in good time if you need support.
8.5. Tutor support response times may vary depending on the Course, but we will always
act reasonably and within any timelines stated in the Course description.
8.6. We do not provide legal, tax, financial or other regulated professional advice during
any Course, or Services provided. All content is educational only.
9. Fees, Payment & VAT
9.1. Course fees are clearly displayed on our website. The price you see at checkout is
the price you pay, inclusive of VAT (where applicable).
9.2. You must pay the full Course fee at the time of purchase unless we expressly state
that instalments are available.
9.3. Payment can be made through our approved payment providers (for example: credit
or debit card, PayPal, Stripe or another processor). You must comply with any
relevant third-party payment provider terms.
9.4. Your place on the Course is not confirmed until your payment has been successfully
processed.
9.5. We are not responsible for any delays, errors or additional fees charged by your
bank, card issuer or payment provider.
9.6. We do not offer refunds unless:
a. You are still within the statutory 14-day cancellation period and you have not
accessed any Digital Content or asked us to begin Services immediately (see
clause 10); or
b. These terms specifically provide for a refund (for example, where the law
requires a refund or where IHGS cancels a Course).
9.7. If your payment fails or is reversed (for example, a chargeback):
a. We may suspend or remove your Course and Platform access until the issue is
resolved, and
b. You must repay the full Course fee and reimburse any chargeback fees we are
charged by payment processors.
9.8. The Course fee covers access for the duration stated in your Course description. If
you require an extension or deferral, additional fees may apply as explained in the
relevant Course schedule.

10. Your Consumer Right to Cancel
10.1. Your 14-day cooling-off right (before access begins)
a. If you buy a Course online or by other distance means, the law normally gives
you 14 days to change your mind and cancel the Contract without giving a
reason. This period starts on the day you receive your Order Confirmation
email.
10.2. Digital Content – when the right to cancel is lost.
a. Our Courses include Digital Content (for example, online lectures, course notes
and assessments). Under consumer law, you lose your statutory right to cancel
in relation to Digital Content once all of the following has happened:
• you have expressly asked us to start providing the Digital Content during the
14-day cooling-off period (you confirm this at checkout);
• we have told you that doing so means you will lose your right to cancel; and
• you have accessed, downloaded or streamed any Digital Content for that
Course.
b. Once these conditions are met, the Course fee for that Digital Content becomes
non-refundable, even if the original 14 days have not yet passed.
10.3. Services provided during the cooling-off period.
a. Many Courses also include Services (such as tutor support, marking, teaching
or examinations). If you ask us to start providing Services during the 14-day
cooling-off period and:
• you have not yet accessed any Digital Content; and
• you then exercise your right to cancel within the 14-day cooling-off period.
b. We are entitled to keep (or require you to pay) a proportionate amount of the
Course fee to cover the Services already provided up to the date you cancel. We
will refund the balance (if any).
c. If you have already accessed any Digital Content and clause 10.2 applies, you
will normally not have any right to cancel that Course or receive a refund, even
if Services have not yet been fully provided.
10.4. If you have NOT accessed any Digital Content and have NOT requested early
performance.
a. If you have not accessed any Digital Content and you have not asked us to start
providing any Services during the 14-day cooling-off period, you may cancel the
Contract within 14 days of your Order Confirmation and receive a full refund of
the Course fee.
10.5. How to cancel within the cooling-off period
a. If cancellation is still available to you under this clause 10, you can cancel by
contacting us in any clear way (for example, by email). You may use any model
cancellation form that we provide, but you do not have to. We will confirm receipt

of your cancellation and process any refund due within 14 days, using the same
payment method you used for the original transaction unless we agree otherwise
with you.
10.6. Effect of Cancellation
a. When you validly cancel within the 14-day cooling-off period and clause 10.2
does not apply, we will:
• cancel your enrolment or registration for the Course (including, where relevant,
any Higher Certificate or Diploma registration); and
• refund to you any Course fees you have paid, less any proportionate amount
you owe for Services already provided to you under clause 10.3.
b. After cancellation, you will no longer be able to access, study or continue to study
the cancelled Course, and your access to the relevant Digital Content, Platform
and Services will stop.
10.7. Qualification Courses (extra rules apply)
a. Some Courses (including the Higher Certificate and Diploma) have additional
rules covering withdrawal, deferral, extensions and assessment timelines. These
are set out in the applicable Schedules to these terms and form part of your
Contract. Those rules apply in addition to your statutory rights under this clause
10.
11. Your Responsibilities
11.1. You must use our Courses and Platform for your own personal study only. You must
not use them for any business, professional, commercial or teaching purposes
unless we have agreed to this in writing.
11.2. You must keep your login details secure. You must not share, sell or transfer your
Course access or login details to anyone else. If we reasonably believe your account
is being misused, we may suspend access to the Course, Digital Content, Platform
and/or Services whilst we investigate.
11.3. You must behave respectfully towards IHGS staff, tutors and other students,
including when using email, discussion forums or live online sessions. Abusive,
discriminatory, threatening or disruptive behaviour may lead to suspension or
removal from your Course without refund.
11.4. You must make sure the information you provide to us is accurate and kept up to
date by informing us in writing, including your postal address, email address and
contact details.
11.5. You must pay your Course fees on time using one of the permitted payment
methods.
If your payment fails, we may suspend access to the Course, Digital Content,
Platform and/or Services until payment is received.

