Extra services exceptional Education Consultants provide
Throughout my teaching career, I’ve spoken to countless students who believed they had a good education agent until they compared their agent’s services with others. All education agents are friendly, that’s their job, but exceptional education agents provide services beyond just the minimum and a smile.
Education Agents can earn a significant commission, ranging between 10% to 40% of the school fees you pay to the education provider (depending on the type of course you study). So, you should be receiving a high level of service from your education agent for the money they receive from the school or university.
Besides guiding you through the visa application process, which involves multiple steps, a reputable education agent should offer support throughout your entire educational journey.
Minimum services provided
These are the minimum services an Education Agent should provide in Australia:
- Selecting a country and city to study in
- Deciding on a course to study: University; V.E.T.; General English; IELTS; Cambridge etc.
- Choosing a high quality education provider (not the one that provides the highest commission to the agent)
- Completing the application process to obtain a ‘Confirmation of Enrolment (COE)’ from the education provider
- Guidance writing a ‘Genuine Temporary Entrant (GTE)’ statement
- Organising compulsory Medical Insurance
- Provide information on any medical tests or vaccinations that you may require
Extra services some education agents provide
What extra services does a good Education Agent offer?
What distinguishes a good education agent from the average are the additional services they offer. Doing more than the minimum and offering a personalised service is what should be expected. A good education agent should know all about the country you’re planning to study in.
They should know things like the culture; how the education system works; immigration rules; visa application process; which universities, language schools or VET colleges are popular and what kinds of programs they offer; if you can work while studying, and other things you need to follow to study abroad legally.
Besides having an extensive knowledge of the country which they can share with you, exceptional education agents should provide some, or all of the following extra services (see below for details):
- Airport Pickup and Arrival Assistance
- Accommodation Support
- Pre-Departure Orientation
- Tax File Number (TFN)
- SIM card for your mobile phone
- Personal resume
- Bank account
- Ongoing help
- Social Outings
Airport Pickup and Arrival Assistance:
Extra services education agents provide include an airport pickup service or help students arrange transportation to their accommodation upon arrival in Australia. This initial assistance can help ease the transition for international students.
Accommodation Support:
Agents can assist students in finding suitable accommodation options in Australia, such as student accommodation, homestays (homestay; homestaynetwork ), share houses (Flatemates.com.au; flatmatefinders), or private rentals. They should help students understand their choices and provide advice on accommodation arrangements.
Pre-Departure Orientation:
It’s important for students to be well-prepared before they leave for Australia. Education agents should offer pre-departure guidance, including information on what to pack, how to manage finances, and how to adapt to the Australian culture and environment.
Here’s a list of items that some students choose to buy in Australia and not bring with them to save space in their bags:
- Pillow
- Power adaptor
- Sheets
- Towel
- Toiletries (soap, shampoo, toothpaste etc.)
- Sunscreen
- Hat
- Insect repellent
Tax File Number (TFN)
One of the best extra services education agents provide is organising a TFN. If you want to work in Australia, you must have a TFN. It is the number that your employer uses to pay your tax to the government. A good agent will explain this to you and will then help you to apply for one. Here is the link to the Australian Tax Office (ATO) explaining how to get a TFN in Australia.
Writing a resume
A personal, high quality resume is very important. Some agents will provide you with a very poor quality proforma resume that has been copied many times.
Getting a SIM card for your mobile phone
Several agencies provide their international students with SIM cards or eSIM before they arrive in Australia. Once you have left the airport the airport you can activate the SIM card. Others take their students to buy a SIM as part of their orientation training.
Open a bank account
You have the choice to open an Australian bank account before you come to Australia or when you arrive. A good agency will offer you the choice of opening the bank account in your home country. Australia has four major banks Commonwealth, Westpac, National, ANZ. They all offer the same services and one is not better than the other as most stunts use internet banking and never go into a physical bank building.
Emergency Assistance:
In case of emergencies, such as medical issues, visa problems, or other unforeseen challenges, education agents should be a reliable point of contact for students, providing guidance and assistance.
Ongoing Help:
A good education agent doesn’t just disappear after helping you get started. They’re there to provide you with support all the way through your studies. They can help you understand things like part-time jobs, adapting to a new culture, and finding solutions to any issues you might face.
Social Outings
Some agencies organise social events so that international students who have recently arrived in the city can meet other international students, usually from your own culture.
My recommended Australian Education Agents
If you are looking for a good education agent in Australia check out my recommended agents in Brisbane, Melbourne, and Sydney.
Discover the services offered by each education agent in Brisbane, Melbourne and Sydney.
Check out the Education Agent’s Google and Facebook review scores in Brisbane, Melbourne, and Sydney.
Useful government websites for international students
If you want the most up-to-date information, always double-check government websites, as rules and regulations might change. Here are some links to some Government Websites to get the most current information.
- Study in Australia Official Website: https://www.studyaustralia.gov.au/
- Study Queensland – Resources for International Students: https://www.studyqueensland.qld.gov.au/
- Study NSW – Information for International Students: https://www.study.nsw.gov.au/
- Study Victoria – Resources for International Students: https://www.studymelbourne.vic.gov.au/
