Terms of Service

Last Updated: July 6, 2026

Welcome to Onyx Educate, a platform operated by Onyx Institute (Pty) Ltd. "Onyx Institute," "Onyx Educate," "we," "us," or "our" refer interchangeably to Onyx Institute (Pty) Ltd and its educational platform. These Terms of Service ("Terms") govern your access to and use of our website, mobile applications, and services (collectively, the "Platform"). By accessing or using the Platform, you agree to be bound by these Terms. If you do not agree to these Terms, please do not use our Platform.

1. Acceptance of Terms

By creating an account, accessing, or using our Platform, you acknowledge that you have read, understood, and agree to be bound by these Terms, our Privacy Policy, and any additional guidelines or rules applicable to specific services. These Terms constitute a legally binding agreement between you and Onyx Institute.

2. Eligibility

You must be at least 18 years of age to use our Platform. If you are under 18, you may only use the Platform with the involvement and consent of a parent or legal guardian who agrees to be bound by these Terms. By using the Platform, you represent and warrant that you meet these eligibility requirements.

3. Description of Services

Onyx Educate provides an educational technology platform that connects students with tutors and educational resources, including but not limited to:

• One-on-one tutoring sessions (online and in-person)
• Bolt Classes (small group interactive classes, maximum 10 students)
• Flash Classes (large group lectures with recordings and materials)
• Video Courses (pre-recorded educational content)
• Onyx AI (AI-powered study assistant, subscription-based at R199/month)
• Study materials, flashcards, quizzes, and other educational resources

4. User Accounts

4.1 Account Registration

To access certain features of the Platform, you must create an account. You agree to provide accurate, current, and complete information during registration and to update such information to keep it accurate, current, and complete.

4.2 Account Security

You are responsible for safeguarding your account credentials and for all activities that occur under your account. You agree to notify us immediately of any unauthorized use of your account. Onyx Institute shall not be liable for any loss or damage arising from your failure to protect your account credentials.

4.3 Account Termination

We reserve the right to suspend or terminate your account at any time, with or without cause, and with or without notice, including for violation of these Terms. Upon termination, your right to use the Platform will immediately cease.

5. Tutor Terms

5.1 Independent Contractor Status

Tutors on the Platform are independent contractors and not employees, agents, or representatives of Onyx Institute. Tutors are solely responsible for their teaching methods, content, and interactions with students. Onyx Institute does not control or direct the manner in which tutors provide their services.

5.2 Tutor Approval

Tutors must undergo an approval process, which may include verification of academic credentials, identity verification, and background checks. Approval is at the sole discretion of Onyx Institute and may be revoked at any time.

5.3 Tutor Conduct

Tutors agree to conduct themselves professionally, provide accurate information about their qualifications, arrive on time for scheduled sessions, and maintain appropriate boundaries with students.

6. Student Terms

6.1 Student Conduct

Students agree to participate respectfully in all sessions, arrive on time for scheduled lessons, provide accurate information about their educational needs, and refrain from any disruptive or inappropriate behavior.

6.2 Academic Integrity

Students are expected to maintain academic integrity. The Platform is intended for educational support and learning assistance, not for cheating, plagiarism, or academic dishonesty. Students may not use tutoring services or AI tools to complete assignments or exams that are meant to be completed independently.

7. Payments and Fees

7.1 Pricing

All prices are listed in South African Rand (ZAR) and are subject to change without notice. Current pricing will be displayed at the time of purchase.

7.2 Payment Processing

Payments are processed through third-party payment processors. By making a purchase, you agree to the terms and conditions of these payment processors. Onyx Institute is not responsible for any errors or issues arising from payment processing.

7.3 Subscriptions

Certain services, such as Onyx AI, require a monthly subscription. Subscriptions automatically renew unless cancelled before the renewal date. You may cancel your subscription at any time, but no refunds will be provided for partial months.

7.4 Tutor Payouts

Tutors will receive payment for completed sessions according to our payout schedule, less any applicable commission fees. Payout amounts and schedules are detailed in the tutor agreement.

