However, the Business Daily reporter found that most of the hundreds of overseas study agents in Chongqing are not qualified. "One-month easy study abroad" is not credible. Jiang Tian, who lives in Jiangbei District, has never been able to go abroad since he swallowed this bait.
On June 22nd, Chongqing Guo Bo Center was crowded. The 12th China (Chongqing) International Education Exhibition is being held. It has become the best place for overseas colleges and universities to attract customers and students to consult about studying abroad.
Of course, it has also become the best battlefield for many study agents to grab customers.
Study abroad agents attract customers
You can go abroad in a month.
The 12th China (Chongqing) International Education Exhibition has gathered hundreds of universities in 13 countries and regions, including Britain and the United States. At the exhibition, parents and students came to consult in an endless stream, attracting study agents to attract business.
"There are not only many schools but also many intermediary companies at the exhibition." Xiao Zhang, who lives in Nanping, said that he had no idea how to choose an intermediary company. Every agency says it's easy to go abroad, as long as you do what they say, for more than a month at a time and for more than three months at a time. There are also intermediary companies that can go abroad even if they fail the language, as long as they study language classes for two or three months.
Subsequently, Business Daily reporters found in major business districts that in order to attract students, many intermediary companies boasted in advertisements that they could study abroad within one month even if their English was not good. ...
A huge cost gap
The difference in the same country is 4500 yuan
There are many agents studying abroad, and the fees charged by different agents are different.
Going to the same country, the agency fees charged by different agencies vary greatly. Take going to England as an example. An intermediary agency charges an intermediary fee of 8,500 RMB, and guarantees that the intermediary fee will be fully refunded regardless of whether the applicant is dissatisfied with the applied school or not and whether the visa is unsuccessful. However, another institution asked for 65,438 yuan +0.3 million yuan. If the visa is refused, the intermediary agency will deduct several thousand yuan from the registration fee.
To study in different countries, the agency fee is different. If you study in the United States, the agency will charge an agency fee of more than 30 thousand yuan, which is twice as high as that of studying in the United Kingdom.
According to a survey by the Business Daily reporter, the agency fee is only a visible fee, and the hidden consumption behind it may be higher. For example, if a student whose language is not up to standard goes abroad to study at a language university, his living expenses and tuition fees will be counted separately. An industry insider who didn't want to be named revealed that if IELTS and TOEFL can't be obtained through formal channels in China, it is impossible for foreign language classes to complete related courses within 2~3 months.
"My daughter wants to study in the United States after graduation and paid an agency fee of 30,000 yuan, but the cost is far more than that." Ms. Yang, who lives in Jinsha Harbor, Shapingba, told reporters that her daughter began to learn languages after graduation, and now she has spent tens of thousands of yuan before and after.
Promise for three months
A year later, the organization has been evacuated.
Many students have been fooled. Jiang Tian, who lives in Jiangbei, paid an agency fee of 30,000 yuan to go abroad, and has not been able to go abroad so far.
"I get angry when I think about it." Jiang Tian told reporters that she had plans to study abroad when she first went to college. On June 20 1 1, Jiang Tian signed a contract with Zheng Hong Xueqiao Exchange Center (headquartered in Beijing) in Nanping, and paid an agency fee of 30,000 yuan to go to Canada for further study. Jiang Tian told reporters that in the contract, the intermediary company promised to handle all the formalities for going abroad for her within 90 working days. If she fails to go abroad within 90 working days due to company reasons, she can get a full refund within 45 working days.
Jiang Tian said that according to the contract, the other party should go through all the formalities for her to go abroad around 20 1 1. However, after waiting for 90 working days, the intermediary still failed to contact the school for Jiang Tian and did not help her go abroad.
By 20 12, Jiang Tian found that the institution had been evacuated. Therefore, Jiang Tian asked the agency headquarters for a refund. Up to now, the agency fee of 30,000 yuan she paid has only been refunded 1/3.
There are hundreds of "study abroad agents"
Most of them are unqualified.
Many study agents fool students and parents. Which ones are more reliable?
The relevant person in charge of Chongqing Jiayangxin Overseas Information Center said that there are only about three overseas intermediaries that have passed the examination and approval in Chongqing. The "latest list of study abroad agents" published by the Ministry of Education in August this year also confirmed the above statement. However, the Business Daily reporter found that at present, there are dozens of intermediaries engaged in study abroad services in our city. Industry insiders estimate that there may be hundreds of "study abroad agents" in Chongqing. If you count the "consulting companies" that are not in the name of study abroad agents but engage in related businesses, many of them are unqualified.
A residential building in Shapingba District18th floor, there is an intermediary company going abroad. The reporter expressed his intention to study abroad, and the consultant of the intermediary warmly received the reporter. But when the reporter asked him if he was qualified, the consultant told the reporter: "Our head office has obtained the qualification." However, the consultant has always avoided the reporter's request to check the relevant qualifications.
cause
Studying abroad is cheated by information asymmetry to get a diploma.
