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HomeEligibility Criteria - British Council International Education ServicesEligibility 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 |
Private or independent college |
Listed on the UK Border Agency Register of Tier 4 Sponsors (approved Education Providers) And |
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 And |
English language school |
Accredited by Accreditation UK |
British Schools Overseas |
Must be successfully inspected by an approved DfE Inspectorate for British Schools Overseas (BSO), 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) |
Awarding bodies |
Ofqual (Office of Qualifications and Examinations Regulation) SQA (Scottish Qualifications Authority) |
UK Post-16 vocational Training Providers |
Listed on the UK Border Agency Register of Tier 4 Sponsors (approved Education Providers) And |
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