8. Cancellations and Refunds

8.1 Lesson Cancellations

Cancellation policies for individual tutoring sessions are as follows:

• Cancellations made more than 24 hours before the scheduled session: Full refund or credit
• Cancellations made within 24 hours of the scheduled session: No refund
• No-shows: No refund

8.2 Class Cancellations

If a Bolt Class or Flash Class is cancelled by the tutor or Onyx Institute, enrolled students will receive a full refund or credit at their discretion.

8.3 Video Courses and Digital Content

Due to the digital nature of video courses and downloadable content, all sales are final. No refunds will be provided once access has been granted.

9. Intellectual Property

9.1 Platform Content

All content on the Platform, including but not limited to text, graphics, logos, icons, images, audio clips, video clips, data compilations, and software, is the property of Onyx Institute or its content suppliers and is protected by South African and international copyright laws.

9.2 User Content

By uploading or submitting content to the Platform (including study materials, documents, and communications), you grant Onyx Institute a non-exclusive, worldwide, royalty-free license to use, reproduce, modify, and distribute such content for the purpose of providing and improving our services.

9.3 Restrictions

You may not copy, reproduce, distribute, transmit, display, sell, license, or otherwise exploit any content from the Platform without prior written permission from Onyx Institute. Recording of live sessions without consent from all participants is strictly prohibited.

10. Prohibited Conduct

You agree not to:

• Use the Platform for any unlawful purpose or in violation of these Terms
• Harass, abuse, or harm another person or group
• Impersonate any person or entity or misrepresent your affiliation
• Interfere with or disrupt the Platform or servers
• Attempt to gain unauthorized access to any portion of the Platform
• Use any automated system to access the Platform
• Transmit any viruses, malware, or other malicious code
• Collect or harvest any personal information from other users
• Circumvent any measures designed to prevent or restrict access
• Engage in any form of academic dishonesty using our services
• Share account credentials with third parties
• Arrange payment or tutoring sessions outside the Platform to avoid fees

11. Disclaimer of Warranties

THE PLATFORM AND ALL SERVICES ARE PROVIDED "AS IS" AND "AS AVAILABLE" WITHOUT WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EITHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, AND NON-INFRINGEMENT.

ONYX INSTITUTE DOES NOT WARRANT THAT THE PLATFORM WILL BE UNINTERRUPTED, ERROR-FREE, OR SECURE. WE DO NOT GUARANTEE ANY SPECIFIC EDUCATIONAL OUTCOMES, GRADES, OR RESULTS FROM USING OUR SERVICES.

ONYX INSTITUTE DOES NOT ENDORSE, GUARANTEE, OR ASSUME RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE QUALITY, ACCURACY, OR RELIABILITY OF ANY TUTOR, CONTENT, OR SERVICES PROVIDED THROUGH THE PLATFORM.

12. Limitation of Liability

TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ONYX INSTITUTE AND ITS DIRECTORS, OFFICERS, EMPLOYEES, AGENTS, AND AFFILIATES SHALL NOT BE LIABLE FOR ANY INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, OR PUNITIVE DAMAGES, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO LOSS OF PROFITS, DATA, USE, GOODWILL, OR OTHER INTANGIBLE LOSSES, RESULTING FROM:

• Your access to or use of (or inability to access or use) the Platform
• Any conduct or content of any third party on the Platform
• Any content obtained from the Platform
• Unauthorized access, use, or alteration of your transmissions or content
• Any tutoring services or educational content provided through the Platform

IN NO EVENT SHALL ONYX INSTITUTE'S TOTAL LIABILITY TO YOU EXCEED THE AMOUNT YOU HAVE PAID TO ONYX INSTITUTE IN THE TWELVE (12) MONTHS PRECEDING THE CLAIM.

13. Indemnification

You agree to defend, indemnify, and hold harmless Onyx Institute and its directors, officers, employees, agents, and affiliates from and against any and all claims, damages, obligations, losses, liabilities, costs, and expenses (including attorney's fees) arising from:

• Your use of the Platform
• Your violation of these Terms
• Your violation of any rights of another party
• Any content you upload, post, or transmit through the Platform
• Your tutoring services (if you are a tutor)

14. Dispute Resolution

14.1 Governing Law

These Terms shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the Republic of South Africa, without regard to its conflict of law provisions.

