Frequently Asked Questions

Our mission is to advance sustainable quality excellence in private higher education by establishing globally recognised internal quality assurance standards, highlighting the unique value of private institutions, and serving the diverse needs of learners and society worldwide.

Please refer to the corresponding section for full details on application eligibility. Should you remain uncertain, kindly reach out to our official support team for assistance.

Full Members can:

• Apply for IQA accreditation;

• Vote at the IAPUC General Assembly (one vote per institution);

• Serve on the Board of Directors and professional committees;

• Access member-exclusive training, seminars, publications, and research reports;

• Participate in IAPUC professional networks and forums;

• Receive discounted rates for accreditation-related activities.

Full Members cannot use the IQA Accreditation Mark until they have successfully completed the accreditation process.

The upgrade is automatic. Once a Full Member successfully obtains IQA accreditation (at any level: Provisional, Accredited, or Fully Accredited), its membership status is automatically upgraded to Accredited Member. No separate application is required.

Fees vary by membership category and institutional size (for Full and Accredited Members based on Full-Time Equivalent enrolment). Please refer to the table below (all amounts in USD):

Please note that Accredited Member fees are separate from IQA Accreditation Annual Fees. A complete fee schedule is published in the IAPUC Membership Eligibility and Admission Standards.

No. Associate Members are not eligible to apply for IQA accreditation. If your institution later obtains degree-awarding authority, you may apply for reclassification to Full Member and then apply for accreditation.

The Internal Quality Assurance (IQA) system is IAPUC’s proprietary accreditation framework. It is a comprehensive, multi-disciplinary quality assurance system designed specifically for private higher education institutions. The IQA system is built on three pillars: Mission-Driven, Outcomes-Based, and Performance Excellence.

The IQA accreditation system has three progressive levels:

• Provisional Accreditation (1 years): The institution meets basic quality requirements but has identifiable areas for improvement.

• Accredited (3 years): The institution meets most standards and demonstrates good quality management, with limited areas for enhancement.

• Fully Accredited (5 years): The institution demonstrates excellence across all standards with a mature and effective quality assurance system and a strong culture of continuous improvement.

Each level requires the institution to complete a self-evaluation, undergo peer review, and participate in a site visit. Institutions may apply for an upgrade to the next level once they have addressed the areas for improvement identified during the previous review.

The IQA framework evaluates institutional quality across eight interconnected domains:

1. Mission, Strategy & Governance

2. Curriculum & Teaching

3. Faculty

4. Student Learning Assessment

5. Research & Innovation

6. Resources & Support Systems

7. Social Responsibility & Impact

8. Continuous Improvement

Each domain has specific standards and evidence requirements. A detailed Academic Quality Standards Manual is available to all members.

The process has six stages:

1. Application & Eligibility Review: Submit application and undergo initial screening (4–6 weeks).

2. Self-Evaluation & Report Submission: Conduct a comprehensive self-study against the eight standards and prepare a Self-Evaluation Report (SER) (6–12 months).

3. Desk Review (Initial Review): A Peer Review Team (PRT) reviews the SER and identifies areas for further investigation (4–8 weeks).

4. Site Visit: The PRT conducts an on-site visit to verify evidence, interview stakeholders, and inspect facilities (typically 3–5 days; a maximum of three site visits is permitted).

5. Peer Review Report: The PRT prepares a formal report with findings and a recommended accreditation level (4–6 weeks).

6. Accreditation Decision: The independent Accreditation Decision Committee (ADC) makes the final accreditation decision based on the SER, PRT report, and the institution’s response (4–8 weeks).

The entire initial accreditation process typically takes 12–18 months.

Only IAPUC Full Members are eligible to apply for IQA accreditation. The institution must also:

• Have obtained Full Member status before submitting the accreditation application;

• Have completed at least one full academic cycle;

• Hold valid degree-awarding authority;

• Accept the IQA accreditation standards, process, and rules.

• Annual Quality Reports must be submitted each year.

• A Mid-Term Review is conducted in the middle of the accreditation cycle (Year 3 for Fully Accredited, Year 2 for Accredited).

• A Full Re-Evaluation is required before the accreditation term expires. The standard cycle is five years for Fully Accredited, three years for Accredited, and one years for Provisional Accreditation.

