Indian applicant (24) applying for UK Standard Visitor Visa for NFTS short course – parents sponsoring, low personal savings. Need advice.

Hi everyone,

I'm a 24-year-old from Hyderabad, India, and I'm planning to apply for a UK Standard Visitor Visa to attend a short course at the National Film and Television School (NFTS).

A bit about my situation:

• I have travelled internationally before (Thailand), and I returned within the permitted time.
• I've been working full-time for about a year with a salary of around ₹35,000 per month.
• I don't have significant personal savings since most of my income has been spent, so my bank balance isn't very high.
• My parents will be fully sponsoring my trip, including the course fees, travel, accommodation, and living expenses.
• My mother runs a successful business and my parents have sufficient savings to support the trip.

I have a few questions:

1. Is it common for applicants in my situation to get approved if their parents are sponsoring them?
2. What documents should I provide to make the application as strong as possible? (Sponsor letter, parents' bank statements, business documents, relationship proof, etc.)
3. Will my own low bank balance be a major concern if my parents are clearly funding the trip?
4. Is there anything specific I should avoid that commonly leads to refusals?
5. Can I confidently complete the entire application myself through the official UK visa process, or is it worth hiring a visa consultant/agent?

I'd really appreciate hearing from anyone who has been in a similar situation