{"id":5113,"date":"2026-10-19T16:42:49","date_gmt":"2026-10-19T19:42:49","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/australianwayeducation.com\/?p=5113"},"modified":"2026-10-19T16:43:30","modified_gmt":"2026-10-19T19:43:30","slug":"merece-la-pena-agencia-estudiar-australia","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/australianwayeducation.com\/en\/is-a-study-agency-worth-it-australia\/","title":{"rendered":"Is it worth it to study in Australia with an agency?"},"content":{"rendered":"<div style=\"font-family:'Poppins',-apple-system,BlinkMacSystemFont,'Segoe UI',Roboto,sans-serif;color:#343434;line-height:1.75;font-size:17px;max-width:860px;margin:0 auto\">\n\n<p style=\"font-size:1.12rem;line-height:1.7;color:#343434;margin:0 0 1.6em;padding-left:18px;border-left:4px solid #3CB6A6\"><strong style=\"font-weight:600\">Short answer:<\/strong> Yes. Educational agencies don\u2019t charge you; schools pay for them, so going it alone doesn\u2019t save you money. What you\u2019re really gambling with is the time you invest, the margin of error, and the support you receive upon arrival. The useful question isn\u2019t whether to use an agency, but which one and what criteria to use when choosing it.<\/p>\n\n<p style=\"margin:0 0 1.2em\">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\u2019ll try anyway, saying when we\u2019re not needed either.<\/p>\n\n<h2 style=\"font-size:1.5rem;line-height:1.3;font-weight:700;color:#343434;margin:2.2em 0 .6em;letter-spacing:-.01em\">What exactly does an educational agency do?<\/h2>\n\n<p style=\"margin:0 0 1.2em\">An educational agency is an intermediary between you and the Australian institutions. In practice, it does this:<\/p>\n\n<ul style=\"margin:0 0 1.5em;padding-left:22px\">\n  <li style=\"margin-bottom:.55em\">It helps you choose a course, school, and city based on your budget and your goals.<\/li>\n  <li style=\"margin-bottom:.55em\">Processes the registration and obtains the <strong style=\"font-weight:600\">CoE<\/strong> (Confirmation of Enrolment), the document that the school issues and without which you cannot apply for the visa<\/li>\n  <li style=\"margin-bottom:.55em\">Prepare and submit the subclass 500 student visa application<\/li>\n  <li style=\"margin-bottom:.55em\">Take out the OSHC medical insurance, which is mandatory<\/li>\n  <li style=\"margin-bottom:.55em\">It comes with you upon arrival: initial accommodation, bank account, mobile number, transport card, adapted CV<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n<p style=\"margin:0 0 1.2em\">What <strong style=\"font-weight:600\">No<\/strong> Here\u2019s the thing: an educational agency can\u2019t give you immigration advice. In Australia, that\u2019s 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\u2019re looking for is permanent residency, sponsorship or a partner visa, there has to be a registered agent behind it.<\/p>\n\n<h2 style=\"font-size:1.5rem;line-height:1.3;font-weight:700;color:#343434;margin:2.2em 0 .6em;letter-spacing:-.01em\">Why they are free (and what the problem with that is)<\/h2>\n\n<p style=\"margin:0 0 1.2em\">The agencies charge a commission to the school for each enrolled student. That\u2019s why they don\u2019t charge you. It\u2019s a legal and standard model across the sector.<\/p>\n\n<p style=\"margin:0 0 1.2em\">The problem is obvious: <strong style=\"font-weight:600\">creates an incentive to recommend the school that pays the best, not the one that suits you best.<\/strong> That doesn't mean that everyone will do it, but it does mean that you need to be prepared for that.<\/p>\n\n<div style=\"background:#FDF3F5;border-left:4px solid #F3A9BA;border-radius:0 14px 14px 0;padding:20px 24px;margin:0 0 1.8em\">\n  <p style=\"margin:0\"><strong style=\"font-weight:600\">How to protect yourself:<\/strong> Ask directly \u00abwhat other schools are there in this city for this course and why are you recommending this one?\u00bb A serious agency will give you two or three alternatives with prices. If they only offer you one option and can\u2019t explain why, ask for another.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n<h2 style=\"font-size:1.5rem;line-height:1.3;font-weight:700;color:#343434;margin:2.2em 0 .6em;letter-spacing:-.01em\">What if I do it on my own?<\/h2>\n\n<p style=\"margin:0 0 1.2em\">You can. The visa is submitted online and the schools enroll directly. But do the math first, because <strong style=\"font-weight:600\">Going it alone doesn't save you money<\/strong>The 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.