IQA accreditation involves three types of fees:

A complete fee schedule is published in the IQA Fee Implementation Rules.

Independence and fairness are guaranteed through multiple mechanisms:

• The Accreditation Decision Committee (ADC) operates independently from the IAPUC Board of Directors.

• ADC members cannot serve on the Peer Review Team for the same case.

• Strict conflict-of-interest rules apply to all peer reviewers and decision-makers.

• Accreditation decisions are based on the cross-verification of three independent sets of evidence: the institution’s Self-Evaluation Report, the Peer Review Report, and the institution’s response.

• An independent Appeals and Arbitration Committee is available for institutions that wish to challenge a decision.

Yes. An institution may file a formal appeal with the Appeals and Arbitration Committee within 30 working days of receiving the accreditation decision. Appeals may be based on procedural violations, material factual errors in the peer review report, or undisclosed conflicts of interest. The appeal process is detailed in the IQA Accreditation Appeals, Complaints, and Dispute Resolution Management Measures.

We believes that eliminating academic misconduct requires a proactive, institution-wide commitment to integrity rather than relying solely on detection and punishment. Our preventive framework, embedded in the IQA accreditation standards and the Academic Ethics and Integrity Code, is built on four pillars:

1. Establish a strong ethical governance structure.
Every institution must have an independent ethics committee, clear academic integrity policies, and mandatory ethics training for all students and faculty from induction onward.

2. Embed integrity into the curriculum.
Research ethics, proper citation practices, and responsible use of AI tools are integrated into coursework, not treated as an afterthought. Students learn what constitutes misconduct and why it matters.

3. Create a culture of transparency and accountability.
Institutions must implement robust conflict-of-interest disclosure, whistleblower protection, and fair, confidential investigation procedures. When individuals trust the system, they are more likely to report concerns early.

4. Ensure assessment design discourages dishonesty.
IAPUC encourages authentic assessment methods—such as project-based work, oral defences, and portfolios—that make misconduct harder to commit and easier to detect, while simultaneously strengthening genuine learning.

These measures are not optional extras; they are integral to the IQA accreditation standards (Standard I: Mission, Strategy & Governance, and Standard VII: Social Responsibility & Impact). By building a comprehensive prevention ecosystem, institutions not only protect the value of their qualifications but also foster a genuine culture of integrity that benefits students, faculty, and society.

The accreditation application fee is generally non‑refundable once submitted. However, the policy distinguishes between the eligibility review stage and the self‑evaluation stage:

• If you withdraw during the initial eligibility review stage, the application fee will not be refunded, but it can be retained and credited toward a new application submitted within 12 months.

• If you withdraw after the eligibility review has been completed and the self‑evaluation stage has begun, the application fee is non‑refundable and cannot be credited forward.

If the accreditation process cannot proceed due to reasons attributable to IAPUC (for example, if IAPUC is unable to constitute a peer review team or cancels the process), the application fee will be refunded in full.

These rules are set out in the IQA Accreditation Application, Accreditation, Annual, and Site Visit Fee Implementation Rules.

No. Annual membership dues, once paid, are non‑refundable. If a member resigns or has its membership terminated during the year, the dues already paid for that year will not be refunded or prorated.

The only circumstance in which a refund of membership fees may arise is if the institution withdraws after paying the application fee but before the first‑year dues are paid and membership formally takes effect. In that situation, the application fee is generally not refundable, but the institution would not yet have paid the annual dues.

The relevant provisions can be found in the IAPUC Membership Eligibility and Admission Standards and the IQA Internal Financial Regulations.

The institutional membership application workflow consists of five core stages: account registration, official form submission, professional peer assessment, rectification of identified non-compliance items, and final confirmation of your membership tier. The full review cycle ranges from 5 to 20 business days. To initiate your application, please access the dedicated portals via the links below.

1. Institutional Application Form
2. Individual Application Form

Individuals with at least 10 years of professional experience in higher education management, quality assurance, or a related academic field, holding a doctoral degree or equivalent, and with no record of academic or professional misconduct, may apply for the Peer Reviewer Pool. Candidates must complete IAPUC training and pass an assessment. Applications can be submitted through the IAPUC online portal or by contacting the IQA Office.