11.6. You must make sure you have appropriate devices, software and internet access to
use the Course Digital Content. We are not responsible if a lack of suitable
equipment prevents you from accessing or completing the Course.
11.7. You must submit your own work. Plagiarism, copying, or submitting work created by
someone else or generated using AI Tools contrary to clause 11.8 is not allowed. If
we suspect academic misconduct, we may take action under our academic rules
(including warnings, suspension of tutor support or exclusion from assessments).
11.8. In respect of artificial intelligence (AI):
a. In this clause, “AI Tools” means any software or online service that can generate
or significantly modify text, images, audio, video, data analysis or other content
using artificial intelligence or machine-learning techniques (for example, large
language models, generative AI writing assistants, AI research tools, AI
translation or paraphrasing tools, or similar systems).
b. You remain responsible for all work you submit to IHGS and for how you use AI
Tools. You must ensure that:
• all assessed work (including assignments, examinations, portfolios and
projects) is genuinely your own;
• any permitted use of AI Tools does not prevent you from acquiring the skills
and knowledge the Course is designed to teach; and
• you comply with all IHGS academic integrity, assessment and conduct rules,
including any additional rules in a Course Schedule.
c. Unless a particular Course or assessment expressly prohibits it, you may use AI
Tools for limited study support, for example to:
• explore general background information;
• check spelling, grammar or clarity of language;
• generate ideas, structures or plans which you then substantially rewrite in your
own words; or
• help you reflect on or explain your own work.
d. In all cases, you must critically review and verify any AI-generated suggestions
and remain responsible for the accuracy and suitability of your work.
e. You must not use AI Tools in any of the following ways:
• to generate, substantially rewrite or translate assessed work (including
assignments, examinations, portfolios or projects) and then present that output
as your own original work;
• to bypass assessment rules, examination conditions or identity checks (for
example, using AI Tools during a closed-book exam or invigilated assessment,
unless we expressly permit this in writing);
• to create, adapt or share work for another person to submit as their own, or to
assist anyone else in academic misconduct;

• to upload, input or share substantial parts of any Course Digital Content,
examination questions, model answers, course notes, lecture materials or
other IHGS intellectual property, except where we have expressly allowed this
in writing;
• to upload, input or share personal data, genealogical data or other information
about identifiable individuals into AI Tools unless you have a lawful basis to do
so, you have complied with any relevant data-protection and confidentiality
obligations, and the AI Tool’s terms and privacy practices are appropriate for
that use; or
• in any way that breaches these terms, our academic regulations, or any
applicable law.
f. Where we permit AI-assisted work in an assessment, we may require you to:
• follow any guidance we issue on citing or acknowledging AI Tools; and/or
• provide a short statement explaining which AI Tools were used and how they
were used (and failure to make any required disclosure may be treated as
academic misconduct).
g. Misuse of AI Tools, including any attempt to present AI-generated or AI-
translated content as your own original work, may be treated as academic
misconduct. We may take any action open to us under these terms and any
relevant Course Schedule, including:
• requiring you to re-submit work or sit an additional assessment;
• withholding marks, results or awards;
• restricting access to Course Digital Content or the Platform; or
• suspending or ending your Contract and/or removing you from a Course
without refund (see clauses 7, 11, 16 and, where applicable, the applicable
parts in the Schedules to these terms).
h. As  AI technology is developing quickly, we may update our AI guidance or rules
from time to time for academic, legal or ethical reasons. We will take reasonable
steps to notify you of any material changes that affect your Course. Any updated
rules will apply to future assessments after we notify you.
12. Intellectual Property Rights
12.1. All Course Digital Content, videos, documents, graphics, assessments, lecture
notes, and recordings are owned by IHGS or our licensors. They are protected by
copyright and other intellectual property laws.
12.2. When you buy a Course, we give you a personal, non-transferable licence to use
the Digital Content for your own private study only.
12.3. You must not:
a. copy, share, publish, upload or distribute any Course Digital Content;
b. adapt, edit, translate or create derivative works from our Digital Content;

c. sell, rent, or make the Digital Content available to others; or
d. reproduce any content on another website, social media page, digital platform
or printed publication.
12.4. You may download Digital Content for personal study, but you must not remove
copyright notices or allow others to access your copies.
12.5. If we reasonably believe you have infringed our intellectual property rights, we may:
a. suspend or end your access to the Course, Digital Content, Platform and/or
Services,
b. disable your account, and
c. take legal action where appropriate.
12.6. Nothing in these terms transfers ownership of any intellectual property to you.
12.7. If you are granted access to any third-party materials (e.g., heraldic databases,
archives, licensed images), those materials may be subject to additional licence
terms. You must comply with all such additional terms.
13. Complaints
13.1. We aim to provide high-quality Courses and Services. If you are unhappy with any
part of your Course and/or Services, please let us know as soon as possible so we
can put things right.
13.2. You can make a complaint by emailing admin@ihgs.ac.uk (or another email we
specify for complaints). Please include your name, Course title, and a clear
description of the issue.
13.3. We will acknowledge your complaint within 5 working days. We normally aim to
provide a full response within 21 working days, although more complex issues may
take longer. If so, we will keep you updated.
13.4. Making a complaint does not pause your Course deadlines, unless we tell you
otherwise.
13.5. These terms do not affect your legal rights as a consumer. If you need free
independent advice, you can contact Citizens Advice.
14. Our Liability to You
14.1. We do not exclude liability where we legally cannot do so. Nothing in these
terms limits or excludes our liability for:
a. death or personal injury caused by our negligence;
b. fraud or fraudulent misrepresentation; or
c. any other liability that the law does not allow us to exclude or limit.
14.2. What we are responsible for. We are responsible for loss or damage you suffer
that is:

a. caused by our failure to comply with the Contract; and
b. foreseeable (meaning it was obvious it might happen, or both you and we knew
it could happen when the Contract was made).
14.3. What we are not responsible for. We are not responsible for:
a. problems caused by your own device, software, internet connection or technical
setup;
b. your failure to meet Course deadlines, submission requirements, or exam dates;
c. any loss caused by events outside our reasonable control (see clause 15);
d. loss of opportunity, loss of income, business losses, or any use of our Courses
for business purposes; or
e. losses caused by you breaking these terms.
14.4. Digital Content errors. If our Digital Content causes damage to your device or your
digital content because we failed to use reasonable care and skill, we will repair the
damage or pay you compensation. We are not responsible if the damage could have
been avoided by you:
a. following our technical advice;
b. using free updates provided to you; or
c. using appropriate security protections such as antivirus software.
14.5. Maximum limit. Apart from the situations listed in clause 14.1, our total liability to
you for all claims relating to your Course is limited to the total fee you paid for that
Course.
14.6. Advice during Courses. Any general comments, examples, guidance or
explanations given during teaching or tutor support are educational only and are not
legal, financial or professional advice. You must not rely on such comments as
formal advice.
15. Events Outside Our Control (Force Majeure)
15.1. What counts as outside our control. We are not responsible if we cannot perform
our obligations because of something outside our reasonable control. Examples
include (but are not limited to):
a. power cuts, server failure, Platform outages or major internet disruption;
b. severe weather, fire, flooding or natural disaster;
c. illness or unavailability of tutors where a replacement cannot reasonably be
arranged;
d. strikes, industrial action or transport disruption;
e. laws, regulations or government restrictions;
f. war, terrorism, civil unrest;
g. pandemics or epidemics; or

h. any failure of suppliers, hosting providers, or third-party services we rely on.
15.2. What we will do if affected. If such an event happens, we will:
a. tell you as soon as we reasonably can;
b. take reasonable steps to minimise the impact; and
c. provide revised dates, alternative arrangements, or equivalent learning options.
15.3. Your right to cancel. If the event continues for more than 30 days, you may contact
us to end your Contract and request a refund for any part of the Course not yet
provided.
15.4. Our right to cancel. If the event continues for more than 30 days and we cannot
deliver the Course, we may cancel your Contract and provide any refund due.
16. Ending the Contract
16.1. Reasons we may end the Contract. We may end your Contract (and suspend or
permanently remove your Course and Platform access) if:
a. you seriously break these terms and do not fix the problem within 14 days of us
asking you to;
b. you misuse or share Course Digital Content in breach of clause 12;
c. you behave in an abusive, threatening, discriminatory or disruptive manner;
d. you repeatedly fail to comply with Platform rules (clause 7);
e. you do not pay Course fees when they are due; or
f. you commit plagiarism or academic misconduct under the rules in any Schedule
to these terms.
16.2. What happens if we end the Contract for your breach. If we end the Contract for
reasons listed in clause 16.1:
a. no refund will be given; and
b. we may take steps to protect our intellectual property rights or the safety of staff
and students.
16.3. Your right to end the Contract. You may end the Contract if:
c. we materially breach these terms and do not fix the issue within 14 days of you
notifying us;
a. we tell you we are unable to supply the Course;
b. we make a significant change to the Course that materially affects your learning
and you do not agree to it.
16.4. Refunds if you end the Contract. If you end the Contract for a valid reason under
clause 16.3, we will refund you for any Services or Digital Content not yet provided,
unless you have already accessed the Digital Content and waived your cancellation
rights under clause 10.

16.5. Your access after ending the Contract. Once the Contract ends, your logins and
access to the Course and Platform will stop immediately unless we agree otherwise
in writing.
17. Data Protection
17.1. We are a data controller and will use your personal information as explained in our
Privacy Notice (available on our website).
17.2. You must ensure that the personal information you provide is accurate, complete
and kept up to date, because we rely on it to provide the Course and communicate
with you.
17.3. You are responsible for maintaining the security and confidentiality of your login
details and any device you use to access the Course.
17.4. We do not use non-essential cookies. If we introduce any in the future, we will
update our Privacy Notice and obtain any legally required consent.
17.5. We will only process your personal data where we have a valid legal basis to do
so (such as Contract, legitimate interests, legal obligation or consent).
17.6. We may need to share your personal data with trusted service providers (for
example, IT platform providers or tutors) where this is necessary to deliver the
Course. Any such sharing will be carried out in line with data protection laws.
18. Other Important Terms
18.1. These terms, together with your Course description and (where relevant) any
Schedule to these terms, form the entire agreement between you and us.
18.2. If any part of these terms is found to be unlawful or invalid, that part shall be treated
as removed, and the rest will continue to apply as far as legally possible.
18.3. A delay in enforcing any right under these terms does not mean we waive that right.
Any waiver must be in writing.
18.4. You may not transfer your rights or obligations under these terms to anyone else
without our prior written consent.
18.5. We may transfer our rights and obligations under these terms to another
organisation where this does not materially reduce your rights or the level of service.
18.6. Nothing in these terms creates a partnership or legal relationship between students,
or between you and other users of our services.
18.7. Notices required under these terms must be sent to the most recent contact details
you have provided. Notices sent by email are deemed received on the next working
day after they are sent.

