A full cycle of services — from choosing a programme to settling into a new country
Smart Edu Services offers genuinely comprehensive support. We don’t carve the process into separate services — we guide you from the moment you first start thinking about studying abroad to the day you feel at home in your new country and academic environment.
Our support, step by step:
Stage 1. Initial consultation and profile analysis (free of charge)
We have a detailed conversation with the student and their parents (if the student is a minor) to understand their goals, expectations, academic level, language skills, budget and personal preferences. We answer every question and give an early assessment of the chances of admission to particular institutions.
Stage 2. Developing an individual admission strategy
Based on this analysis, we draw up 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 a timeline: when to begin preparation, when to submit documents and when to expect a reply.
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 prospects for work and immigration. Together we shortlist 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 give you access to mock tests and study materials, and advise on exam strategy.
Stage 5. Gathering and preparing documents
We draw up an individual document checklist for each institution. We help you request certificates and transcripts from your schools 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 the centralised platforms (Common App, UCAS, Campus France, Uni-Assist, CROUS, Stipendium Hungaricum and others), complete the forms, upload documents and pay the registration fees. We make sure not a single document is lost and not a single deadline is missed.
Stage 7. Communicating with the admissions office
We manage your correspondence with universities: clarifying requirements, requesting explanations and answering follow-up questions. Where needed, we act as the link between you and the university.
Stage 8. Receiving an offer of admission
When replies arrive from universities, we help you compare the offers, reach a decision and formally confirm enrolment. If you have several offers, we weigh up the pros and cons of each.
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 you complete the forms, book your embassy interview and prepare for the consul’s questions. Where needed, we accompany you to the interview (in countries where this is permitted) or run a practice interview.
Stage 10. Finding accommodation and arranging the move
We help you find somewhere to live: student halls of residence (on or off campus), private flats, rooms in shared rentals and host families (for school pupils). We advise on tenancy agreements and help you avoid common mistakes and scams. We also help you book flights, arrange the airport transfer and obtain health insurance for the period of study.
Stage 11. Settling in after arrival
In your first days in a new country there is plenty to sort out. We give you a step-by-step plan for the first week: how to register your address, open a bank account, get a local SIM card, book a doctor’s appointment, use public transport, and where to buy food and textbooks. We also help you meet other students, join student societies and find a community of fellow countrymen (if you would like to socialise in your native language).
Stage 12. Support throughout your studies
Our help doesn’t end after the first week. We stay in touch throughout your studies: helping with course selection, advising on academic matters, supporting you through difficult patches, helping you extend your visa and residence permit, and advising on work during and after your course.