diff --git a/public/sitemap.xml b/public/sitemap.xml
index 07e6eb9d..16b471ff 100644
--- a/public/sitemap.xml
+++ b/public/sitemap.xml
@@ -3,85 +3,85 @@
 
   <url>
     <loc>https://teachlink.app</loc>
-    <lastmod>2026-07-10</lastmod>
+    <lastmod>2026-08-02</lastmod>
     <changefreq>daily</changefreq>
     <priority>1.0</priority>
   </url>
   <url>
     <loc>https://teachlink.app/search</loc>
-    <lastmod>2026-07-10</lastmod>
+    <lastmod>2026-08-02</lastmod>
     <changefreq>weekly</changefreq>
     <priority>0.8</priority>
   </url>
   <url>
     <loc>https://teachlink.app/study-groups</loc>
-    <lastmod>2026-07-10</lastmod>
+    <lastmod>2026-08-02</lastmod>
     <changefreq>weekly</changefreq>
     <priority>0.7</priority>
   </url>
   <url>
     <loc>https://teachlink.app/leaderboard</loc>
-    <lastmod>2026-07-10</lastmod>
+    <lastmod>2026-08-02</lastmod>
     <changefreq>weekly</changefreq>
     <priority>0.6</priority>
   </url>
   <url>
     <loc>https://teachlink.app/certificates</loc>
-    <lastmod>2026-07-10</lastmod>
+    <lastmod>2026-08-02</lastmod>
     <changefreq>weekly</changefreq>
     <priority>0.5</priority>
   </url>
   <url>
     <loc>https://teachlink.app/support</loc>
-    <lastmod>2026-07-10</lastmod>
+    <lastmod>2026-08-02</lastmod>
     <changefreq>monthly</changefreq>
     <priority>0.4</priority>
   </url>
   <url>
     <loc>https://teachlink.app/privacy</loc>
-    <lastmod>2026-07-10</lastmod>
+    <lastmod>2026-08-02</lastmod>
     <changefreq>monthly</changefreq>
     <priority>0.3</priority>
   </url>
   <url>
     <loc>https://teachlink.app/release-notes</loc>
-    <lastmod>2026-07-10</lastmod>
+    <lastmod>2026-08-02</lastmod>
     <changefreq>monthly</changefreq>
     <priority>0.3</priority>
   </url>
   <url>
     <loc>https://teachlink.app/courses/1</loc>
-    <lastmod>2026-07-10</lastmod>
+    <lastmod>2026-08-02</lastmod>
     <changefreq>weekly</changefreq>
     <priority>0.8</priority>
   </url>
   <url>
     <loc>https://teachlink.app/courses/2</loc>
-    <lastmod>2026-07-10</lastmod>
+    <lastmod>2026-08-02</lastmod>
     <changefreq>weekly</changefreq>
     <priority>0.8</priority>
   </url>
   <url>
     <loc>https://teachlink.app/courses/3</loc>
-    <lastmod>2026-07-10</lastmod>
+    <lastmod>2026-08-02</lastmod>
     <changefreq>weekly</changefreq>
     <priority>0.8</priority>
   </url>
   <url>
     <loc>https://teachlink.app/courses/4</loc>
-    <lastmod>2026-07-10</lastmod>
+    <lastmod>2026-08-02</lastmod>
     <changefreq>weekly</changefreq>
     <priority>0.8</priority>
   </url>
   <url>
     <loc>https://teachlink.app/courses/5</loc>
-    <lastmod>2026-07-10</lastmod>
+    <lastmod>2026-08-02</lastmod>
     <changefreq>weekly</changefreq>
     <priority>0.8</priority>
   </url>
   <url>
     <loc>https://teachlink.app/courses/6</loc>
-    <lastmod>2026-07-10</lastmod>
+    <lastmod>2026-08-02</lastmod>
     <changefreq>weekly</changefreq>
     <priority>0.8</priority>
   </url>
diff --git a/src/app/components/search/SearchResults.tsx b/src/app/components/search/SearchResults.tsx
index e9d6a6c4..35cedbb8 100644
--- a/src/app/components/search/SearchResults.tsx
+++ b/src/app/components/search/SearchResults.tsx
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 'use client';
 
-import React from 'react';
-import { Star, Clock, User, ArrowRight, SearchX } from 'lucide-react';
+import React, { useState, useEffect, useCallback } from 'react';
+import { Star, Clock, User, ArrowRight, SearchX, ChevronLeft, ChevronRight } from 'lucide-react';
 import Image from 'next/image';
 import Link from 'next/link';
 import clsx from 'clsx';
