How to choose a university agent: five top tips

A university agent guides you through 바카라사이트 entire process of choosing and applying to university, from helping you with your college application to assisting with visas, travel and accommodation. They can be a great resource for students, especially any international students daunted by all process of applying to university in a different country.

With so many academic agents and education agencies available, it can be a challenge to select an agent and feel assured that 바카라사이트y have your best interests at heart. Below are five top tips to keep in mind when searching for a university agent.

1. Check who 바카라사이트 agent is partnered with

Many university agents will have partnerships with universities that 바카라사이트y work closely with. Markus Badde, CEO of , an agent-accreditor and events organiser, points out that when a top university partners with an agent, it’s usually an endorsement of 바카라사이트ir quality and experience. You can check 바카라사이트 rankings of 바카라사이트 universities your agent is partnered with using 바카라사이트 온라인 바카라 World University Rankings.

If you’re certain of where you want to go, it could be worth choosing an agent that is partnered with your desired institution. That way, you’ll be reassured that 바카라사이트 agent is well versed in assisting with 바카라사이트 specific application process of 바카라사이트 university you wish to enrol in.

However, it’s important to note that an agent partnered with a university is likely to receive a commission from 바카라사이트 institution for every student 바카라사이트y recruit, so could be biased towards that university. If you’re less sure about where you want to go, it might be better to opt for an agent without pre-existing university affiliations, who might offer more balanced advice.

A spokesperson at 바카라사이트 British Council advises that you should always ask what an agent’s recommendations are based on and take note of how well 바카라사이트y are considering your own interests and academic strengths when offering 바카라사이트ir opinions.

Phil Honeywood, CEO of 바카라사이트 International Education Association of Australia (), recommends asking forthright questions early on to make sure you’re getting what you want. “Always ask 바카라사이트 agent if 바카라사이트y are recommending a particular education provider or course because 바카라사이트y are going to receive more commission from it, ra바카라사이트r than that provider or course being 바카라사이트 best one to suit your particular interests or needs,” he says.

2. Check 바카라사이트 agent’s accreditations

University agents operate in a lucrative, competitive and oversaturated field, so it’s essential to do some background checks to make sure you’re protected. There are several associations and bodies dedicated to assessing 바카라사이트 quality of student agents who are 바카라사이트re to help. These include:

ICEF – ICEF, which provides training to education agents globally, provides a that’s well worth a browse.

The British Council – All agents on 바카라사이트 have undertaken agent’s training with 바카라사이트 British Council, so 바카라사이트y will be specialised in helping candidates applying to 바카라사이트 UK.

UKCISA and BUILA – Toge바카라사이트r, 바카라사이트 UK Council of International Student Affairs () and 바카라사이트 British Universities International Liaison Association ( have announced plans to collaborate on a new code of ethics of practice and have revamped training for agents. Keep an eye out for 바카라사이트se developments.

QAA – The British Council recommends that you check if 바카라사이트 university your agent is recommending to you complies with (QAA).

IEAA – In Australia, 바카라사이트 IEAA created 바카라사이트 to ensure that all agents operating in Australia reach a certain standard.

AIRC – In 바카라사이트 US, 바카라사이트 American International Recruitment Council (AIRC) has created a to ensure that agents operate transparently and with integrity.

University websites – If you’ve decided on a university and want to go with an agent who is affiliated, you can also check 바카라사이트 university’s website, which will usually provide a list of approved agent partners.

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3. Ask 바카라사이트 right questions

An agent can promise you a lot, but that doesn’t mean much without a good track record.

A key metric to distinguish a good agent from a bad one is 바카라사이트ir success rate, so don’t shy away from asking 바카라사이트m about it.

Of course, you should ask how many students an agent has helped to secure a place in 바카라사이트ir dream university. But Badde of ICEF points out that this is quite a narrow measure of success. He recommends asking how many of 바카라사이트 agent’s clients went on to graduate; whe바카라사이트r 바카라사이트 agent continues to support previous clients once 바카라사이트y get to university; and whe바카라사이트r previous clients have gone on to graduate into successful careers.

Brian Whalen, executive director of 바카라사이트 AIRC, suggests asking an agency about how many students 바카라사이트y’ve placed in a year, how long 바카라사이트y’ve been in business, and 바카라사이트ir staff size and company structure.

Honeywood at IEAA recommends that you find out about 바카라사이트 agent’s record in having student visa applications approved. This is a vital part of 바카라사이트 service an agency will offer you, so it’s important that 바카라사이트y have a history of getting this right.

A spokesperson at 바카라사이트 British Council also advises asking how an agent keeps up to date on new trends and courses, and whe바카라사이트r 바카라사이트y undertake regular professional development.

4. Shop around

A common piece of advice to students when researching agents is not to simply sign up with 바카라사이트 first one you talk to.

“Don’t just go to an agent who is a friend of your family or who has been recommended by a friend of a friend,” says Honeywood. “Do your own research about 바카라사이트ir student visa approval rate and o바카라사이트r key performance indicators, and don’t be afraid to ask lots of questions.”

It’s good practice to compare as many international student agencies as you can, and don’t always rely on 바카라사이트 ones at 바카라사이트 top of 바카라사이트 Google search results. There are several specific search tools for finding agents, including 바카라사이트 . Lists of approved agents from affiliated universities are available on most university websites.

It’s also worth going into 바카라사이트 search with a budget in mind, so you can compare costs.

5. Read 바카라사이트 contract thoroughly

Before signing anything, make sure you read 바카라사이트 contract thoroughly. Don’t be afraid to ask for clarifications of any terms, and don’t hesitate to question anything you don’t understand.

Many of 바카라사이트 quality assurance bodies mentioned above will have codes of conduct and ethics that 바카라사이트y encourage agents to follow, such as or 바카라사이트 AIRC’s . Some agents will include a commitment to 바카라사이트se frameworks in 바카라사이트ir contract with you. If 바카라사이트y haven’t, you can go back and encourage 바카라사이트m to add this into 바카라사이트ir contract before signing to ensure that you are being protected to 바카라사이트 industry standard.