Terms & Conditions

Last Revised: April 14, 2026

1. Scope of Application, Definitions

(1) For the business relationship between Stern German Institute (“we”) and you, the following General Terms and Conditions (“GTC”) apply. Deviating conditions shall not be valid unless explicitly agreed upon in writing.

(2) Through our website, we offer free language learning information, materials, and services, as well as paid online/offline language courses and materials (collectively, the “Service”).

2. User Account & Conclusion of Contract

(1) To use our Services, you must create a user account with true, accurate, and complete information.

(2) By creating an account, you confirm that you are at least 18 years old and can enter into legally binding contracts.

(3) The contract for an online language course is only concluded upon our submission of a declaration of acceptance, typically sent via a separate order confirmation email.

3. Rights of Use and Restrictions

(1) Stern German Institute owns all copyright exploitation rights to the materials provided (text, images, software, audio, and video).

(2) We grant you a non-exclusive, non-transferable right to use the materials solely for private and non-commercial purposes.

5. Online Language Courses

(1) We provide live online lessons with language teachers, either as private or group classes.

(2) Technical Requirements: You are responsible for procuring third-party video conferencing software (e.g., Zoom) at your own expense.

(3) Attendance Policy: If you arrive more than 10 minutes late for a class, the teacher is entitled to close the course. In this case, the credits will be used up and will not be refunded.

(4) Cancellation: You can cancel a lesson at least 72 hours before the start to retain your credits. Later cancellations result in the loss of class credits.

6. Fees and Payments

(1) You are obligated to pay the fees agreed upon in the order. Prices displayed are final prices.

(2) We reserve the right to change fees no more than once per calendar year to reflect changes in cost elements (e.g., teacher costs, IT systems).

(3) Accepted payment methods include Credit Card, PayPal, and other local payment methods as specified on the checkout page.

7. Term & Termination

(1) Subscriptions: Monthly subscriptions are concluded for four weeks and automatically extend unless terminated before the end of the ongoing period.

(2) Upfront Courses: Contracts for selected contract periods do not renew automatically unless expressly provided for on the checkout page.

(3) Good Cause: We reserve the right to terminate your account immediately if you violate restrictions of use or transfer your account to a third party.

8. Right of Withdrawal

If you are a consumer under § 13 BGB (or applicable local laws in India), you are entitled to a statutory right of withdrawal within 14 days, provided the service has not been fully rendered with your prior consent.