19. Governing Law & Where You Can Bring Claims
19.1. These terms and your Contract with us are governed by the laws of England and
Wales, but this does not affect any mandatory consumer protections in the part of
the UK where you live.
19.2. As a consumer, you may bring legal proceedings in the courts of England and Wales
or any other part of the UK that you live.
20. Deletion & Retention
20.1. Data retention and deletion
We process your personal data in accordance with UK GDPR, the Data
Protection Act 2018, and our Data Retention and Deletion Policy. Our
Privacy Notice explains what data we collect and why.
20.2. Students and alumni
If we award you a qualification, we will keep a minimal core record
indefinitely. That core record consists only of student number, full
name, year of enrolment, qualification awarded, and date of award. We
keep this so we can verify awards, issue replacements where
appropriate, and maintain an accurate historical record.
20.3. All other student personal data (including progress records, marks,
correspondence, and application materials) will be securely deleted no
later than six years after course completion, final assessment,
certificate issue, or last activity with us, whichever is later.
20.4. Research clients
Personal data relating to a research project will be securely deleted no
later than six years after the last engagement or completion of the
project, whichever is later.
20.5. Informal deposits of family history or research materials
If you leave materials with us on an informal basis (not as part of a paid
commission), we will try to return them to you. If we cannot return
them after reasonable notice, they will be securely destroyed. We do
not keep informal deposits indefinitely.
20.6. Your rights
You have rights of access, rectification, and, in certain circumstances,
erasure and restriction. We may refuse a request to delete the alumni
core record described above where we still need it for verification or
historical purposes.
20.7. The full Data Retention and Deletion Policy and Privacy Notice are
available on our website. By enrolling on a course, commissioning
research, or depositing materials, you acknowledge that your personal
data will be retained and deleted in accordance with this policy.

Additional Terms and Conditions for individual courses can be found in the following
Schedules.
1) Schedule 1 – Higher Certificate in Genealogy page 17
2) Schedule 2 – Diploma in Genealogy page 22
3) Schedule 3 – Heraldry Course page 26

Schedule 1 – Higher Certificate in Genealogy
These additional terms apply only to students enrolled on the Higher Certificate in Genealogy.
They form part of your Contract with IHGS and apply in addition to the Online Course Terms
and Conditions (the “Terms”). If anything in this Schedule conflicts with the Terms, this
Schedule applies for its subject matter only.
1. Eligibility & Enrolment
1.1. You must complete the Higher Certificate application process and provide accurate
information about your identity, background and previous study.
1.2. IHGS may refuse or cancel enrolment if:
a. You do not meet the academic or administrative requirements for the
programme;
b. You provide false or misleading information;
c. IHGS are unable to deliver the Services you require to complete the Course; or
d. You breach any applicable academic regulations.
1.3. Enrolment is personal to you. Transfer of enrolment to another person is not
permitted.
1.4. IHGS may require additional evidence of identity or eligibility at any stage if needed
for academic integrity or regulatory reasons.
2. Course Structure & Requirements
2.1. The Higher Certificate consists of written lectures, assignments, practical exercises,
assessments and a final examination as described in the official syllabus.
2.2. To be awarded the Higher Certificate, you must successfully complete all required
components within the permitted timeframe, including:
• All compulsory assignments,
• All required practical work,
• Any visa, verification or competency checks, and
• The final examination.
2.3. We may make reasonable academic or administrative changes to the syllabus,
marking approach, or assessment formats where necessary. The educational
equivalence will always be maintained.
2.4. IHGS may update examples, case studies or recommended reading at any time to
maintain academic accuracy and sector relevance.

3. Duration, Deadlines & Extensions
3.1. You have five (5) years from your enrolment date to complete the Higher Certificate
in full.
3.2. If you do not complete all required components within this period, your enrolment
will automatically end, and no certificate will be awarded.
3.3. You may request an extension in writing. Extensions:
• are granted only in exceptional circumstances,
• are at IHGS’s discretion,
• may require supporting evidence, and
• may be subject to an additional extension fee.
3.4. Extensions may relate to assignment deadlines, course duration, or examination
dates.
3.5. IHGS may apply reasonable cut-off dates for extension requests to protect academic
integrity and assessment timetables.
4. Assignments & Tutor Feedback
4.1. All work you submit must be your own original work.
4.2. Assignments must be completed and submitted in the order specified in the syllabus
unless IHGS agrees otherwise.
4.3. Feedback and marking will be provided within a reasonable academic timeframe,
but timelines may vary depending on tutor availability and workload.
4.4. IHGS may require work to be resubmitted if:
• It does not meet the required standard,
• It shows possible academic integrity concerns, or
• It is incomplete or unclear.
4.5. IHGS may set formatting, referencing and submission requirements. Failure to
follow these instructions may delay marking or require resubmission.
5. Examinations
5.1. You must register for your examination by the deadline we specify.
5.2. Examination formats may be written, online, invigilated, or practical depending on
academic requirements.
5.3. If you fail to attend your booked examination without valid reason, the attempt may
be recorded as a fail and a re-sit fee may apply.
5.4. If you do not pass the examination, IHGS may permit you to re-sit subject to:
• Examination rules in force at the time; and