@@ -27,6 +27,10 @@ interface SearchResultsProps {
   isLoading?: boolean;
   sortBy?: string;
   onSortChange?: (sort: string) => void;
+  /** Number of cards per page. Defaults to 12. */
+  pageSize?: number;
+  /** Initial page number. Defaults to 1. */
+  initialPage?: number;
 }
 
 export const SearchResults: React.FC<SearchResultsProps> = ({
@@ -34,7 +38,28 @@ export const SearchResults: React.FC<SearchResultsProps> = ({
   isLoading = false,
   sortBy = 'relevance',
   onSortChange,
+  pageSize = 12,
+  initialPage = 1,
 }) => {
+  const [currentPage, setCurrentPage] = useState(initialPage);
+
+  // Reset to page 1 whenever the result set changes (new search / filter)
+  useEffect(() => {
+    setCurrentPage(1);
+  }, [results]);
+
+  const totalPages = Math.max(1, Math.ceil(results.length / pageSize));
+  const safeCurrentPage = Math.min(currentPage, totalPages);
+  const startIndex = (safeCurrentPage - 1) * pageSize;
+  const endIndex = Math.min(startIndex + pageSize, results.length);
+  const visibleResults = results.slice(startIndex, endIndex);
+
+  const goToPrev = useCallback(() => setCurrentPage((p) => Math.max(1, p - 1)), []);
+  const goToNext = useCallback(
+    () => setCurrentPage((p) => Math.min(totalPages, p + 1)),
+    [totalPages],
+  );
+
   if (isLoading) {
     return (
       <div className="grid grid-cols-1 md:grid-cols-2 lg:grid-cols-3 gap-4">
@@ -92,9 +117,17 @@ export const SearchResults: React.FC<SearchResultsProps> = ({
 
   return (
     <div>
-      {/* Sort Controls */}
+      {/* Sort Controls / Result Count */}
       <div className="mb-6 flex justify-between items-center">
-        <p className="text-sm text-gray-600 dark:text-gray-400">{results.length} results found</p>
+        <p className="text-sm text-gray-600 dark:text-gray-400">
+          Showing{' '}
+          <span className="font-medium text-gray-900 dark:text-gray-100">
+            {results.length === 0 ? 0 : startIndex + 1}–{endIndex}
+          </span>{' '}
+          of{' '}
+          <span className="font-medium text-gray-900 dark:text-gray-100">{results.length}</span>{' '}
+          results
+        </p>
         {onSortChange && (
           <select
             value={sortBy}
@@ -110,9 +143,12 @@ export const SearchResults: React.FC<SearchResultsProps> = ({
         )}
       </div>
 
-      {/* Results Grid */}
-      <div className="grid grid-cols-1 md:grid-cols-2 lg:grid-cols-3 gap-6">
-        {results.map((course) => (
+      {/* Results Grid — only the current page's slice */}
+      <div
+        className="grid grid-cols-1 md:grid-cols-2 lg:grid-cols-3 gap-6"
+        aria-label={`Search results page ${safeCurrentPage} of ${totalPages}`}
+      >
+        {visibleResults.map((course) => (
           <Link
             key={course.id}
             href={`/courses/${course.id}`}
@@ -191,6 +227,55 @@ export const SearchResults: React.FC<SearchResultsProps> = ({
           </Link>
         ))}
       </div>
+
+      {/* Pagination Bar */}
+      {totalPages > 1 && (
+        <nav
+          className="mt-8 flex items-center justify-center gap-3"
+          aria-label="Search results pagination"
+        >
+          <button
+            id="search-results-prev-page"
+            type="button"
+            onClick={goToPrev}
+            disabled={safeCurrentPage === 1}
+            className={clsx(
+              'flex items-center gap-1 px-4 py-2 rounded-lg text-sm font-medium border transition-all duration-200',
+              safeCurrentPage === 1
+                ? 'border-gray-200 dark:border-gray-700 text-gray-400 dark:text-gray-600 cursor-not-allowed bg-transparent'
