Scholars Education pushes for transparency as Bangladesh's study-abroad market matures

Dhaka : Bangladeshi students planning to study abroad are increasingly demanding transparency and realistic guidance over blanket promises, as overseas education consultancies compete to serve a market spanning destinations from the UK to South Korea.

Md Tariqul Islam, Co-Founder and Director of Scholars Education, discussed the evolving landscape of overseas education consultancy in Bangladesh, as well as his organization's approach to student counseling, during a recent interview with The Bangladesh Monitor.

Tariqul said the firm was founded to offer genuine, transparent, and personalized guidance instead of simply handing students a list of universities, since every student's academic, financial, and career circumstances differ. Studying abroad, he added, should never be viewed only as a route to admission or a visa - it is an investment in a student's future.

Scholars Education currently offers pathways to the UK, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, Malaysia, China, South Korea, and several European countries, spanning foundation programs, undergraduate and postgraduate degrees, and professional courses. Partner institutions are assessed on academic quality, affordability, recognition, and future opportunities, he said, and the consultancy also runs foundation programs for eligible SSC graduates.

The process begins with counseling and a profile assessment covering academics, English proficiency, budget, and career goals, after which the firm recommends suitable universities, explaining costs, scholarships, and visa considerations. Support continues through documentation, application, and beyond, including help with admission or visa-related challenges as they arise.

Asked what sets the consultancy apart, Tariqul pointed to strong university partnerships, admission and visa expertise, and end-to-end support, adding that long-term relationships built on trust matter more than any single transaction. Ethical counseling remains a core principle, he said, stressing that a student's future should never be compromised for short-term commercial gain - the firm will tell students directly if an option doesn't suit their profile or budget.

Md Tariqul Islam

Support extends beyond visa approval to accommodation, documentation, and adjusting to a new environment and continues even when students face difficulties abroad, whether academic, financial, or personal.

On trends, Tariqul said the UK, Australia, and Canada remain popular, while interest in Malaysia, South Korea, and Europe is growing, with affordability increasingly shaping decisions. He urged students to weigh total costs - not just tuition - along with institutional quality and their own eligibility, rather than following peers to a destination.

He identified misinformation from social media and unofficial sources as a major industry challenge, along with managing expectations. Common student mistakes include choosing a destination before assessing their own profile and overlooking living costs. His advice: treat studying abroad as an investment, choose a subject aligned with genuine interest, budget realistically, and prepare for independence in a new culture.