A guide to understanding different types of UK universities
Higher education
Researching UK universities is an exciting step, and understanding key terms can help your decision-making. This guide introduces the main types of UK universities and
Fully accredited by AEGIS and the Boarding Schools' Association, and British Council trained, we support parents to educate their children internationally.
Established in 2012, we place international pupils from over 40 countries at schools in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. We also provide guardianship care for students at UK boarding schools and support them throughout their time at school.
The Academic Families team works closely together to ensure your child’s safety, success and enjoyment. We are recognised by the British Council, Boarding Schools' Association, AEGIS, English UK and Youth Mental Health England for our professionalism and expertise.
As a UK-based international education agency in close contact with schools throughout the UK, we are well placed to advise international parents on suitable boarding schools for their child. In addition to managing their enrolment, we continue providing our support through our guardianship programme, ensuring their safety, wellbeing, success and happiness whilst in UK education.
From our headquarters based in Scotland’s historic capital city of Edinburgh and our local staff across the country, we work with schools and students throughout the UK in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
We have a wealth of experience living overseas ourselves, as parents and grandparents of children in independent schools throughout the UK, and looking after international students for many years.
In late 2024, we continued to widen our network of boarding schools and host families throughout England through our acquisition of ECG. The combined strength of the two organisations brings enhanced benefits for international students attending UK schools such as specialised support for Oxbridge applications. To reflect the shared values of Academic Families and ECG, the latter now has a new brand identity and a fresh new website with extended content and functionality including full use of both the old url and the new one: englishcountryguardians.co.uk.
"As we welcomed English Country Guardians into our portfolio, we wanted them to truly feel like part of our family, of Academic Families. That includes their brand identity, which we evolved to symbolise the caring nature of high-quality guardianship services."
- Lorna Clayton MBE, Managing Director and Founder of Academic Families, Owner of ECG
Academic Families offers continuing support from your idea of going to boarding school in the UK until the day your child graduates.
We understand international students’ requirements and the strengths of individual UK schools. Our extensive experience and personalised service allows us to find the best school to match to each child and to provide all the ongoing guardianship care that international students require.
Academic Families can manage all aspects of international student boarding school enrolment. Our team of host families and staff are dedicated to supporting students from around the world as they settle into their British boarding school and enjoy their home away from home in Britain. We care about their safety, success and wellbeing and treat each child as if they were our own.
Academic Families can support every stage of your child's UK education pathway. Understanding each child and their aspirations, matching them to their best boarding school, and ensuring their success at assessment are only the beginning. Once at school, our BSA and AEGIS accredited guardianship and Mental Health First Aid qualifications ensure their continued success, safety and happiness with our UK-wide local support.
Our support is tailored to your needs, so whether you are unsure how to start researching schools, already have a school place or need help identifying university courses, we can help ensure you make the best decisions for your child's education.
We support the education of students in Kenya, through UK non-profit Assist a Child To School and Kids League Kenya.
“I am always so impressed with the professionalism of Academic Families.
Every member of staff I have had interactions with is on the same wavelength as I am with regard to the focus being on the safety and wellbeing of the pupils, and they have the knowledge and experience to deliver time after time.”
Freddie, Housemaster, Merchiston Castle School
Get in touch and we will contact you to discuss your child's needs and explain how we can help you year-round.
© 2026 Academic Families | Academic Families is a Safer Recruiter