UK Home Office updates sponsor guidance on education agents
The UK Home Office has updated its Student Sponsor Guidance in a way that is directly relevant to UK institutions using education agents. In the April 2026 update to Document
International Student Recruitment
Has ApplyBoard’s Blocklist delivered on its aims?
In August 2023 ApplyBoard publicly announced its ‘Recruitment Partner Blocklist’ in the context of an article on its website setting out its approach to monitoring and managing its recruitment partner network. An article in The PIE described
The Education Agent Economy: Inside Australia’s $530+ Million Commission Spend
Recent financial disclosures from Australia's public universities reported by The Australian have pulled back the curtain on the scale of education agent commission spending. The figures, drawn from the 2024
China agents selling fake docs for HK uni admission
A recent media report in Hong Kong has detailed allegations that education agents operating in mainland China are offering fraudulent high-school credentials to students seeking entry into Hong Kong degree
Kenya Education Regulator Names 20 Illegal Student Recruitment Agencies
In a significant move to safeguard the integrity of international education pathways, Kenya’s Commission for University Education (CUE) has publicly identified 20 student recruitment agencies operating illegally within the country.
Nepal: agent pushes back on police action
On 15 January 2026, The Kathmandu Post report a that Nepal Police have arrested six owners and managers of local education consultancies accused of defrauding Nepali students by placing them
India: 100+ Canadian colleges, agents identified in US people smuggling scheme
On 24 December 2024, India's Enforcement Directorate (ED) released a media statement on the initial findings of its investigation into the Dingucha Case in 2022, in which an Indian family
2024 in Review: Education Agent Policy and Practice
Dr Pii-Tuulia Nikula is an Associate Professor in the School of Business at Eastern Institute of Technology (EIT) in New Zealand. She has published a number of journal articles on education
Ups and downs in aggregator sub-agent networks
The education agent aggregator model continues to attract attention, in particular in relation to issues of transparency and accountability associated with large sub-agent networks. Government inquiries and policy processes in
Bhutan Government warns public on education agents
On 1 June 2023, the Higher Education Quality Council within the Royal Government of Bhutan's Qualifications and Professionals Certification Authority issued a public notice to students, and their parents, who
Ontario colleges tighten controls on education agents
On 16 March, Colleges Ontario released a new set of standards to strengthen the programs and supports for international students.
The document includes the following section on international education agents:
International
ApplyBoard cuts 90 staff
Regional media in the Waterloo region of Canada is reporting that ApplyBoard cut 90 of its 1500 staff on Monday 28 November. The staff ApplyBoard has let go are from
German Ambassador: agents involved in Indian student visa fraud
The German Ambassador to India, Phillip Ackerman, has said that up to 15 per cent of the student visa applications made by Indian students include fake documents. The Ambassador also
OpenLearning Partners with AIRC on member education
On 7 February 2022, OpenLearning announced that it has entered into a strategic partnership with the American International Recruitment Council (AIRC) to assist with the delivery and scaling of AIRC’s
Education agents arrested in India cheating scandal
In early September 2021 India's Central Bureau of Investigation (CIB) arrested seven directors and employees of educational consultancy Affinity Education Pvt Ltd, on suspicion of offences of criminal conspiracy and
Education Agent Misconduct: what you can’t see can’t hurt you.
Ok, so the title of this post was deliberately provocative, but the education agent management processes implemented by many educational institutions mean that they are flying blind on the critical
Canadian universities relying more on education agents
Canada's CBC news reports that Canadian universities, particularly those on the country's Atlantic coast are increasingly using education agents to recruit international students in a highly competitive international market.
According to
Tanzania PM Majalira cracks down on education agents
The PM of Tanzania, Mr Kassim Majalira, has ordered his Ministry for Education, Science, Technology and Vocational Training to review all overseas education agents in Tanzania to verify their integrity.
Speaking
Visa delays could stop Indian international students studying in Ireland
The Irish Times is reporting that visa delays for Indian international students could mean that many students will not receive their visas in time to commence their studies at top
Vietnam: Confusion on New Education Agent Rules
A story in a Vietnamese newspaper on 3 January was headed: Vietnam draws up rules for foreign education agents as students flock overseas
Unfortunately the story is short on detail, but