London, UK – PSI, a global provider of testing, revealed that Skills for English, a Home Office approved Secure English Language Test (SELT) for UK visas and immigration, is available in more countries than any other SELT provider. 

One of the fastest-growing parts of PSI’s business is its English language testing portfolio, which includes the Home Office-approved Secure English Language Test (SELT), Skills for English. Skills for English is gaining rapid acceptance as a standard for English language proficiency by governments and higher education institutions in the UK and internationally, supporting them in the search for top talent.

The five-fold year on year growth is driven by PSI’s focus on widening access to English language testing through test centre and online proctoring delivery, as well as an exceptionally strong regional demand for SELT provision in Africa and South East Asia

Supporting the Department for Business and Trade (DBT, previously DIT) agenda of strengthening and diversifying the educational and economic ties globally, PSI has consistently implemented a strategy of opening Skills for English test centres in countries underserved by other providers.

As a result, Skills for English language tests are available in 300 Home Office-approved test centres in 128 countries – more countries than any other SELT provider.

At the time of writing, Skills for English is the only SELT approved for UK Visa and Immigration purposes available in 8 countries, serving a total population of 60 million, including Barbados, Bolivia, Côte d’Ivoire, Gambia, Guyana and Haiti. PSI is also one of only two providers in further 12 countries, with a total population of 175 million people.

In July 2022, PSI opened the first new active test centre in Libya to be approved by the Home Office for delivery of SELT tests in years. It has become instrumental in supporting the UK’s commitment to developing closer cooperation with Libya, especially in the areas of business and international education.

The announcement at the time came hot on the heels of the news of the re-opening of the British Embassy in Tripoli by Her Majesty’s Ambassador (HMA) to Libya, Caroline Hurndall.

“The opening of the test centre in Libya marks another step towards providing greater access for Libyans to work or study opportunities in the UK. We commend PSI and its partners for their commitment to opening up this valuable new channel.”, HMA said.

In recent weeks PSI has made its testing portfolio even more accessible through its collaboration with International House World Organisation (IHWO), making PSI’s suite of English tests available to IHWO’s global network of 150 affiliated language schools in over 50 countries, spanning every continent.

This is a great partnership for PSI with a global organisation of language schools to support strategic growth plans for Skills for English.