The Department for Education is responsible for children’s services and education, including higher and further education policy, apprenticeships and wider skills in England.

The Office for Students (OfS) is the independent regulator of higher education in England.

Recognised and Listed Bodies Orders are official lists of all Recognised Bodies (institutions with degree awarding powers) and Listed Bodies (institutions which may deliver courses leading to a qualification from a Recognised Body) in the UK.

The Register lists all the English higher education providers officially registered by the Office for Students, the independent regulator of higher education in England.

Operating under contract to the Department for Education (DfE), UK ENIC serves as the UK’s information point on the recognition of overseas qualifications. 

The UK CPQ is designated by the UK Government to provide advice and guidance on the recognition of professional qualifications in line with the European Union (Recognition of Professional Qualifications) Regulations 2015, as amended by the Professional Qualifications and Services (Amendments and Miscellaneous Provisions) (EU Exit) Regulations 2020.

As higher education institutions are autonomous institutions, they set their own standards for admission, which are usually based on a student’s performance in their A level examinations or Highers.

Students are normally expected to study three subjects at A level or four subjects for Scottish Highers. For certain courses specific subjects and grades may be required. Other awards at level 3 on the Regulated Qualifications Framework (RQF) or levels 6 and 7 on the Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework (SCQF) may also be accepted for entrance to higher education courses.

Undergraduate admissions in the UK are handled by the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS). This organisation oversees the process of university admissions and provides information to students on entry requirements for specific courses.

Degrees awarded by many higher education institutions can be verified through Higher Education Datacheck (HEDD), but some institutions may need to be contacted directly for verification.

School qualifications, such as GCSEs and A levels, can be verified with the relevant awarding body.