Short answer: Yes. Educational agencies don’t charge you; schools pay for them, so going it alone doesn’t save you money. What you’re really gambling with is the time you invest, the margin of error, and the support you receive upon arrival. The useful question isn’t whether to use an agency, but which one and what criteria to use when choosing it.
This is one of the questions we get asked the most, and almost no one answers it directly, because the agencies themselves answer it. We’ll try anyway, saying when we’re not needed either.
What exactly does an educational agency do?
An educational agency is an intermediary between you and the Australian institutions. In practice, it does this:
- It helps you choose a course, school, and city based on your budget and your goals.
- Processes the registration and obtains the CoE (Confirmation of Enrolment), the document that the school issues and without which you cannot apply for the visa
- Prepare and submit the subclass 500 student visa application
- Take out the OSHC medical insurance, which is mandatory
- It comes with you upon arrival: initial accommodation, bank account, mobile number, transport card, adapted CV
What No Here’s the thing: an educational agency can’t give you immigration advice. In Australia, that’s legally reserved for agents registered with the OMARA (those with a MARN number) and Australian lawyers. An agency can manage your student visa and its renewal, but if what you’re looking for is permanent residency, sponsorship or a partner visa, there has to be a registered agent behind it.
Why they are free (and what the problem with that is)
The agencies charge a commission to the school for each enrolled student. That’s why they don’t charge you. It’s a legal and standard model across the sector.
The problem is obvious: creates an incentive to recommend the school that pays the best, not the one that suits you best. That doesn't mean that everyone will do it, but it does mean that you need to be prepared for that.
How to protect yourself: Ask directly «what other schools are there in this city for this course and why are you recommending this one?» A serious agency will give you two or three alternatives with prices. If they only offer you one option and can’t explain why, ask for another.
What if I do it on my own?
You can. The visa is submitted online and the schools enroll directly. But do the math first, because Going it alone doesn't save you moneyThe agency pays the school, not you. What you decide to pay is not how much you pay, but how much work and how much risk you take.
This is what changes in practice:
| Course price | Same or worse on your own. Agencies have rates agreed with the schools and promotions that are not published on their websites. |
|---|---|
| The visa | You prepare and submit it yourself, in English, and any mistakes are on you. With an agency it is included at no extra cost. |
| Choosing a course and school | More than 300 accredited institutions to choose from. Making the wrong course choice is the mistake that costs the most, and it can’t be fixed for free. |
| The first few days | Accommodation, bank account, SIM card, transportation and TFN – you solve them all on your own, newly arrived and with the clock against you. |
| The rest of the year | If there is a problem with the school, with attendance, or with work, you have no one to call. |
| Renewing the visa | If you decide to stay another year, you start the process all over again, alone and from within the country. |
Put another way: the advice is free, the visa comes included, the price is the same or better, and you also have someone to help you upon arrival and throughout the year. That’s why the vast majority of students go with an agency, and that’s why the question usually isn’t asked. yes use one, but not which one.
The only real drawback of the model is the one we’ve already mentioned above: the commission creates a bias. That’s why the important thing isn’t to avoid the agency; it’s to choose one that gives you alternatives and explains them to you.
The costs you will incur in any case
You pay the same amount for these, whether you go through an agency or on your own:
| Visa rate subclass 500 | 2,500 AUD for VET, higher education and course packages. 2,050 AUD if you only do ELICOS (English course) or a non-award course. Rates in effect from July 1, 2026; previously it was 2,000 AUD for everyone. |
|---|---|
| Course registration | It depends greatly on the type of course and the institution |
| OSHC health insurance | Required throughout the stay. The cost varies depending on the duration and the insurer. |
| Proof of funds | You have to prove that you can support yourself. The amount is set by Home Affairs and updated periodically. |
A note about work: with a student visa you can work a maximum of 48 hours per fortnight during the school term, No limit on vacation. Don't make the travel numbers assuming that work will cover everything.
If you decide to use an agency, how to choose it
Five checks you can do yourself in ten minutes, in public records:
- Find your ABN in abr.business.gov.au and verifies that the company exists
- Look at that The antiquity that announces the square whatever the record says, or why they don't
- If they talk to you about migration, ask for it. MARN number and check it out in portal.mara.gov.au
- Check that you are publishing a real postal address, Not just the name of a city
- Question who will take care of you when you get there, and if that person is in your destination city
Warning signal: No agency can guarantee you a visa or a job. Anyone who promises it to you in writing or verbally is telling you something they cannot fulfill.
What do we do?
So that you can apply the same criteria that you just read: Australian Way is Australian Way Education Pty Ltd, ABN 49 609 134 198. We started in Spain in 2009 and the Australian society was established in 2015, so the date of ABN is after the start of activity. It is 17 years and more than 12,000 students.
We have an office in Madrid (Calle Cristóbal Bordiú 35, 1st floor, office 105) and in Sydney (Suite 203, 9/13 Bronte Road, Bondi Junction). We work with more than 300 accredited institutions.
Two specific things that set us apart, so you can compare them with what other companies offer you:
A Welcomer in your city. A person from the team who lives where you are going to live will meet you in person upon arrival and accompany you until you have settled on accommodation, a bank account, a SIM card and a transport card.
Student Support in the Sydney office. All year round, during Australian business hours, you speak to a real person on the team and you can walk into the office. It is not a chatbot or a contact form.
And what we don't do: we don't have our own immigration agent. We manage student visas and their renewals, and for sponsorship, partner, skilled or permanent residence we refer to two certified firms MARA, Valiant Migration (MARN 1798592) and RC Migration (MARN 0745660). You can check both numbers.
Frequently asked questions
Is it cheaper for me to go on my own than with an agency?
No. The agency does not charge you: the school pays it with a commission. In fact, it usually costs the same or more on your own, because the agencies have agreed rates and promotions that are not published. What you save by going alone is not money, it is an intermediary.
Can I apply for the student visa myself?
Yes. The subclass 500 application is submitted online in ImmiAccount and is designed for the applicant to complete it themselves. You need the school's COE, the OSHC insurance and the funding documentation. It is in English.
How much does an Australian student visa cost?
It depends on the course. From July 1, 2026 they are 2,500 AUD for VET, higher education and course packages, and 2,050 AUD if you only do ELICOS (English course) or a non-award course. Previously it was 2,000 AUD in all cases. There are also exceptions for applicants with passports from some ASEAN and Pacific countries.
How many hours can I work with a student visa?
48 hours per fortnight during the school term, including exams. Outside of the school term there is no limit. Students on research and doctoral programmes do not have a cap once the course has started.
Can an agency help me get residency in Australia?
An educational agency, no. Migration advice is reserved for agents registered with the OMARA and Australian lawyers. If an agency offers it to you, ask for the MARN number of the agent behind it and check it on portal.mara.gov.au.
Would you like us to look at it in relation to your specific case? The first call is 15 minutes long and you don't have to decide anything in it.
Talk to an advisorArticle revised on October 19, 2026. The visa fees and conditions are set by the Department of Home Affairs of Australia and may change; always consult immi.homeaffairs.gov.au before making a decision.