Peer Reviewers are selected from the IQA Peer Reviewer Pool based on:

• Discipline match with the institution’s main academic areas;

• Geographic balance to ensure diverse perspectives;

• Absence of any conflict of interest with the institution under review.

Each Peer Review Team (PRT) typically consists of 3–5 members, led by an experienced Chief Reviewer (Grade A).

IAPUC offers a range of training and professional development opportunities through its certified trainers, including:

• Orientation programmes for new Quality Representatives;

• Accreditation standards and processes workshops;

• Peer Reviewer calibration sessions;

• Annual conferences and regional forums on private higher education quality;

• Online learning modules on the IQA framework, self-evaluation report preparation, and learning outcomes assessment.

Training is available to all members, with priority access for institutions preparing for accreditation.

Accredited institutions must:

• Submit an Annual Quality Monitoring Report;

• Report any material changes (e.g., change of ownership, new campus, programme closure, legal sanctions) within 30 days;

• Undergo a Mid-Term Review;

• Maintain compliance with the IQA Accreditation Mark usage rules;

• Pay the IQA Accreditation Annual Fee on time.

Failure to meet these obligations may result in a review of the institution’s accreditation status.

All official documents—including the IAPUC Constitution, Membership Standards, Accreditation Manual, Academic Quality Standards, and various guidelines—are available through the IAPUC Member Resource Centre on our website (www.iapuc.org). Full Members and Accredited Members have access to the complete document library, self-evaluation toolkits, and good practice case studies.

IAPUC is committed to protecting personal and institutional data. Our comprehensive Privacy Policy, Digital Security and Privacy Regulations, and Records Retention Rules are aligned with international standards including ISO/IEC 27001, the EU General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), and the Colorado Privacy Act. All data submitted during the accreditation process is stored in encrypted environments with strict access controls.

Becoming an inspector is a rigorous process that involves initial checks regarding suitability for the post and qualifications, followed by a training program. If you are interested in becoming an IQA Inspector at IAPUC, see the answer to the question above. We get a lot of interest in the inspector positions so, if you do not hear back from us, please understand that we have a wide network of inspectors, and we may not need to recruit at this time.

Yes. For comprehensive details, kindly consult the official IAPUC Handbook of Internal Quality Assurance (IQA) Certification.

FTEs are determined by what your institution classes as full-time (attending lectures or classes for 15 hours, 20 hours, or more a week) for the length of the academic year (which depends on how you operate your term time).

For example:

• 1 FTE = 1 student, 20 hours a week, for 40 weeks.
• Or, to make 1 FTE with part-time students = 2 students, 10 hpw, for 40 weeks
• Or, if the part-time courses are shorter than the full-time courses, 1 FTE = 4 students, 10 hpw, for 20 weeks.

No！IQA accreditation does not confer the legal power to award degrees. That authority must come from the relevant national or regional government body. What IQA accreditation does provide is an independent, external validation that the institution’s own internal systems for designing, delivering, and assuring the quality of its degrees and programmes meet rigorous international standards. This external quality endorsement significantly enhances the credibility and international recognition of the qualifications the institution is already legally authorised to award.

While “Candidate Status,” “Fully Accredited,” and “online accreditation” are sometimes mentioned in informal discussions about quality assurance, within the IAPUC-IQA system, they refer to distinct concepts. Here is how they differ:

In summary, Candidate Status is the runway to accreditation; Fully Accredited is the highest tier of achievement; and online quality assurance is a specialised lens within the unified IQA evaluation, not a standalone accreditation track.

The eligibility to enter each pathway depends on the institution’s current membership status, degree-awarding authority, and mode of programme delivery.

In all cases, the institution must first be a Full Member in good standing with IAPUC. The IQA accreditation process—whether for predominantly face-to-face, online, or blended institutions—follows the same six-stage procedure and leads to the same set of accreditation levels. The supplementary standards for online learning are designed to ensure that the quality of distance education is evaluated with the same depth and rigour as traditional on-campus provision.

A physical address is required for legal identity verification, regulatory compliance, formal communication, and accountability, not because we expect your institution to operate like a traditional campus. Even a fully online institution is a legal entity registered in a specific jurisdiction, and that jurisdiction determines many of the standards we apply during the accreditation review.

