A full cycle of services — from choosing a programme to settling into a new country
Smart Edu Services offers truly comprehensive support. We don’t split the process into separate services — we guide the student from the moment they first start thinking about studying abroad to the day they feel confident in their new country and academic environment.
The step-by-step plan of our support:
Stage 1. Initial consultation and profile analysis (free of charge)
We hold a detailed conversation with the student and their parents (if the student is a minor) to understand their goals, expectations, academic level, language skills, financial means and personal preferences. We answer all questions and give a preliminary assessment of the chances of admission to particular institutions.
Stage 2. Developing an individual admission strategy
Based on this analysis, we prepare a personal action plan: which exams to sit, which documents to gather, which universities to apply to, and which scholarships are available. We also set out a schedule: when to begin preparation, when to submit documents, and when to expect a response.
Stage 3. Choosing countries and institutions
We provide detailed information on dozens of countries: Germany, Austria, Switzerland, France, Spain, Italy, the United Kingdom, Ireland, the USA, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, the Netherlands, Sweden, Denmark, Norway and Finland. We explain the education system, cost of living, climate, culture and the opportunities for employment and immigration. Together with the student we select 5–10 institutions to apply to.
Stage 4. Preparing for language and academic exams
Where needed, we help you enrol in preparation courses for IELTS, TOEFL, TestDaF, DELF, DALF, SAT, ACT, GRE and GMAT. We provide access to mock tests and study materials and advise on exam strategies.
Stage 5. Gathering and preparing documents
We draw up an individual document checklist for each institution. We help you request certificates and transcripts from institutions back home, arrange notarised translations, obtain an apostille (if required), and prepare motivation letters, CVs, references and portfolios.
Stage 6. Submitting applications
We help you register on centralised platforms (Common App, UCAS, Campus France, Uni-Assist, CROUS, Stipendium Hungaricum and others), complete all the forms, upload documents and pay the registration fees. We make sure that not a single document is lost and not a single deadline is missed.
Stage 7. Communicating with the admissions office
We help manage correspondence with universities: clarifying requirements, requesting explanations and answering follow-up questions. Where necessary, we act as the link between the student and the university.
Stage 8. Receiving an offer of admission
When responses arrive from universities, we help compare the offers, make a decision and formally confirm enrolment. If the student has received several offers, we analyse the pros and cons of each option.
Stage 9. Visa support
We advise on the full list of documents for a student visa (a national type D visa or a short-term Schengen visa). We help complete the application forms, book an appointment for the embassy interview and prepare for the consul’s questions. Where necessary, we accompany the student to the interview (in countries where this is permitted) or run a practice interview.
Stage 10. Finding accommodation and arranging the move
We help find accommodation options: student halls of residence (on or off campus), private apartments, rooms in shared rentals and host families (for school pupils). We advise on rental agreements and help you avoid common mistakes and scams. We also help buy flights, arrange the airport transfer and obtain health insurance for the period of study.
Stage 11. Settling in after arrival
In the first days after arriving in a new country, the student has to deal with many everyday matters. We provide a step-by-step plan for the first week: how to register your place of residence, how to open a bank account, how to get a local SIM card, how to make a doctor’s appointment, how to use public transport, and where to buy food and textbooks. We also help you meet other students, join student organisations and find a community of fellow countrymen (if the student wants to socialise in their native language).
Stage 12. Support throughout your studies
Our help does not end after the first week. We stay in touch throughout your studies: helping with course selection, advising on academic matters, supporting you through difficult situations, helping extend your visa and residence permit, and advising on employment during and after your studies.