The Education UK website and publications feature ‘profiles’ of UK schools, colleges, universities, English language providers and other relevant education organisations, such as examination boards and professional associations.
The profiles are designed to help such UK education providers to promote their courses and services to international students.
The eligibility criteria for purchasing a profile are outlined below in the following three sections:
1. What type of organisation can purchase a profile?
2. Quality and recognition of qualifications
3. Accreditation
The eligibility criteria for becoming a member of the Education UK Partnership or participating in Partnership activity are outlined below.
Membership of the Partnership can be on an individual institutional or a group membership basis and is only open to institutions that meet the eligibility criteria below and have their primary base / headquarters in the United Kingdom.
The Partnership may admit associate membership organisations, such as examination boards, professional associations or other relevant education organisations.
Group membership will be granted to a holding company and / or its subsidiaries providing that:
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the UK holding company is registered at Companies House |
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the group can demonstrate that they are one legal entity |
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there are clear lines of ownership between the named constituent members and the UK holding company |
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each constituent member of the group meets the eligibility criteria for joining the Partnership in their own right. |
The Partnership does not currently invite applications from consortia. A consortium may be granted associate membership providing that they are registered with Companies House and / or all the constituent members of the consortium have individual Education UK Partnership membership. The granting of associate membership status is at the discretion of the Partnership Operating Board.
A fundamental strength of UK qualifications is their worldwide recognition and high quality. All Partnership member institutions must be able to support this. For membership, at least 80 per cent of the qualifications gained by students in the previous academic year must be recognised UK qualifications (this includes the International Baccalaureate).
Where institutions, examining bodies or professional organisations award qualifications that are not regulated by one of the following, the Partnership reserves the right to exclude such organisations:
Applications from these organisations will be considered on a case-by-case basis by the Partnership Boards.
The Education UK Partnership will not admit any institutions with outstanding debts to, or which are in dispute with, the British Council.
Any institution applying for Partnership membership must have been trading for a minimum of five years.
For private / independent schools and colleges, we require copies of your last three years' annual reports, including copies of your accounts, audited where possible. Based on these reports and accounts, along with a compact report from Dun & Bradstreet, we will produce, for the Partnership Operating Board, an indication of financial strength and stability. The Board will consider this report when reviewing your application for membership. Any institutions assessed by Dun & Bradstreet as having a higher-than-average risk of either business failure or delinquency are unlikely to be accepted for membership.
Institutions that become a member of the Education UK Partnership or that wish to participate in Partnership activity must meet the accreditation requirements outlined in the table below.
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Accreditation and eligibility criteria |
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University,
Higher education institution,
College of further or higher education |
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- Listed on the UK Border Agency Register of Tier 4 Sponsors (approved Education Providers)
- At least 80 per cent of qualifications gained by students in the previous academic year being from the UK qualifications framework*.
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Private or independent college |
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- Listed on the UK Border Agency Register of Tier 4 Sponsors (approved Education Providers)
- At least 80 per cent of qualifications gained by students in the previous academic year being from the UK qualifications framework*.
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Private associate feeder company |
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Membership under the host institution will be granted providing that there is written evidence from the host institution that they will act as sponsor for all incoming international students. An example of such evidence is a signed letter sent to the Education UK Partnership. We will also seek a letter from the UK Border Agency stating that the private associate feeder company will not require separate accreditation / registration on their Points Based System register of employers and sponsors. Any exceptions will be considered on an individual basis by the Board. |
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State or independent boarding school |
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- Registered with either:
- England: Department for Children, Schools and Families
- Scotland: Department of Education and Lifelong Learning
- Wales: Department for Children, Education, Lifelong Learning and Skills
- Northern Ireland: Department of Education
- Listed on the UK Border Agency Register of Tier 4 Sponsors (approved Education Providers)
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Accredited by Accreditation UK |
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Professional body,
Associate member |
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At the discretion of the Education UK Partnership Operating Board |
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*The UK qualifications framework consists of qualifications that are recognised by: the QCA in England; the Qualifications, Curriculum and Assessment Authority for Wales; the CCEA in Northern Ireland; or the Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework.
The Partnership services for schools have been designed to meet the demand primarily from state and independent boarding schools. Boarding schools that wish to become members must provide boarding facilities that meet National Boarding Standards inspected by OFSTED. Other institutions, such as day schools, tutorial or independent colleges, that do not provide boarding but meet the rest of the criteria and wish to become members, will be considered on a case by case basis.
Applicants for membership must give permission for the British Council to receive copies of all information supplied to or requested by the accrediting body which undertook their accreditation. The British Council will also solicit a copy of the inspectors’ report from the accrediting body that carried out the accreditation of any applicant applying for membership.
For private / independent schools and colleges, membership of the Partnership shall be for the duration of their accreditation. Renewal of membership is dependent on re-accreditation.
Please note that the British Council charges a non-refundable application fee to all new applicants, whether their application to join the Partnership is successful or not.
The decision of the Partnership Board is final and no appeals process will be entered into.
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