The RCA and international agents
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Who we work with
The RCA works with QS Enrolment Solutions to support international students with queries – including two in-country RCA representatives based in India and Malaysia.
In addition, we work with a small number of international education agents, mainly with a focus on specific programmes. These are:
China
In China, we only work with agents to support direct recruitment to our pre-Master’s Graduate Diploma programme. We do not work with agents in China for recruitment to our Master’s or Doctoral level programmes.
Our contracted agents for pre-Master’s Graduate Diploma are:
South Korea
In South Korea, we only work with agents to support direct recruitment to our pre-Master’s Graduate Diploma programme. We do not work with agents in South Korea for recruitment to our Master’s or Doctoral level programmes.
Our contracted agents for pre-Master’s Graduate Diploma are:
India
In India, we only work with agents to support direct recruitment to our pre-Master’s Graduate Diploma programme. We do not work with agents in South Korea for recruitment to our Master’s or Doctoral level programmes.
Our contracted agents for pre-Master’s Graduate Diploma are:
Latin America
In Latin America, we work with agents to support recruitment to all programmes in our portfolio. Our contracted agents are:
If you’re thinking about studying with the RCA, you may choose to seek support from one of these authorised education agents or counsellors to help with your application. Working with these agents is a commercial agreement between the companies listed and the RCA. When the agents manage the application of a student who subsequently enrols at the RCA, they are entitled to claim a financial payment from the RCA.
Aside from the agents listed above, we do not have any signed agreements with any other agents or counsellors. On occasion, we may be part of events organised by or attended by agents or counsellors not on this list - however, we are attending these events individually, and our attendance does not imply a formal link.
The RCA does not:
- Ask you to pay for submitting an application.
- Ask you to pay fees in advance of enrolling at the institution – we will ask you to pay a small deposit once you have been made an offer, but not before.
- Offer any student or organisation preferential treatment – everyone is assessed equally on the merits of their application.
We disapprove of (and reserve the right to take legal action against) agents who do any of the following:
- Claim to be operating on our behalf, when they do not have a contract with us.
- Use RCA branding, logo, name or materials without permission.
Read our guidance on how to stay safe from admissions and enrolment scams.
The best advice on how to apply to the RCA can be found at our Open Days or Portfolio Advice Sessions, all of which are available virtually and for free – we also run a series of in-person events across the world. More detail can be found at our recruitment events listing.
If you have a query about applying to the RCA, please email complete our Register your Interest form.
How the RCA works with international recruitment agents
The RCA fully endorses and works with the recommendations of the British Council’s Agent Quality Framework and we are signed up to the UK Agent Quality Framework Commitment.
All of our activity is delivered in line with our International Agents Policy.
The Agent Quality Framework
To make sure you get the best support, the UK education sector has established the Agent Quality Framework (AQF), a set of standards and resources that support agents and counsellors to:
- have up-to-date knowledge about studying in the UK
- understand the UK’s visa and immigration system
- give advice that is in line with your interests and supports your study abroad journey.
This UK education sector-wide initiative aims to improve the experience of international students working with education agents and counsellors to apply to study in the UK, meaning you can feel more confident that the advice you receive is accurate and that your application is being handled correctly.
Committing to the AQF is a UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) requirement for all UK education providers who use and work with education recruitment agents and counsellors.
The RCA is committed to the requirements set out in student sponsor guidance and the four key AQF principles:
- Empowering student choice and enabling informed decision making.
- Ensuring good agent governance and professionalism.
- Promoting ethical agent practices, professional knowledge and competency.
- Increasing transparency and accountability.
National Code of Ethical Practice for Education Agents
The National Code of Ethical Practice for UK Education Agents lies at the heart of the AQF. It sets out the standards and best practices that agents and counsellors representing UK education providers must follow. Student sponsors, such as the RCA, are required to manage agents to ensure compliance with the national code as part of their sponsor duties.
For more information about the AQF please visit www.aqf.info
If you have any questions about the AQF and using the services of one our partner agents please contact recruitment@rca.ac.uk
Student and parent guide to choosing an education agent
The British Council Student and Parent Guide to Choosing an Education Agent is an excellent resource we encourage anyone considering working with an education agent to read.
Registering a complaint about an RCA-contracted agent
The RCA closely monitors the performance and behaviour of our agents, to ensure professionalism, ethical agent practices, professional knowledge and competency.
Should any student, parent or other third party have a complaint relating to the behaviours, activities, or practices of our contracted agents (as listed above), they should submit it to recruitment@rca.ac.uk with details of the country, name of agency, issue and date on which the issue occurred. All complaints submitted will be fully investigated.
Use of third party portfolio agencies
Students must submit their own work as part of the application process. The RCA does not support the use of third party agencies to help with student portfolios – we want to hear directly from prospective students about their creative process and experiences.
Portfolio agencies who claim to have a formal relationship with the RCA or to be able to guarantee acceptance are being misleading, and we will take legal action where required.
Should students be found to have not submitted their own work during the process, their place will be withdrawn – even if they are already at the College. Study at the RCA is also a rigorous academic programme, and students will be failed if they do not meet the required standards.
