How do I check a study abroad consultancy and complain if it cheats me?

• Students using an agency to apply to universities abroad, or who have paid one and been let down.

• Written contract listing services and fees

  Consultancies have long been required to give students a written agreement.

  Official

• Receipts for every payment

  In practice

• Admission letter, offer and the university's accreditation details

  In practice

In practice items aren't in the official rules but are commonly asked for at the counter.

1. 1

   Check it's on the approved list

   The Ministry of Education, Science and Technology publishes the consultancies that hold or have renewed operating permits. Most consultancies in Kathmandu were found to have no permit in 2026, so check before you pay.

2. 2

   Get everything in writing

   Ask for a contract that lists what they'll do, the fees and the refund terms. Pay by bank transfer or get a receipt for cash.

3. 3

   Check the university yourself

   Look the university and course up on the destination country's official register. Students have been placed in colleges that weren't accredited.

4. 4

   Complain if it goes wrong

   Write to the Ministry of Education with your contract and receipts. For overcharging or services not delivered, you can also file a consumer complaint with the Department of Commerce, Supplies and Consumer Protection. If they took money and vanished, report it to the police as fraud.