Frequently Asked Questions

UNICONS (trading name of Lopez Unicons Ltd) is an independent education consultancy based in Hounslow, London. We help students explore suitable courses and universities, prepare their applications, navigate the visa process, and make informed decisions about studying in the United Kingdom and internationally.

We provide personalised, one-to-one guidance throughout the entire application journey. You will be assigned a dedicated counsellor who reviews your academic profile, recommends suitable courses and institutions, helps you prepare application documents, manages your submissions, and supports you through to enrolment. We also assist with pre-departure preparation, including visa guidance, accommodation signposting, and IELTS advice.

Yes. UNICONS does not charge students any consultancy or service fees at any stage. Our guidance is completely free to you — from your very first enquiry through to your enrolment. There are no registration fees, no application processing charges, and no hidden costs for the advice we provide.

No. You do not pay UNICONS anything. Some universities and colleges have their own direct application fees, which are set and collected by the institution directly — UNICONS does not handle, process, or receive those payments on behalf of any institution.

Your counsellor will support you with: understanding your options and selecting a suitable course; preparing your personal statement or statement of purpose; gathering and organising required documents; submitting your application; communicating with universities; managing offer decisions; guiding you through the visa process (informational support); and signposting for accommodation and pre-departure preparation.

Yes. Your counsellor will discuss the most effective strategy for your situation. In many cases, applying to several institutions or programmes simultaneously can improve your chances of securing a place. We will help you manage multiple applications in an organised and timely manner.

Yes. The United Kingdom is our primary focus. We work with universities and colleges across England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland, covering undergraduate programmes, postgraduate degrees, professional courses, foundation programmes, and language courses.

Yes. In addition to the UK, UNICONS can provide guidance for study in the USA, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, and selected European countries. Speak to your counsellor to explore international study options that suit your goals.

The process typically follows these stages: (1) you register and create a profile on the UNICONS platform; (2) your assigned counsellor reviews your profile and academic background; (3) the counsellor provides personalised course and institution recommendations; (4) you review the recommendations and give your consent for your preferred options; (5) the counsellor prepares and submits your application(s) on your behalf; (6) you receive an offer decision from the institution; and (7) UNICONS supports you with visa preparation, accommodation, and pre-departure steps.

Timelines vary depending on the institution, programme, and your individual readiness. From registration to receiving an offer, the process can take between 2 and 12 weeks, depending on the university's own processing timeline and how quickly you are able to complete your profile and provide documents. Visa processing timelines are determined separately by the UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) and are independent of the university's admissions process.

Our aim is to respond to all new registrations within 2 working days. Once assigned, your counsellor will make contact to introduce themselves, review your profile, and begin discussing your options.

We strongly recommend starting as early as possible — ideally 6 to 12 months before your intended study start date. Many popular programmes fill quickly, and early preparation gives you more options, more time to gather documents, and a more relaxed timeline for visa applications.

Yes. Once registered, you can log in to the UNICONS portal at any time to view your application status, messages from your counsellor, document requirements, and offer updates. Your counsellor will also keep you informed at each significant stage.

Yes. You may withdraw your application at any point by contacting your counsellor. UNICONS will manage the withdrawal communication with the relevant institution on your behalf. Please inform your counsellor as early as possible if you decide not to proceed.

No. UNICONS does not charge students any fee at any stage. Our consultancy service is entirely free for students, from initial enquiry through to enrolment.

UNICONS may receive commissions from educational partners — such as universities and colleges — following a successful student enrolment, where applicable and agreed with the institution. These commercial arrangements are standard practice within the education consultancy sector and are entirely separate from the fees you pay to your institution. Your guidance from UNICONS remains independent and student-centred regardless of any commission arrangement.

No. UNICONS does not collect, hold, transfer, or process university tuition fees on behalf of any educational institution. Tuition fees are paid directly to the educational institution by the student, in accordance with the institution's own payment terms and schedules.

