Approved education agents and recruitment partners

Education agents and recruitment partners provide a range of services to support you - from identifying the right university and course to guiding you through the application and enrolment process. They can also assist with visa applications, travel, and accommodation arrangements.

Loughborough University has signed and fully committed to the Agent Quality Framework and is delighted to join many other Universities in the UK in committing to this pledge which we see as a positive development for the entire sector. As part of our commitment to the Agent Quality Framework we will require all education agents and recruitment partners who we work with to adhere to the National Code of Ethical Practice for UK Education Agents as part of our commitment to the highest quality experience for students.

In line with the Good practice guide for providers using education agents issued by the British Council, we follow rigorous onboarding and due diligence processes before contracting any education agents or recruitment partners to work with Loughborough University, along with conducting regular training and performance management to ensure that they are representing all parties faithfully and ethically. Contracted education agents and recruitment partners will, in return for their support for students and promoting the University globally, receive a commission-based payment from Loughborough University for every student they have supported.

If you are considering using an education agent, we recommend reading the student and parent guide to choosing an education agent, an important part of the UK Agent Quality Framework (AQF).

The guide provides you and your family with clear information and guidance on what you should look for when considering using an agent. It includes key questions to ask, signs of quality, and how to avoid poor practices.

The guide also contains links to the following, which provide further details on what is level of practice is expected from education agents, recruitment partners and universities in the UK:

• National code of ethical practice for education agents
• Good practice guide for providers using education agents
• Good practice guide for UK education agents partnering for quality
• British Council’s UK database of certified counsellors