Direct enrollment means that you will pay only for the direct cost of your study (tuition, medical, housing, airfare, etc.) and will not pay any management fees to the program (or a third party) for arranging your admission. When advertising semester or year abroad programs to various countries, programs (whether profit or non-profit) generally charge a management fee and include this fee as part of the overall program fee.

The AEC offers direct enrollment and guarantees that you will pay the university’s tuition fee without paying management fees. How do you know when a management fee is included? You first check the tuition price on the university’s web site (which is usually listed in local currency but you can use an exchange calculator at www.xe.com to check what the local currency equivalent is in US Dollars). You then check the program’s advertised price.

The My Study Australia website has been created for the Australian Education Connection (AEC program) with a view to offering prospective students an opportunity to go on semester abroad, year abroad, full degrees, transfer and internship programs at direct enrollment prices. Students undertaking AEC programs will still have access to scholarships, financial aid and student services.

Usually universities that appoint programs as their representatives in North America pay their representatives an administrative fee. However, many programs also charge students the management fee in order to top up their income. This is more common than not. Many programs require the additional money (they raise by charging management fees to students) because they run extensive promotional and networking campaigns to generate business for their organizations. Some programs also have extensive networks, advisory boards, travel costs and office structures that do cost additional money. It is not unreasonable to pay a management fee.

The question for each student contemplating going abroad should therefore, not be the issue of paying a management fee to a program but rather:

• How much should I pay for my study abroad program?

• What is a reasonable cost to go abroad?

• What do I get in return (list of services)?

The AEC charges students the direct cost of tuition at the overseas university. Students are free to pay the overseas university direct after the AEC has arranged the admission. Money does not need to be paid through the AEC program. The AEC simply manages the admission process and provides all services.

A student will not pay a management fee to the AEC for arranging student admission. This is a fundamental difference between the AEC and many other managed programs.

You should be aware that the AEC manages an infrastructure that is lean and geared towards students. We do not compromise on service. We will also not duplicate services already offered by our overseas universities and turn around and charge you more. We work only with accredited universities so we offer quality academic programs.

Overseas universities that have agreed for the AEC to represent them in North America, agree to pay the AEC for the administrative cost related to processing their students on a fee for service basis.

Continue to read the information on our web site and feel free to ask questions!

The AEC requests Advisors to understand the work the AEC undertakes to ensure that a direct enrollment service is possible and is offered by universities abroad through the AEC Program. Please refer to the section `encouraging access’.