Why a Physical Address Is Necessary？

1. Legal Identity and Regulatory Compliance

Every institution that applies for IAPUC membership and accreditation must demonstrate that it is a legally recognised entity with the authority to operate and, if applicable, to award degrees. This authority is granted by a specific country, state, or territory. IAPUC must verify:

• The institution’s legal name and registered address as recorded with the relevant government authority;

• That the institution holds valid degree-awarding authority or operating permission from the jurisdiction in which it is registered;

• That the institution is in good standing with its local regulators.

Without a verifiable physical address, IAPUC cannot confirm these foundational legal requirements. This is a prerequisite for Full Membership and accreditation eligibility.

2. Due Diligence and Institutional Accountability

IAPUC is committed to protecting students, parents, and the public by ensuring that all accredited institutions are legitimate and accountable. A physical address serves as:

• A point of accountability for legal and regulatory purposes;

• A means for IAPUC to conduct essential verification of the institution’s existence and legal status;

• A location where official records can be maintained and, if necessary, inspected as part of the accreditation process.

This is consistent with the practices of quality assurance bodies worldwide. An institution that cannot provide a verifiable physical address cannot demonstrate the level of transparency and accountability that accreditation requires.

3. Official Communication and Service of Process

As part of the accreditation relationship, IAPUC and the institution exchange formal, legally significant documents—accreditation decisions, fee invoices, compliance notices, and contractual agreements. A physical address ensures that:

• Official correspondence can be delivered reliably;

• The institution can be formally served with legal notices if necessary;

• There is a stable point of contact that does not depend on a single individual’s email account or a virtual office that may change without notice.

4. Alignment with Data Protection and Privacy Obligations

Under the IAPUC Privacy Policy and international data protection regulations, IAPUC must know the jurisdiction in which the institution is established. This determines which data protection laws apply to the institution’s handling of student and faculty personal data. A physical address is the primary means of establishing this jurisdictional nexus.

5. Site Visit Planning (Even for Online Institutions)

While the IQA accreditation process for online institutions relies heavily on remote document review and virtual meetings, the IQA Supplementary Standards for Distance and Blended Learning Quality Assurance and the IQA Site Visit Operations Manual allow for hybrid or remote site visits. However, IAPUC may still need to verify the existence of administrative offices, records storage facilities, or examination centres. A physical address is needed to plan any such visit, even if the visit itself is conducted largely or entirely through remote means.

What Kind of Address Is Acceptable?

For institutions from developing countries, particularly those classified by the United Nations as Least Developed Countries (LDCs), IAPUC does not offer a full waiver of fees, but it does provide a structured fee reduction policy. This approach balances accessibility with the financial sustainability and impartiality of the accreditation system.

Fee Reduction Policy

Under the IQA Accreditation Application, Accreditation, Annual, and Site Visit Fee Implementation Rules and the IAPUC Membership Eligibility and Admission Standards, eligible institutions may apply for the following reductions:

• Applicable fees: Accreditation application fees, accreditation fees (the one‑time review and award fee), and IQA accreditation annual fees.
• Reduction range: Typically 30% to 50% of the standard fee. The exact percentage is determined on a case‑by‑case basis by the IQA Office, taking into account the institution’s financial circumstances and the economic indicators of its home country.
• Eligibility: This policy is primarily intended for institutions from countries on the United Nations list of Least Developed Countries.

Application and Approval Process

1. Submit a request: When applying for membership or accreditation, the institution should include a formal written request for a fee reduction, explaining the grounds and attaching supporting documentation.
2. Review: The request is reviewed by the IQA Office Director, who assesses the institution’s financial situation and the necessity of the reduction.
3. Approval: All reductions must be approved by the Treasurer. If the cumulative reduction for a single institution exceeds 50% of its total annual fees, the Accreditation Decision Committee (ADC) must also be notified.

Other Special Circumstances

If an institution faces severe financial hardship due to a major natural disaster, war, or other force majeure event, it may apply separately for a deferral of payment or a reduction beyond the standard range. Such cases are assessed individually by the Board of Directors.

For full details, please refer to the IQA Internal Financial Regulations and the IQA Accreditation Application, Accreditation, Annual, and Site Visit Fee Implementation Rules. If you need further guidance on the application procedure, please contact the Secretariat at secretariat@iapuc.org.