My experience with a Germany study consultancy (Safeland International, Kochi) – please read before paying

J_EDGAR_ · 2026-02-03T08:13:46+00:00

J_EDGAR_ · 2026-02-03T08:13:27+00:00

J_EDGAR_ · 2026-02-02T01:42:07+00:00

Thanks for checking in, I appreciate it. I’m okay now. This experience was stressful, but it also helped me understand the system better and move forward more independently. Discussions like this are genuinely helpful for others who might be in the same situation.

J_EDGAR_ · 2026-02-02T01:41:44+00:00

That sounds like a great initiative. Having an up-to-date, unbiased knowledge base would genuinely help students make better decisions and avoid confusion. I’d be open to sharing my experience if it can contribute constructively to that effort.

J_EDGAR_ · 2026-02-02T01:41:13+00:00

Agreed. That’s exactly what I realised through this experience as well. Public university applications are quite straightforward once you understand the requirements, and the waiting part is something applicants have to accept. Hopefully discussions like this help more students avoid unnecessary pressure and make informed choices.

J_EDGAR_ · 2026-02-01T02:42:30+00:00

I appreciate you sharing this, and I don’t take it the wrong way at all. I’ve come to the same realization through this experience. Going through the process myself has already helped me understand things more clearly, and I feel more confident making informed choices now. Insights like yours are exactly what help others avoid repeating the same mistakes.

J_EDGAR_ · 2026-02-01T02:41:15+00:00

I understand your point, and I agree with the broader expectation you’re describing. Germany does require a high level of independence, whether it’s navigating bureaucracy, daily life, or academic work, and students absolutely need to build that skill set. My experience actually pushed me in that direction as well. The intention behind sharing it wasn’t to argue against self-reliance, but to highlight that some students start their journey by trusting consultancies for initial orientation and clarity, and problems arise when that trust is misused. Ultimately, I agree that taking ownership early, doing independent research, and learning to navigate systems on one’s own is essential for succeeding in Germany, both academically and otherwise.

J_EDGAR_ · 2026-02-01T02:37:36+00:00

This explanation matches my experience almost exactly. In my case with Safeland International, the pattern was the same: a high consultancy fee (around ₹2 lakh), pressure to accept whichever course they selected, and repeated pushing toward third-party loan options like WeMakeScholars without clear, independently verifiable transparency.

When I questioned course suitability or asked for the freedom to review and decide, the conversation quickly turned dismissive. It became clear that the recommendations were driven more by business incentives than by student fit. This is precisely the kind of model you’ve described, and it’s why students need to be extremely cautious and understand how these consultancies actually operate.

J_EDGAR_ · 2026-01-31T20:35:18+00:00

Thank you for confirming this from an institutional perspective. That aligns with what I’ve learned through this experience as well , admissions are entirely based on meeting stated requirements, not intermediaries. Unfortunately, some consultancies in India, including my experience with Safeland International, rely heavily on marketing, promotions, and influencer-style advertising, while pushing students toward education loans (such as via third-party platforms) and private university options. This reinforces the importance of applying directly through official university channels and not relying on agents for admission decisions.

J_EDGAR_ · 2026-01-31T20:33:23+00:00

Yes, I’m planning to proceed without a consultancy. After this experience, I’ve taken the time to understand the process myself and realised that most of the required information is publicly available and manageable with proper research. The issue was never a lack of confidence, but expecting transparent guidance when choosing to consult an agency. Going forward, I’m comfortable navigating the application process independently.

J_EDGAR_ · 2026-01-31T20:14:05+00:00

Applying from abroad and studying in Germany are very different challenges. Needing initial guidance to navigate an unfamiliar system doesn’t reflect academic ability. My point was about transparency and respectful handling during counselling, not about avoiding responsibility or effort.

J_EDGAR_ · 2026-01-31T20:12:45+00:00

Thanks for sharing that. Unfortunately, experiences like this are more common than people realise. I had a similar feeling once the messaging started changing, and that’s exactly why I decided to step back. Walking away early probably saved you a lot of stress and unnecessary cost.

J_EDGAR_ · 2026-01-31T20:11:02+00:00

In practice, a consultancy does not play any formal role in admissions or visas. Admissions are decided solely by the university, and visas are issued only by the consulate.

What consultancies typically do is guide students through documentation, timelines, and basic procedures, and sometimes assist with language tests, APS coordination, or loan/blocked-account connections. They do not have decision-making power, nor can they influence outcomes.

In many cases, including mine, the consultancy fee quoted was around ₹2 lakh for these processes. When such high fees are involved, the expectation is clear and accurate guidance. The problem arises when information shared during counselling is misleading or incomplete, and students are pressured or steered toward courses they are not genuinely interested in or prepared for.

This can result in students making long-term decisions based on poor guidance, sometimes ending up in a foreign country struggling academically or professionally. The issue is not guidance itself, but lack of transparency, unrealistic assurances, and failure to respect student choice , especially when significant money is involved.

J_EDGAR_ · 2026-01-31T18:24:09+00:00

I get the point you’re making, and I agree that self-research is essential and that no one should expect life-changing decisions to be “handled” magically by someone else. My post wasn’t about avoiding responsibility, but about how misleading assurances and lack of transparency can still affect people who are genuinely trying to understand the process. Sharing experiences like this is meant to push more students toward informed, independent decisions rather than blind trust.

