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Overseas Higher Education Institutions Licensed to Sponsor International Students
There are currently 28 overseas higher education institutions on the UK Home Office register of licensed student sponsors. 28 sponsors on the Student route.
Overseas Higher Education Institutions are universities based outside the UK that are licensed to sponsor students coming to the UK on study abroad or exchange programmes, typically for one or two semesters as part of a degree taken in their home country.
The largest concentrations are in London (17), Oxford (2), Bath (1), Preston (1), Holborn (1), Grantham (1), Newcastle Upon Tyne (1), Nottingham (1).
Full list (28 institutions)
Swipe the table sideways to see all columns →
| Sponsor Name | Town/City | Sponsor Type | Status | Route |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Advanced Studies in England Ltd | Bath | Overseas Higher Education Institution | Student Sponsor | Student |
| American Institute for Foreign Study | London | Overseas Higher Education Institution | Student Sponsor | Student |
| American University of the Caribbean School of Medicine | Preston | Overseas Higher Education Institution | Student Sponsor | Student |
| Arcadia University | Holborn | Overseas Higher Education Institution | Student Sponsor | Student |
| Boston University London Programme | London | Overseas Higher Education Institution | Student Sponsor | Student |
| Centre for Medieval & Renaissance Studies | Oxford | Overseas Higher Education Institution | Student Sponsor | Student |
| Florida State University International Programs Association UK | London | Overseas Higher Education Institution | Student Sponsor | Student |
| Fordham University | London | Overseas Higher Education Institution | Student Sponsor | Student |
| Georgetown University (USA) UK Initiatives Organisation | London | Overseas Higher Education Institution | Student Sponsor | Student |
| Global Education Oregon in London | London | Overseas Higher Education Institution | Student Sponsor | Student |
| Harlaxton College | Grantham | Overseas Higher Education Institution | Student Sponsor | Student |
| Healthcare Education Student Support Services Limited | Newcastle Upon Tyne | Overseas Higher Education Institution | Student Sponsor | Student |
| Ithaca College | London | Overseas Higher Education Institution | Student Sponsor | Student |
| James Madison University & JMU Overseas Programs Ltd | London | Overseas Higher Education Institution | Student Sponsor | Student |
| Lawrence University London Centre | London | Overseas Higher Education Institution | Student Sponsor | Student |
| Luther College Study Centre | Nottingham | Overseas Higher Education Institution | Student Sponsor | Student |
| MUN (UK) LTD | Old Harlow | Overseas Higher Education Institution | Student Sponsor | Student |
| NYU in London | London | Overseas Higher Education Institution | Student Sponsor | Student |
| Pepperdine University (USA) | London | Overseas Higher Education Institution | Student Sponsor | Student |
| PHBS-UK | Oxford | Overseas Higher Education Institution | Student Sponsor | Student |
| Samford University London Study Centre | London | Overseas Higher Education Institution | Student Sponsor | Student |
| St. Cloud State University | Alnwick | Overseas Higher Education Institution | Student Sponsor | Student |
| St. Lawrence University (USA) London Programme | London | Overseas Higher Education Institution | Student Sponsor | Student |
| Syracuse University London Program | London | Overseas Higher Education Institution | Student Sponsor | Student |
| TEIKYO UNIVERSITY OF JAPAN IN DURHAM | Durham | Overseas Higher Education Institution | Student Sponsor | Student |
| University of Chicago Booth School of Business | London | Overseas Higher Education Institution | Student Sponsor | Student |
| University of North Carolina | London | Overseas Higher Education Institution | Student Sponsor | Student |
| University of Notre Dame | London | Overseas Higher Education Institution | Student Sponsor | Student |
What the sponsor status means
- Student Sponsor – Track Record: the institution has held a sponsor licence for some time and has a proven history of immigration compliance. Universities with this status can, for example, be more flexible about the financial evidence they ask for.
- Student Sponsor: a fully licensed sponsor in good standing that can issue a Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS).
- Probationary Sponsor: a recently licensed institution that has not yet built up a track record. It can still sponsor students, but some limits apply (for instance, probationary sponsors cannot sponsor students for postgraduate doctor or dentist courses).
Route: Student vs Child Student
- Student route: for students aged 16 or over studying at any level, from English language courses to PhDs.
- Child Student route: for children aged 4 to 17 studying at an independent school.
Browse all cities and institution types or search the full sponsor list.
Source: Register of licensed sponsors: students, published by the UK Home Office. This page was last rebuilt on 30 August 2026 from the latest published register.