What kind of help you can get from a study abroad advisor?

Students especially in Asia are often using agency, education adviser or consultant before they apply to any university. This post will explain how a good consultant can benefit you.

Career consulting: The student unsure which field he want to continue study. Some students would like to change their career after first-degree. For example have hospitality, accounting or engineering bachelor degree but want to continue with master degree in business field. In this step important to ask an expert who can tell you what are the possibilities. If yes, what universities will accept your application.

Admission guidance: Agentsoften claim only an adviser can help to choose a good university. My advice: always have few possibilities in your mind before go to see them. Do some research online, ask friends for recommendation. Of course the experienced advisers working on this field and have many yearsexperience (and creditability). Consultant could be big help if you are unsure between your choices. The honest consultant will give you advice even your chosen institution is not in his partner list. Of course he will not be able to process the application for you but if he not trying push you back to his choice you can trust them. Admission guidance also can help you for your future settlement or career.

Safety: With the help of advisor students have better chance to get the offer from the university and get the visa also. (Note: not all advisor/consultant offering VISA guidance)

Example: The student apply to the university with IELTS score 5.5 but the course requirements 6.0. If the student apply directly the institution might simply reject the application based on the lower score. The adviser can contact them and tell you also you need to do 2-3 months English course before your course start and have to take the IELTS exam before the program starts. The agent canget you the new offer what is in this case 3 months English preparation + chosen course. In this particular case the student have to go there earlier to do the pre-English before. The offer will be conditional. Meaning the students can start the original program if they achieve the required IELTS score before. Some universities grant you direct entry to their master course if you complete their pre-master program. Normally it is 3 months course with intensive English preparation including some preparation about assignments and essay writing.

Financial Estimation: The education advisor able to provide details about the living cost of your chosen cities. Normally the universities website and the UK Border Agency website give you this information too. For example the living cost between London and other cities like Newcastle different. The living expense could be double or more in London.

Example: Renting a room in London depending on the location could be 400-700 pounds even more. In Newcastle or Edinburgh you might find a same for 250-400 pounds.

Living and career possibilities in abroad: If you never lived abroad you probably have no much idea about how is life there. If you lucky enough and your advisor use to study abroad (as it should be – how can anybody give you advice about study or living abroad who never left the country?) He or she can give you an idea. No wonder big agencies only employ people who also graduated abroad. Also if you planning to work after finished the course (in UK after completed postgraduate degree can apply for 2 years work permit) the advisor can give you information about working. The most up-to-dateinformation source by the way always the UK Border Agency website.

Jobs awareness abroad: Students often not aware about their possibilities.What kind of jobs they can do during their study, how many hours etc. The consultant can help in this too. Also our blog has an article about this subject already Student Work in UK.

Visa help: Some consultant offering visa help some not. Even they are not , they still can give you the basic informations. Frankly, with the help of advisor you have much more chance to get the visa than if you apply yourself. Probably the chances are 95-50%. Experienced consultant can spot common mistakes straight away and even can help you fill the forms.

Accommodation guidance:Normally the institution can help accommodate you and even pick you up in the airport. But if you want to stay somewhere else, or there is no place left in the student accommodation the advisor maybe able to give you advice or senior students contacts whom can help you.

Any questions please leave a comment and I will reply as quickly as I can.

 

Related posts:

1. Do I need help from an education consultant to study abroad?
2. Cultural shock during study abroad : Part One

Tags: education consultant, international students, people, study abroad, study in UK

Category: study abroad, tips and tricks