Apply to become an accredited centre

Typically, to apply for British Council accreditation, your organisation should:

• Be based in the UK and offer English language teaching within the UK.
• Have at least one student.
• Have provided English language teaching in the UK for at least one year for full-status accreditation.
• Provisional accreditation is now available for new providers meeting the one-year minimum operating period. 
• (For private sector organisations only) The proprietor must be a permanent resident of the UK, or if a company have a registered office in the UK
• If you still need to determine your eligibility, complete our Accreditation Suitability Questionnaire for new applicants.

Before you apply

Evaluate your organisation against the inspection criteria using our self-evaluation template and examples:

• Self-evaluation template 2024 (Word 103KB)
• Self-evaluation examples (PDF 605KB)

Applying for Inspection

Download and complete the forms and submit your application and supporting documents via email to accreditation.unit@britishcouncil.org

• Relevant application form: 
  Private sector (Word 269KB) 
  State sector (Word 240KB)
  Home tuition providers (Word 175KB) with Home tuition teacher list (31KB).
• Declaration of legal and regulatory compliance (Word 35KB)
• First application checklist (Word 84KB)
• People to be seen form (Word 73KB)
• Information sharing agreement (Word 28KB)

For supplementary inspections or to address 'Points to be addressed' in an inspection report, use the following forms:

• Supplementary inspection (Word 81KB)
• Action plan template (Word 56KB

Application deadlines for inspection months in 2025:

Annual accreditation declaration

To maintain your centre's accreditation, you must complete an annual declaration via our online platform, 

Reporting changes

If your centre experiences significant changes, such as a new owner, principal, academic manager, or premises, please inform us immediately using the Notification of Changes form (Word, 60KB).

Opening a new centre

If your accredited centre is opening a new school or location, the primary contact must submit a Request for Extension of Accreditation form (Word, 70KB)

Reinspection

Accredited centres undergo reinspection every four years. The Accreditation Unit will contact you with proposed inspection dates and application deadlines. See Inspection documentation and guidance (PDF 765MB)

The British Council accreditation process involves several fees to ensure a thorough evaluation of your institution. Here's a breakdown. The costs associated with accreditation are detailed in the Full Fees sheet 2024-25.

When you apply for Accreditation:

• Scrutiny Fee (£200): This covers your application's initial processing and review.
• Inspection Fees: Variable Cost (Estimated Range: £1,800 - £6,100). This fee is based on the complexity and duration of the inspection process, determined by your institution's size and scope. For detailed cost estimates, refer to the Accreditation UK Handbook. 

Ongoing Costs After Accreditation:

• Annual Fee: Calculated based on the number of student weeks you deliver ( £100 discounted for English UK members). Find the calculation method in the Guide for Student Week calculation.
• Student Emergency Support Fund (SESF) Contribution: An additional contribution to the SES Fund is required alongside the annual fee. This contribution varies based on your fee band, ranging from £100 to £200, depending on the volume of student weeks. This fund provides support in emergency situations affecting students.
• Spot Check Inspection (First 18 Months): An additional cost of approximately £550 for a surprise inspection.
• Re-Inspection Costs (Every 4 Years): Costs similar to the initial inspection to maintain accreditation.

To remain accredited, timely payment of the annual fee, SESF contribution, and any re-inspection/spot check fees is essential.

1. Padworth College"The experience was positive and felt like a very helpful process. The inspectors made every effort to understand our school. Good feedback meeting, which was clear and well-organized."
2. St Giles Cambridge"Both inspectors were professional and made the process very clear. They were conscientious of the team and students and gave useful feedback. The wrap-up after the inspection was particularly insightful."
3. West London College"We were very happy with both inspectors. There were definitely some things that I'd feel more confident doing next time, having been through this now. Useful insight and recommendations from the inspectors."
4. Language Tuition Nottingham"Thanks for all your patience and understanding during the inspection. All the things they pointed out were very useful and constructive for our future improvements."
5. The Essential English Centre Ltd"We found it particularly useful to be able to go through each area of the school in detail. It was a very useful exercise for staff development."
6. International House Torquay"Although inspections can be quite stressful, the inspectors’ professionalism and positive attitude transformed the process into a constructive and meaningful experience for all staff.
7. The English Experience (UK) Ltd"Very courteous and pleasant co-inspector. The atmosphere in my school was positive, and none of my staff were stressed."
8. University of Greenwich"The professional and constructive attitude of the inspector made the experience very positive."
9. Twin English Centre London"Great inspector, helpful and professional. Length of feedback, suggestions for future improvements, and the inspectors' ability to put the team at ease were particularly appreciated."
10. Europa School of English"It was a good collaborative experience."
11. London House School of English"The friendly and helpful approach by both inspectors."
12. Centre of English Studies, Oxford"Professional, thorough, kind, and thoughtful. Both inspectors were able to make my team feel at ease, which I hugely appreciated."
13. NILE"The inspection gave us the opportunity to review our processes and gave the team confidence that they are doing a good job. We’d like to acknowledge that the inspectors really seemed to 'get' us."
14. s for enhancements. The whole experience was well-balanced and constructive."
15. Bell Young Learners (Multi Centres)"The inspectors were courteous, professional, and understanding. They gave constructive feedback that was clear and practical for implementation."
16. Preston Academy of English"The inspectors provided great ideas to help and improve our service to students."