IDP Education Adelaide vs Mates International Adelaide

2026 comparison · Australia

IDP Education Adelaide

📍 Adelaide, Australia

No reviews yet

Est. 19696 destinationsFree (counselling); paid IELTS testing

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Mates International Adelaide

📍 Adelaide, Australia

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Est. 20141 destinationsAffordable

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Decision helper

Which is better for your situation?

🌍

Multiple countries

IDP Education Adelaide

6 study destinations vs 1

Broader reach

🏛️

Most experienced

IDP Education Adelaide

57 years in the market (est. 1969)

Longer track record

At a glance

	IDP Education Adelaide	Mates International Adelaide
Overall rating	—	—
Reviews	0	0
Location	Adelaide, Australia	Adelaide, Australia
Founded	1969	2014
Team size	10–20	5–10
Fee range	Free (counselling); paid IELTS testing	Affordable
Destinations	6 countries	1 countries

Pros & cons

IDP Education Adelaide

✓ What students love

✓World's largest student placement service with free counselling across 800+ universities
✓Authorised IELTS test centre in Adelaide for both test booking and admissions guidance
✓Strong South Australian university network including UniSA, Adelaide University, and Flinders
✓Multilingual team serving Adelaide's growing international student community
✓Post-enrollment support for students already in SA managing transfers or visa queries

✗ Drawbacks

✗High volume operation — individual attention varies by consultant
✗Commission structure may favour higher-revenue partner institutions
✗Less personal than boutique Adelaide agencies

Mates International Adelaide

✓ What students love

✓Community-driven model with former international students on the team
✓Practical student support for Adelaide and SA students managing study conditions and CoE
✓Experience with student visa extensions and post-study work visa guidance in South Australia
✓Accessible, peer-level service model that students find approachable and easy to engage
✓Multi-city presence across Brisbane, Perth, and Adelaide for consistent support

✗ Drawbacks

✗Smaller boutique firm — limited complex migration law capacity
✗Less suited to SA state nomination or PR pathway planning at an advanced level
✗Limited brand recognition compared to major national chains

Study destinations

IDP Education Adelaide — 6 destinations

AustraliaUnited KingdomCanadaUSANew ZealandIreland

Mates International Adelaide — 1 destination

Australia

Best fit

Who should choose which?

Choose IDP Education Adelaide if…

IDP Education Adelaide

International students in Adelaide who need free university counselling, IELTS testing, institution transfer guidance, or post-study work visa planning from a globally-trusted service.

Choose Mates International Adelaide if…

Mates International Adelaide

International students in Adelaide who want relatable, practical support for CoE compliance, institution changes, OSHC management, or post-study work visa guidance in South Australia.

Ready to choose?

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