What is British council accreditation?The British Council is a quality assurance organisation that monitors and inspects UK schools, colleges and universities. One of the main objectives of having the accreditation scheme in place is to successfully promote accredited English language tuition through a network of accredited centres throughout the UK. The specific terms and conditions of the scheme require a rigorous inspection of an institution every three years inclusive of random spot checking. The inspection takes into account a number of factors including how an institution is managed, the overall upkeep of the premises, the level of facilities and resources available and the academic management of teaching and student welfare.

What are the benefits for institutions?British Council accreditation has mutual benefit for institutions and students. If a centre is awarded with an accredited status they are entitled to a number of promotional opportunities to help them in the advertisement of their services and programmes.

British Council accreditation means a centre can participate in overseas exhibitions, showcasing their work and facilities to an overseas audience. This provides a more established profile for the centre and offers greater recognition and credibility. Gaining accredited status promotes the quality of teaching and facilities their institution.

Association with the British council also enables centres to access overseas market information. They also gain exclusive access to experienced inspectors and a wealth of expertise to help their organisation grow. Inspectors provide support and advice to all areas of their business operation. This also helps intuitions stay informed about the latest developments in the industry including statutory updates in their sector.

Accredited status allows centres to feature on the Education UK website and the Accreditation UK A-Z list of accredited centres. This means they can be promoted through their extensive network of British Council offices in over 100 countries.

They also gain exclusive access to the British Council’s Services for International Education Marketing (SIEM), a service which supports accredited centres in their international work and can help with international student recruitment, market intelligence and knowledge, developing fruitful relationships with overseas markets.

Institutions which hold British Council accreditation adhere to regular inspection to measure the quality of their training and learning provision which continually helps them to maintain their high standards. It also offers the opportunity for professional development with regular invitations to industry events to meet the experts face-to-face.

What are the benefits for students?If you are an international student looking to study English in the UK, choosing from a range of accredited courses will provide students and their families with a quality assurance set out by the Accreditation handbook.

Students benefit hugely from studying at independent education providers due to their smaller, more focused class size dedicated to specialist vocational programmes. Choosing from a range of accredited courses provides students with additional security and support throughout their stay in the UK.

If an accredited centre does not continue to adhere to the quality standards set by British Council accreditation, students are within their rights to seek support and guidance through a complaints procedure. This provides students and their families’ additional assurance about the operation of their chosen institution.

Why is British council accreditation so important?British Council accreditation is a clear demonstration that all our schools, colleges and universities have been subject to rigorous inspection. Schools that have been endorsed by the British Council, having achieved the BAC mark of assurance, represent the best and most reliable private colleges and training providers in the UK. It is an international organisation which nurtures cultural relations and educational opportunities for both students and training providers.