Tutopiya Tutor Marketplace
Terms & Conditions

To join Tutopiya, tutors must:

• Provide accurate and verifiable personal, academic, and professional information.
• Be at least 18 years old.
• Maintain a high standard of professionalism in teaching and communication.

Tutopiya reserves the right to verify submitted documents at any time.

• All active tutors are listed on the Tutopiya Marketplace for students worldwide.
• Students filter tutors by subject, grade, and curriculum.
• Students also consider price when selecting a tutor — keeping your rate competitive and affordable improves your chances of being chosen.
• Tutors with a clear profile picture, a professional introduction video, more free slots, and affordable pricing receive higher visibility.
• Incomplete, outdated, or inactive profiles may be hidden or removed.

• Every new student starts with a 1-hour trial lesson.
• Trial lessons are free for the student, and tutors will not receive any payment for them under any circumstances, including student absenteeism or if the student later enrolls in regular lessons.
• The trial lesson helps students experience your teaching style and determine whether to continue regular lessons.
• Tutors must conduct trials professionally, punctually, and fully prepared.
• Tutopiya reserves the right to replace tutors for trial lessons at any time, based on student requirements, scheduling, other operational considerations, or the original tutor's unavailability.
• In the event a student does not attend a scheduled trial lesson without prior notice, the tutor is required to remain available and wait for a minimum of fifteen (15) minutes from the scheduled start time.
• If the student fails to join within the required fifteen (15) minute waiting period, the trial lesson shall be considered forfeited due to student absence.
• Tutopiya reserves the right to verify attendance records, platform activity logs, and communication history in relation to trial lesson attendance.

Tutors are required to submit feedback after every class, including both trial and regular lessons.

After each lesson, tutors must:

• Provide feedback on the student's understanding and performance.
• Recommend next steps or adjustments to the study plan if needed.

In the same place, tutors can also view any feedback the student has submitted for the class, making it easy to track two-way communication and adjust teaching accordingly.

This information helps our academic team track student progress and provide assistance to families as needed.

• Once a student enrolls, lessons are scheduled according to mutual availability.
• The tutor who conducts the trial class is generally assigned as the primary tutor for the student.
• However, Tutopiya reserves the right to change the originally assigned tutor if the original tutor becomes unavailable or is unable to continue, in order to ensure uninterrupted service and meet student commitments.
• Tutors must maintain punctuality, consistency, and professional communication.

• This clause applies exclusively to regular (paid) classes conducted via the Tutopiya platform.
• If a student does not attend a scheduled regular class without prior notice, the tutor must remain available and wait for a minimum of thirty (30) minutes from the scheduled start time.
• Upon completion of the required thirty (30) minute waiting period, if the student has not joined the class, the tutor shall be eligible for compensation equivalent to a maximum of one (1) hour only.
• The maximum compensation of one (1) hour applies irrespective of the originally scheduled class duration, including classes scheduled for two (2) hours or longer.
• Failure to comply with the mandatory thirty (30) minute waiting requirement may result in partial compensation or no compensation, at Tutopiya's discretion.
• Tutopiya reserves the right to verify attendance records, platform activity logs, and communication history before approving compensation related to student absence.

• All classes are conducted using Microsoft Teams, and a licensed account will be provided once regular classes begin.
• Tutors must use Tutopiya-provided resources wherever available.
• If teaching materials are not available on the platform, tutors are expected to prepare and deliver their own instructional content. Such materials must be academically accurate, professionally presented, and appropriate to the level and subject being taught.
• Tutors are solely responsible for ensuring all materials comply with applicable copyright laws. The use of pirated, copied, or otherwise unauthorised content is strictly prohibited.

• Tutors must manage bookings, rescheduling, and cancellations through the platform.
• Any issues preventing this should be reported to Tutopiya support promptly.
• Failure to manage bookings responsibly may impact trial allocations or Marketplace visibility.