<\/p>\n\n<p style=\"margin:0 0 1.2em\">This is what changes in practice:<\/p>\n\n<table style=\"width:100%;border-collapse:collapse;margin:0 0 1.8em;font-size:.97rem\">\n  <tbody>\n    <tr>\n      <th style=\"text-align:left;padding:13px 14px;border-bottom:1px solid #E6E6E6;vertical-align:top;width:34%;font-weight:600;color:#2E8F83;background:#FAFDFC\">Course price<\/th>\n      <td style=\"text-align:left;padding:13px 14px;border-bottom:1px solid #E6E6E6;vertical-align:top\">Same or worse on your own. Agencies have rates agreed with the schools and promotions that are not published on their websites.<\/td>\n    <\/tr>\n    <tr>\n      <th style=\"text-align:left;padding:13px 14px;border-bottom:1px solid #E6E6E6;vertical-align:top;width:34%;font-weight:600;color:#2E8F83;background:#FAFDFC\">The visa<\/th>\n      <td style=\"text-align:left;padding:13px 14px;border-bottom:1px solid #E6E6E6;vertical-align:top\">You prepare and submit it yourself, in English, and any mistakes are on you. With an agency it is included at no extra cost.<\/td>\n    <\/tr>\n    <tr>\n      <th style=\"text-align:left;padding:13px 14px;border-bottom:1px solid #E6E6E6;vertical-align:top;width:34%;font-weight:600;color:#2E8F83;background:#FAFDFC\">Choosing a course and school<\/th>\n      <td style=\"text-align:left;padding:13px 14px;border-bottom:1px solid #E6E6E6;vertical-align:top\">More than 300 accredited institutions to choose from. Making the wrong course choice is the mistake that costs the most, and it can\u2019t be fixed for free.<\/td>\n    <\/tr>\n    <tr>\n      <th style=\"text-align:left;padding:13px 14px;border-bottom:1px solid #E6E6E6;vertical-align:top;width:34%;font-weight:600;color:#2E8F83;background:#FAFDFC\">The first few days<\/th>\n      <td style=\"text-align:left;padding:13px 14px;border-bottom:1px solid #E6E6E6;vertical-align:top\">Accommodation, bank account, SIM card, transportation and TFN \u2013 you solve them all on your own, newly arrived and with the clock against you.<\/td>\n    <\/tr>\n    <tr>\n      <th style=\"text-align:left;padding:13px 14px;border-bottom:1px solid #E6E6E6;vertical-align:top;width:34%;font-weight:600;color:#2E8F83;background:#FAFDFC\">The rest of the year<\/th>\n      <td style=\"text-align:left;padding:13px 14px;border-bottom:1px solid #E6E6E6;vertical-align:top\">If there is a problem with the school, with attendance, or with work, you have no one to call.<\/td>\n    <\/tr>\n    <tr>\n      <th style=\"text-align:left;padding:13px 14px;border-bottom:1px solid #E6E6E6;vertical-align:top;width:34%;font-weight:600;color:#2E8F83;background:#FAFDFC\">Renewing the visa<\/th>\n      <td style=\"text-align:left;padding:13px 14px;border-bottom:1px solid #E6E6E6;vertical-align:top\">If you decide to stay another year, you start the process all over again, alone and from within the country.<\/td>\n    <\/tr>\n  <\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n\n<p style=\"margin:0 0 1.2em\">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\u2019s why the vast majority of students go with an agency, and that\u2019s why the question usually isn\u2019t asked. <em>yes<\/em> use one, but not <strong style=\"font-weight:600\">which one<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n<p style=\"margin:0 0 1.2em\">The only real drawback of the model is the one we\u2019ve already mentioned above: the commission creates a bias. That\u2019s why the important thing isn\u2019t to avoid the agency; it\u2019s to choose one that gives you alternatives and explains them to you.<\/p>\n\n<h2 style=\"font-size:1.5rem;line-height:1.3;font-weight:700;color:#343434;margin:2.2em 0 .6em;letter-spacing:-.01em\">The costs you will incur in any case<\/h2>\n\n<p style=\"margin:0 0 1.2em\">You pay the same amount for these, whether you go through an agency or on your own:<\/p>\n\n<table style=\"width:100%;border-collapse:collapse;margin:0 0 1.8em;font-size:.97rem\">\n  <tbody>\n    <tr>\n      <th style=\"text-align:left;padding:13px 14px;border-bottom:1px solid #E6E6E6;vertical-align:top;width:40%;font-weight:600;color:#2E8F83;background:#FAFDFC\">Visa rate subclass 500<\/th>\n      <td style=\"text-align:left;padding:13px 14px;border-bottom:1px solid #E6E6E6;vertical-align:top\"><strong style=\"font-weight:600\">2,500 AUD<\/strong> for VET, higher education and course packages.<br><strong style=\"font-weight:600\"><span class=\"aw-2050-context\">2,050 AUD<\/span><\/strong> if you only do ELICOS (English course) or a non-award course.<br>Rates in effect from July 1, 2026; previously it was 2,000 AUD for everyone.