What tips to look for in 'Choosing an Educational Consultant'?

It is the student's decision whether or not to use an educational consultant. No educational consultant has special access to our programs and services and no one can guarantee your admission to Seneca nor guarantee you a study permit. Seneca cannot monitor the business practices of independent educational agencies, so using an agency is the sole responsibility of the student and his/her family.

All the forms and guides you need to apply for any type of program are available for free on this website.

• Ask for recommendations from other students, now in Canada and studying, whom have used their services. Talk to several potential educational consultants before choosing one.
• Discuss what services they will provide and the fees for each and every service. Get this information in writing.
• Ask questions. You should be wary of a representative who refuses to answer your questions.
• Be careful of anything that sounds too good to be true.
• If you are choosing a representative in Canada, you can also contact the Better Business Bureau before making your choice. They can tell you if any complaints have been raised against immigration/educational representatives that operate in Canada.

If you go ahead and choose an educational representative:

• Make sure you get a written contract -- read it carefully before you sign it. Make sure that all the promised services are listed and the fee is clearly set out.
• Do not leave original academic documents, passport or tuition fee payments with the representative
• Do not sign blank application forms. If the representative has forms or documents for you to sign, do not sign them unless you are able to read them. If you don't understand them, bring someone with you to translate. Make sure to get copies of any application form signed, or documents that are prepared for you, to be sent to Seneca, banks or the Canadian Embassy.
• Any time you make a services payment, get a signed receipt.
• Make sure, in writing, that the educational agency will give you your original 'Letter of Acceptance' to Seneca. You own that document. Beware of agencies offering FREE APPLICATIONS to Seneca, because if they pay your application fee, they may wrongly suggest that they now 'own' your acceptance letter to Seneca.
• If you change your mind about your representative, you do not have to continue with them. You can change your representative at any time or deal directly with Seneca or the visa office yourself. If you change your representative, you must notify SENECA and the CIC. The best safeguard Seneca has against unethical educational consultants, is when students/family members report unprofessional conduct, immediately. Please contact: intl.agents@senecac.on.ca
• Seneca cannot be held responsible for unethical or unprofessional educational consultants. We ask for credentials and qualifications, but that is no guarantee that an educational consultant will operate his/her own independent business, in an ethical and professional manner. When choosing an educational representative, it is buyer beware.