• Tutors must keep their availability updated at all times. Profiles without active availability will not appear in student searches.
• Tutors must remove or adjust available time slots in advance if they are unavailable due to personal or professional commitments.
• The default trial notice period on the platform is one (1) hour and cannot be changed. This means students may book a trial class up to one hour before the scheduled start time. Tutors are expected to set and manage availability accordingly.
• Once availability is set, the same schedule automatically applies to upcoming weeks. Tutors may update or modify their availability at any time.
• Failure to manage availability appropriately may result in missed trials and reassignment to ensure student commitments are met.

Profile status options

Extended breaks & break policy

Since Tutopiya operates as a marketplace, the availability of tutors for classes is determined entirely by tutor and student schedules.

• Tutors may take time off at any time without requiring Tutopiya's approval, provided that no classes are booked during the break period.
• If classes are already scheduled during the intended break period, tutors must inform affected students in advance, reschedule or cancel the classes as appropriate, and notify Tutopiya support if a substitute tutor is required.
• Tutors must remove all available slots from their profile during the break period and set their profile status to "On a Break".

Tutors must:

• Communicate respectfully with students, parents, and the Tutopiya team.
• Uphold academic integrity at all times.
• Maintain a safe and inclusive learning environment.
• For all classes, tutors must have their camera turned on, regardless of whether the student's video is on or off.

Repeated unprofessional behaviour may result in suspension or removal.

Tutors are paid 100% of their agreed hourly rate for completed lessons only, in accordance with the platform's payment schedule and policies.

Tutor rates

• Tutor hourly rates are managed by Tutopiya. While tutors may submit requests for rate revisions or increases, approval of any change remains solely at the discretion of Tutopiya.
• Tutopiya reserves the right to adjust tutor rates based on market research, demand analysis, and business requirements.
• This may include maintaining existing rates for ongoing students without any changes, even if revised rates are approved for new students.
• In the event of a rate change, if a tutor does not wish to continue with certain students due to rate-related issues, Tutopiya reserves the right to reassign those students to another tutor at any time, without requiring the original tutor's consent.
• All rate-related decisions are made to ensure platform sustainability, competitiveness, and continuity for students.

Bank details & transactions

• Tutors must have complete and accurate bank details on file to ensure smooth payment processing.
• Payments are only remitted to the tutor's own bank account; third-party accounts are not allowed.
• Tutopiya does not take responsibility for transactions sent to incorrect or third-party accounts.

Minimum transfer amount

• If a tutor's earnings for a pay cycle are less than 25 SGD, the payment will not be transferred in that cycle.
• The amount will be carried over and transferred in the next cycle once the cumulative earnings exceed 25 SGD.

Transfer fee

• For certain regions, a bank or payment provider fee of up to 1.5% may apply.
• This fee is charged by the provider, not by Tutopiya.

Payment requirements

Payments will only be processed if:

• Completed lessons are properly logged.
• No unresolved policy violations exist.
• Notice periods are served as required.

Pending payments may be withheld in cases of contract or policy breaches.

• Tutopiya currently applies a 40–50% commission on top of the tutor's hourly rate. The exact rate depends on the student's market — 50% is applied for students in developed countries, while lower-tier markets fall toward the 40% end.
• This commission is charged to the student and is not deducted from the tutor's earnings.
• The commission percentages stated above reflect the current rates and may be revised at any time without prior notice, based on market research, business analysis, and company requirements.

While Tutopiya does not charge penalties by default, repeated or serious violations may result in penalties. These include, but are not limited to:

• Late starts, frequent rescheduling, last-minute cancellations, or no-shows.
• Policy breaches or repeated unprofessional behaviour.
• Situations where a student requests a refund due to tutor negligence, errors, or failure to follow platform standards.

Penalties will be determined based on the severity and frequency of the violation.

Possible consequences

• Financial penalties (only for repeated or severe violations).
• Temporary suspension from the marketplace.
• Restriction on receiving new students.
• Permanent removal from the platform.

These measures protect students, maintain learning continuity, and ensure platform reliability.

