Agent quality framework

The AQF now applies to all UK education providers on the Gov.uk register of licensed student sponsors and to education agents themselves. Requirements to adhere to the AQF are included in the UKVI Sponsor Licence Guidance.  

There are eight parts to the AQF with further advice and information found on the British Universities International Liaison Association (BUILA) webpages:

The National code of ethical practice for education agents

A code of practice which sets out the standards and best practice that education agents and agent aggregators, brokers and marketplaces (Digital Agent Networks) representing UK education providers on the register of licensed student sponsors must adhere to.  University of Edinburgh agent partners are expected to adhere to the national code as part of our contractual agreement. 

A student and parent guide to choosing an education agent  

The guide supports students and their parents on what they should look for when selecting an agent, we encourage you to link to this guide on your organisation’s website, social media channels, and within other correspondence with prospective students and their parents. 

The good practice guide for UK education agents partnering for quality

A guide enabling all agents and representatives partnering with UK providers on the register of licensed student sponsors to deliver high quality applicant experiences. 

As part of our contractual agreement, we require that our agent partners and counsellors complete a UK certified counsellor training programme. 

The UK certified counsellor training

British Council training that provides agents and counsellors with knowledge and awareness of the UK as a study destination and certifies them through assessments. 

The British Council UK agent and counsellor training and engagement hub

The hub includes all the information that agents and counsellors need when serving UK-bound international students. 

British Council database of certified counsellors

All UK facing counsellors and staff should register on the British Council database of certified counsellors.
Students and parents can access a public-facing database of certified counsellors who have passed the training.