14.2 Informal Resolution

Before filing any formal dispute, you agree to first contact us at admin@onyxeducate.com to attempt to resolve the dispute informally. We will attempt to resolve the dispute within 30 days.

14.3 Jurisdiction

Any disputes arising out of or relating to these Terms or the Platform shall be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of the Republic of South Africa.

15. Third-Party Services and Google API Integration

The Platform may contain links to third-party websites or services that are not owned or controlled by Onyx Institute. We have no control over, and assume no responsibility for, the content, privacy policies, or practices of any third-party websites or services. You acknowledge and agree that Onyx Institute shall not be responsible or liable for any damage or loss caused by your use of any such third-party services.

15.1 Google API Services

Our Platform integrates with Google API Services to provide authentication and enhanced functionality. By using features that connect to Google services, you agree to be bound by Google's Terms of Service. Our use and transfer of information received from Google APIs adheres to the Google API Services User Data Policy, including the Limited Use requirements.

Specifically, our application:

• Only requests access to the Google user data necessary to provide our services
• Does not use Google user data for serving advertisements
• Does not allow humans to read your Google user data unless we have your explicit consent, it is necessary for security purposes, to comply with applicable law, or our use is limited to internal operations
• Does not transfer Google user data to third parties unless necessary to provide our services, as required by law, or as part of a merger or acquisition with notice to users

15.2 OAuth and Authentication

When you authenticate using third-party services (such as Google), you grant us permission to access certain information from your account as permitted by that service and as authorized by you during the authentication process. You can revoke this access at any time through your account settings on the respective third-party service.

16. User-Generated Content, Marketing & Media Releases

16.1 Video, Image & Testimonial Submissions

By voluntarily submitting any video, photograph, image, audio recording, written review, testimonial, or other media content ("User Submission") to Onyx Institute — whether through the Platform, email, social media, competitions, or any other channel — you grant Onyx Institute a perpetual, irrevocable, worldwide, royalty-free, fully transferable, and sub-licensable licence to use, reproduce, edit, modify, adapt, crop, translate, publish, distribute, publicly display, publicly perform, broadcast, and otherwise exploit your User Submission, in whole or in part, in any format or medium now known or hereafter developed, for any purpose including but not limited to advertising, marketing, promotional campaigns, social media, the Platform, website content, printed materials, presentations, and press releases.

16.2 Content Warranties

By making a User Submission, you represent and warrant that:

• You are the sole creator and owner of the submitted content, or you have obtained all necessary rights, licences, consents, and permissions from any third parties appearing in or contributing to the content
• Your submission does not infringe upon the intellectual property rights, privacy rights, publicity rights, or any other rights of any third party
• Your submission does not contain any defamatory, obscene, offensive, hateful, or otherwise unlawful material
• If any identifiable individuals (other than yourself) appear in your submission, you have obtained their written consent (or, for minors, the consent of their parent or legal guardian) for Onyx Institute to use their likeness as described herein
• All factual statements made in your submission are true and accurate to the best of your knowledge

16.3 No Obligation & Editorial Discretion

Onyx Institute is under no obligation to use, publish, or return any User Submission. We reserve the right to edit, crop, modify, or remove any User Submission at our sole discretion, without prior notice or compensation to you. Onyx Institute may attribute your User Submission using your name, username, institution, or other identifying information, or may use it anonymously, at our discretion.

16.4 No Compensation

Unless explicitly stated otherwise in writing, you acknowledge and agree that no compensation, royalties, fees, or other consideration will be paid to you for any User Submission or the rights granted herein, whether or not Onyx Institute uses your submission.

16.5 Indemnification for Submissions

You agree to indemnify, defend, and hold harmless Onyx Institute from and against any claims, demands, liabilities, damages, costs, and expenses (including legal fees) arising from or related to your User Submission, including any breach of the warranties set out in Section 16.2.

17. Competitions, Challenges & Promotional Events

17.1 General Rules

From time to time, Onyx Institute may run competitions, challenges, giveaways, or other promotional events ("Competitions"). Each Competition may have additional specific rules, which will be published at the time of announcement. In the event of any conflict between these Terms and Competition-specific rules, the Competition-specific rules shall prevail for that Competition.

