Education UK Brand

What is Education UK?
UK institutions and Education UK
Our relationship with Education UK

UK institutions and Education UK

The British Council manages the Education UK trademark on behalf of the UK Government; therefore, any eligible third party wishing to use the brand trademark (otherwise known as the logo) needs a licence.

With an Education UK brand licence, your institution is able to use the Education UK logo in your international marketing and communications materials. Your licence will give you access to artwork, guidelines on using the logo and support via the brand space website.

How to apply for a brand licence
Institutions wishing to apply for a brand licence must meet the eligibility criteria. To apply for a brand licence, please complete the application form below and return it to the address specified. There is a one-off charge of GBP 150 plus VAT for the licence to cover administration costs.

As part of the application process, you will need to nominate a Brand Contact for your institution. This person will be the single point of contact at your institution for all issues relating to the Education UK brand and it will be their responsibility to ensure that the Education UK logo is applied consistently across your institution or organisation’s marketing materials, according to the Education UK logo guidelines. You will need to agree your Brand Contact before completing the application form.

If your institution or organisation meets the eligibility criteria, we will issue you with a brand licence agreement and invoice. The licence is a legally binding contract stipulating the conditions of use for the logo. On receipt of a signed copy of the licence and payment, we will issue your copy of the logo guidelines and your password to access the brand space website.

Download PDF Document Education UK brand licence application form (33KB)

If you have any questions, please contact the Education UK Brand team.

Brand space
In addition to receiving printed logo guidelines, brand licence holders also have access to the password-protected Education UK brand space website: www.educationuk.org/brand. Here you can access a wealth of information on the Education UK brand, including:

About the brand: This section of the site describes how and why the brand was developed, along with explaining the new brand messaging framework – the brand pyramid, story and key messages of Education UK.
Using the brand: Here you will be able to download comprehensive logo guidelines, to help you use the logo as effectively as possible. This should help make life easier for you, but at the same time help to retain the strength and consistency of the Education UK logo in all your communications.
Artwork bank: A selection of Education UK and Education UK Scotland logos for you or your design team to download directly to your computer.
Help: In this area of the brand space we post details of the brand training opportunities available to you and answers to some of the questions most often asked about the brand, as well as providing a glossary of terms and a list of useful contacts.

Brand licence eligibility criteria
Institutions using the Education UK trade mark must meet the accreditation requirements outlined in the table below.

Institution type

Accreditation and eligibility criteria

University,
Higher education institution,
College of further or higher education

• Listed on the UK Border Agency Register of Tier 4 Sponsors (approved Education Providers)
• At least 80 per cent of qualifications gained by students in the previous academic year being from the UK qualifications framework*

Private or independent college

• Listed on the UK Border Agency Register of Tier 4 Sponsors (approved Education Providers)
• At least 80 per cent of qualifications gained by students in the previous academic year being from the UK qualifications framework*

Private associate feeder company

Use of the Education UK brand under the host institution will be granted providing that there is written evidence from the host institution that they will act as sponsor for all incoming international students. An example of such evidence is a signed letter sent to the Education UK Brand Manager. We will also seek a letter from the UK Border Agency stating that the private associate feeder company will not require separate accreditation / registration on their Points Based System register of employers and sponsors. Any exceptions will be considered on an individual basis by the Department of Innovation, Universities and Skills (DIUS) in consultation with the British Council.

State and independent boarding school

• Registered with:
• England: Department for Children, Schools and Families
• Scotland: Department of Education and Lifelong Learning
• Wales: Department for Children, Education, Lifelong Learning and Skills
• Northern Ireland: Department of Education
• Listed on the UK Border Agency Register of Tier 4 Sponsors (approved Education Providers)

English language school

Accredited by Accreditation UK

Examination board

Offering qualifications regulated by:

• QCA (Qualifications and Curriculum Authority)
• SQA (Scottish Qualifications Authority)
• DCELLS (Department for Children, Education, Lifelong Learning and Skills)
• CCEA (Council for the Curriculum Examinations and Assessment)

Professional body or other organisation

Eligibility to use the Education UK brand is at the discretion of the Department of Innovation, Universities and Skills (DIUS) after consultation with the British Council. Applications for eligibility must be made and will be considered on a case by case basis.

*The UK qualifications framework consists of qualifications that are recognised by: the QCA in England; the Qualifications, Curriculum and Assessment Authority for Wales; the CCEA in Northern Ireland; or the Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework.

Applicants for an Education UK brand licence must give permission for the British Council to receive copies of all information supplied to or requested by the accrediting body which undertook their accreditation. The British Council will also solicit a copy of the inspectors’ report from the accrediting body that carried out the accreditation of any applicant applying for membership.

If at any time an institution no longer meets the eligibility criteria detailed above, then use of the Education UK trade mark will be withdrawn.

Any institutions with outstanding debts to, or which are in dispute with, the British Council will not be eligible for an Education UK brand licence.

DCSIMG