<\/td>\n    <\/tr>\n    <tr>\n      <th style=\"text-align:left;padding:13px 14px;border-bottom:1px solid #E6E6E6;vertical-align:top;width:40%;font-weight:600;color:#2E8F83;background:#FAFDFC\">Course registration<\/th>\n      <td style=\"text-align:left;padding:13px 14px;border-bottom:1px solid #E6E6E6;vertical-align:top\">It depends greatly on the type of course and the institution<\/td>\n    <\/tr>\n    <tr>\n      <th style=\"text-align:left;padding:13px 14px;border-bottom:1px solid #E6E6E6;vertical-align:top;width:40%;font-weight:600;color:#2E8F83;background:#FAFDFC\">OSHC health insurance<\/th>\n      <td style=\"text-align:left;padding:13px 14px;border-bottom:1px solid #E6E6E6;vertical-align:top\">Required throughout the stay. The cost varies depending on the duration and the insurer.<\/td>\n    <\/tr>\n    <tr>\n      <th style=\"text-align:left;padding:13px 14px;border-bottom:1px solid #E6E6E6;vertical-align:top;width:40%;font-weight:600;color:#2E8F83;background:#FAFDFC\">Proof of funds<\/th>\n      <td style=\"text-align:left;padding:13px 14px;border-bottom:1px solid #E6E6E6;vertical-align:top\">You have to prove that you can support yourself. The amount is set by Home Affairs and updated periodically.<\/td>\n    <\/tr>\n  <\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n\n<p style=\"margin:0 0 1.2em\">A note about work: with a student visa you can work <strong style=\"font-weight:600\">a maximum of 48 hours per fortnight during the school term<\/strong>, No limit on vacation. Don't make the travel numbers assuming that work will cover everything.<\/p>\n\n<h2 style=\"font-size:1.5rem;line-height:1.3;font-weight:700;color:#343434;margin:2.2em 0 .6em;letter-spacing:-.01em\">If you decide to use an agency, how to choose it<\/h2>\n\n<p style=\"margin:0 0 1.2em\">Five checks you can do yourself in ten minutes, in public records:<\/p>\n\n<ol style=\"margin:0 0 1.5em;padding-left:22px\">\n  <li style=\"margin-bottom:.55em\">Find your <strong style=\"font-weight:600\">ABN<\/strong> in <a href=\"https:\/\/abr.business.gov.au\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" style=\"color:#2E8F83;text-decoration:underline\">abr.business.gov.au<\/a> and verifies that the company exists<\/li>\n  <li style=\"margin-bottom:.55em\">Look at that <strong style=\"font-weight:600\">The antiquity that announces the square<\/strong> whatever the record says, or why they don't<\/li>\n  <li style=\"margin-bottom:.55em\">If they talk to you about migration, ask for it. <strong style=\"font-weight:600\">MARN number<\/strong> and check it out in <a href=\"https:\/\/portal.mara.gov.au\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" style=\"color:#2E8F83;text-decoration:underline\">portal.mara.gov.au<\/a><\/li>\n  <li style=\"margin-bottom:.55em\">Check that you are publishing a <strong style=\"font-weight:600\">real postal address<\/strong>, Not just the name of a city<\/li>\n  <li style=\"margin-bottom:.55em\">Question <strong style=\"font-weight:600\">who will take care of you when you get there<\/strong>, and if that person is in your destination city<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n<div style=\"background:#FFF8E6;border-left:4px solid #E8B64C;border-radius:0 14px 14px 0;padding:20px 24px;margin:0 0 1.8em\">\n  <p style=\"margin:0\"><strong style=\"font-weight:600\">Warning signal:<\/strong> 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.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n<h2 style=\"font-size:1.5rem;line-height:1.3;font-weight:700;color:#343434;margin:2.2em 0 .6em;letter-spacing:-.01em\">What do we do?<\/h2>\n\n<p style=\"margin:0 0 1.2em\">So that you can apply the same criteria that you just read: Australian Way is <strong style=\"font-weight:600\">Australian Way Education Pty Ltd, ABN 49 609 134 198<\/strong>. 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.<\/p>\n\n<p style=\"margin:0 0 1.2em\">We have an office in Madrid (Calle Crist\u00f3bal Bordi\u00fa 35, 1st floor, office 105) and in Sydney (Suite 203, 9\/13 Bronte Road, Bondi Junction). We work with more than 300 accredited institutions.<\/p>\n\n<p style=\"margin:0 0 1.2em\">Two specific things that set us apart, so you can compare them with what other companies offer you:<\/p>\n\n<div style=\"background:#EEF9F7;border-left:4px solid #A9DED6;border-radius:0 14px 14px 0;padding:20px 24px;margin:0 0 1.2em\">\n  <p style=\"margin:0 0 .8em\"><strong style=\"font-weight:600\">A Welcomer in your city.<\/strong> 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.<\/p>\n  <p style=\"margin:0\"><strong style=\"font-weight:600\">Student Support in the Sydney office.<\/strong> 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.