It has been a long time since Captain Cook studied in New Zealand, or better saying, study New Zealand. By that time, the only school in New Zealand was the Maori Culinary School of Cannibal Arts, famous for tasting foreigners and locals around dinner time. Cook escaped the recipe, and never carried on his work as an Student Agent because all his students were eaten as well, together with the school director and teachers. He left the country desolated for not being able to bring into New Zealand International students, but at the same time happy for not becoming cover of the "Yummy, Yummy"  Maori recipe book. Time passed till the present days and the cannibalism was exchanged by normal food. Also, educational institutions and the education sector in New Zealand jumped to thousands of courses and schools, most of them open to International students from all over the world. Today, these schools have agents and representatives abroad to explain and orientate the prospective student about the facts, advantages and courses available in New Zealand. These representatives are also known as Student Agents.

There are two types of Student Agents: The fist is called Local Agent, meaning that the Agent brings students only to new Zealand (a New Zealand specialist). The second is the International Student Agent, and as the name says, can place the student in Schools and courses around the world. As soon as there is no regulamentation about the profission, anyone can become an Student Agent or call himself an Agent (both in Australia and New Zealand). Many agents have phisical shops and other equal number operates only using the Internet. Some have mixed business such as Travel Agency and Student Agency, selling the pack Airline Ticket + School Course. There is no better choice between an Individual and a company. The most important thing is to be sure that the Agent undesrtant you financial and vocational needs to recomend the right school for you to atend. Remeber that good courses and good Agents are allways recomended by someone who had their services before, so, some investigation is a must.

Student Agents receive Commission from the school after the student is enrolled. This commission can vary from something starting at 10% of the total value of the courses and can go up to 30%, being the average 20% commission, and is there that the danger is. A good agent will place the student in the right course, independent if the commission is more or less. The old rule "your pay what you get" means that is a good procedure to analyse if a cheaper school really offer the condition of good learning in  comparison to a more expensive one. We know many were the cheaper school has the same level and quality that a more expensive one and vice-versa. It is very difficult to investigate which one is better except by recommendation or doing the course yourself. Anyway, schools in New Zealand have hight standards and they must be registered to undertake International Student. Government Vocational Schools and Unis, have very good standards, but many private one can also at least equal them. Some Agents charge some administration fees to cover , fax, phone, etc..but the majority don't charge anything from the student. (the commission will be good enough).

Schools and Agents work with contracts signed were is defined the obligations and tasks of each one. The Agent has by contract the obligation to correctly orientate the student about all matters of the course, such as, cost, duration, hours, breaks, holiday,  location, accommodation, study topics, and the most important is to charge the price the school itself recommend. If you suspect the Agent is not carrying well its function, you can complain to the school about the Agent. (probably the school will cancel the contract with the Agent).

The Agent has also the obligation to explain to you the school's policy regarding interruption of the course, change of provider, or devolution any monies paid. That is the reason many New Zealand schools are contracting staff speaking different languages to better interact and explain to the student what to expect under which rules. Make sure you understand these policies very clear before doing the deal. Example, a person enrolled in an English course for 6 months which is paid in full, decides to return to her country because she miss her family and friends. Supposing she already did only 2 months, the reimbursement of any money will depend on the policy of the Educational Institution which are different one from another.

Tip: If you want to study in New Zealand school and you think you will need an Agent to help you out, ring or send an email to the school requesting a list of their representatives or Agents in your country or town. Usually there is no differences in terms of cost if you do everything by yourself or with an Agent. Sometimes dealing with the agent is a great advantage if he or she speaks your language to explain things better to you.

  List of Student Agents to New Zealand

• No Agency decide to pay to be listed here yet.