The AEC Advantage THE AEC ADVANTAGE The AEC sends students only to accredited universities abroad. (Host universities already have accreditation from the US Department of Education and Canadian Provincial and Territory Governments) The AEC provides a comprehensive direct enrolment service to Australian/NZ universities. You or your home school's financial aid office can pay the host university's tuition fees direct or if you wish through the AEC Program. Whatever works for you! Students from over 400 universities have already participated in the AEC Study Abroad Program. The AEC does not charge an application fee to semester, year abroad and full degree students. Instead the AEC requests a refundable deposit and the deposit is fully refunded if the AEC does not place you. The AEC provides the full range of housing offered at host universities and available to semester and year abroad students; the AEC will also have off campus housing available. (The AEC will not create housing communities only for North American students as it defeats the purpose of study abroad!) The AEC will guarantee housing for the duration of a semester/year abroad program provided students apply within timelines. In all cases however, students will have housing on arrival. The AEC specializes only in universities in Australia/NZ with an option for Australia bound students to visit other countries in the Asia Pacific Rim as part of the travel component. The AEC is an independent program offering the lowest cost program with the full complement of services in North America. Check our prices and services. The AEC works hard to contain cost but not to the detriment of student services. The AEC uses modern technologies to broadcast AEC program information to students, parents and advisors (website, email, voice mail, toll phone telephone lines and teleconferencing) rather than widespread visits to schools or participation at every study abroad fair. We have had to balance the need to visit campuses regularly (for study abroad fairs or visits), against the need to provide affordable programs for students so that even more students can afford study abroad to Australia and New Zealand. The AEC has signed consortia agreements with many US universities for the disbursement of financial aid, thereby, enabling US students to study in Australia/New Zealand. The AEC has a small network of Australian staff that are qualified and experienced in international education. These staff have worked in government, universities and international education organizations. Importantly, the AEC is a small program, offering a individualized service by very committed and dedicated staff. In their assessment of the AEC, students consistently advise “the cost of the programs” and the “quality of the program” as the two major reasons for choosing the AEC to manage their enrolment. Whilst the AEC recognizes that there are some schools who have their own study abroad programs or work only with a select group of study abroad programs, it is hoped that home school policy is reviewed to facilitate student access to direct enrolment, particularly as the AEC is a representative of accredited universities abroad. It is about providing students with choice and a level playing field for all programs sending students to accredited universities abroad. If you are a student or parent, please discuss with your school's advisor your need to have choice so you can decide which program you should go through as long as the Host University is an a US Department of Education `accredited' foreign school.