Accreditation Process and Recognition Pathways
To get started, an institution must first become a member, as only active members are eligible for any form of recognition.
The Recognition Pathway is the formal process used to reach a final decision. To navigate it, institutions use the Nine Dimension Framework to understand the requirements, while the 4D Evidence Method is used to thoroughly test all submitted evidence. Once evaluated, these findings are expressed through formal Evidence Grades. Ultimately, the Recognition Committee reviews everything to make the final call: Certified, Accredited or Not Accredited.
Certification applies to a specific part of an institution, while accreditation evaluates and recognises the institution as a whole.
The institution must maintain an active membership the entire time an institution holds its recognition. While it isn't a mandatory waiting period, we highly recommend spending eight to twelve months working with the Self Mapping Tool before an institution officially submits its application.
Gateway Screen
The Recognition Office completes a desk check, normally within four weeks after a complete submission. Nine Gateway Requirements are essential. Three expected requirements may become Baseline Diagnostic actions.
Code | Gateway Description | Level |
|---|---|---|
G1 | Current EQSC membership and paid membership fees | Essential |
G2 | Legal authority to operate and to award or deliver the qualification | Essential |
G3 | Exact scope name consistent with institutional records and public information | Essential |
G4 | Programme has a graduating batch in the last two academic years; department, school or college has at least three years of operation with graduates | Essential |
G5 | Enrolment, progression, results and graduate outcome data for three years or since launch if shorter | Essential |
G6 | Qualified full time faculty and teaching loads meeting applicable regulatory norms | Essential |
G7 | Current regulatory standing with disclosure of relevant actions in the past five years | Essential |
G8 | Working internal quality function with 12 months of records and published learning outcomes | Essential |
G9 | Leadership and governing body acceptance of the framework, pathway and publication rules | Essential |
G10 | Graduate Capabilities mapped to courses and assessed through a full cycle | Expected |
G11 | Summary of two years of independently audited accounts | Expected |
G12 | Disclosure of current and previous external recognitions and their outcomes, including none where applicable | Expected |
Stages and expected timing
Stage 0 / Membership - The institution receives a Member ID and access to resources. This creates membership status only.
Stage 1 / Gateway Screen - Eligibility and scope are checked. A complete submission normally takes four weeks to review.
Stage 2 / Baseline Diagnostic - The institution prepares a Baseline Statement of 20 to 30 pages, domain self ratings, a data set, gap register, closure plan and strategic plan. Preparation commonly takes two to six months and review about six weeks. Outcomes are Proceed, Proceed with Progress Note or Rework. A Progress Note is due within 12 months. A Baseline Reviewer does not coach the institution or later verify the same scope.
Stage 3 / Pathway Agreement - Scope, applicable framework version, fees, information rights and visit arrangements are agreed. The panel is appointed and conflict objections may be raised within five working days. The visit is scheduled with at least three months' notice.
Stage 4 / Evidence Portfolio - The institution submits domain narratives of up to 80 pages, data tables, an indexed evidence library, Learning Evidence Loop results and an enhancement plan. Preparation commonly takes three to six months. Submission is due six weeks before the visit.
Stage 5 / Portfolio Scrutiny - The panel reads the portfolio, requests missing evidence and sets the agenda, normally over two to four weeks. A visit may be postponed once for incomplete evidence, with written reasons and a new timetable.
Stage 6 / Verification Visit - A three day on site visit tests the portfolio through the 4D Evidence Method. The Closing Briefing identifies themes and issues; it does not announce grades or an outcome.
Stage 7 / Verification Report - A draft report is normally issued within six weeks of the visit. The institution has 10 working days for an Accuracy Check of factual errors. The panel records how corrections were handled and submits the final report with a recommended outcome. The Accuracy Check is not an opportunity to replace the evidence with later improvement work.
Stage 8 / Recognition Decision - The committee reviews the report, the institutional response and the evidence record. It normally meets quarterly. A reasoned decision letter is issued within 10 working days of its meeting. The panel recommendation does not bind the committee.
Stage 9 / Register Listing - A successful outcome is entered in the Recognition Register within 10 working days, with a certificate and a mark licence. No recognition mark may be used before the entry is published.
Stage 10 / Annual Assurance - Each recognised scope files an Annual Assurance Return and reports material changes within 30 days of becoming aware of them.
