Should I use a tutoring agency or hire a private tutor directly?

Hiring a specialist tutor directly, rather than through an agency, gives you access to someone with deeper subject expertise, eliminates agency commission (which can add 20–40% to the cost without benefiting the student), and ensures you always work with the same person. Agencies typically employ tutors across many subjects; a direct hire specialist has deep expertise in one area. For subjects as technical as econometrics or Oxbridge interview preparation, the depth of knowledge matters significantly more than the convenience of the agency interface.

Why is Dr Nicky Grant better than a tutoring agency for econometrics?

Dr Grant has a Cambridge PhD in econometrics and 12+ years of university teaching experience, he has designed and delivered the courses your tutee is studying. Most agency-matched econometrics tutors have undergraduate or postgraduate degrees but have not worked at the frontier of the subject. Dr Grant has published peer-reviewed research in econometric theory at CeMMAP and in Springer journals. The practical difference is that he can answer questions at any depth, including those beyond the textbook.

Is hiring a tutor directly more expensive than through an agency?

No, typically the opposite. Tutoring agencies charge commission of 20–40% of the session fee, passed on to you as a higher hourly rate. Hiring directly means the full fee goes to the tutor, who can offer a lower effective rate while earning the same amount. Direct tutors also offer flexibility, longer sessions, block bookings, and programme-based pricing, that agencies rarely accommodate.

How does Dr Grant compare to university tutoring services?

University tutoring services (e.g., student tutors advertised on university noticeboards) typically involve students who have recently studied the subject rather than someone who has taught it at university level for 12+ years. For students who need to understand material in depth, or who are preparing for PhD-level work, the difference in expertise is significant. Dr Grant has supervised students at Oxford, Cambridge, and leading UK universities across the full range of econometrics material.

What makes a good econometrics tutor?

A good econometrics tutor needs to understand the mathematical foundations (linear algebra, probability, asymptotic theory), the intuition behind each estimator, and the practical skills of applying methods in software. They also need to know what university examiners and dissertation supervisors are looking for. Dr Grant has all three: a Cambridge PhD in econometric theory, 12+ years designing and marking university econometrics exams, and published research that keeps him at the frontier of the subject.

Why hire direct

Private tutor vs agency:
what the difference means

Tutoring agencies take 20–40% commission, pool tutors across every subject, and can't guarantee you'll work with the same person twice. Hiring Dr Nicky Grant directly means you work with a Cambridge PhD who specialises in exactly what you need, at a cost that goes entirely to your tutor, not a middleman.

This page is for students and parents doing due diligence. It compares what you actually get, not what agencies advertise.

Book a free consultation See Dr Grant's credentials

The comparison

Direct hire vs agency
side by side

Factor	Dr Nicky Grant (direct)	Typical agency match
Subject expertise
Qualification in econometrics	Cambridge PhD in econometric theory. Co-authored peer-reviewed research with a Cambridge professor. 8 published works.	Usually a recent graduate with a strong degree. Rarely a researcher.
Has designed university courses	Designed and delivered ECON20110 (econometrics) at Manchester. Knows exactly what is tested.	No. Most tutors have not designed the courses they teach.
Can answer PhD-level questions	Yes. GMM, GEL, partial identification, singular variance, research areas, not just textbook topics.	Rarely. Most agency tutors are strong at undergraduate level only.
Cost and structure
Agency commission	None. 100% of your fee goes to the tutor.	Agencies typically take 20–40% commission.
Consistent tutor	Always the same person. Continuity across all sessions.	Agencies may substitute tutors. Continuity is not guaranteed.
Free initial consultation	Yes, 30–45 minutes, no charge, no obligation.	Agencies typically charge for all sessions, including a first session.
Flexible session length	60, 90, or 120 minutes. Intensive days possible.	Agencies usually fix 60-minute slots.
For specialist needs
Cambridge interview preparation	Three Cambridge degrees. Knows the interview format from the inside.	Agency tutors may have attended a different university.
TMUA coaching	Expert in mathematical reasoning, the core Paper 2 skill. Tailored to Cambridge, Warwick, Durham.	May offer generic maths tuition; rarely specialised TMUA prep.
PhD dissertation methodology	Active researcher in econometric theory. Can engage with advanced identification and estimation questions.	Most agency tutors cannot help beyond taught postgraduate level.

Honest comparison

What tutoring agencies
don't advertise

The commission model inflates your cost

When you book through an agency, you pay the agency's rate, which includes a markup that goes to the agency, not to your tutor. The same tutor operating directly can charge a lower rate while earning the same (or more) from each session. There is no educational reason to use an agency for a subject-specialist tutor you can reach directly.

"PhD-qualified" at an agency often means "has a PhD in anything"

Large tutoring platforms use PhD-qualified as a selling point, but the PhD may be in history, biology, or a different field entirely. A Cambridge PhD in economics and econometric theory is a specific credential that means something very different for a student studying econometrics. Verify qualifications directly, not through an agency's marketing materials.

Generic lesson plans don't work for technical subjects

Agencies scale by training tutors with lesson plan templates. Econometrics, Further Maths, and Oxbridge preparation cannot be taught from a template, they require understanding what specifically a student is missing, and why. This only happens when a tutor builds genuine familiarity with a student over multiple sessions. That requires continuity. Agency systems are not built for continuity.

DBS checks can be verified, and should be

Dr Grant holds a Full Enhanced DBS Certificate on the Update Service, issued November 2025, independently verifiable on request by parents and institutions. When using an agency, always ask to see the tutor's DBS certificate directly, not just the agency's assurance that one exists.

Questions

Common questions

What happens if I've already tried an agency tutor and it didn't work?

This is the most common reason students reach out for direct tuition. The free initial consultation will establish exactly what wasn't working and what you actually need. There's no obligation, if the consultation makes clear that you need something other than what Dr Grant offers, he'll say so.

My university has a tutoring service, why would I hire externally?

University tutoring services typically match you with a postgraduate student, someone who has recently passed the same course. They can be excellent for specific problems. But for students who need to understand material deeply, for those working on dissertations or PhD theses, or for those who want consistent expert support across multiple topics, an external specialist is often the right choice.

Is Dr Grant on any tutoring platforms?

No. Direct contact via email or phone is always the best route, it is faster, has no platform markup, and lets you speak directly before committing to anything. Contact details are on the home page.

Talk to Dr Grant
directly

Free 30–45 minute consultation. No agency, no platform, no commission. Just a direct conversation about what you need.

Book a free consultation How sessions work

Direct hire vs agencyside by side

What tutoring agenciesdon't advertise

Common questions

Talk to Dr Grantdirectly

Direct hire vs agency
side by side

What tutoring agencies
don't advertise

Talk to Dr Grant
directly