17.2 Eligibility

Unless otherwise stated, Competitions are open only to registered and active users of the Onyx platform who are students at a recognised South African educational institution. Employees, contractors, and immediate family members of Onyx Institute are not eligible to participate. Onyx Institute reserves the right to verify eligibility at any time and to disqualify any entrant who does not meet the stated requirements.

17.3 Submissions for Competitions

All content submitted as part of a Competition entry is subject to the User Submission terms in Section 16. By entering a Competition, you grant Onyx Institute full, perpetual, and royalty-free rights to use, edit, publish, and share your entry across all social media platforms, the website, and marketing materials, regardless of whether you win.

17.4 Winner Selection & Announcement

Winners will be selected by the Onyx Institute team based on the criteria specified for each Competition. All judging decisions are final and binding, and no correspondence will be entered into regarding the outcome. By entering a Competition, you consent to Onyx Institute publicly announcing your name, likeness, institution, and any other relevant details as a winner or participant on our official platforms.

17.5 Prizes

Prizes are as stated in the Competition announcement and are non-transferable, non-exchangeable, and cannot be redeemed for cash unless explicitly stated otherwise. Onyx Institute reserves the right to substitute a prize of equal or greater value at its sole discretion. Winners are solely responsible for any taxes, duties, or levies applicable to their prizes.

17.6 Disqualification

Onyx Institute reserves the right to disqualify any entry or participant that it reasonably believes has breached these Terms, engaged in fraudulent or dishonest conduct, or submitted content that is inappropriate, offensive, or infringes on the rights of any third party. Disqualified entries may still be used by Onyx Institute in accordance with the licence granted in Section 16.

17.7 Limitation of Liability for Competitions

Onyx Institute shall not be liable for any loss, damage, injury, or disappointment suffered by any participant arising from entering a Competition or accepting a prize. Onyx Institute reserves the right to cancel, modify, or suspend any Competition at any time without prior notice if circumstances beyond its reasonable control make it necessary.

18. Reviews & Testimonials

18.1 Review Submissions

Users may submit reviews, ratings, and testimonials for tutors, classes, courses, and other services on the Platform. By submitting a review, you grant Onyx Institute the rights described in Section 16, including the right to display your review on the Platform, in marketing materials, on social media, and in any other medium.

18.2 Review Guidelines

Reviews must be honest, based on genuine personal experience, and comply with the following guidelines:

• Reviews must be truthful and not misleading
• Reviews must not contain defamatory, abusive, threatening, obscene, or discriminatory language
• Reviews must not include personal contact information, spam, or promotional content for third-party services
• Reviews must not violate any applicable law or regulation
• Users may not submit fake or incentivised reviews (unless part of an official Onyx promotion)

18.3 Review Moderation

Onyx Institute reserves the right to moderate, edit, or remove any review at its sole discretion, including reviews that violate these guidelines, are deemed inappropriate, or are reported by other users. Onyx Institute is not obligated to publish or retain any review.

19. Modifications to Terms

We reserve the right to modify these Terms at any time. We will notify you of material changes by posting the updated Terms on the Platform and updating the "Last Updated" date. Your continued use of the Platform after such modifications constitutes your acceptance of the revised Terms.

20. Severability

If any provision of these Terms is held to be invalid or unenforceable, such provision shall be struck and the remaining provisions shall be enforced to the fullest extent under law.

21. Entire Agreement

These Terms, together with our Privacy Policy and any other agreements expressly incorporated by reference, constitute the entire agreement between you and Onyx Institute concerning the Platform and supersede all prior agreements and understandings.

22. Waiver

The failure of Onyx Institute to enforce any right or provision of these Terms shall not constitute a waiver of such right or provision. Any waiver of any provision of these Terms will be effective only if in writing and signed by Onyx Institute.

23. Contact Information

If you have any questions about these Terms of Service, please contact us at:

Onyx Institute (Pty) Ltd (trading as Onyx Educate)
Email: admin@onyxeducate.com
Websites: www.onyxeducate.com | www.onyxtutors.com

For questions specifically related to Google data or OAuth access, please include "Google Data Inquiry" in your email subject line.