Study abroad agencies fall into three types depending on how many destinations they cover and where they are based: general agencies, country or region specialists and local agencies. Checked: 28 October 2026.
In short
Counselling is often free, and agencies are funded by commissions from schools, by handling and support fees paid by students, or by both. No type is cheaper by default, and the difference shows up in the quote: who you pay, for what and how much. That is why it pays to compare quotes before you choose an agency. Besides going through an agency or applying to a school directly, there is a third option: compare first, then choose.
What is a study abroad agency? The three types
A study abroad agency is a business that helps students find a school and handles the application for them. Depending on how many destinations they cover and where they are based, agencies fall into three types.
- A general agency is based in Japan and handles many countries and programmes in one place
- A country or region specialist focuses on one country or region, wherever it is based
- A local agency has an office in the destination country or city and supports you on the ground
One company can match two types. A company that only handles Canada and has an office in Vancouver, for example, is both a country specialist and a local agency. The types in this article are a guide for choosing, not an official industry classification.
Number of destinations
What the agency does: Covers many countries
Type: General agency
Number of destinations
What the agency does: Focuses on one country or region
Type: Specialist agency
Where it is based
What the agency does: Has an office in the destination
Type: Local agency
Both
What the agency does: Focuses on one country and has an office there
Type: Specialist and local agency
Why is a study abroad agency free? How fees work
Counselling at a study abroad agency is free because some agencies are funded by commissions from schools or by handling and support fees paid by students. The mix depends on the company, not on the type.
J-CROSS (Japan Council for Reviewing Overseas Study Services), which certifies study abroad services in Japan, says that most agencies offer counselling free of charge. It adds that handling fees and support fees are needed on top of the study costs paid to the school, and that some agencies waive the handling fee for partner schools (J-CROSS FAQ).
Study Australia, the Australian Government’s site for international students, notes that some agents are paid by certain education providers to recommend them. It also suggests contacting a few agents and comparing prices (Study Australia).
Fees differ from company to company, so this article does not give typical amounts. The exchange rate is easy to miss, and the J-CROSS certification standards require the price breakdown to be shown in writing, split into the overseas institution, the accommodation and the exchange rate. The guidelines of JAOS (Japan Association of Overseas Studies) also ask for examples of how amounts are converted.
| How the agency earns | Where you see it in a quote |
|---|---|
| Commission from schools | No fee line, or “no arrangement fee” written |
| Handling fee | A “handling fee” or “application fee” line |
| Support fee | A line such as “local support fee” |
| Exchange rate | Included in the yen amount for foreign tuition |
How agencies find students and where you tend to meet them
How you come across an agency tends to depend on its type, and every company combines several channels. General agencies that cover many countries tend to reach people broadly, while agencies focused on one country tend to reach people searching for that country by name.
Seeing an agency in an ad says nothing about whether it is good. On advertising, the JAOS code of conduct says that terms implying superiority are not used without specific figures based on objective facts or other grounds (JAOS code of ethics). When you see words like “No.1”, check whether the grounds are given.
- General: often seen in search ads, at study abroad fairs and on large comparison sites
- Specialist: often found through articles or social media about that country
- Local: often known through people living there, word of mouth and referrals
Comparing the pros and cons of the 3 types of agency
The pros and cons of the three types can be summed up as in the table below. These are tendencies, and companies of the same type still differ. Where the money comes from depends on the company rather than the type, so check the fee lines and the range of partner schools in the quote.
As the table shows, every type has strengths and weaknesses. Rather than deciding by type alone, compare by what matters to you and by what is in the quote.
| Type | Pros | Cons |
|---|---|---|
| General | Compare across countries, easy face-to-face advice in Japan | Depth on one country varies by adviser |
| Country or region specialist | Staff more likely to know that country’s schools and visas | Other countries need separate research |
| Local | Easy to get help after you arrive | Face-to-face advice in Japan before departure may be limited |
Which suits you? A quick decision chart
The way to choose that suits you depends on whether you have chosen a destination and what matters most to you.
If you have not decided where to go, a general agency tends to suit you. You can hear how countries differ in one session and start by narrowing down. If you have chosen a country or region, a specialist tends to suit you, and you can focus on that country’s visas and schools.
If support after you arrive matters most, a local agency tends to suit you. If cost is your concern, comparing quotes side by side is more reliable than choosing by type. Even with no fee, the total can change with the choice of schools and the exchange rate.
| Your situation | What suits you |
|---|---|
| No destination yet, or want to compare several countries | General agency |
| Country or region decided, want in-depth advice on schools | Country or region specialist |
| Support for daily life after arrival matters most | Local agency |
| School decided and can handle the paperwork | Apply to the school directly |
| Worried about cost, want to compare on your own first | Compare first, then choose |
A third option is to compare quotes before you choose an agency
Besides going through an agency or applying to a school directly, there is a third way to apply: compare first, then choose. Compare first, then choose (a comparison platform) means comparing schools, costs and quotes on open information first, then applying to the school you picked through a partner.
You can also apply to a school directly without an agency. In that case you need to read and check the school’s application terms, payment dates and cancellation terms yourself.
BLOOM ABROAD, this site, works this way. Because we, the authors of this article, run a site of this kind, we stick to the facts here. Our partners are listed on the partner list, and what you can do on the site is summed up in What is BLOOM ABROAD?.
