Education consultants are typically paid by universities, not by students. The commission system works as: (1) University pays the agent 10–20% of your tuition as a referral commission; (2) This commission is already built into the tuition fee — you don't pay extra; (3) Legitimate consultants never charge students more than the university's listed tuition fee. Students may be charged: application service fees (document preparation), visa lodgement fees, or IELTS coaching fees — these are separate services. Red flag: a consultant asking for a lump-sum payment to "secure your admission" or charging above the published tuition fee. Always verify tuition amounts directly with the institution and compare with what the consultant quotes you.