Yes. All tuition fee payments are made directly to your educational institution. UNICONS is not involved in the collection or management of tuition fee payments at any stage.

No. UNICONS does not charge students at any point in the process. However, please be aware that certain third-party costs are outside our control and may apply to you directly — for example: university application fees (charged by some institutions directly), the UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) visa application fee, English language test fees (such as IELTS), and document translation costs where required. These are payments made to third parties — not to UNICONS.

No. Receiving an offer does not trigger any additional charge from UNICONS. Our service remains free to you regardless of the outcome of your application.

No. The UK student visa application fee is paid directly to the UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) — a UK government body — via their official online service. UNICONS has no involvement in collecting that payment and does not receive any portion of it. We can guide you through the process, but the fee goes directly to the government.

No. All recommendations are based on your academic profile, personal goals, and individual circumstances. UNICONS is committed to student-centred guidance, and the existence or absence of a commission arrangement with any particular institution does not influence which universities or courses we recommend to you.

Typical requirements include: a valid passport or national identity document; academic transcripts and certificates from previous study; evidence of English language proficiency (such as IELTS, TOEFL, or equivalent); a personal statement or statement of purpose; letters of recommendation (required for many postgraduate programmes); a CV or résumé (for postgraduate and professional applications); and financial evidence where required by the institution or the UK visa rules. Your counsellor will advise you on the specific documents needed for each of your applications.

No. You can register with UNICONS at any stage, even before all your documents are ready. Your counsellor will guide you through the preparation process step by step and advise you clearly on which documents are needed and when.

IELTS (International English Language Testing System) is one of the most widely accepted English language tests for university admissions in the United Kingdom. Most UK universities require international students to provide a minimum IELTS score as a condition of their offer. The specific score required varies by institution and programme. Your counsellor will advise whether IELTS is required for your target programmes and what score you will need to achieve.

Yes. Your counsellor can provide guidance, feedback, and advice on how to structure and present your personal statement or statement of purpose effectively. Please note that UNICONS does not write personal statements on your behalf — we help you develop and refine your own authentic submission in a way that best represents your background and ambitions.

Most UK universities require certified English translations of academic transcripts, certificates, and any official documents that are not originally written in English. Your counsellor will advise you on the exact translation requirements for each institution you are applying to.

No. UNICONS does not guarantee visa approval at any stage. All visa decisions are made solely and exclusively by UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI), which is an independent agency of the UK Home Office. No education consultancy, university, or sponsor can guarantee a visa outcome.

UNICONS can provide general informational guidance about the UK Student Route visa process — including typical eligibility requirements, what documents are usually needed, and the stages involved. However, UNICONS is not authorised to provide regulated immigration advice under the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999. For personalised, legally regulated immigration advice specific to your circumstances, you should consult an OISC-registered immigration adviser or a UK-qualified solicitor.

All visa decisions are made exclusively by the UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI), a division of the Home Office. Neither UNICONS nor the educational institution you are applying to has any influence over individual visa decisions.

If your visa is refused, your counsellor will discuss the situation with you and help you understand your options. In some cases it may be possible to reapply or request an administrative review. For advice specific to your individual circumstances, you should consult an OISC-registered immigration adviser or solicitor. UNICONS will continue to support you within our remit as an education consultancy.

Yes. For the UK Student Route visa, most applicants require a CAS reference number issued by their university or college — this is a sponsor licence requirement. Your counsellor will guide you on when and how the CAS is typically issued as part of the enrolment process. The institution issues the CAS directly to you.

UNICONS can share general publicly available information about student visa requirements for other destinations where we operate (such as the USA, Canada, and Australia). For visa applications in other countries, we will always recommend consulting the appropriate official immigration authority or a qualified registered adviser in the relevant jurisdiction.

Yes. UNICONS can provide general assistance and signposting for student accommodation, including information about university halls of residence, accredited private student accommodation providers, and other housing options in the area you are studying. We will help you understand the process and make informed decisions.

