If you want to apply to study in Australia directly, you can search for courses and contact providers using the Study Australia Course Search tool. You can then apply for a Student visa using these key steps.
If you’re unsure about how to apply, you may want to get help from an education agent. Australian providers publish their list of education agents at their website. It is important that the agent you choose is reliable and trustworthy and can give you the best advice.
What does an education agent do?
Education agent services can include:
- guidance on choosing the right course, city and education provider for you, based on your academic background, career goals and budget
- advice on study options and courses
- information on scholarships and internships
- help with preparing and submitting your study and visa application
- helping you apply for health insurance (OSHC)
- pre-departure information and support.
Some education agents will also offer help with finding accommodation and travel arrangements, and some even help you after you arrive in Australia.
How to find a reputable education agent
Unfortunately, some education agents do not follow the rules. The advice that these kinds of agents give may damage your study abroad experience. This could include providing you with incorrect advice or advising you to choose courses or providers that do not support your goals.
To protect yourself, follow these tips:
1. Use a trusted agent
Only use reputable, verified agents. Australian education and training providers, including all Australian universities, publish a list of education agents that they work on their website. You can also see if an agent is listed on the Qualified Education Agent Counsellors List (QEAC).
Tip
As well as using published lists, search online for student reviews of agent services, and make sure these reviews are real.
Sometimes education agents are also migration agents, or the two kinds of agents work closely together. Under Australian migration law, only registered migration agents can give you visa advice. A list of registered migration agents is published at www.mara.gov.au. You can also search for migration agents on the Register of Migration Agents.
Using an unregistered, unqualified or unethical agent for visa advice is extremely risky. It can result in:
- incorrect or fraudulent visa applications
- unnecessary delays
- refusal of your Student visa
- future barriers to studying, working or migrating to Australia
- being unknowingly involved in immigration fraud.
If someone is offering visa advice without registration, do not follow that advice.
2. Avoid guarantees
Reputable agents will be honest about your prospects, so be cautious of any ‘too good to be true’ promises! For example, no agent can guarantee the outcome of your Student visa application or any future visa application. And no agent can guarantee that you will pass your course and get an Australian qualification.
3. Understand agent fees
Contact a few agents and compare their service fees. Some education agents are paid by education providers to recommend them. This cost is usually included in your tuition fees.
Tip
Be aware of average fees and be cautious of agencies that seem very cheap or very expensive. This may mean the agency is not being honest with you about what agent services should cost.
4. Get everything in writing
Make sure that you have a written contract (or agreement) with your education agent. The contract should include:
- the fees you will pay
- the exact services that are included in the fees
- their refund policy.
Tip
Do some of your own research too, to make sure you’re aware of all your study options or education providers that might suit you better.
5. Ask lots of questions
Which education providers do they represent?
Some agents are paid by certain education providers to recommend them and will only focus on those.
What is the fee breakdown for their services?
Make sure you understand the agent’s fee structure and what services are included before signing any contract.
How will they support you and keep you informed throughout the application process?
Make sure the agent has a clear plan for keeping you updated and what you can expect at each stage of the process.
Tip
After you have started studying in Australia (onshore), be wary about any agents offering services for transferring to another education provider. You can move if you need to, but agents can’t be paid by your new education provider for you to change. Ask your current education provider for help if you need it.
Changes to agent rules
Education providers are banned from paying their agents commission fees to recruit students who are already studying in Australia. More information about this change can be found here.
Tip
Education agents or Australian education providers should not offer gifts, shopping vouchers, gift cards, cash, or rewards to convince you to enrol or to encourage you to transfer away from the provider you are with after you arrive in Australia. Agents or providers cannot guarantee permanent residency, or other migration outcomes as part of any education offer.
Get started!
Here are some places to get started:
Getting the right advice is important for your studies and your future. Poor or incorrect advice from an education agent can have serious consequences. It may affect your visa status and could limit your ability to travel or study in Australia or other countries in the future. It can also impact your access to quality education that delivers the qualifications and outcomes you expect from your study investment.
We wish you the best of luck with your application, and hope to see you in Australian soon.