Useful links
There are a number of organisations that can offer help and advice to those wishing to enter higher education in the UK. Details and links to these are listed below.
The British Council offers help and advice to overseas students wishing to study in the UK and has two websites designed for this purpose
Guild HE is the representative organisation for higher education colleges in England and Northern Ireland. Its website contains information about the distinctive features of higher education colleges and provides hot links to all member colleges websites.
The Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE) distributes public money for teaching and research to universities and colleges. In doing so, it aims to promote high quality education and research. The council also plays a key role in ensuring accountability and promoting good practice.
NARIC provides information and advice on the comparability of international and UK qualifications to promote UK qualifications overseas. It works under contract to the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS).
The Office of Qualifications and Examinations Regulation (Ofqual) regulates qualifications up to - but not including degrees - and the examinations and assessments for these qualifications in England and vocational qualifications in Northern Ireland.
The Register of Regulated Qualifications contains details of recognised awarding organisations and regulated qualifications - up to but not including degrees - in England (Ofqual), Wales (DCELLS) and Northern Ireland (Ofqual for vocational qualifications and CCEA for all other qualifications).
The QAA is the body set up to assess the quality and standards of higher education institutions and the subjects that they offer. The Agency has reviewed subjects in all recognised institutions and has published subject review reports on key aspects of provision.
UCAS is the UK central organisation through which applications are processed for entry to full-time undergraduate courses, Foundation Degrees, HNDs and university diplomas in the UK. The mission of UCAS is to promote the partnership between prospective students, universities, colleges and schools.
The UK Council for International Student Affairs (UKCISA) is an independent, non-profit organisation committed to promoting educational mobility and providing support to international students and the professionals who work with them. It offers advice to students wishing to study in the UK.
UUK is the body set up to represent all universities in the UK. Its website contains information about higher education in the UK and a number of useful links.
UUK also represent higher education colleges in Scotland through Universities Scotland and in Wales through Higher Education Wales.