UNICONS cannot guarantee accommodation placement. University halls of residence are allocated by the institution itself and may have limited availability, particularly in London and other major cities. We recommend applying for accommodation as early as possible after receiving your offer. Your counsellor will advise you on the specific accommodation application process for your university.

Yes. You are entirely free to arrange your own accommodation independently. Many students choose to find private rented accommodation or live with family. UNICONS can still provide information and guidance to assist you, even if you arrange housing yourself.

Accommodation costs vary significantly by location and type. University halls of residence typically range from approximately £80 to £250 per week, with London and major cities at the higher end. Private purpose-built student accommodation is often comparable. Your counsellor can advise you on typical costs for the city where your target institution is located to help you plan your overall study budget.

To apply as a registered agent, submit an agent enquiry through our website at /agents. You will need to provide information about your organisation, including business registration details, your recruitment experience, the markets you operate in, and the type of students you work with. All agent applications are reviewed before any account is created.

No. Agent applications are subject to a compliance review and due diligence process. This may include identity verification, credential checks, and assessment of regulatory compliance. Only agents who successfully complete the review process receive access to the UNICONS agent portal.

After submitting your enquiry, UNICONS will review your application and contact you to discuss it further. If initial checks are satisfactory, a formal due diligence assessment is conducted. Once approved, you will receive your agent agreement, login credentials for the portal, and full onboarding information.

Commissions are agreed on a per-institution basis in accordance with your individual agent agreement. Commission amounts and payment terms vary by institution and are subject to the terms of your specific arrangement with UNICONS. All commissions are processed through the UNICONS platform and are subject to audit and compliance review.

All agents are required to comply with the UNICONS Code of Conduct, UK GDPR data protection obligations, and any applicable regulatory requirements in the jurisdictions they operate in. Agents must conduct themselves ethically and act in the best interests of students at all times. Non-compliance may result in suspension or termination of the agent relationship.

The UNICONS affiliate programme is open to individuals and organisations who wish to refer prospective students to UNICONS without managing the formal application process directly. You can apply through our website at /affiliate-programme. All applications are subject to a review process and approval is not automatic.

Agents are organisations formally contracted with UNICONS who actively support student recruitment, manage student enquiries, and may assist with the application process on an ongoing basis under a formal agreement. Affiliates are individuals or organisations who refer prospective students to UNICONS and may receive a referral benefit under the affiliate programme terms — but affiliates are not involved in application management or admissions activity.

Institutions interested in working with UNICONS can submit a partnership enquiry through our website at /institutions or /partner-with-us. We work with universities, colleges, pathway providers, and other educational organisations. All partnership requests are reviewed and are subject to a due diligence assessment.

We typically require information about the institution's registration and accreditation status, the programmes on offer, entry requirements, tuition fee ranges, available scholarships, and primary contact details. Specific requirements will be discussed in detail during the review process.

After receiving your enquiry, our partnerships team will conduct an initial review of the information provided. If the assessment is favourable, we will arrange a discussion to understand the institution's recruitment needs and confirm partnership terms. UNICONS does not enter into partnerships with institutions that cannot be verified or do not meet our quality and ethical standards.

Student referrals are managed through the UNICONS platform via agreed channels. Institutions will receive application information in the format specified in the partnership agreement. UNICONS maintains records of all referrals, tracks application outcomes, and produces regular reporting as part of the partnership arrangement.

UNICONS recommends institutions based on suitability for each individual student's academic profile, goals, and personal circumstances. We do not give preferential treatment to any institution based solely on commercial arrangements. Our duty to provide student-centred guidance takes precedence over all other considerations.

UNICONS counsellors are experienced education professionals who work directly with students through the platform. They review student profiles, provide personalised course and institution recommendations, manage application submissions, update application statuses, communicate with institutions, and support students throughout every stage of their journey.

