Is an education counsellor worth it when applying overseas?

Choosing to study for a degree abroad is an exciting opportunity. With hundreds of locations to choose from, and the possibility of studying every subject under the sun, it can also feel like an overwhelming choice to make.  

Many international students choose to work with an education counsellor to make this process easier and to figure out the best study abroad experience for your goals and ambitions.  

Is an education counsellor worth it when applying to study overseas? 

What is an education counsellor? 

An education counsellor is an admissions expert who is not attached to a particular university but has connections with a large number of institutions around the world. Usually, education counsellors are hired by private companies to support more students into higher education.  

Counsellors can provide students with impartial advice on choosing the right study abroad experience for you. They can help you to understand the various application processes in different countries, provide guidance on visas and scholarships, and sometimes they can even apply on your behalf.  

What are the benefits of working with an education counsellor? 

Peace Idoko is an enrollment manager and education counsellor at QS, helping university applicants to make the best decisions for their futures, and making the application process as easy as possible. Peace works with students from Europe, the Middle East and Africa.  

As a QS counsellor, Peace helps students from the very start of their university search with an informal chat about what they want to do. She said: “It can be confusing and overwhelming to know where in the world to study or which university to choose, so we help students understand their goals and make the best choice for them.  

“Sometimes students want to travel for their studies, but they don’t know where. So, working with somebody they can confide in and share their dreams with can be so valuable.” 

Along with the team of QS counsellors around the world, Peace works with many universities and has in-depth knowledge of the requirements needed to study in various countries. This means she has a clear view of whether a student is eligible for study and can provide supportive solutions. 

As well as helping students who are overwhelmed when looking for universities, education counsellors provide clear guidance on documentation, visa applications and high merit scholarships. With QS, students can fill in one simple application form and the counsellor will apply on your behalf, making it even easier.  

“From search to enrolment, we can apply for the students and guide them through the entire process, making sure they have everything they need to get started in their degree,” Peace added. 

Giving your application a personal touch 

Princepal Rajput is a student enrolment manager and QS Counsellor for students in India and the South Asia region. As an education counsellor, Princepal can give applications a more personal touch, by bringing the best out of the students, fully understanding their goals and helping with their personal essay requirements too. 

He said: “The communication between counsellors and students begins with an online application and an email exchange, but from there we can talk via video call or WhatsApp chat to build a level of understanding and trust.  

“From there, we support students through their personal statements and college essays and prepare them with mock interviews. I can help them to pull their biggest selling points out and what they need to say to relate to the universities they want to apply to.  

“Working with an education counsellor can help students to harness their passion for their subject and translate their purpose into a strong application. It adds a real personal touch to the process.”  

How do I work with an education counsellor? 

There are many global and regional education agencies who can provide counselling services for applying to university. Make sure you check that the agencies are reputable and are partnered with the universities they say they are. You can reach out to the universities you’re interested in to check. 

You can apply to study abroad with a QS counsellor in one simple application. Get support to choose and apply to highly-ranked universities and our QS counsellors will guide you through the whole process. It’s free to apply with us. Apply now.