• Payment of any applicable re-sit fees.
5.5. All examination rules issued by IHGS (including candidate conduct rules) form part
of this Schedule.
5.6. IHGS may require photographic identification or other verification procedures for
online or in-person examinations.
6. Deferral, Interruption & Withdrawal
6.1. You may request to defer your studies or examination. Deferrals are discretionary
and may require evidence and payment of a deferral fee.
6.2. If you withdraw from the course:
• Any completed assignments may still be retained by IHGS for academic and
quality-assurance purposes;
• No refunds are available unless expressly allowed under the Terms; and
• Re-joining the programme later may require a new application and new fees.
6.3. IHGS may require a deferral or interruption of study if:
• You have outstanding fees;
• Serious academic or conduct issues arise; or
• Your participation disrupts the programme or learning environment.
6.4. If you return after a period of interruption, IHGS may require you to comply with any
updated syllabus, assessment rules or administrative procedures.
7. Academic Integrity
7.1. You must not engage in plagiarism, collusion, impersonation, use of unauthorised
materials, use of AI Tools contrary to clause 11 of the Terms (including AI-generated
content presented as your own, or any other form of academic misconduct).
7.2. IHGS may use plagiarism-detection systems or other academic integrity checks.
7.3. If misconduct is suspected, IHGS may:
• suspend marking,
• require re-submission,
• require an interview or competency test,
• withhold access to further course Digital Content,
• withhold your examination entry or your results, or
• remove you from the programme without refund.
7.4. IHGS may notify relevant qualification bodies or external regulators where serious
academic misconduct affects the integrity of the qualification.

8. Fees & Additional Charges
8.1. Higher Certificate fees do not include:
• Re-sit fees,
• Extension fees,
• Deferral fees,
• Replacement certificate fees, or
• Administrative charges for late submissions or special handling.
8.2. Any such additional fees will be published on our website or notified to you before
being incurred.
8.3. If fees are paid by instalments and you fall behind with payment, IHGS may suspend
access to Digital Content or marking until the balance is paid.
8.4. IHGS may refuse to release your examination result or certificate if any fees remain
outstanding.
9. Award of the Higher Certificate
9.1. Only IHGS may award the Higher Certificate.
9.2. IHGS may withhold your award if:
• any required element is incomplete,
• fees remain outstanding,
• there is an ongoing academic integrity investigation, or
• you have breached important academic regulations.
9.3. IHGS may revoke a qualification if it was obtained through academic misconduct or
serious breach of IHGS rules, even after the Higher Certificate has been issued.
9.4. IHGS may correct, update or withdraw any issued results or transcripts if an
administrative or marking error is later identified.
10. Communications & Record Keeping
10.1. You must ensure IHGS always has your up-to-date email address.
10.2. All official Higher Certificate course notices will be sent by email.
10.3. IHGS keeps academic and administrative records relating to your Higher Certificate
for at least six (6) years after your course ends.
10.4. IHGS may keep anonymised or de-identified versions of your work indefinitely for
teaching, quality assurance or training purposes.

11. Higher Certificate course payment by Instalments
11.1. Payment by instalments
If you choose to pay for a course by instalments, you are entering into an
agreement to pay the full course fee. The instalment plan is a method of payment
only. It does not reduce the total amount payable or give you the right to stop
payments if you later withdraw from the course.
11.2. Your statutory cancellation right
    Nothing in these terms affects your legal rights under the Consumer Contracts
(Information, Cancellation and Additional Charges) Regulations 2013. If you booked
the course at a distance or off-premises, you may cancel within 14 days of entering
the contract and receive a refund, subject to any deduction permitted by law if you
asked us to start the course during that 14-day period.
11.3. Withdrawal after the 14-day period
If you withdraw from the course after the 14-day cancellation period has ended, or
after you have asked us to begin providing the course during that period (to the
extent permitted by law), you remain liable for the full course fee.
      In that case you must either:
• continue to pay the remaining instalments as they fall due; or
• pay the outstanding balance in full.
Failure to do so may result in the outstanding amount being pursued as a debt.
11.4. Early settlement
You may pay off the remaining balance at any time.

Schedule 2 – Diploma in Genealogy
These additional terms apply only to students enrolled to the IHGS Diploma in Genealogy.
They form part of your Contract with IHGS and apply in addition to the Online Course Terms and
Conditions (the “Terms”). If anything in this Schedule conflicts with the Terms, this Schedule applies
for its subject matter only.
1. Eligibility & Enrolment
1.1. You must already hold the IHGS Higher Certificate (or an equivalent qualification
that IHGS accepts) before you can enrol on the Diploma programme.
1.2. You must complete the Diploma application process and provide accurate
information about your identity, qualifications and relevant experience.
1.3. IHGS may refuse or cancel enrolment if:
• you do not meet the academic or administrative entry requirements;
• you provide false or misleading information;
• IHGS are unable to deliver the Services you require to complete the Course;
or
• you breach any IHGS academic or conduct rules.
1.4. Enrolment is personal to you and cannot be transferred to another person.
2. Programme Structure
2.1. The Diploma involves advanced genealogical research in the form of an assessed
portfolio of research and an assessed research task.
2.2. You must complete all elements of the Diploma programme, which may include:
• portfolio of original research;
• research task; and
• any visa, interview or competency check required by IHGS.
2.3. IHGS may make reasonable changes to the syllabus, assessment format or
academic processes where required. The academic standard and educational
equivalence will always be maintained.
3. Duration, Milestones & Extensions
3.1. You have nine (9) months from the date of enrolment to complete the Diploma in
full.
3.2. If you do not complete the required components within this time, your enrolment will
automatically end and you will not be awarded the Diploma.
3.3. You may request an extension in writing. Extensions are:

• granted only in exceptional circumstances;
• at IHGS’s discretion;
• subject to supporting evidence; and
• may be subject to an extension fee.
3.4. Extensions may apply to interim assignment deadlines or the overall programme
duration.
4. Diploma Submission Requirements
4.1. The Diploma is a substantial piece of independent genealogical research that you
must complete to IHGS’s required standard.
4.2. You must follow the submission instructions, formatting rules and ethical
requirements issued by IHGS.
4.3. Your Diploma submissions must be entirely your own original work. Plagiarism,
misuse of sources, or presenting work produced by others (including AI tools without
proper attribution) is prohibited.
4.4. IHGS may require you to:
• revise and resubmit the Diploma submissions;
• attend a interview; or
• provide evidence of your research process.
4.5. Failure to submit the Diploma submission, or failure to meet the required standard
after permitted resubmissions, will mean the Diploma cannot be awarded.
5. Assessment, Marking & Feedback
5.1. IHGS will assess your work using its academic criteria and marking standards in
force at the time.
5.2. Feedback will be provided within a reasonable academic timeframe. Timelines may
vary depending on tutor availability and the complexity of the work submitted.
5.3. IHGS may require resubmission if:
• your work does not meet the required standard,
• it appears incomplete or unclear, or
• there is a concern about academic integrity.
5.4. IHGS may withhold access to further modules, marking or examination entry if fees
are outstanding.
6. Academic Integrity
6.1. You must follow IHGS’s academic integrity rules at all times. You must not:

• plagiarise,
• collude with others,
• use AI Tools contrary to clause 11 of the Terms, or use AI-generated or third-
party material as your own,
• falsify sources or data,
• submit work done by someone else, or
• assist others in academic misconduct.
6.2. IHGS may use plagiarism-detection software or other integrity checks.
6.3. If misconduct is suspected, IHGS may:
• suspend marking,
• require re-submission,
• require an interview or competency test,
• withhold access to course Digital Content or the Diploma process,
• withhold examination or visa entry,
• withhold your results or award, or
• remove you from the programme without refund.
6.4. IHGS may revoke the Diploma after it has been issued if serious misconduct later
comes to light.
7. Deferral, Interruption & Withdrawal
7.1. You may request a deferral or pause in your studies. This is discretionary, may
require evidence, and may involve a deferral fee.
7.2. If you withdraw from the Diploma programme:
• IHGS may retain any assignments for academic quality-assurance,
• no refunds are given unless the Terms allow it, and
• any future return to the Diploma programme will require a new application and
new fees.
7.3. IHGS may itself require you to defer or pause studies if:
• you have outstanding fees,
• your academic progress has stalled,
• there are serious concerns about your conduct or integrity, or
• your participation disrupts the programme.

8. Fees & Additional Charges
8.1. Diploma fees do not include:
• Re-submission or re-sit fees;
• Extension fees;
• Deferral fees;
• Replacement certificate fees; or
• Administrative handling charges.
8.2. Any additional fees will be listed on our website or provided to you before they are
incurred.
9. Award of the IHGS Diploma in Genealogy
9.1. Only IHGS may award the Diploma.
9.2. IHGS may withhold your Diploma if:
• any part of the programme is incomplete,
• fees remain outstanding,
• an academic integrity issue is unresolved,
• you fail the final assessment o after permitted attempts, or
• you breach any material academic or conduct rules.
9.3. IHGS may revoke the Diploma after award if later evidence shows it was obtained
through academic misconduct or serious breach of IHGS rules.
10. Communications & Record Keeping
10.1. You must keep your contact details up to date.
10.2. IHGS will send all official notices about the Diploma (including deadlines, academic
requirements, and results) by email.
10.3. IHGS will retain Diploma-related records for at least six (6) years after your course
ends.

Schedule 3 – Heraldry Course
These additional terms apply only to students enrolled on the Heraldry Course.
They form part of your Contract with IHGS and apply in addition to the Online Course Terms
and Conditions (the “Terms”). If anything in this Schedule conflicts with the Terms, this
Schedule applies for its subject matter only.
1. Eligibility & Enrolment
1.1. You must complete the Heraldry Course application process and provide accurate
information about your identity.
1.2. IHGS may refuse or cancel enrolment if:
a. You do not meet the academic or administrative requirements for the
programme;
b. You provide false or misleading information;
c. IHGS are unable to deliver the Services you require to complete the Course;
or
d. You breach any applicable academic regulations.
1.3. Enrolment is personal to you. Transfer of enrolment to another person is not
     permitted.

1.4. IHGS may require additional evidence of identity or eligibility at any stage if needed
for academic integrity or regulatory reasons.
2. Course Structure & Requirements
2.1.   The Heraldry Course consists of written lectures, assignments, practical exercises
              and assessments.

2.2. We may make reasonable academic or administrative changes to the syllabus,
              marking approach, or assessment formats where necessary. The educational
              equivalence will always be maintained.

2.3.   IHGS may update examples, case studies or recommended reading at any time to
              maintain academic accuracy and sector relevance.
3. Duration, Deadlines & Extensions
3.1. You have five (5) years from your enrolment date to complete the Heraldry Course
               in full.

3.2. If you do not complete all required components within this period, your enrolment will
              automatically end, and no certificate will be awarded.
3.3.   You may request an extension in writing. Extensions:

• are granted only in exceptional circumstances,
• are at IHGS’s discretion,
• may require supporting evidence, and
• may be subject to an additional extension fee.
3.4. Extensions may relate to assignment deadlines or course duration dates.
3.5. IHGS may apply reasonable cut-off dates for extension requests to protect academic
              integrity and assessment timetables.
4. Assignments & Tutor Feedback
4.1. All work you submit must be your own original work.
4.2. Assignments must be completed and submitted in the order specified in the syllabus
            unless IHGS agrees otherwise.

