The AQF applies to all Child Student and Student sponsors on the register of licensed Student sponsors, as part of their sponsor duties. Schools, colleges and higher education institutions recruiting international students via education agents and counsellors need to demonstrate their awareness of and commitment to the AQF. 

The AQF also applies to all education agents, consultants and counsellors placing students in UK education providers. 

No, however all UK education providers on the register of licensed Student sponsors who use international student recruitment agents and counsellors must be able to demonstrate commitment to the key principles of the AQF, as stated in the UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) Student sponsor guidance requirements. However, no registration or specific activity is required. 

All Student sponsors, as part of their sponsor duties, are required to inform UKVI if they are using international student recruitment agents and counsellors.

All Student sponsors using recruitment agents must retain evidence 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.

Agencies partnering with UK education providers on the register of licensed Student sponsors 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.    

Agencies are encouraged to share the AQF student and parent guide to choosing an education agent with students and parents to promote transparency.  

Agencies are encouraged to use the AQF good practice guide for UK education agents partnering for quality to adopt sector-wide best practices.    

Agencies should ensure all of their agents and counsellors serving UK-bound students complete appropriate sector-endorsed training programmes that focus on the national code. 

Agencies that have formal contracts with more than three UK education providers on the register of Student sponsors should ensure that one appropriate representative from the agency has completed the British Council’s AQF agency management course. 

Agencies should be aware of any other key sector-specific AQF practices and requirements applicable to the education providers they are working with and the students they are supporting.

One of the key principles of the AQF is to empower student choice and enable informed decision-making, to make sure all students applying to study in the UK receive the best possible support. 

Students and their families can read the student and parent guide to choosing an education agent, which provides useful information about how agents and counsellors can support them through their application journey and what they should be aware of when considering using one. 

Students can also speak to the education providers to whom they are applying to learn more about the agents they partner with and speak to the agent themselves about their commitment to the national code. 

The national code and the framework are supported by a suite of resources and materials to aid in understanding and embedding the AQF principles. This includes:

• national code of ethical practice for UK education agents

• good practice guide for providers using education agents

• good practice guide for UK education agents partnering for quality 

• Agent Quality Framework commitment

• student guide to choosing an education agent

• agent training via BSA

• BSA certified agent list

• BSA Certified Agent Scheme

• British Council UK agent and counsellor training and engagement hub

• British Council UK knowledge agent and counsellor training 

• British Council database of UK knowledge trained agents and counsellors

• British Council agency management course

The AQF is a sector-led initiative and is overseen by a sector-wide steering group consisting of:

• Association of Colleges (AoC)

• Boarding Schools’ Association (BSA)

• British Council

• British Universities' International Liaison Association (BUILA)

• Destination for Education

• Independent Higher Education (IHE)

• UK Council for International Student Affairs (UKCISA)

• Universities UK International (UUKi)

The steering group works closely with education providers, international student recruitment agents and the UK Government to continually enhance the AQF and ensure international students applying to study in the UK receive high-quality support.