UUK statement on fair admissions practice and agent behaviour

There has been a significant focus on recruitment practices relating to international students in recent weeks. While many aspects of the reporting misrepresented the admissions process and criteria, we recognise the concern this has caused for students, their parents, and the public and it is vital that they all, along with government, have confidence that the system is fair, transparent, and robust. Where there is practice that falls below the standards expected of our universities and their representatives, we will take action.

The Universities UK Board has today agreed the following immediate actions:

1. Review the Agent Quality Framework (AQF) and make recommendations to enhance the system. We will: 

• Work with our members and partners to ensure adoption of the AQF across the sector. 
• Make recommendations on how the AQF and wider UK data infrastructure can be enhanced to identify and address bad practice and improve resilience.

2. Review of quality and comparability of International Foundation Programmes (IFPs) and Foundation Programmes for Home (UK) students. We will:

• Commission the Quality Assurance Agency (QAA) to undertake a rapid review of IFPs. The review will compare requirements of International and Home Foundation Programmes, including entry requirements.

Our commissioning letter to Vicki Stott, Chief Executive,QAA

3. Update the Admissions Code of Practice to clearly state its applicability to international recruitment. We will:

• Review the Admissions Code of Practice to signpost where the Code is expected to apply to international recruitment and update the Code if appropriate.