UK universities are pouring tens of millions of pounds into education agents in a bid to attract increasingly valuable overseas students, new figures reveal. A Freedom of Information request has uncovered the scale of this investment, with some institutions paying thousands per student in commission.
The University of Greenwich spent £28.7 million on agents and associated taxes last year – more than double what it paid in 2017/18 (£3.3 million) and a significant increase from the previous year's £18.3 million. This sum supported the recruitment of 6,572 students, averaging around £4,368 per student.
De Montfort University in Leicester also saw its agent commission payments jump to £17.1 million last year, up from £10.5 million in 2021/22, securing 4,457 international students at an average cost of approximately £3,829 each.
Nearly half a million sponsored UK study visas were granted in the past year – a 23% increase on the previous year and more than double the number issued in 2019. International students contribute around one-fifth of universities' total income, with many paying significantly higher tuition fees than domestic students (an estimated average of £22,000 per year for undergraduate courses).
Universities UK acknowledges that increased spending reflects growing international student numbers and the value agents bring to navigating application and visa processes. However, concerns about ethics are mounting, with reports of agents prioritising incentives over a student's best fit – including offering inducements like laptops or phones.
No formal regulation exists for education agents in the UK, although some can subscribe to an ethical code of practice and the British Council maintains a register. Lord Jo Johnson has advocated for a formal register of agents and performance data publication, including visa refusal rates and course completion rates broken down by agent – measures aimed at increasing transparency and accountability within the sector.