The agents studying abroad are mixed. Why would anyone fall for it?
The relevant person in charge of Chongqing Jiayangxin Overseas Information Center said that many college graduates could not find ideal jobs, so parents decided to send their children abroad for one to two years to get diplomas, hoping to find ideal jobs after returning home.
"Nowadays, many college graduates get postgraduate diplomas by going abroad to shorten the time for postgraduate entrance examination." He told reporters that domestic graduate students generally have to study for three years to get a diploma. Foreign graduate students can get their diplomas in just one year, which is two years less than that in China. At the same time, many students with good family conditions, with average grades, may not even be admitted to regular universities in China, but also want to go abroad to get diplomas.
Ms. Yang, who lives in the Tomb of the Martyrs, told the reporter that before going abroad, the intermediary told them that high school students can go directly to college as long as they study in the preparatory course for one and a half years. When the children get an Australian visa to go abroad, they find that the Australian side stipulates that they must enter a local high school for two years (including the time spent studying in a language school). The children stayed in the language school for two more months, and they spent an extra ten thousand yuan.
A survey conducted by the Business Daily reporter found that most students were cheated because of information asymmetry. Some illegal intermediaries collude with overseas fake schools to cheat, and students and parents don't know the situation, so they can't make field trips and are easily deceived.
The commission is as high as 25%. Unlicensed intermediaries are difficult to supervise.
Seeing the urgency of students and the temptation of high commission, the intermediary spared no effort to attract students.
According to an insider who does not want to be named, the intermediary will recommend some unknown universities to students who have poor language performance and are eager to go abroad. "These students only care about whether they can go out and don't care about the school. The intermediary will tell them that these schools are springboard and they are free to apply for other schools after going abroad. " The source told the reporter that after the students are admitted, the school will return the students' tuition fees to the intermediary in a certain proportion as a "commission" for reward or appreciation.
Take Canada as an example. Generally speaking, the "commission" is at least 10% of the first-year tuition. Private secondary schools or colleges that specialize in recruiting international students generally pay15%; If ESL schools only teach English, the commission will be as high as 20%~25%. The situation in Australia is similar. Generally, universities will pay 10%~ 15% of the students' tuition fees in the first year as a "commission". In some second-and third-tier universities, in order to encourage intermediaries to send more students, the commission will be above 20%.
"There are too few overseas institutions in Chongqing that have passed relevant approvals." The relevant person in charge of Chongqing Jiayangxin Study Abroad Information Center said that the annual growth rate of overseas students in Chongqing is around 20%, and the three intermediaries are definitely too busy.
At present, many foreign intermediary companies such as Beijing and Shanghai have settled in Chongqing. Foreign intermediary companies set up branches in Chongqing without other approval. Although the headquarters of these intermediary companies are basically qualified, it is also difficult to supervise.
suggestion
Please see the qualifications of intermediary agencies when studying abroad.
How should citizens choose formal institutions?
The relevant person in charge of Chongqing Jiayangxin Overseas Information Center told the reporter, first of all, to prevent cheap traps. Many "black intermediaries" usually attract consumers with low intermediary fees. If the agency fee is much cheaper than the general agency, or even when the agency fee is "zero", this institution is likely to be an informal agency for studying abroad. Of course, there is also a problem if the agency fee is ridiculously high. Secondly, when parents sign relevant contracts with study agents, it is best to check on the website of the Ministry of Education to see if the agents have relevant qualifications. Finally, you should ask for a valid invoice or a receipt stamped with the special seal for corporate finance when paying fees. If the intermediary harms the interests of students, you can report complaints to the education department to which the intermediary belongs.
In view of how to standardize the intermediary market for studying abroad, the reporter of Business Daily repeatedly contacted the person in charge of the International Cooperation and Exchange Department of the Municipal Education Commission, but never got in touch.
Three-step identification method of false intermediary
1, check the qualification inspection permission
Check whether it has the Qualification Certificate of Self-funded Study Abroad Agency issued by the Ministry of Education and the Business License issued by the local administrative department for industry and commerce to allow it to carry out self-funded study abroad agency business, and check its core qualifications.
2. Check the certification comparison name.
Check the certification documents of foreign embassies and consulates to the institutions to be studied abroad, and find out whether the intermediary agency has signed a letter of intent or agreement with the institutions, and report it to the local education administrative department for confirmation. When signing a contract, pay attention to whether the intermediary institution for studying abroad matches the name on its "qualification certificate".
3. Ask about the charges and be pragmatic.
Regular study agents provide information consulting services free of charge, and only charge fees for applying for admission notices and visa services from foreign schools. The school registration fee, various notarization fees and visa fees shall be paid by the applicant to the school and relevant government departments.
Self-management process of studying abroad
1, choose a school.
2. Read the admission criteria and get the application form.
3. Take relevant exams, such as GRE.
4. Send the form and related test results.
5. Prepare asset certificates or find a guarantor.
6. If accepted, apply for a visa.