Dodgy agents sacked

Melbourne based vocational education provider, Cambridge College recently sacked four education agents due to unethical practices or poor service levels.

Melbourne's Age newspaper reported that one of the agents was Mauritius based GRS. See full story

The story identifies the broader problem of dishonest or unethical agents whose main focus is placement numbers rather than the provision of good advice and service to their clients.

This story highlights the importance of ensuring that you are dealing with an honest and competent agents. This goes for both students and institutions.


Students need to ensure that they are working with a good education agent to ensure that they get the very best advice possible. After all, deciding to study abroad is a big decision.

For institutions the reputational cost of having your name associates with a dodgy agent could be very high. In a very competitive international recruitment market. This is a risk not worth taking.

How do you know if you are dealing with a good agent?

There several things you can do:

1. Ask if the agent is registered as an education agent in the country in which they are operating. If they are, ask for their registration number and check it with the relevant authorities.
2. Do a Google search on the agent's name and business name to see if anything concerning comes up.
3. Ask the agent for references and check them. You might be able to save time if the agent is listed on my edagent and has had their references independently checked.
4. Ask the agent for a list of the institutions they act for. If necessary ask for proof in the form of letters of authority. Students - at the very least you should ensure that the agent is authorised to act for the institution/s you want to attend.
5. Be clear up front about the fees that the agent charges. If the agent is going to charge you a fee, ask what it is for and shop around.

Whether you are a student looking for advice, or an institution looking to establish relationships with agents, following these steps will help you ensure that you are working with a reputable agent.