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For campus, online & hybrid universitiesUniversity Accreditation
Accredo University Accreditation is a formal, four-year recognition that a university meets published standards of quality and academic rigour, awarded after documentary review and inspection of teaching, governance, student support, and outcomes. Three routes are available: whole-institution, single faculty or department, and individual programme.
Who is university accreditation for?
Campus-based, online, and hybrid universities anywhere in the world. Crucially, Accredo does not require a research profile: teaching-focused universities concerned primarily with student outcomes are assessed on that mission, while research-active institutions can add Research Accreditation. Three routes let you scope the review to what you need:
| Route | Scope | Typical use |
|---|---|---|
| Institutional | The whole university — mission, governance, resources, all provision | Broad validation for the institution as a whole |
| Faculty | A single faculty or department | Large universities; faculties needing professional recognition |
| Programmatic | A named programme, with international credit equivalence attached | Specialised fields; credit-transfer pathways — see programmatic accreditation |
What do inspectors assess?
Inspectors evaluate the university against evidence in seven areas:
- Curriculum design, currency, and alignment between stated outcomes and actual assessment
- Faculty qualifications, workload, and professional development
- Teaching and learning quality, observed directly during inspection
- Student support services, welfare, and complaint handling
- Facilities, learning resources, health and safety
- Governance, financial sustainability, and academic integrity
- Institutional effectiveness: retention, completion, and graduate outcomes
All criteria derive from the ten Accredo Standards, aligned with the ESG framework.
How does the process work?
- Register & scoping callCreate an account, complete registration, and join an online knowledge-exploration session so we understand your context.
- Self-evaluation & evidenceSubmit the application with documentation mapped to the standards above.
- Desk reviewInspectors assess your evidence and request clarification where needed.
- InspectionOn-site or virtual: observed teaching, facility review, and interviews with leadership, staff, and students.
- Report, decision & awardA graded written report goes to the Accreditation Board; successful institutions are accredited for four years.
- Annual monitoringYearly returns and an agreed improvement plan through to reaccreditation in year four.
Typical duration: three to six months. Institutions must have taught a student cohort for at least three months before inspection. Full detail: the inspection process.
What are the benefits?
- Degrees carry independent, evidence-based validation that employers and partner institutions can verify on a public register
- Credit transfer between accredited institutions becomes materially easier for your students
- Eligibility support for QS Stars and guidance on World University Rankings evidence
- Assistance gaining centre status with UK awarding bodies and IVETA membership
- A four-year improvement partnership: annual monitoring, written feedback, free monthly webinars
- Partnership introductions across the Accredo network for validation, research capacity, and student recruitment
Frequently asked questions
How long is Accredo university accreditation valid?
Does Accredo accredit teaching-focused universities without research output?
Can a single faculty be accredited instead of the whole university?
What does university accreditation cost?
Start your accreditation journey
Ready to begin? Registration takes ten minutes and carries no obligation.