Do I need an agent, and what are the most common mistakes?

Short answer: No agent is needed. Free or official: Universitaly; embassy appointments, even through VFS (Embassy of Italy Dhaka); the Declaration of Value for study in Dhaka; CIMEA, which works only with the holder (CIMEA); MAECI and Invest Your Talent applications; patronati for the permit kit.

Fake documents end careers. Forgery is prosecuted (Embassy of Italy Dhaka), and universities must report false academic papers to the authorities, the embassy and CIMEA (MUR circular). If the money is not there this year, aim for a funded route (MAECI, Invest Your Talent, DSU) or apply a year later with a clean file.

The ten most common master's mistakes

1. Confusing a Master universitario with a Laurea Magistrale.
2. Applying to courses whose subject credits you do not meet.
3. Planning with the old €6,900 figure instead of €10,179.85 a year.
4. Relying on an MOI letter for a Dhaka visa.
5. Asking for the syllabus booklet too late.
6. Starting CIMEA after admission instead of before.
7. Missing MAECI (spring) and Invest Your Talent (spring) deadlines.
8. Pre enrolling on Universitaly for a course you are not sure about.
9. Counting a DSU application as visa money.
10. Paying €700 for SSN in October without knowing it ends on 31 December.

What an agency can and cannot do about the visa itself is V24.