+                : 'border-gray-300 dark:border-gray-600 text-gray-700 dark:text-gray-300 bg-white dark:bg-gray-800 hover:bg-gray-50 dark:hover:bg-gray-700 hover:border-gray-400 dark:hover:border-gray-500',
+            )}
+            aria-label="Previous page"
+          >
+            <ChevronLeft size={16} />
+            Previous
+          </button>
+
+          <span className="text-sm text-gray-600 dark:text-gray-400 select-none px-2">
+            Page{' '}
+            <span className="font-semibold text-gray-900 dark:text-gray-100">{safeCurrentPage}</span>{' '}
+            of{' '}
+            <span className="font-semibold text-gray-900 dark:text-gray-100">{totalPages}</span>
+          </span>
+
+          <button
+            id="search-results-next-page"
+            type="button"
+            onClick={goToNext}
+            disabled={safeCurrentPage === totalPages}
+            className={clsx(
+              'flex items-center gap-1 px-4 py-2 rounded-lg text-sm font-medium border transition-all duration-200',
+              safeCurrentPage === totalPages
+                ? 'border-gray-200 dark:border-gray-700 text-gray-400 dark:text-gray-600 cursor-not-allowed bg-transparent'
+                : 'border-gray-300 dark:border-gray-600 text-gray-700 dark:text-gray-300 bg-white dark:bg-gray-800 hover:bg-gray-50 dark:hover:bg-gray-700 hover:border-gray-400 dark:hover:border-gray-500',
+            )}
+            aria-label="Next page"
+          >
+            Next
+            <ChevronRight size={16} />
+          </button>
+        </nav>
+      )}
     </div>
   );
 };
diff --git a/src/app/components/search/__tests__/SearchResults.test.tsx b/src/app/components/search/__tests__/SearchResults.test.tsx
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..6e2e8a7d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/app/components/search/__tests__/SearchResults.test.tsx
@@ -0,0 +1,262 @@
+import React from 'react';
+import { render, screen, fireEvent, within } from '@testing-library/react';
+import { describe, it, expect, vi, beforeEach } from 'vitest';
+import { SearchResults, CourseResult } from '../SearchResults';
+
+// ─── Helpers ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
+
+function makeCourse(n: number): CourseResult {
+  return {
+    id: `course-${n}`,
+    title: `Course ${n}`,
+    instructor: `Instructor ${n}`,
+    duration: '2h',
+    rating: 4.5,
+    price: 29.99,
+    originalPrice: null,
+    category: 'Engineering',
+    level: 'beginner',
+    image: `/img/${n}.jpg`,
+    tag: null,
+    color: '#000',
+  };
+}
+
+function makeCourses(count: number): CourseResult[] {
+  return Array.from({ length: count }, (_, i) => makeCourse(i + 1));
+}
+
+// ─── Mocks ──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
+
+// next/link renders as a plain <a> in tests
+vi.mock('next/link', () => ({
+  default: ({ href, children, ...rest }: React.AnchorHTMLAttributes<HTMLAnchorElement> & { href: string }) => (
+    <a href={href} {...rest}>{children}</a>
+  ),
+}));
+
+// EmptyState just renders its title
+vi.mock('@/components', () => ({
+  EmptyState: ({ title, description }: { title: string; description: string }) => (
+    <div>
+      <p>{title}</p>
+      <p>{description}</p>
+    </div>
+  ),
+}));
+
+// ─── Tests ──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
+
+describe('SearchResults', () => {
+  describe('loading state', () => {
+    it('renders 6 skeleton placeholders when isLoading is true', () => {
+      const { container } = render(<SearchResults results={[]} isLoading />);
+      const skeletons = container.querySelectorAll('.animate-pulse');
