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Eligibility Criteria - British Council International Education Services

To gain access to British Council International Education Services:

Quality and recognition

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).  The headquarters of the institution must be situated in the UK.

Where institutions, examining bodies or professional organisations award/offer qualifications that are not regulated by one of the following, the British Council reserves the right to exclude such organisations from the provision of services:

Office of Qualifications and Examinations Regulation (Ofqual) Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education (QAA)
Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA)
Department for Children, Education, Lifelong Learning and Skills (DCELLS)
Council for the Curriculum Examinations & Assessment (CCEA)

Finances

British Council International Education Services will not supply services to any institutions with outstanding debts to, or which are in dispute with, the British Council.

Accreditation

To gain access to British Council International Education Services, institutions must meet the accreditation requirements outlined in the table below.

Institution type Accreditation and eligibility criteria

University

Higher Education Institution

College of Further Education (which may also offer higher education courses)

Listed on the UK Border Agency Register of Tier 4 Sponsors (approved Education Providers)
And
QAA/OFSTED/ESTYN Inspected and approved

And
At least 80 per cent of qualifications gained by students in the previous academic year being recognised in one or more of the qualifications frameworks in the UK*.

Private or independent college

Listed on the UK Border Agency Register of Tier 4 Sponsors (approved Education Providers)
And
OFSTED/ESTYN Inspected and approved
OR
ISI (independent Schools Inspectorate) inspected and approved

And
At least 80 per cent of qualifications gained by students in the previous academic year being recognised in one or more of the qualifications frameworks in the UK*.
Private associate feeder company

Access 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 International Edcuation Services account management team. 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.

State or independent boarding school

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

And
Listed on the UK Border Agency Register of Tier 4 Sponsors (approved Education Providers)
And
OFSTED/ESTYN Inspected and approved
OR
ISI (independent Schools Inspectorate) inspected and approved

English language school

Accredited by Accreditation UK
or
Listed on the UK Border Agency Register of Tier 4 Sponsors (approved Education Providers)
British Schools Overseas

Must be successfully inspected by an approved DfE Inspectorate for British Schools Overseas (BSO),
and
must provide DfE registration number.

Note: Only eligible for exhibitions where there is a 'transnational education zone'.

Examination board

Offering qualifications regulated by:

Ofqual (Office of Qualifications and Examinations Regulation)
SQA (Scottish Qualifications Authority)
DCELLS (Department for Children, Education, Lifelong Learning and Skills)
CCEA (Council for the Curriculum Examinations and Assessment)
Awarding bodies

Ofqual (Office of Qualifications and Examinations Regulation) SQA (Scottish Qualifications Authority)
DCELLS (Department for Children, Education, Lifelong Learning and Skills)
CCEA (Council for the Curriculum Examinations and Assessment)
UK Post-16 vocational Training Providers

Listed on the UK Border Agency Register of Tier 4 Sponsors (approved Education Providers)
Or
OFSTED/ESTYN Inspected

And
At least 80 per cent of qualifications gained by learners in the previous calendar year being from the UK qualifications framework*.

UK Sector representative and/or membership bodies,  such as Association of Colleges and Federation of Awarding bodies

Eligible bodies are those whose members are one of the eligible organisations listed above
UK Education Consultants

Validated but with limited access, are not able to purchase reports or intelligence.

Can attend exhibitions as representatives but cannot register themselves.

 

*Qualification frameworks in the UK include:  FHEQ, QCF, NQF, SCQF and CQFW