Education agents and counsellors

Choosing an international study destination is one of the most important decisions you can make. Your family and friends may be able to help but making a final choice and applying to an education provider can be daunting. This is why many students get help from an education agent or counsellor.

Read the full student and parent guide to choosing an education agent.

Why use an education agent

Education agents and counsellors can support you throughout the process of applying to study in the UK.

After working with you to understand your course options and visa requirements, an agent can help you identify and apply to education providers.

If you receive multiple offers, an agent can then help you evaluate them and provide further guidance on admission deadlines.

Once you have made your decision and have started to prepare to come and study in the UK, many agents will help you gather and submit the documents you need for your visa.

What do I need to consider? 

All agents and counsellors supporting students to study in the UK should have completed the British Council UK certified counsellor training, which provides them with appropriate knowledge and awareness of the UK as a study destination. They should also have committed to the national code of ethical practice for UK education agents, which sets out the behaviours and values that agents and counsellors are expected to adhere to.

Agents and counsellors who have taken these steps are awarded a certificate and a ‘I am a UK certified counsellor’ digital badge, and they can choose to be listed on the UK database of certified counsellors.

You should also consider that some agents have formal working relationships with particular schools, colleges and universities. This means they know the application processes well and should be able to help you effectively. If you already know where you want to study, choosing an agent who represents this education provider may be ideal for you.

However, if you are interested in exploring lots of different education centres and evaluating which one is best suited to you – make sure the agent is able to present you with the full range of options, rather than just the particular schools, colleges or universities they represent.

How to find an agent/counsellor

If you have already identified a university, college or school where you would like to study, find out if they have agents in your country that they regularly work with. Most education providers publish a list of agencies that they work with on their website.

You can also use the British Council's UK database of certified counsellors to find agents and counsellors in your country who have sufficient knowledge and awareness of the UK as a study destination.

Agent Quality Framework and more guidance for you

The Agent Quality Framework (AQF) is designed to enhance the experience of international students working with education agents and counsellors to apply to study in the UK. It provides a suite of guidance designed to support the partnership between UK education providers on the register of licensed student sponsors and their agent/counsellor representatives.

If you are a student applying to study in the UK, the student and parent guide to choosing an education agent is a key part of the AQF - you should read it to get detailed information about what to look for when selecting an agent/counsellor.

Other relevant websites

The database of UK certified agents and counsellors list

The Quality Assurance Agency