If you are an experienced education counsellor or student recruitment professional interested in working with UNICONS, you can submit an expression of interest through /counsellor-opportunities. All applications are reviewed, and not all enquiries will result in an offer of a counsellor position.

Yes. UNICONS counsellors are required to provide student-centred guidance at all times. All recommendations must be based on the student's academic profile, personal aspirations, and individual circumstances. Commercial arrangements with educational institutions do not influence the advice given to students.

UNICONS uses your personal information to deliver our consultancy service, communicate with you about your applications and journey, share relevant application information with educational institutions and partners (with your prior consent), and comply with our legal and regulatory obligations. We will never sell your personal data to third parties.

Your personal information is accessible to your assigned counsellor and the members of the UNICONS team who are directly involved in supporting your application. Access to personal data is managed on a need-to-know basis and is controlled through the UNICONS platform.

Application information — such as academic transcripts, personal statements, and contact details — will be shared with the educational institutions you are applying to as part of the application process. This sharing is done with your explicit informed consent. UNICONS will always make clear what information is being shared and with whom before proceeding.

UNICONS retains personal data in accordance with our Data Retention Policy, for the duration of your engagement with us and for a defined period thereafter to meet our legal, regulatory, and contractual obligations. You can request full details of our retention periods by contacting us at enquiry@unicons.co.uk.

You can make a data deletion request (a 'right to erasure' request under UK GDPR) by contacting us at enquiry@unicons.co.uk. We will respond within one calendar month. Please note that in some circumstances we may be required to retain certain records to meet our legal or regulatory obligations — we will inform you if this applies to your request.

You have the right to request a copy of the personal data UNICONS holds about you (a Subject Access Request). To make a request, contact us at enquiry@unicons.co.uk. We aim to respond to all Subject Access Requests within one calendar month, in accordance with UK GDPR requirements.

UNICONS works with experienced education professionals and student recruitment specialists with backgrounds in international admissions, student guidance, and higher education. Our counsellors bring practical knowledge of university entry requirements, application processes, and international student journeys.

UNICONS is an independent education consultancy, not a university admissions office. We work on your behalf to help you understand your options, identify suitable programmes, and prepare your application. The actual admissions decision is made entirely by the university or college — UNICONS cannot influence or override any institutional admission decision.

No. UNICONS cannot guarantee admission to any educational institution. All admission decisions are made solely by the institution based on their own assessment criteria and academic requirements. Our role is to help you present the strongest possible application and to match you with institutions where you have a realistic and well-informed chance of success.

UNICONS (Lopez Unicons Ltd) is a registered company in England and Wales. Our education consultancy services are not regulated by a sector-specific regulator in the same way that solicitors or financial advisers are. We operate in accordance with UK law, including UK GDPR, and are committed to our published Code of Conduct and ethical standards.

You can reach us by email at enquiry@unicons.co.uk, by phone at +44 2035 762124, via WhatsApp at +44 7873 886035, or by visiting our office at 214, Second Floor, High Street, Hounslow, TW3 1HB, London. Our office hours are Monday to Friday, 9am to 6pm, and Saturday, 10am to 2pm. We are closed on Sundays and UK public holidays.

If you are registered, you can update your contact details and profile information by logging into the UNICONS portal and navigating to your profile page. For other types of updates, or if you experience any difficulty, please contact your assigned counsellor directly or email enquiry@unicons.co.uk.

If you experience a technical issue, please contact us at enquiry@unicons.co.uk, including a brief description of the issue, the page or feature affected, and your contact details. We aim to respond to technical issues within 2 working days.

UNICONS takes all complaints seriously. If you have a concern about any aspect of our service, please contact us at enquiry@unicons.co.uk, clearly stating that you wish to make a formal complaint. We will acknowledge your complaint within 5 working days and work to resolve it fairly and transparently. Our full Complaints Procedure is available at /legal/complaints.