4.3. Feedback and marking will be provided within a reasonable academic timeframe, but
            timelines may vary depending on tutor availability and workload.
4.4. IHGS may require work to be resubmitted if:
• It does not meet the required standard,
• It shows possible academic integrity concerns, or
• It is incomplete or unclear.
4.5. IHGS may set formatting, referencing and submission requirements. Failure to follow
            these instructions may delay marking or require resubmission.
5. Deferral, Interruption & Withdrawal
5.1. You may request to defer your studies. Deferrals are discretionary and may require
            evidence and payment of a deferral fee.
5.2. If you withdraw from the course:
• Any completed assignments may still be retained by IHGS for academic and
quality-assurance purposes;
• No refunds are available unless expressly allowed under the Terms; and
• Re-joining the programme later may require a new application and new fees.
5.3. IHGS may require a deferral or interruption of study if:
• You have outstanding fees;
• Serious academic or conduct issues arise; or
• Your participation disrupts the programme or learning environment.
5.4. If you return after a period of interruption, IHGS may require you to comply with
            any updated syllabus, assessment rules or administrative procedures.

6. Academic Integrity
6.1. You must not engage in plagiarism, collusion, impersonation, use of unauthorised
materials, use of AI Tools contrary to clause 11 of the Terms (including AI-
generated content presented as your own, or any other form of academic
misconduct).
6.2. IHGS may use plagiarism-detection systems or other academic integrity checks.
6.3. If misconduct is suspected, IHGS may:
• suspend marking,
• require re-submission,
• require an interview or competency test,
• withhold access to further course Digital Content,
• remove you from the programme without refund.
6.4. IHGS may notify relevant qualification bodies or external regulators where serious
                   academic misconduct affects the integrity of the qualification.
7. Communications & Record Keeping
7.1. You must ensure IHGS always has your up-to-date email address.
7.2. All official Heraldry course notices will be sent by email.
7.3. IHGS keeps academic and administrative records relating to your Heraldry Course
                for at least six (6) years after your course ends.
7.4. IHGS may keep anonymised or de-identified versions of your work indefinitely for
                teaching, quality assurance or training purposes.

Terms & Conditions – Family History Research Services
(Effective from 10 December 2025)
Please read these Terms & Conditions carefully. They form the legally
binding contract between you and us when you commission genealogical
or historical research services.
1. About Us
1. We are Achievements, a professional genealogy and family-history research business. Our
principal place of business: 80 – 82 Northgate, Canterbury, Kent. CT1 1BA
Email:  enquiries@achievements.co.uk Telephone: 01227 462618 Website: www.family-
history.co.uk.
2. Our Services
2.1 We provide bespoke genealogical and historical research services (“the Services”). 2.2
Research is normally presented as a wriƩen narraƟve report in PDF format together with
scanned images or transcripts of original documents, citaƟons, analysis, and (where
appropriate) a family tree diagram or charts.
2.3 We will agree the precise scope of the research objecƟve(s), the budget, and any specific
deliverables with you in wriƟng before work begins.
3. No Guarantee of Results
3.1 Genealogical and historical research is, by its nature, dependent on the survival,
accessibility, and accuracy of historical records.
3.2 We cannot and do not guarantee that we will be able to trace any parƟcular individual,
family, event, or answer any research quesƟon.
3.3 In some cases it may prove impossible to progress beyond a certain point or to achieve
the desired outcome despite exhausƟve research.
4. Research Process & Communication
4.1 We will keep you regularly informed of progress.
4.2 If significant difficulƟes arise or it becomes clear that the agreed budget will be
exhausted before the research objecƟve is met, we will contact you promptly to discuss
opƟons (e.g. re-scoping the project, increasing the budget, or concluding the research at
that point).
4.3 Typical turnaround for most projects is 6–8 weeks from commencement, but complex or
large projects may take longer. We will give you a realisƟc esƟmated compleƟon date when
the work is commissioned.
5. Fees & Payment
5.1 All fees and expenses will be agreed with you in wriƟng before research begins.

5.2 We normally require payment of an agreed proporƟon of the total fee in advance (the
“Deposit”). The amount and any subsequent instalments or payment plan will be confirmed
in wriƟng.
5.3. Our fees are calculated either on an hourly basis or as a fixed fee for an agreed package
of work. Where we charge by the hour, reasonable out-of-pocket expenses (such as
cerƟficates, archive admission fees, travel, postage, and copying charges) will be added,
together with VAT at the prevailing rate where applicable.
5.4 Invoices for the balance (or for further instalments) will be issued at agreed stages or on
compleƟon. Payment is due within 14 days of the invoice date.
5.5 If you fail to pay any invoice when due, we reserve the right to suspend or terminate the
research unƟl payment is received and to charge statutory interest on overdue amounts.
6. Expenses & Additional Costs
6.1 You authorise us to incur reasonable expenses on your behalf up to the agreed budget.
Any anƟcipated expense exceeding £50 (or another agreed limit) will be approved by you in
advance.
6.2 CerƟfied cerƟficates (birth, marriage, death, census returns, etc.) are charged at cost plus
any administraƟon fee we noƟfy you of.
7. Cancellation & Refunds
7.1 You may cancel the commission at any Ɵme by giving wriƩen noƟce.
7.2 If you cancel:
• You will be liable for all time spent and expenses incurred up to the
date we receive your cancellation notice.
• We will refund any unused portion of the Deposit after deducting
the above amounts.
Work already completed (including any report or parƟal report) remains your property once
paid for.
7.3 We reserve the right to terminate the commission if we believe conƟnued research is
unlikely to be producƟve or for any serious breach of these terms. In such cases we will
refund any unused porƟon of the Deposit aŌer accounƟng for work done and expenses
incurred.
8. Intellectual Property & Copyright
8.1 The final report, family tree, transcripts, translaƟons, and any original analysis we create
are our copyright. On full payment we grant you a non-exclusive, perpetual licence to use
the materials for your personal, non-commercial purposes.
8.2 You may share the report with immediate family members, but you may not publish, sell,
or distribute the materials (or any substanƟal part of them) commercially or publicly without
our prior wriƩen consent.
8.3 Scanned or photographed copies of original documents remain the property of the
respecƟve archives or copyright holders; we supply them for your private research use only.

