Agent Quality Framework (AQF)
An education sector-wide initiative that provides standards, training and resources to enhance the experience of international students applying to the UK and to uphold the integrity of the UK’s student visa system.
The AQF applies to all UK education providers on the register of licensed Student sponsors who use international student recruitment agents. The AQF sets out the standards by which UK education providers are expected to manage their agents.
The AQF also supports agents and counsellors in developing and maintaining knowledge of the UK as a world-class study destination.
The AQF supports four key principles
Empowering student choice and enabling informed decision making.Ensuring good agent governance and professionalism. Promoting ethical agent practices, professional knowledge and competency.Increasing transparency and accountability. The national code of ethical practice for UK education agents
The national code of ethical practice for UK education agents lies at the heart of the AQF. It sets out the standards and best practices that agents and counsellors representing UK education providers must follow. Student sponsors are required to manage agents to ensure compliance with the national code as part of their sponsor duties.
AQF resources
The national code and AQF are underpinned by a suite of guidance resources designed to support understanding and effective embedding of the AQF principles.
Resources for education providers sponsoring students between 4 and 17 years old on a Child Student visa:
Resources for education providers sponsoring a Student visa:
Roles and responsibilities
Student sponsors:
All Student sponsors using international student recruitment agents must be able to demonstrate commitment to the key principles of the AQF:
empowering student choice and enabling informed decision making
ensuring good agent governance and professionalism
promoting ethical agent practices, professional knowledge and competency
increased transparency and accountability
All Student sponsors using international student recruitment agents must be able to provide evidence, on request, of how they are managing agents in line with the AQF and the national code of ethical practice for UK education agents, as applicable to the school, further education, pathway and higher education sectors.
International student recruitment agents:
The AQF recognises the critical role that international student recruitment agents and counsellors play in attracting and supporting international students on their journey to study in the UK.
Agencies partnering with UK education providers commit to the principles of the AQF and the national code through their agent-provider contracts. Commitment to the AQF can be demonstrated through continued engagement with partner education providers to ensure the highest standards of student support are delivered.
Why the AQF exists
The AQF promotes transparency, accountability, and strong governance across the UK education sector to help improve the application experience of international students on their journey to the UK.
It was developed following research with international students, education providers, and international recruitment agents, and in collaboration with sector partners, including:
The AQF and endorsed training programmes are designed to support good practice among UK education providers and education agents and counsellors. While the AQF promotes high standards and provides training and resources, it does not provide accreditation, licensing, or ongoing assurance of individual, agency or institutional compliance. Education providers and agents remain responsible for their own activities, and students are encouraged to make their own informed choices.