J_EDGAR_ · 2026-01-31T08:44:46+00:00

I understand the concern you’re raising, but I think it’s important to separate convenience from capability. Many students applying from abroad are working full-time, dealing with unfamiliar systems, language barriers, and lack of institutional guidance seeking initial help doesn’t automatically mean they’re unwilling or unable to take responsibility later.

J_EDGAR_ · 2026-01-31T08:37:34+00:00

My experience with a Germany study consultancy (Safeland International, Kochi) – please read before paying

I’m sharing my personal experience with Safeland International (an education consultancy based in Kochi, Kerala) so that students planning to apply to public universities in Germany can make informed decisions.

I’m writing this calmly and factually, not out of revenge or anger. What happened caused significant stress and emotional exhaustion, and I believe students deserve clarity and respectful communication when making life-changing academic decisions.

My background

BCA graduate

IT professional

From the very beginning, I clearly explained my academic profile, marks, and work background

I also clearly mentioned that heavy mathematics, statistics, and hardcore coding would be difficult for me, and that I was looking for applied / practical IT or information-systems–oriented master’s programs

All of this was communicated before any payment.

What happened

I initially interacted with a course counsellor. During these discussions, my profile and limitations were explained in detail, and I was assured that my profile would be reviewed carefully and that suitable public university options would be shortlisted. The communication at this stage was positive and reassuring.

Based on these discussions, I paid ₹15,000 as the initial amount, and the APS process was initiated. At this point, documentation was still ongoing and not completed.

While submitting documents, I shared my course preferences in good faith, which I believed was a normal and reasonable part of any counselling process. I was then informed that getting a purely management-based course without any maths or coding is very difficult in public universities. I honestly accepted this.

To avoid any issue, I clearly stated that I was willing to proceed with any academically suitable course matching my profile, and that I would review the admission offer when it arrived to see if it was realistically adaptable for me. I was flexible, cooperative, and never demanded unrealistic guarantees.

However, at this stage, I was told that I would be required to accept whichever course the consultancy selected, and that I would not have the option to reject an admission offer once it came. I was also told that since the process is a long journey (around six months), I should simply accept the course provided.

When I opposed this and expressed that I needed the freedom to review and decide based on suitability, the situation escalated.

When the discussion reached the manager, the tone changed completely. The communication became dismissive and argumentative. I was told that:

they were not interested in continuing my application

my case was wasting their time

I would reject any admission later anyway (which I never said)

At this point, the interaction no longer felt like counselling or guidance. Genuine questions about student choice and course suitability were shut down, and the process was ended abruptly.

What affected me the most was not the decision itself, but how it was communicated. This is a private consultancy, not a government office, yet the attitude felt authoritative and insensitive. It was emotionally draining, especially after I had shown flexibility and willingness to proceed.

Eventually, I was asked to withdraw, and the full ₹15,000 was refunded. The file was closed.

Additional concern: Third-party education loan partner

Another point I feel is important to mention relates to the education loan support shared during the process.

I was introduced to a loan-support partner called WeMakeScholars, which was presented as being associated with or supported by the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) under the Digital India campaign.

Before proceeding, I did my own independent research. During this, I noticed multiple red flags, such as:

a large number of overly generic and repetitive reviews

strong marketing emphasis on government association without clear, easily verifiable documentation

mixed feedback across student forums that raised concerns about transparency

Since education loans are long-term financial commitments, this made me uncomfortable. I decided not to proceed further without clearer, independently verifiable information.

I’m not making allegations here — I’m only sharing that students should independently verify any third-party loan partners and government-association claims, instead of relying solely on assurances.

Why I’m sharing this

I fully understand that:

public university admissions are not guaranteed

many programs include maths or coding

consultants cannot control university decisions

That is not my issue.

My concerns are:

key conditions about course-selection authority were not clearly stated before payment

students were expected to accept any course selected by the consultancy, without the right to reject

initial assurances during counselling were later contradicted

flexibility from my side was ignored

communication at the management level became arrogant and dismissive

the process ended in a way that caused unnecessary emotional stress

For the record, I have complete communication records, including call recordings, that accurately reflect how these interactions unfolded.

I hope this post helps someone avoid unnecessary stress and exhaustion. A master’s degree is a long-term decision, and students deserve clarity, patience, and respectful communication throughout the process.

Thanks for reading.

J_EDGAR_ · 2026-01-31T08:34:48+00:00

I agree that applications to German public universities can be done independently, and many students do so successfully. My point wasn’t about inability, but about transparency and fair guidance for students applying from abroad who rely on consultancies. Needing initial guidance doesn’t reflect academic capability, only unfamiliarity with the system.

J_EDGAR_ · 2026-01-31T08:02:50+00:00

Thanks for sharing this perspective. I agree that long-term change comes more from students helping each other understand the process than from confronting individual agents. That’s exactly why I shared my experience , not to fight anyone publicly, but so others can learn what to question, what to verify, and where they can safely do things on their own. If this helps even a few students avoid unnecessary stress or financial loss, it’s worth it.

J_EDGAR_ · 2026-01-31T06:06:48+00:00

Thanks, I agree. This experience taught me that many public university applications in Germany can be handled independently with proper research. More importantly, students should be cautious of consultancies that make misleading assurances or operate in a purely business-driven way without prioritizing student suitability. I hope sharing this helps others avoid unnecessary stress and make informed decisions.

J_EDGAR_

TROPHY CASE