How to Choose an Education Consultancy: 10 Questions Every Student Must Ask
Not all education consultancies are equal. Here are the 10 critical questions to ask before you hand over your documents — and your trust.
Choosing the right education consultancy can be the difference between a visa approval and a rejection — or worse, a scam. With hundreds of consultancies operating in every major city, how do you identify the trustworthy ones?
Here are 10 questions every student should ask before signing up with any education consultancy.
1. Are you registered with a government or industry body?
In many countries, legitimate education consultancies must be registered. In Nepal, they should be licensed by the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology. In India, look for AIRC (Association of International Recruitment Consultants) or AAERI membership. In Nigeria, check for NAEC affiliation.
Ask to see the registration certificate. A trustworthy consultancy will show it without hesitation.
2. Can I read reviews from your past students?
This is non-negotiable. Ask directly: "Do you have a presence on ConsultancyCheck, Google Reviews, or Trustpilot?" A consultancy with nothing to hide will actively point you to reviews. Be very cautious of agencies with only in-house testimonials on their own website — these can be fabricated.
3. What are your success rates for my target country?
Ask specifically: "What percentage of your students received a visa for [Australia/Canada/UK] in the past 12 months?" Legitimate agencies track this data and will share it. Vague answers like "very high success" without numbers are a red flag.
4. Do you charge upfront fees before I receive an offer letter?
Reputable consultancies typically charge after you have received and accepted a university offer, or charge a modest initial counselling fee. Be extremely suspicious of any consultancy demanding large upfront "processing fees" before you have a confirmed university place.
5. Which universities are you affiliated with or authorised to represent?
Many legitimate consultancies are official representatives of specific universities. Ask for the list. This also tells you whether their recommendations are genuine or driven by who pays them the highest commission.
6. Can you give me at least three references from past students?
Specifically ask for students who studied in your target country in the past 12 months. Being willing to connect you with past students is a strong credibility signal.
7. What exactly is included in your fee?
Get this in writing. Does the fee include: IELTS/PTE guidance? Application preparation? Document review? Visa lodgement? What is excluded? Surprises at each step of the process are common with lower-quality consultancies.
8. What happens if my visa is rejected?
Ask clearly: "What support do you provide if my visa application is refused?" Do they help with appeals? Do they offer a partial refund of their consultancy fee? What have they done in the past for refused students?
9. Have you ever had your licence suspended or complaints filed against you?
This is an uncomfortable question — but ask it. You can also check independently. Search "[consultancy name] complaint" or "[consultancy name] scam" online. Check ConsultancyCheck's listings, which include student reviews noting any concerns.
10. Will you provide all agreements in writing?
Everything agreed verbally should be confirmed in a signed service agreement. This includes the services to be provided, the fee schedule, refund policy, and expected timelines. If a consultancy refuses to put things in writing, walk away.
The ConsultancyCheck Approach
ConsultancyCheck was built specifically to help students answer these questions. Every consultancy on our platform has been verified by email, and reviews are written by real students who have been through the process.
Before committing to any consultancy, search their name on ConsultancyCheck and read what other students have experienced. It takes five minutes and could save you thousands of dollars — and months of heartache.
For more protection, read our guide: 7 Education Consultancy Scam Warning Signs.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I check if an education consultancy is legitimate?
Verify their government registration, search for independent reviews on platforms like ConsultancyCheck and Google, ask for references from past students, and ensure all agreements are in writing.
Should I pay an education consultancy before getting an offer letter?
Most reputable consultancies charge after you receive a university offer. Large upfront fees before any offer is secured are a major red flag.
What is a registered education consultancy?
A registered consultancy holds a licence from a government body or recognised industry association in their country. In Nepal this is MoEST, in India look for AIRC or AAERI membership.
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