You’re trusting a lot of claims when you choose a course — and you’re entitled to check them.
Choosing a course means trusting a lot of claims. The institution says its placements are strong. The consultant says the qualification is respected. A brochure shows smiling graduates in a modern building.
Most of it may well be accurate. But you’re committing years and significant money on the strength of it, and you’re entitled to check.
Here are the questions worth asking — of any institution, and of any consultant, including the ones you like.
About the qualification itself
Who recognises or accredits this program? Not “is it recognised” — by whom. Ask for the specific body, and ask to see the documentation. Accreditation determines whether employers, licensing bodies, and other institutions will accept your qualification.
Is the accreditation current? Recognition can lapse or change. Ask when it was last confirmed and whether any review is pending.
Will this qualification be accepted where I intend to work? Particularly important for regulated professions and for anyone studying abroad. A degree accepted in one country may require additional examinations in another.
Can I continue to higher study with this qualification? If you might pursue a postgraduate degree later, check that this program qualifies you for it.
About the cost
- What is the total cost for the entire course? Not the first year, not the tuition alone. The full figure, itemised, in writing.
- Are the fees fixed, or can they increase? Annual increases across a multi-year course can add up substantially. Ask what governs them.
- What isn’t included? Examination fees, materials, uniforms, lab charges, accommodation, and travel are often separate. Get a list.
- What is the refund policy? If you withdraw in the first term, or if circumstances change, what happens to what you’ve paid? Ask for it in writing before you pay anything.
About outcomes
What percentage of students complete the course? Completion rates reveal a lot. A program with a high drop-out rate has a problem — with teaching, support, or how students were selected in the first place.
What are the actual placement outcomes? Ask for specifics: what proportion of the most recent cohort found work, in what roles, at what salary range. “Excellent placements” is marketing. Numbers are information.
Can I speak to current students or recent graduates? An institution confident in its program will facilitate this. Reluctance is worth noting.
About the consultant or advisor
If you’re working with an education consultant, these matter just as much:
- How are you compensated? Most consultants are paid by institutions on enrollment. That’s a normal model — but you should know, because it shapes the advice you’re receiving.
- Do you work with a limited network of institutions? If so, their recommendations are drawn from that network, not from everything available. That doesn’t make the advice bad, but it makes it partial.
- What happens if I decide this isn’t right for me? A good advisor will say that’s fine. Pressure at this point tells you what you need to know.
- Will you put your key claims in writing? Anything material — recognition, costs, outcomes — should be something they’re willing to state in an email.
What the answers tell you
You’re not looking for perfect answers. You’re looking for specific ones.
An institution that says “we have strong industry connections” is telling you nothing. One that states a concrete recent placement figure, with named outcomes and a salary range, is telling you something you can evaluate.
Vagueness under direct questioning is the signal to watch for. So is discomfort — anyone who becomes evasive or pressuring when asked reasonable questions is showing you how they’ll behave once you’ve paid.
Before you sign
Take the answers away and think about them. Nobody legitimate needs a decision today, and any deadline that appears only when you hesitate is worth ignoring.
Ask the same questions of two or three options and compare. The differences will be revealing.