+      expect(skeletons).toHaveLength(6);
+    });
+
+    it('does not render pagination when loading', () => {
+      render(<SearchResults results={makeCourses(20)} isLoading />);
+      expect(screen.queryByRole('navigation', { name: /pagination/i })).toBeNull();
+    });
+  });
+
+  describe('empty state', () => {
+    it('renders the empty state when results is an empty array', () => {
+      render(<SearchResults results={[]} />);
+      expect(screen.getByText('No courses found')).toBeInTheDocument();
+    });
+
+    it('does not render pagination for an empty list', () => {
+      render(<SearchResults results={[]} />);
+      expect(screen.queryByRole('navigation', { name: /pagination/i })).toBeNull();
+    });
+  });
+
+  describe('single-page results (no pagination controls)', () => {
+    it('renders all results when count is less than pageSize', () => {
+      const courses = makeCourses(5);
+      render(<SearchResults results={courses} pageSize={12} />);
+      courses.forEach((c) => expect(screen.getByText(c.title)).toBeInTheDocument());
+    });
+
+    it('does not render pagination nav when results fit on one page', () => {
+      render(<SearchResults results={makeCourses(12)} pageSize={12} />);
+      expect(screen.queryByRole('navigation', { name: /pagination/i })).toBeNull();
+    });
+
+    it('shows "Showing 1–N of N results" for a single page', () => {
+      render(<SearchResults results={makeCourses(7)} pageSize={12} />);
+      expect(screen.getByText(/Showing/i)).toBeInTheDocument();
+      expect(screen.getByText('1–7')).toBeInTheDocument();
+    });
+  });
+
+  describe('multi-page results', () => {
+    const PAGE_SIZE = 12;
+    const TOTAL = 30; // 3 pages: 12 | 12 | 6
+
+    it('renders only the first pageSize items on the initial page', () => {
+      const courses = makeCourses(TOTAL);
+      render(<SearchResults results={courses} pageSize={PAGE_SIZE} />);
+      expect(screen.getByText('Course 1')).toBeInTheDocument();
+      expect(screen.getByText('Course 12')).toBeInTheDocument();
+      expect(screen.queryByText('Course 13')).toBeNull();
+    });
+
+    it('shows correct "Showing" count on page 1', () => {
+      render(<SearchResults results={makeCourses(TOTAL)} pageSize={PAGE_SIZE} />);
+      expect(screen.getByText('1–12')).toBeInTheDocument();
+      expect(screen.getByText(String(TOTAL))).toBeInTheDocument();
+    });
+
+    it('renders the pagination nav with Previous and Next buttons', () => {
+      render(<SearchResults results={makeCourses(TOTAL)} pageSize={PAGE_SIZE} />);
+      expect(screen.getByRole('navigation', { name: /pagination/i })).toBeInTheDocument();
+      expect(screen.getByRole('button', { name: /previous page/i })).toBeInTheDocument();
+      expect(screen.getByRole('button', { name: /next page/i })).toBeInTheDocument();
+    });
+
+    it('disables the Previous button on page 1', () => {
+      render(<SearchResults results={makeCourses(TOTAL)} pageSize={PAGE_SIZE} />);
+      expect(screen.getByRole('button', { name: /previous page/i })).toBeDisabled();
+    });
+
+    it('enables the Next button on page 1', () => {
+      render(<SearchResults results={makeCourses(TOTAL)} pageSize={PAGE_SIZE} />);
+      expect(screen.getByRole('button', { name: /next page/i })).toBeEnabled();
+    });
+
+    it('advances to page 2 when Next is clicked', () => {
+      render(<SearchResults results={makeCourses(TOTAL)} pageSize={PAGE_SIZE} />);
+      fireEvent.click(screen.getByRole('button', { name: /next page/i }));
+
+      expect(screen.getByText('Course 13')).toBeInTheDocument();