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n<p style=\"margin:0 0 1.2em\">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.<\/p>\n\n<h2 style=\"font-size:1.5rem;line-height:1.3;font-weight:700;color:#343434;margin:2.2em 0 .6em;letter-spacing:-.01em\">Frequently asked questions<\/h2>\n\n<div style=\"border-top:1px solid #E6E6E6;margin:0 0 1.8em\">\n  <details style=\"border-bottom:1px solid #E6E6E6;padding:16px 0\">\n    <summary style=\"font-weight:600;cursor:pointer;color:#2E8F83;list-style:none\">Is it cheaper for me to go on my own than with an agency?<\/summary>\n    <p style=\"margin:.8em 0 0\">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.<\/p>\n  <\/details>\n  <details style=\"border-bottom:1px solid #E6E6E6;padding:16px 0\">\n    <summary style=\"font-weight:600;cursor:pointer;color:#2E8F83;list-style:none\">Can I apply for the student visa myself?<\/summary>\n    <p style=\"margin:.8em 0 0\">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.<\/p>\n  <\/details>\n  <details style=\"border-bottom:1px solid #E6E6E6;padding:16px 0\">\n    <summary style=\"font-weight:600;cursor:pointer;color:#2E8F83;list-style:none\">How much does an Australian student visa cost?<\/summary>\n    <p style=\"margin:.8em 0 0\">It depends on the course. From July 1, 2026 they are <strong style=\"font-weight:600\">2,500 AUD<\/strong> for VET, higher education and course packages, and <strong style=\"font-weight:600\"><span class=\"aw-2050-context\">2,050 AUD<\/span><\/strong> 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.<\/p>\n  <\/details>\n  <details style=\"border-bottom:1px solid #E6E6E6;padding:16px 0\">\n    <summary style=\"font-weight:600;cursor:pointer;color:#2E8F83;list-style:none\">How many hours can I work with a student visa?<\/summary>\n    <p style=\"margin:.8em 0 0\">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.<\/p>\n  <\/details>\n  <details style=\"padding:16px 0\">\n    <summary style=\"font-weight:600;cursor:pointer;color:#2E8F83;list-style:none\">Can an agency help me get residency in Australia?<\/summary>\n    <p style=\"margin:.8em 0 0\">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.<\/p>\n  <\/details>\n<\/div>\n\n<div style=\"background:#EEF9F7;border-radius:14px;padding:26px 28px;margin:0 0 1.5em;text-align:center\">\n  <p style=\"margin:0 0 1em;font-size:1.05rem\">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.<\/p>\n  <a href=\"\/en\/#contacto\" style=\"display:inline-block;background:#3CB6A6;color:#fff;text-decoration:none;font-weight:600;padding:13px 28px;border-radius:999px\">Talk to an advisor<\/a>\n<\/div>\n\n<p style=\"font-size:.88rem;color:#6B6B6B;margin:0;padding-top:12px;border-top:1px solid #E6E6E6\">Article 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.<\/p>\n\n<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Study agencies in Australia don't charge you: the schools pay for them. What changes if you go on your own and how to choose the right one for you.<\/p>","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":5115,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[28],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-5113","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-australia"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/australianwayeducation.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5113","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/australianwayeducation.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/australianwayeducation.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/australianwayeducation.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/australianwayeducation.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=5113"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/australianwayeducation.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5113\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":5118,"href":"https:\/\/australianwayeducation.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5113\/revisions\/5118"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/australianwayeducation.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/5115"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/australianwayeducation.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=5113"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/australianwayeducation.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=5113"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/australianwayeducation.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=5113"}],"curies":[{"name":"well played","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}