Stage 11 / Midpoint Check -Full Term accreditation is checked in year three. Conditional accreditation receives a 12 month Progress Note review and any follow up specified in its decision letter.
Stage 12 / Renewal Verification - Renewal begins 12 months before expiry and requires an updated portfolio and full verification. Starting renewal does not extend an existing term.
The 4D Evidence Method
Findings are cross checked through at least two of the four sources wherever possible. Conflicting evidence is investigated before a grade is assigned. If access to an essential source is refused or the expectation remains unsubstantiated, the report records that limitation and its effect rather than treating absence of evidence as assurance.
The institution must not coach stakeholders, prescribe answers or penalise people for speaking truthfully. Personally identifiable student work is minimized and handled under confidentiality and privacy arrangements.
Evidence Source | What is Examined |
|---|---|
Documents | Policies, plans, minutes, curricula, procedures and the Evidence Portfolio |
Data | Trends in enrolment, progression, attainment, resources and graduate outcomes, checked against source records |
Dialogue | Separate discussions with leadership, faculty, students, alumni and employers |
Demonstration | Observations of classes, laboratories, facilities and sampled assessed student work |
Verification Panel & Accreditation Decision
A panel includes a Panel Convenor, one or two Domain Reviewers and an Industry Reviewer. Every reviewer completes EQSC training and annual calibration, declares interests and signs confidentiality obligations.
Verified Findings | Outcome | Recognition term |
|---|---|---|
No Gap and no Critical Gap | Accredited Full Term | Five years |
One or more Gaps and no Critical Gap | Accredited | Three years with conditions and a 12 month Progress Note |
One or two Critical Gaps outside D1 that are capable of closure within 12 months | Decision Held | No public recognition; follow up and new decision within 12 months |
Any Critical Gap in D1, or a Critical Gap incapable of closure within 12 months | Not Accredited | New Gateway Screen after 12 months |
Watchpoints do not automatically prevent Full Term recognition; they are recorded for annual monitoring. Decisions specify scope, framework version, reasons, conditions, dates and appeal rights. Grades are not averaged.
Annual assurance & Material changes
Annual returns cover enrolment, faculty, qualifications, learning outcomes, graduate outcomes, complaints, conditions and improvement actions. The review may conclude with no action, request additional information or require a Follow up Visit.
Material changes include regulatory action, changed legal authority, ownership or governance changes, renamed or merged scopes, closures, major delivery changes, significant staffing reductions and serious safety or integrity concerns. The institution reports them within 30 days. Recognition does not transfer automatically to a new owner, location or scope.
Renewal, Suspension and Withdrawal
At renewal, no Gap and no Critical Gap permits a further five year Full Term. Gaps without Critical Gaps permit a Conditional Term of up to three years. A Critical Gap may require a Remedy Period and Follow up Visit, with withdrawal if not resolved.
Recognition may be suspended if membership has lapsed for more than 90 days, annual returns or assurance fees are more than 60 days overdue, a material change is not reported, a serious concern emerges or mark misuse remains uncorrected. EQSC gives reasons and a remedy deadline. Urgent measures may be taken where legal authority, student safety or evidence integrity requires immediate action.
Withdrawal may follow an unresolved suspension after six months, loss of legal authority, deliberate falsification or a voluntary request. Falsified evidence or loss of legal authority may justify immediate withdrawal after appropriate fact finding. Suspension, withdrawal and expiry remain visible in the register with their dates. Membership related suspension is an administrative consequence and must not be presented as a newly verified finding about educational quality.
Complaints and appeals
Anyone may complain about EQSC conduct, service quality, research, privacy or mark use. Complaints are acknowledged within five working days and normally answered within 20 working days. A review may be requested within 20 working days and is handled by a person not previously involved.
An institution may appeal an adverse Gateway, Baseline, recognition, condition, suspension or withdrawal decision within 30 calendar days of the decision letter. The appeal must identify a material process failure, bias, an unsupported decision or relevant evidence that could not reasonably have been supplied earlier. Disagreement alone is not a sufficient ground.
Appeals carry no fee. Three independent Appeals Committee members review the record, normally deciding within 40 working days of acknowledgement. They may dismiss the appeal, replace the decision or order a fresh decision by different people. The original status remains in force during the appeal; an appealed suspension or withdrawal is marked Under appeal. Appeal rights do not limit legal rights.
Contact: appeals@eqscglobal.com