One of the most important decisions one can make as a student or even as an adult is the decision to study abroad. Thus, for many aspiring students, missing the chance to get accepted into their chosen higher educational institution (HEI) just because they are not adept with the process, is frustrating. So, many students turn to education agents to help them.

However, with various education agents, and the different types of services they offer, how do you choose the right one? When choosing the right education agent, what is it that you have to look for?

What’s an Education Agent and What Do They Do?

Although many HEIs accept direct applications from applicants, getting an education agent is a good option to make if you are new or unsure of how admission processes work.

Mainly, an education agent’s task is to assist college applicants in various processes they have to undergo when applying for an HEI, including guidance when applying for their student visa, looking for the right accommodation, and arranging their health insurance once the student gets into their institution of choice.

Aside from assisting in the whole admission process, here are other things an education agent can do for aspiring international students:

• Give valuable information about an HEI and its admission
• Give experience-based insights on admission that students can use to increase their chances of getting accepted
• Act as a bridge between an HEI and students
• Help the students create important decisions depending on what’s best for them, through counseling in choosing the right program, institution, and country, depending on their goals and interests

How Do You Choose an Education Agent?

Here are some of the things you should consider when looking for an education agent.

Credentials

The first thing you should look for and check is the agent’s credentials to avoid getting scammed and to get your money’s worth in case you have to shell some money out. Things you can ask for to ensure the agent is legitimate is his certification or authorization from your chosen HEI, or from a legitimate recruitment service provider. Some HEIs, for example, provide a list of agents and recruitment service providers from their own official websites, which you can check to validate.

Experience

The reason you need an education agent is due to his own experience when it comes to HEIs admission processes. Moreover, one thing that sets most education agents apart is their experience and well-established relations with various institutions, as this can show how well-informed they are in their advice and the updates you get about various institutions.

Not Everything Is About the Money

If, at the onset, an agent is already talking about huge amounts of money or asking you to pay them a large amount, then you should avoid this type of agent. However, you can ask about the fees you have to pay when using their services. Keep in mind that in using an education agent’s service, basic agent services are usually free, as it’s usually an HEIs’ role to pay education agents a commission when they succeed in recruiting students.

Types of Education Agents

Aside from the considerations mentioned above, when choosing the right education agent, you also have to know which type of agent you are working with.

Many people may believe that education agents are only one and the same. However, according to a 2021 report by the British Universities’ International Liaison Association, education agents, especially in the UK, can be categorized into six types reflecting the organizations they belong to.

The Sole Trader Type

According to the report, sole trader education agents make up 20% of agents in the UK. These types of agents can be distinguished with the following qualities:

• Small or family-run business
• Rely heavily on their local reputation and word-of-mouth
• Do not have a sophisticated system in place, unlike big agent organizations and companies
• Has limited resources due to being a small company
• Gives highly personalized service to its student clients
• Recruits less than 40 students a year

Moreover, due to its small size, sole trader agents usually work as sub-agents to bigger agent companies or groups, such as Market Specialists, Multinationals, and Education Giants.