Study Agents
May 12th 2008, 7:53 am
#1
Just Joined
Thread Starter
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 6
Study Agents
Hello Everyone 
This is my first post here so please be nice to me
A tiny introduction. I have done a lot of research and for me the only option is to come to Australia via a Study Visa with the intention of one day turning it into a PR (As long as nothing changes !)
Research has shown me that although I work in Finance/Banking now (8 years experience) that I am best off leaving my current career behind me and moving onto a new career that is more likely to result in a PR (I know it isn't guaranteed).
I want to make sure this is correct as I don't want to go down one path when it turns out there may of been another one better suited to me. I also have lots of other questions in regards to the matter so I would like to speak to a professional Study/Migration agent
I have serached this board and a few other and I keep seeing the mention of lots of agents but I have no idea which one are goods, which one are not and which ones I should avoid like the plague, so I was looking for some advice.
Can anyone let me know the good or bad experiences they have had with agents (you can PM me if you would rather not put details about them on an open forum!).Whether it is best to go for a study/migration agent combined or one that specialises in just one area is better. And any other information you think might be helpful about the whole process.
I have to be honest and say I don't have that much money to pay for an agent who will do everything for me whilst I lay back and enjoy myself(Need all the money I can get to pay for college fees). I don't mind paying but I can't afford mega bucks, so ones that are good but cheap (do they even exist ??
) would be great !!
Thanks in advance
Sarah x
This is my first post here so please be nice to me
A tiny introduction. I have done a lot of research and for me the only option is to come to Australia via a Study Visa with the intention of one day turning it into a PR (As long as nothing changes !)
Research has shown me that although I work in Finance/Banking now (8 years experience) that I am best off leaving my current career behind me and moving onto a new career that is more likely to result in a PR (I know it isn't guaranteed).
I want to make sure this is correct as I don't want to go down one path when it turns out there may of been another one better suited to me. I also have lots of other questions in regards to the matter so I would like to speak to a professional Study/Migration agent
I have serached this board and a few other and I keep seeing the mention of lots of agents but I have no idea which one are goods, which one are not and which ones I should avoid like the plague, so I was looking for some advice.
Can anyone let me know the good or bad experiences they have had with agents (you can PM me if you would rather not put details about them on an open forum!).Whether it is best to go for a study/migration agent combined or one that specialises in just one area is better. And any other information you think might be helpful about the whole process.
I have to be honest and say I don't have that much money to pay for an agent who will do everything for me whilst I lay back and enjoy myself(Need all the money I can get to pay for college fees). I don't mind paying but I can't afford mega bucks, so ones that are good but cheap (do they even exist ??
) would be great !! Thanks in advance
Sarah x
Last edited by midnightaction; May 12th 2008 at 7:56 am.
May 12th 2008, 8:37 am
#2
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Oct 2006
Location: Adelaide
Posts: 3,162
Re: Study Agents
You shouldn't be paying for an agent who sorts out the course for you, they make their money in commision from the schools.
Good luck
Good luck
May 12th 2008, 4:00 pm
#4
Forum Regular
Joined: Oct 2007
Location: Runaway Bay,Gold Coast
Posts: 58
Re: Study Agents
Hi,
Both myself and my partner applied for courses to get in on the student visa route.
I got a place at Griffith University for a degree course. I went through Stefan Watts at Study Options in London- he sorted out all the paperwork etc for me and they don't charge a penny- I think they get their fees from the Uni. I didn't end up taking the place, as it started in Feb and we just weren't ready to go that early, but he was very helpful and answered all our queries straight away.
My partner applied to Gold Coast TAFE direct for a vocational course and we didn't use any agents or Stefan at study options for that. It was very straightforward and the place on the course was sorted out and confirmed within about 10 days. We leave for Oz in just under 4 weeks.
Hope this helps.
Emma
Both myself and my partner applied for courses to get in on the student visa route.
I got a place at Griffith University for a degree course. I went through Stefan Watts at Study Options in London- he sorted out all the paperwork etc for me and they don't charge a penny- I think they get their fees from the Uni. I didn't end up taking the place, as it started in Feb and we just weren't ready to go that early, but he was very helpful and answered all our queries straight away.
My partner applied to Gold Coast TAFE direct for a vocational course and we didn't use any agents or Stefan at study options for that. It was very straightforward and the place on the course was sorted out and confirmed within about 10 days. We leave for Oz in just under 4 weeks.
Hope this helps.
Emma
May 12th 2008, 4:10 pm
#5
Just Joined
Thread Starter
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 6
Re: Study Agents
Hi,
Both myself and my partner applied for courses to get in on the student visa route.
I got a place at Griffith University for a degree course. I went through Stefan Watts at Study Options in London- he sorted out all the paperwork etc for me and they don't charge a penny- I think they get their fees from the Uni. I didn't end up taking the place, as it started in Feb and we just weren't ready to go that early, but he was very helpful and answered all our queries straight away.
My partner applied to Gold Coast TAFE direct for a vocational course and we didn't use any agents or Stefan at study options for that. It was very straightforward and the place on the course was sorted out and confirmed within about 10 days. We leave for Oz in just under 4 weeks.
Hope this helps.
Emma
Both myself and my partner applied for courses to get in on the student visa route.
I got a place at Griffith University for a degree course. I went through Stefan Watts at Study Options in London- he sorted out all the paperwork etc for me and they don't charge a penny- I think they get their fees from the Uni. I didn't end up taking the place, as it started in Feb and we just weren't ready to go that early, but he was very helpful and answered all our queries straight away.
My partner applied to Gold Coast TAFE direct for a vocational course and we didn't use any agents or Stefan at study options for that. It was very straightforward and the place on the course was sorted out and confirmed within about 10 days. We leave for Oz in just under 4 weeks.
Hope this helps.
Emma
Congrats on heading out to Oz in 4 weeks
My first choice was a degree course, but there were a few reasons why I kinda thought against it but maybe you can confirm if this info is wrong or right
1. Degree course fee's are alot higher then TAFE ones
2. Not so easy to apply for PR with a Degree because as well as actually having the degree you have to have the relevant work experience as well, so may as well just do a degree here in the UK where it would be cheaper
One study agent I have spoken to has advised of a fast-track degree that is an option but if the TAFE is gonna give me more choice I will stick with that
Thanks for the info
Sarah xx
May 12th 2008, 7:41 pm
#6
Forum Regular
Joined: Oct 2007
Location: Runaway Bay,Gold Coast
Posts: 58
Re: Study Agents
Hi,
From what I can remember, the degree course was a lot more expensive than the TAFE one, but the degree course was for 4 years and the TAFE course is for 2 years. You're probably right about the degree course not being right if your looking for PR at the end, but I suppose there's no guarantees anyway.
We just really wanted to get out to Oz asap and this was the easiest and quickest (if not cheapest) way to do it and we're going out with our eyes well open to the fact that we might not get PR at the end.
Don't be scared by the paperwork etc though, we didn't use an agent and found the whole process from course application to visa application quite straightforward.
x
From what I can remember, the degree course was a lot more expensive than the TAFE one, but the degree course was for 4 years and the TAFE course is for 2 years. You're probably right about the degree course not being right if your looking for PR at the end, but I suppose there's no guarantees anyway.
We just really wanted to get out to Oz asap and this was the easiest and quickest (if not cheapest) way to do it and we're going out with our eyes well open to the fact that we might not get PR at the end.
Don't be scared by the paperwork etc though, we didn't use an agent and found the whole process from course application to visa application quite straightforward.
x
