When Sam began exploring the possibility of studying abroad, it was not long before his phone started buzzing with calls. At 24 years old, he resided with his parents in a small town in Odisha, India, and had been working in an entry-level position for four years. He believed that obtaining a master’s degree in the UK could pave the way for a lucrative finance career in London or, at the very least, enhance his prospects upon returning home.
After submitting a few applications through study abroad platforms, Sam quickly began receiving calls from unfamiliar numbers. Eventually, he picked up one call, which turned out to be from an education agent—a recruiter specializing in assisting students with applications to foreign universities. The proposal was enticing. The agency promised to help Sam identify suitable universities, advise him on the best courses, and maximize his chances of admission. They would also assist with application drafting and immigration processes, all at no cost to him. “I was skeptical,” Sam recalled. “Why would they do this for free?”
The agent clarified that the agency did not charge students because universities paid them a commission for successful placements. As more agencies continued to reach out, Sam spoke to several, but some raised concerns for him. “It felt like it was purely about making money; they just wanted to get me into any university as quickly as possible,” he noted. Ultimately, he chose to work with an agent from Edvoy, a larger firm, who provided more straightforward advice. This agent informed Sam that his bachelor’s degree from a lesser-known university had limited value, urging him to maintain realistic expectations about his opportunities in the UK. Sam appreciated the honesty and decided to proceed with the process.
Each year, around 400,000 international students receive study visas for the UK, with a considerable number utilizing the services of education agents—intermediaries who connect foreign students with universities. In 2023, UK institutions allocated £500 million toward engaging education agents, yet there is minimal regulation governing their operations. In 2021, Priya Kapoor (a pseudonym) began working at StudyIn, a prominent education consultancy in Delhi, right after completing her degree. Although the salary was attractive, she had little idea of what the job entailed. She quickly realized that the environment resembled a factory assembly line, with students being treated as products.
The agents, often called admissions consultants, formed the first link in this assembly line by recruiting students and serving as their primary contact. Kapoor noted that their recommendations for universities were frequently influenced by the commissions received from those institutions. This practice is widely acknowledged across the industry. “The college that pays more attracts more students. It’s straightforward,” commented Prabakaran Srinivasan, an independent education agent from Tamil Nadu, who criticized unethical practices in the field. Universities are not legally obligated to disclose their commission rates, and many classify this information as commercially sensitive, often rejecting freedom of information requests.
Following the agents were Kapoor’s colleagues, who managed the application process. As a “statement of purpose editor,” her responsibility involved interviewing students to collect information for writing personal statements on their behalf. Many students she encountered intended to finance their education through substantial loans, often secured against their parents’ properties. They assumed that post-graduation employment would enable them to repay these loans. “They had no understanding of sponsorship or visa requirements. They simply thought, ‘I’ll go there and find a job,’” Kapoor explained. From her observations, admissions consultants rarely provided necessary insights. “Agents will do anything to avoid further inquiries,” she remarked. “Their mindset was: you’re just another application, and I have quotas to meet.”
Kapoor empathized with this mindset to some extent due to the fast-paced nature of the work. As application deadlines approached in January, she was responsible for completing as many as 20 applications each day, prioritizing based on university reputation. Typically, applications for prestigious Russell Group institutions received approximately half an hour of attention, while those for lower-ranked universities, which comprised the bulk of her workload, were allotted around 15 minutes each. “Some of those weren’t the best, but it didn’t matter; we knew they would be accepted,” she remarked. “Daily, I processed about five applications for Coventry University, fully aware that all the students would gain admission.” In fact, Coventry University welcomed 42% international students and spent nearly £45 million on agent commissions in the 2023-24 period. However, a university spokesperson strongly disputed Kapoor’s perspective, asserting that it was “far from the truth,” and indicated that only 55% of applicants received and accepted offers. When further information was requested, such as the percentage of applicants who received offers versus those who accepted, the spokesperson referred back to their earlier statement.
Once students received their offers, they were transferred to the visa team and ultimately delivered to universities as fully prepared, fee-paying candidates. Over time, Kapoor grew increasingly uncomfortable with her role in this system. “I realized that if I processed 100 applications, 98 of those students were unlikely to succeed in their pursuits,” she said. “I was waking up and lying, then going to bed still lying, and waking up just to do it all over again.” Eventually, she decided to resign from her position. In response to her allegations, a spokesperson for StudyIn stated that her claims “do not reflect our ethos or operational practices,” emphasizing that the organization is committed to the integrity of student applications and the quality of guidance they offer.
In the UK, international students contribute to approximately one-quarter of total university revenue.
