To use the title 'university' in the UK, permission of the Privy Council is required. It is not possible for UK individuals, companies or institutions to use this title without this permission.

See the Privy Council website for general information and this page for information on the Council and higher education.

Of course, non-UK institutions that are legally called universities in their own country are not affected.

Upon receipt of an application, the Privy Council forwards the submission to the relevant territorial minister with higher education responsibilities. In practice, this means that an application is either forwarded to the Department for Children, Schools and Families, the Scottish Executive Enterprise and Lifelong Learning Department, the National Assembly for Wales, or the Department of Employment and Learning in Northern Ireland.

Applications are then sent to the Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education (QAA) for advice. The Agency's remit is to offer confidential guidance on the application, through the appropriate territorial Minister with higher education responsibilities, to the Privy Council.

The UK authorities recognise those institutions that can offer degrees by virtue of their own degree awarding powers (recognised bodies) or those powers of another institution (listed bodies).

Not all organisations that appear to be UK HE institutions are permitted to award UK degrees.

If you are in any doubt about the validity of the course you are applying for, check the legal basis on which the course is being offered with the institution and check that the degree will be one from a recognised body.

The Department for Innovation, Universities & Skills (DIUS) produces a recognised UK degrees website that contains the definitive list of recognised bodies and listed bodies.

The site also includes a list of recent changes in the titles or powers of recognised UK institutions and a list of other kinds of award that have been designated by the Secretary of State as recognised awards.

The Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills (DIUS) produce a list of genuine education and training providers in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.

Genuine providers are defined as those assessed and validated by DIUS as part of the registration process.

The registration process is one of continual assessment and those failing to maintain such standards will be subject to review. Failure of continuing compliance with the criteria may lead to removal from the register.

The register is used by DIUS as a means by which to record the details of all genuine education and training providers. It is also made available to the Home Office in order to help tackle immigration abuse in the education sector and may also be shared with other government departments.

Since 1 January 2005, the Home Office has not granted leave to 'enter' or 'remain' in the UK as a student, or leave to study to an overseas student national wishing to attend a course of study at a provider not on the register.

The register does not quality assure or accredit in any way the learning provision of any registered providers. Registration does not imply quality standards and should not be used in marketing. DIUS reserves the right to remove organisations from the register for such use.

Institutions who wish to apply to be included on the register can find full details on the DIUS providers register site.

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