Useful links

Advice for international students

• Education UK: www.educationuk.org 
  Website promoting accredited independent and state schools, colleges and universities
• The British Council: www.britishcouncil.org 
  Offers wide range of information on British education
• UKCISA: UK Council for International Student Affairs: www.ukcisa.org.uk 
  A wide range of downloadable information and advice on study and life in the UK

Advice about institutions

• English UK: www.englishuk.com
  The national association for accredited English language teaching centres
• Study UK: www.study-uk.org
  The national association for accredited independent further and higher education colleges
• The Council for Independent Further Education (CIFE): www.getthegrade.co.uk
  A professional association of independent tutorial colleges

Quality assurance

• Accreditation UK: www.britishcouncil.org/accreditation
  Accreditation scheme for English language providers
• The Independent Schools Inspectorate: www.isi.net
  Inspection of independent schools, further education colleges and English language schools
• Open and Distance Learning Quality Council: www.odlqc.org.uk 
  Accrediting body for open and distance education
• The Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education (QAA): www.qaa.ac.uk
  Carries out external reviews of UK universities and higher education institutions

UK education

• AimHigher: www.aimhigher.ac.uk 
  Information on higher education, including a list of state universities
• Hero: www.hero.ac.uk
  Provides an online gateway to higher education and research in the UK
• UCAS: www.ucas.ac.uk 
  The UK body which processes applications for higher education institutions. The site includes a listing of courses accepted for university entrance

Information about qualifications

• Ofqual: www.ofqual.gov.uk 
  Concerned with the regulation of awarding bodies
• UK NARIC: www.naric.org.uk 
  Advises on the equivalence of overseas qualifications

UK government and regulatory information

• UK Visas: www.ukvisas.gov.uk 
  Official advice from the UK government on visa applications
• The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills: www.bis.gov.uk 
  UK government department with responsibility for higher education

Global education

• US Department of Education: www.ope.ed.gov/accreditation
  The database of accredited postsecondary institutions and programs
• The Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA): www.chea.org 
  A US body which allows users to search for accredited institutions and programs
• Association of Commonwealth Universities: www.acu.ac.uk 
  Provides a list of Commonwealth universities
• Fulbright Commission: www.fulbright.co.uk 
  Information on study in the UK and USA and exchange programmes