- Compare schools and housing in the same format, with official sources and the date we checked them
- Check a quote you have with Quote Check (no sign-up needed)
- Improved terms: the same tuition and discounts as your quote, no arrangement fee or overseas transfer fee, and a free eSIM for your school attendance period (2 GB of high-speed data a day, then unlimited at low speed)
- The amount and conditions are confirmed once BLOOM ABROAD has checked that the booking can be arranged. This applies to the same school, course, length, room and start date within the quote’s validity, and the eSIM is data only. Local living costs and anything not in the quote are not covered
- No pushy selling. You are welcome to just browse and compare
| How to apply | Suits people who |
|---|---|
| Through an agency | Want to decide while talking it through and leave the paperwork to someone |
| Directly with the school | Have chosen a school and can handle the paperwork |
| Compare first, then choose | Want to compare on their own first or check whether a quote is fair |
Five lines in a quote that tell agencies apart
Five lines in a quote show you how an agency makes its money and what it is good at. A quote is more concrete than the words on a website or in an ad. With no fee line, the agency may be funded by school commissions. On timing, the J-CROSS certification standards say tuition is not charged until 90 days before departure (except items with fixed deadlines such as visas).
J-CROSS points out that there are two contracts, one with the agency and one with the overseas school, and asks students to check what is and is not included in what they pay under both. You can also see these lines with Quote Check, and copy the questions you want to ask the agency. How to use it is explained in How to use Quote Check.
| Line in the quote | What to look at |
|---|---|
| Fee lines | How much, and what is included |
| Amount paid to the school | Same as the official price? |
| Exchange rate | Which day’s rate? |
| Who you pay and when | To whom, and by when |
| Cancellation terms | What it costs to cancel, and when |
Tell them apart from the website and counselling
On a website, start with the company name, address, contact details and the countries it covers. The J-CROSS certification standards require ads to show the business name, address and contact details, the services and the relationship with partners, and the terms and conditions.
You can check membership and certification on the JAOS member list and the J-CROSS list of certified companies. Not being a member or certified does not by itself make a company good or bad.
- Company details: based in Japan or the destination, or both
- Countries: a long list or one country
- Fee page: amounts and what is included
- Terms: readable before you apply
10 questions to ask in counselling
Try asking these 10 questions in counselling. Writing down the answers helps when you compare 2 to 3 agencies.
Study Australia also suggests asking which providers an agent represents, for a breakdown of fees and how they will keep you informed. It warns against agents who promise a visa and recommends a written contract (Study Australia).
- Which parts are free: counselling, the application or local support?
- What do the handling and support fees include?
- Is the school you recommend a partner school? Can I apply to non-partner schools too?
- Do you receive commissions from schools? If so, does that affect which schools you recommend?
- Is the tuition in the quote the same as the school’s official price?
- Which day’s rate do you use to convert into yen? Is the transfer fee separate?
- Who do I pay and by when?
- If I cancel, how much does it cost and until when?
- If I have a problem abroad, who can I contact and during what hours?
- Which countries does my adviser know well? What if I want to compare other countries?
How to find a recommended study abroad agency
The right agency differs from person to person, so the reliable way to find one is to get quotes on the same terms from 2 to 3 agencies and compare them. J-CROSS also recommends consulting at least 2 to 3 companies, partly for personal fit (J-CROSS FAQ).
Ask for quotes for the same school, length and accommodation, and it becomes easier to see where the differences come from. Compare not just the total but the fee lines, exchange rate and cancellation terms in the same order. What is in a quote for your own situation tells you more than any ranking. Note the answers to your questions in the same order and you will see which company suits you.
Where to get help with contract or money problems
If you run into a problem with a contract or money in Japan, call the Consumer Hotline 188 to be directed to a nearby consumer affairs centre (Consumer Affairs Agency). For companies certified by J-CROSS, the J-CROSS secretariat also handles enquiries.
Before you get in touch, have your contracts, quotes and emails to hand so the conversation goes smoothly. Also check that you received two contracts when you applied, one with the agency and one with the school. J-CROSS also asks students to have the agency explain key points of English-language contracts, such as class hours, accommodation and cancellation terms.
About this article
This article was written by the BLOOM ABROAD editorial team based on public documents from government bodies and industry associations. It does not recommend or compare any specific company. BLOOM ABROAD runs a “compare first, then choose” site, and we make that clear in this article. If you spot a mistake, please let us know through “Send feedback” at the bottom of the page and we will fix it promptly.
If you sign up through a link on this site, we may receive a referral fee at no additional cost to you. Referral fees never affect how listings are ordered or rated. Our partners are listed on the partner list, and how we handle referral fees is set out in our Advertising Terms and Disclosure Policy.
Start with the quote you have
Compare quotes before you choose an agency. If you are unsure where to begin, start in that order. Even once you understand the types and how fees work, you will not know what your own plan costs until you see the quote.
If you have a quote, check it with BLOOM ABROAD’s Quote Check. It lists whether the total matches the line items and breaks down the fees, so you are ready to compare 2 to 3 quotes in the same order. The improved terms through BLOOM ABROAD and how they are confirmed are set out in the third-option section above.
Sources
Government and public bodies
- Study Australia (Australian Government): How to choose the right education agent for you (published 9 September 2024)
- Consumer Affairs Agency, Japan: Consumer Hotline
Official information from each company
- J-CROSS (Japan Council for Reviewing Overseas Study Services) FAQ
- J-CROSS certification standards for study abroad services
- J-CROSS: preventing study abroad problems
- J-CROSS list of certified companies
- JAOS (Japan Association of Overseas Studies) code of ethics and voluntary standards
- JAOS common guidelines for study abroad programmes
- JAOS member list