Tutors are responsible for maintaining the necessary technical setup to conduct high-quality lessons. This includes:

Device & environment

• All classes must be conducted using a PC or laptop; mobile phones or tablets are not allowed.
• Tutors must ensure a quiet, well-lit, and distraction-free environment during lessons.
• Tutors are not allowed to conduct lessons while traveling.

Internet & connectivity

• Tutors must maintain a stable internet connection at all times.
• Tutors are responsible for any disruption caused by power outages, network issues, or technical failures on their side.
• Backup plans (e.g., alternate connection or devices) should be in place to minimise class disruptions.

Class continuity

• Tutors must ensure that classes proceed smoothly and are responsible for any interruption due to technical issues on their end.
• Tutors must not rely on the student's equipment or connection to deliver lessons.

• If you have no regular classes currently booked by students, you are free to leave Tutopiya at any time. We kindly ask you to still inform us so we can do the needful on the platform (deactivate your profile, remove your slots, and close off any pending records).
• If you have regular classes booked, tutors wishing to resign must provide one month's written notice to allow proper handover and rescheduling for affected students.
• The notice should be sent to malinda@tutopiya.com to ensure smooth handover of students and proper scheduling.
• Tutopiya reserves the right to hold any pending payments in cases of sudden unavailability, early resignation, or if the notice period is not served.

Tutors must ensure:

• Qualifications and teaching experience are accurate.
• Subjects, grade levels, and availability are current.
• Profiles and videos are complete and professional.

Tutopiya reserves the right to hide or remove a tutor profile without prior notice for reasons including, but not limited to:

• Policy violations or repeated misconduct.
• Inactivity or failure to update availability.
• Providing false or misleading information.
• Disruptions to student learning or platform integrity.

Tutors may be reinstated at Tutopiya's discretion if issues are resolved satisfactorily.

Tutors must:

• Maintain confidentiality of student information.
• Not share their personal contact information (phone number, email, social media, etc.) with students or parents.
• Ensure all communication is conducted via the Tutopiya platform.

Tutors are responsible for managing their classes efficiently. For any issues related to class bookings, rescheduling or cancellations, or technical or teaching issues during a lesson, tutors must first attempt to resolve the issue themselves on the platform.

Contacting the support team

If the issue cannot be resolved, tutors must contact the Tutopiya Support Team using:

Available daily from 8:00 AM IST to 12:00 AM IST. Operating hours may change based on operational requirements.

Escalation to Academic Quality Control

For payment, policy-related issues, or any unresolved matters, tutors may contact:

• When classes are booked, tutors receive WhatsApp and email notifications at the registered WhatsApp number and email address provided in their profile under Basic Details.
• The timings in all WhatsApp and email notifications reflect the time zone entered by the tutor under Basic Details.
• Notifications are sent for all class-related events, including new bookings, reschedules, and cancellations. Tutors are expected to monitor these notifications and manage their availability accordingly.

Students have the right to reschedule or cancel their classes under the following conditions:

Communication & acknowledgement

• Sometimes, students communicate schedule changes via the platform chat. Tutors are required to check the chat regularly and acknowledge any changes.
• If a student or the Tutopiya team does not submit a cancellation or reschedule request via the platform, but informs the tutor directly before 2 hours of the scheduled class, tutors are not eligible for compensation, even if the reschedule or cancellation request is sent later via the platform.

This policy ensures clarity, fairness, and proper communication between students and tutors while minimising last-minute disruptions.

Tutopiya provides tutors access to learning resources and teaching infrastructure, including lesson materials, practice content, teaching aids, platform tools, and Microsoft Teams classroom access.

Resource usage requirement

• Tutors are required to use Tutopiya Learning Resources during regular classes and trial classes, where applicable, to maintain consistency, quality standards, and student experience on the platform.
• Tutopiya reserves the right to update, enhance, or modify Learning Resources, Platform Services, and applicable fees at its discretion.

Tutopiya may update these Terms & Conditions at any time. Tutors are responsible for reviewing and complying with the latest version of the policies.