Working with Global Recruitment Partners

A recruitment partner, educational advisor, or agent is an individual or organisation that represents educational institutions and works directly with prospective international students. Their role is to provide guidance, support, and accurate information throughout the application and enrolment process—helping students make informed decisions about studying abroad.

The University of Aberdeen collaborates with trusted recruitment partners, educational advisors, and agents around the world to promote the University globally. These partners:

• Offer personalised education counselling
• Help students choose the right course and institution
• Assist with academic applications and visa processes
• Provide local support and guidance to students and their families

Their support makes the journey to studying overseas smoother, more informed, and more accessible.

To ensure students and families receive the highest standard of support, we follow a rigorous process before working with any new recruitment partner:

• All partners must meet strict eligibility criteria
• Each undergoes a thorough review before being contracted
• We provide regular training and updates on our programmes and admissions
• Ongoing reviews ensure ethical, accurate, and student-focused representation

This commitment to quality and integrity means you can trust that our partners are well-equipped to support your journey to Aberdeen.

The University of Aberdeen is fully committed to the Agent Quality Framework and is proud to join many other UK universities in supporting this important initiative. We see this as a positive development for the entire sector - benefiting both our international agent partners and prospective students by safeguarding everyone involved in the recruitment process.

We are actively encouraging all our recruitment partners, educational advisors, and agents to follow the National Code of Ethical Practice for UK Education Agents (2021)

In recognition of the support and guidance provided, contracted recruitment partners, educational advisors, and agents receive a commission-based payment for each student they successfully support and recruit to the University of Aberdeen. This is in line with standard global practices in international education.

To learn more about best practices and how to choose or work with an education agent, we recommend the following resources from the British Council:

• The National Code of Ethical Practice for UK Education Agents (PDF)
• The Good Practice Guide for Providers Using Education Agents (PDF)
• The Good Practice Guide for UK Education Agents: Partnering for Quality (PDF)
• A Student Guide to Choosing an Education Agent

Students may wish to submit a complaint about a recruitment partner, educational advisor, or agent. Find out more about submitting a complaint.