Why International Students Use Agents

A new report available for purchase from the British Council argues that students in different parts of the world have notably different motivations for using agents to help them find colleges and universities in the United States, Britain, Australia and elsewhere to attend. Among the report's findings:

• African students, many of whom lack reliable Internet access, use agents to obtain basic information.
• South Asian students are most likely to use agents for help on obtaining visas.
• Chinese students are most likely to use agents if they are seeking to enroll in English language or other basic educational programs abroad.
• Indian students who have not studied outside of India are more likely to use agents than those who have already studied abroad.