9. Confidentiality & Data Protection
9.1 We treat all informaƟon you provide and all research findings as confidenƟal.
9.2 We are registered with the InformaƟon Commissioner’s Office  and process your
personal data in accordance with our Privacy Policy, which is available at www.family-
history.co.uk/privacy and forms part of these Terms.

10. Deletion & Retention
10.1. We process your personal data in accordance with UK GDPR, the Data
Protection Act 2018, and our Data Retention and Deletion Policy. Our Privacy
Notice explains what data we collect and why.
10.2. Research clients
Personal data relating to a research project will be securely deleted no later than
six years after the last engagement or completion of the project, whichever is
later.
10.3. Informal deposits of family history or research materials
If you leave materials with us on an informal basis (not as part of a paid
commission), we will try to return them to you. If we cannot return them after
reasonable notice, they will be securely destroyed. We do not keep informal
deposits indefinitely.
10.4. Your rights
You have rights of access, rectification, and, in certain circumstances, erasure
and restriction. We may refuse a request to delete the alumni core record
described above where we still need it for verification or historical purposes.
The full Data Retention and Deletion Policy and Privacy Notice are available on
our website. By enrolling on a course, commissioning research, or depositing
materials, you acknowledge that your personal data will be retained and deleted
in accordance with this policy.

11. Liability
11.1 We will carry out the research with reasonable skill and care and in accordance with the
AGRA Code of PracƟce.
11.2 We do not accept liability for any loss or damage caused by errors or omissions in
historical records, or by the unavailability of records.
11.3 Our total liability to you (except for death or personal injury caused by our negligence
or for fraud) shall not exceed the total fee paid or payable for the Services under the
relevant commission.
12. Complaints

12.1 If you are unhappy with any aspect of our service, please contact us in wriƟng as soon
as possible.
12.2 We will acknowledge your complaint within 5 working days, aim to resolve it within 21
working days and in accordance with our complaints policy.
13. Governing Law & Jurisdiction
These Terms and any contract between us are governed by the laws of
England and Wales. Both parties agree to the exclusive jurisdiction of the
courts of England and Wales.
14. General
14.1 These Terms, together with our wriƩen quotaƟon or commission agreement, consƟtute
the enƟre agreement between us and supersede any prior agreements or understandings.
14.2 We may update these Terms from Ɵme to Ɵme. The version in force when you
commission research will apply to that commission.
By commissioning research from us you confirm that you have read,
understood, and agree to be bound by these Terms & Conditions.
Achievements Date: 10 December 2025

Institute of Heraldic and Genealogical Studies (IHGS) Members’
Terms and Conditions 2026
(Effective 1st June 2026)

1. Membership Eligibility
Membership is open to all individuals who are interested in the study of
genealogy and heraldry and who support the aims and objectives of the Institute
of Heraldic and Genealogical Studies.
2. Membership Period and Subscription
Membership subscriptions are payable annually. The membership year runs from
the date of receipt of payment and is valid for 12 months. Membership is
renewable upon payment of the applicable subscription fee.
3. Members’ Area Access
Upon joining, members will be granted access to the secure Members’ Area of
the IHGS website for the duration of their membership.
4. Member Information
The Institute maintains a register of members containing names, contact details,
and addresses. This information is held electronically and will be used solely for
the administration of the Institute’s activities. Member data will not be sold,
shared, or disclosed to any third party except as required for the proper
operation of the Institute or as permitted by law.
5. Family History Journal
The Family History Journal is provided to members twice per year in PDF format
uploaded to the members area of the IHGS website. It is supplied for your
personal use only, subject to the following conditions:
You may:
• Download the Journal and make a single copy (either in printed or
electronic form) for your own personal, non-commercial use.
• Read and store a local copy for personal reference.
You may not:
• Alter, edit, delete, or modify the Journal in any way.
• Copy, reproduce, distribute, or share the Journal (in whole or in part) with
any other person.
• Use the Journal for any commercial purpose or personal/corporate profit.
• Upload, store, or make the Journal available on any public or shared
computer system, website, network, or repository (other than your own
personal device for private access).

All copyright and intellectual property rights in the Journal remain with the
Institute of Heraldic and Genealogical Studies or its licensors.
6. Membership Fees
Membership subscription rates are reviewed annually and may be adjusted at
the discretion of the Institute. Members will be notified of any changes prior to
renewal.
7. Data Protection and Privacy
Your personal data is processed and retained by the Institute strictly in
accordance with our Privacy Notice, which is available on the Policies and
Procedures page of the IHGS website. By joining, you consent to the processing
of your data as described in the Privacy Notice.

8. General
• These Terms and Conditions may be updated from time to time. The
current version will always be available on the IHGS website.
• Membership may be terminated if these Terms and Conditions are
breached or if, in the opinion of the Council, a member’s conduct is
detrimental to the Institute.
• These Terms are governed by the laws of England and Wales.
By applying for and maintaining membership of the Institute of Heraldic and
Genealogical Studies, you agree to be bound by these Terms and Conditions.
Institute of Heraldic and Genealogical Studies
Registered Charity No. 313804
www.ihgs.ac.uk