The first choice aspiring international students often make isn’t an institution it’s an agent with an agenda. Which is where new on-line education counsellor Sofiri says it offers an alternative, providing independent peer-to-peer advice for students from people who work in education but aren’t obliged by an employer to pitch particular providers.  Advisers don’t get paid unless a student enrols with an institution they choose with a counsellor.

Sofiri launched in Australia in March and is now setting-up in China. It has 800 counsellors and 11 000 students registered and direct agreements with 42 institutions plus access to 300 further providers.

“We are a disruptor, doing to the old agent model what uber does to taxis,” Sofiri CEO George Hernandez says.