Deakin University has taken out the top spot in the 2025 Australia and New Zealand Agent Perceptions Tracker (APT), a landmark annual survey conducted by international education consultancy Edified, based on feedback from more than 850 education counsellors across 70 countries.

Deakin was ranked #1 overall in Australia and New Zealand, reflecting exceptional performance across the areas that matter most to education agents. The university received standout praise for:

• 1st for turnaround times
• 1st for recruitment responsiveness
• 1st for admissions responsiveness
• 1st for its agent portal
• Top 3 for genuine student processes, product training, and scholarships

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Now in its second year, Edified’s Agent Perceptions Tracker has quickly become a trusted barometer for agent sentiment, helping universities benchmark their performance in the eyes of one of their most important stakeholder groups. The tracker measures agents’ perceptions of 18 key service attributes such as admissions, recruitment, marketing, and scholarships.  

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APT has been recognised this year as a finalist in the 2025 Pioneer Awards for excellence in data and insight. The full methodology, background and example reports are available at edified.com.au/apt.

Commenting on the results, John Molony, Pro Vice Chancellor and Vice President, International of Deakin University, says:  

“At Deakin, we deeply value the vital role our representatives play in supporting students and their families as they choose their study destination.  The feedback from Edified’s Agent Perception Tracker survey is a testament to the quality of the partnerships we form with our representatives world-wide, and reflects the dedication to exceptional service demonstrated by so many across the University, Deakin College and Deakin University English Language Institute.”

Thomas Eastwood, Senior Consultant at Edified, and creator of APT, adds:

“What sets Deakin apart is their relentless focus on agent service. These results show that consistency, responsiveness, and proactive engagement really do get noticed. Congratulations to the Deakin team for delivering a world-class agent experience.”

Other top-ranked universities in Australia and New Zealand included:

• RMIT University
• The University of Adelaide
• La Trobe University
• Curtin University

Within New Zealand universities, Auckland University of Technology was the highest-ranked overall.

The APT rankings highlight which institutions are winning trust and loyalty among the international education sector’s front-line professionals. It also gives insights and tips on how to optimise your agent channel. With increasing competition globally, it’s clear that agents are paying attention not just to brand and rankings – but to service, systems, and support.

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Join the research

The Agent Perceptions Tracker can help you ensure you are delivering high-level service to your agent partners.

We’re launching APT in Canada in Sept 2025, and in the UK in 2026. If you’d like to be involved, learn more and register your interest here or get in touch at apt@edified.com.au