About us

Since 1968, the UK Council for International Student Affairs (UKCISA) has been dedicated to supporting international students and the professionals at the institutions, students' unions, and organisations that work closely with them.

  • We are a membership organisation with more than 400 members, including universities, FE colleges and students’ unions in the UK.

  • We are a charity that advocates for international students, to ensure their voices are heard in all areas that affect them.

  • We are the number one source of information, advice and guidance for international student support.

The UK Council for International Student Affairs was founded in 1968, and has since grown into a membership organisation and national charity that supports and advocates for international students. Take a look through our history below and see what we’ve achieved.

  • 1968

    Inaugural meeting of UKCOSA (The Council for International Student Education - now UKCISA)

  • 1970s-1980s

    Helped the UK to adjust to the imposition of full cost fees for those coming from outside the EU and, given major political changes, helped students with particular difficulties from Bangladesh, Rhodesia, Cyprus, Uganda, Libya and Iran

  • 1990s

    Pioneered good practice guides to ensure that institutions took an ethical and responsible approach to their marketing overseas; introduced extensive training and professional development programmes; and assisted, amongst others, students affected by the South East Asian currency crisis.

  • Late 90s

    Played a major role in the ‘Prime Minister’s Initiative’ (to double the number of international students coming to the UK) by expanding its information and advice and proposing that, for the first time, international students should be entitled to take part-time jobs during their studies.

  • 2005

    Proposed the first post-study work scheme – the ‘Science and Engineering Graduates Scheme’ - and supported the even wider ‘Fresh Talent’ scheme in Scotland - leading later to the International Graduates Scheme and in 2009, to the hugely popular Post-Study Work scheme.

  • 2010s-2020s

    Encouraged, enabled and funded over 50 projects innovating and introducing new and improved approaches to orientation and transition, integration and cross cultural understanding, aspects of teaching and learning, employment advice, volunteering and links with local communities.

  • enquiries answered from students and members in 2023-2024
  • training sessions delivered to 956 staff working with international students in 2023-2024
  • million visits to our website in 2023-2024

Our values

  • Quality

    We maintain the highest possible standards for our staff and our members who work directly with international students

  • Innovation

    We evaluate and refresh our services, to ensure we deliver maximum value for our members

  • Collaboration

    We work collaboratively with our members, UK governments and partner organisations to provide a world class experience for international students

  • Trust

    We act with integrity and commitment to provide advice, guidance and training that international students and our members can depend on

Meet the team

We are a small organisation of 25 staff and freelancers and have over 400 members including UK universities, further education colleges and students' unions.

  1. ukcisa-conference-2024-16
    Meet the staff team
  2. SGB 49716
    Find out about our trustees and governance
  3. ukcisa-conference-ambassadors-2024-1
    Get to know our student ambassadors

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