Key takeaways
- Verify every university on its official national portal and authorised-to-enrol list.
- Cross-check offer letters on the university's own applicant portal — never trust a PDF alone.
- Pay tuition only via the official invoice/payment page — never a personal or 'agent' account.
- 'Guaranteed' admission, visa or scholarship for a fee is always a red flag.
How to verify a university
- Find the university on its official government's recognised-institutions list or the national portal (EduCanada, Campus France, DAAD, Study in Türkiye, EMGS, EducationUSA, etc.)
- Visit the official website directly — type the address yourself, don't trust links sent by an agent
- Confirm it is authorised to enrol international students (e.g. a DLI in Canada, a licensed sponsor in the UK, SEVP-certified in the USA)
How to verify an offer letter
- Cross-check the offer on the university's official applicant portal, not just a PDF
- Confirm your name, programme, intake and conditions exactly match the portal
- Contact the admissions office using contact details from the official website, not the letter
How to verify tuition payment instructions
- Get payment details from the official invoice in your applicant portal — never from a chat message or screenshot alone
- Confirm the bank account name matches the institution
- Where possible, pay the school directly through its official payment page or approved provider (e.g. Flywire/Convera if the school uses it)
- Be suspicious of requests to pay tuition into a personal account or an agent's account
Red flags in fake admission or scholarship offers
- 'Guaranteed' admission, visa or scholarship for a fee
- Pressure to pay quickly into a personal account
- Offer letters with spelling errors, no portal, or no official contact
- Scholarships you never applied for, asking for a 'processing fee'
Protect your documents
- Never hand over your original passport to an agent
- Share document copies only with the official university/embassy channels
- Keep your own copies of everything you submit
What Travel Ease does to support safe decisions
We work only with recognised institutions, help you verify offers on official portals, and keep advisory fees clearly separate from school fees. We never ask you to pay tuition into a personal account, and we never guarantee admission, visas or scholarships.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Paying tuition into a personal or 'agent' account
- Trusting a PDF offer without checking the official portal
- Sending your original passport to anyone
- Believing a guaranteed-visa promise
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I know a university is real?
Find it on the official national portal or recognised-institutions list, visit the official website directly, and confirm it is authorised to enrol international students. We help you verify before you spend anything.
Should I ever pay tuition to an agent?
Pay the school directly whenever possible, using the official invoice. Be very cautious of anyone asking you to pay tuition into a personal account.
Related guides
Visa Readiness
What a strong, honest student-visa application needs — and how to reduce refusal risk.
Proof of Funds
What counts as proof of funds, how long money must be held, and the mistakes that cause refusals.
Work While Studying
Honest rules on part-time work, internships and post-study options — and why not to rely on work income.