+      expect(screen.getByText('Course 24')).toBeInTheDocument();
+      expect(screen.queryByText('Course 1')).toBeNull();
+    });
+
+    it('shows correct "Showing" count on page 2', () => {
+      render(<SearchResults results={makeCourses(TOTAL)} pageSize={PAGE_SIZE} />);
+      fireEvent.click(screen.getByRole('button', { name: /next page/i }));
+      expect(screen.getByText('13–24')).toBeInTheDocument();
+    });
+
+    it('shows page indicator "Page 2 of 3" after one Next click', () => {
+      render(<SearchResults results={makeCourses(TOTAL)} pageSize={PAGE_SIZE} />);
+      fireEvent.click(screen.getByRole('button', { name: /next page/i }));
+      const nav = screen.getByRole('navigation', { name: /pagination/i });
+      expect(within(nav).getByText('2')).toBeInTheDocument();
+      expect(within(nav).getByText('3')).toBeInTheDocument();
+    });
+
+    it('enables the Previous button on page 2', () => {
+      render(<SearchResults results={makeCourses(TOTAL)} pageSize={PAGE_SIZE} />);
+      fireEvent.click(screen.getByRole('button', { name: /next page/i }));
+      expect(screen.getByRole('button', { name: /previous page/i })).toBeEnabled();
+    });
+
+    it('returns to page 1 when Previous is clicked from page 2', () => {
+      render(<SearchResults results={makeCourses(TOTAL)} pageSize={PAGE_SIZE} />);
+      fireEvent.click(screen.getByRole('button', { name: /next page/i }));
+      fireEvent.click(screen.getByRole('button', { name: /previous page/i }));
+      expect(screen.getByText('Course 1')).toBeInTheDocument();
+    });
+
+    it('navigates to the last page and shows correct partial slice', () => {
+      render(<SearchResults results={makeCourses(TOTAL)} pageSize={PAGE_SIZE} />);
+      fireEvent.click(screen.getByRole('button', { name: /next page/i }));
+      fireEvent.click(screen.getByRole('button', { name: /next page/i }));
+      // Page 3: courses 25–30
+      expect(screen.getByText('Course 25')).toBeInTheDocument();
+      expect(screen.getByText('Course 30')).toBeInTheDocument();
+      expect(screen.queryByText('Course 24')).toBeNull();
+    });
+
+    it('shows correct "Showing" count on the last page', () => {
+      render(<SearchResults results={makeCourses(TOTAL)} pageSize={PAGE_SIZE} />);
+      fireEvent.click(screen.getByRole('button', { name: /next page/i }));
+      fireEvent.click(screen.getByRole('button', { name: /next page/i }));
+      expect(screen.getByText('25–30')).toBeInTheDocument();
+    });
+
+    it('disables the Next button on the last page', () => {
+      render(<SearchResults results={makeCourses(TOTAL)} pageSize={PAGE_SIZE} />);
+      fireEvent.click(screen.getByRole('button', { name: /next page/i }));
+      fireEvent.click(screen.getByRole('button', { name: /next page/i }));
+      expect(screen.getByRole('button', { name: /next page/i })).toBeDisabled();
+    });
+  });
+
+  describe('page reset on results change', () => {
+    it('resets to page 1 when the results prop changes', () => {
+      const firstSet = makeCourses(30);
+      const { rerender } = render(
+        <SearchResults results={firstSet} pageSize={12} />,
+      );
+
+      // Advance to page 2
+      fireEvent.click(screen.getByRole('button', { name: /next page/i }));
+      expect(screen.getByText('Course 13')).toBeInTheDocument();
+
+      // Simulate a new search result set
+      const newSet = makeCourses(25).map((c, i) => ({ ...c, id: `new-${i}`, title: `New Course ${i + 1}` }));
+      rerender(<SearchResults results={newSet} pageSize={12} />);
+
+      expect(screen.getByText('New Course 1')).toBeInTheDocument();
+      expect(screen.queryByText('Course 13')).toBeNull();
+
