Apply for Accreditation

• Demonstrated commitment to quality: Accreditation by the British Council showcases your centre's commitment to maintaining high standards, reinforced using the Accredited by the British Council marque.
• Drive continuous improvement: Regular inspections and sharing of best practices offer ongoing opportunities to enhance the quality of your services.
• Visa eligibility: Accredited centres are eligible to enrol students on short-term study visas, allowing:
• Up to six months for students under 18.
• Up to 11 months for students aged 18 and over (English language only).
• Incidental study for up to 30 days for those on a standard visitor visa.
• Increased visibility: Your centre will be included in the list of accredited providers on the British Council and Study UK website, enhancing your reach and reputation.
• Exclusive opportunities: Accredited providers gain access to market reports, events, and tendering opportunities that are exclusively available to them.
• Overseas promotion: Benefit from the British Council’s extensive network, including over 100 offices worldwide and the work of British Council ELT promotion staff in both the UK and overseas markets.
• English UK membership: Accredited centres are eligible for English UK membership, which gives them access to additional industry resources and networking opportunities to support growth and development in the competitive English language teaching market.

To apply for British Council accreditation, your organisation typically needs to meet the following criteria:

• Be based in the UK and deliver English language teaching within the UK.
• (For private sector providers only) The proprietor must be a permanent UK resident, or if operating as a company, have a registered office in the UK.
• Have offered English language teaching in the UK for at least one year to qualify for full accreditation.
• Have students currently enrolled in English language courses at the time of inspection.

For new providers that have not yet met the one-year operational requirement, provisional accreditation is now available.

To check your eligibility or request further information, please complete our Accreditation suitability questionnaire for new applicants.

New applicants - Stage 1

Evaluate your organisation against the Inspection criteria (PDF) using our Self-evaluation template 2025 (Word) and Self-evaluation examples (PDF).

Attend an online briefing session or familiarise yourself with the process by watching our Introduction to Inspection video.

Applying for Inspection

Download and complete the correct forms and submit your application and supporting documents via email to accreditation.unit@britishcouncil.org

• Private sector (Word) 
• State sector (Word)
• Home tuition providers (Word)
• First application checklist (Word)

Application deadlines for inspection months in 2025/26

Once your application has been checked and approved, we will inform you and pass it to our Inspections Coordinator to arrange your inspection.

Stage 2 - you’ll be required to submit additional documentation. Please refer to the following resources to guide your preparation: Inspection documentation and guidance. Use the following templates to prepare your documentation:

Staff and Organisational Information

Academic staff profile spreadsheet (Excel), List of staff template (Excel), Organisation profile (Word), Organisation profile for multi-centre organisations (Word), Organisation plan template (Word)

Academic Management & Recruitment

Recruitment and support policy template (Word). Language centres must show how their recruitment and support policies ensure an academic staff team appropriate to the centre’s courses and students.

Academic staff qualifications guidance (PDF), Qualifications evaluation form (Word), Rationale for academic management template (Word) this form should be used if no academic manager fully meets the scheme requirements.

Annual Declaration and Reporting Changes

To maintain your centre’s accreditation, you must complete the annual declaration through our online platform. If your centre experiences any significant changes - such as a change in ownership, principal, academic manager, or premises - please notify us immediately using the Notification of Changes form, available on the platform.

Opening a New Centre

If your accredited organisation is planning to open a new school or location, the primary contact must submit a Request for extension of accreditation form (Word) via the online platform.

Re-inspection 

All accredited centres are subject to re-inspection every four years. The Accreditation Unit will contact you in advance with proposed inspection dates and application deadlines.

The British Council accreditation process includes several fees to support a comprehensive and fair evaluation of your institution. Below is a breakdown of the key costs:

Upon Application:

• Scrutiny Fee – £200

Covers the initial processing and review of your application.

• Inspection Fees – Estimated Range: £1,800 to £6,100

The cost varies depending on the size and complexity of your centre, as well as the duration of the inspection. For detailed cost estimates, refer to the Fees Sheet 2025/26 or contact the Accreditation Unit directly.

Ongoing Costs After Accreditation:

• Annual fee: Calculated based on the number of student weeks you deliver (£100 discounted for English UK members). Find the calculation method in the Guide for Student Week calculation.
• Student Emergency Support Fund (SESF) Contribution: A mandatory contribution paid alongside the annual fee. This contribution varies based on your fee band, ranging from £100 to £200, depending on the volume of student weeks. This fund provides support in emergency situations affecting students.
• Spot check Inspection (first 18 months): An additional cost of approximately £550 for a surprise inspection.
• Re-inspection costs (every 4 years): Required to maintain accreditation. Costs are comparable to the initial inspection.

Timely payment of the annual fee, SESF contribution, and any spot check or re-inspection fees is essential to retain your accredited status.