Look before you leap

Updated on: Monday, August 09, 2010

After all the brouhaha about the treatment of Indian students Down Under and the closure of varsities leaving many students literally stranded, the Australian government tightened its visa policy as well as its policy on agents. This is just one case of the thousands of scams occurring with students going abroad for higher studies.

As expected the US and the UK are amongst the hottest destinations with Australia tagging not far behind. And the agents involved in luring students to these shores are many. So what should you do in order for you not to be duped?

Pick your varsity
First pick your subject of interest and then your varsity, say the experts. This can be done by trawling the net, attending education fairs, talking to those who have already had a foreign education and reading education-based articles.

Check with the embassy
Once you have picked your university, you will naturally know the country in which it is situated. Speak to the education wing of the relevant embassy, ask if they have any fairs coming around so that you can speak to representatives of the college first hand. If it is the UK you are going to then the British Council is your best bet and if it is the USA, then speak or write to USIEF — the United States-India Educational Foundation. You could also check the websites of the colleges you are interested in.

Rankings
The crucial criterion while looking for a good university is the departmental ranking, scholarship options and number of students. Look at Quality Assurance Certifications. Look at the latest QS World University Rankings to get an idea of where you are headed.

Talk to someone
You could also approach a good education counsellor. But take care to ensure that he is not an agent who poses as a counsellor!
Other considerations
Make sure of financial commitments — look at scholarship options, grants and fellowships. Never go by advertisements that promise the moon. These are sure to be scams. Never pay an agent to get into a private college because it is cheaper. Visit the college website, check out the number of foreign students and the courses offered before deciding. A college that has almost no foreign students may be a bad idea. Why not get in touch with an accredited consultant?

For visas
Do not hand over your passport or documents to anyone who says he is an agent. Verify the credentials with the relevant embassy.

Checklist

Beware if…
* A varsity is chasing you.
* It is a very small college with virtually no international student population.
* The cost of studying in the college or university is exceptionally high.
* Programmes of universities are sold through agents in India.

Look before you leap

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