Under the arrangement, IHWO schools, which are located across 50 countries, will be able to offer students access to the Skills for English suite of exams.

These tests are accepted by the UK Home Office for use in visa applications. Skills for English was also approved by the Irish government for study visa applications last year. 

This is PSI’s first partnership with a global organisation of language schools and the testing provider said the move would “support strategic growth plans for Skills for English”.

“This exciting new alliance delivers multiple benefits for IHWO schools and students, while offering commercial opportunities to both IHWO and PSI,” said Henry Tolley, vice president of global English language testing at PSI. 

“We are extending the reach of Skills for English to well over 200,000 students”

“We are extending the reach of Skills for English to well over 200,000 students, supporting their ambitions to learn a new language and study abroad.

“And IHWO member schools are now better able to support their students’ learning goals, while being offered the opportunity to join our growing network of secure PSI Test Centres,” Tolley added. 

Emma Hoyle, IHWO managing director, said the organisation was “delighted” by the partnership. 

“We’re looking forward to working together with the PSI team to support high-quality teaching and assessment of language skills in international education.”