+      // Pagination indicator shows page 1
+      const nav = screen.getByRole('navigation', { name: /pagination/i });
+      expect(within(nav).getByText('1')).toBeInTheDocument();
+    });
+  });
+
+  describe('price display', () => {
+    it('renders a discount badge when originalPrice is provided', () => {
+      const course = { ...makeCourse(1), price: 15, originalPrice: 30 };
+      render(<SearchResults results={[course]} pageSize={12} />);
+      expect(screen.getByText('50% OFF')).toBeInTheDocument();
+      expect(screen.getByText('$15.00')).toBeInTheDocument();
+      expect(screen.getByText('$30.00')).toBeInTheDocument();
+    });
+
+    it('renders a plain price when no originalPrice', () => {
+      const course = { ...makeCourse(1), price: 29.99, originalPrice: null };
+      render(<SearchResults results={[course]} pageSize={12} />);
+      expect(screen.getByText('$29.99')).toBeInTheDocument();
+      expect(screen.queryByText(/% OFF/)).toBeNull();
+    });
+  });
+
+  describe('sort controls', () => {
+    it('renders the sort select when onSortChange is provided', () => {
+      render(
+        <SearchResults
+          results={makeCourses(5)}
+          sortBy="relevance"
+          onSortChange={vi.fn()}
+        />,
+      );
+      expect(screen.getByRole('combobox')).toBeInTheDocument();
+    });
+
+    it('calls onSortChange with the selected value', () => {
+      const onSortChange = vi.fn();
+      render(
+        <SearchResults
+          results={makeCourses(5)}
+          sortBy="relevance"
+          onSortChange={onSortChange}
+        />,
+      );
+      fireEvent.change(screen.getByRole('combobox'), { target: { value: 'rating' } });
+      expect(onSortChange).toHaveBeenCalledWith('rating');
+    });
+
+    it('does not render the sort select when onSortChange is absent', () => {
+      render(<SearchResults results={makeCourses(5)} />);
+      expect(screen.queryByRole('combobox')).toBeNull();
+    });
+  });
+});
diff --git a/src/app/profile/page.tsx b/src/app/profile/page.tsx
index f3e0251a..e9064f73 100644
--- a/src/app/profile/page.tsx
+++ b/src/app/profile/page.tsx
@@ -10,14 +10,16 @@ export async function generateMetadata(): Promise<Metadata> {
     openGraph: {
       title: `${profileUser.name} | TeachLink`,
       description: `View the profile of ${profileUser.name} on TeachLink.`,
-      images: [
-        {
-          url: profileUser.avatarUrl,
-          width: 800,
-          height: 800,
-          alt: profileUser.name,
-        },
-      ],
+      images: profileUser.avatarUrl
+        ? [
+            {
+              url: profileUser.avatarUrl,
+              width: 800,
+              height: 800,
+              alt: profileUser.name,
+            },
+          ]
+        : [],
     },
   };
 }
diff --git a/src/app/profile/profile-data.ts b/src/app/profile/profile-data.ts
index 1a8c8b78..81eac44c 100644
--- a/src/app/profile/profile-data.ts
+++ b/src/app/profile/profile-data.ts
@@ -7,7 +7,8 @@ export interface ProfileUser {
   bio: string;
   learningGoal: string;
   dailyLearningTime: string;
-  avatarUrl: string;
+  /** Optional URL used for Open Graph / social sharing images. */
+  avatarUrl?: string;
 }
 
 export interface SelectOption {
diff --git a/src/types/api.ts b/src/types/api.ts
index 65c18033..6140b4e1 100644
--- a/src/types/api.ts
+++ b/src/types/api.ts
@@ -139,4 +139,8 @@ export interface ReviewApprovalRequest {
   reviewNote?: string;
 }
 
+// ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+// Topics
+// ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+
 export type { Topic } from '@/utils/socialUtils';