Side-by-side comparison
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| Institutional accreditation | Programme accreditation | |
|---|---|---|
| What is reviewed | The whole institution: governance, strategy, resources, quality assurance, culture | One programme or degree: curriculum, learning outcomes, teaching, assessment, graduate results |
| Main question | Does this institution have the capacity and systems to deliver quality consistently? | Does this programme achieve the outcomes it promises? |
| Who usually applies | The institution's leadership | The institution, on behalf of a faculty, department or programme team |
| Evidence focus | Policies, governance records, finance, quality processes, institution-wide data | Programme specifications, course materials, assessment samples, cohort outcomes |
| Result | A decision and certificate for the institution | A decision and certificate for that programme |
| At SAC | Own application, review, decision, certificate and renewal date | Own application, review, decision, certificate and renewal date |
When institutional accreditation makes sense
- You want an external review of how the whole institution is governed and how it assures quality.
- You are building a long-term quality culture and want a baseline across all faculties.
- Partners, boards or funders ask for evidence about the institution rather than a single degree.
When programme accreditation makes sense
- A specific degree needs independent confirmation of its content and outcomes.
- You are launching or redesigning a flagship programme and want structured expert feedback.
- You are not yet ready for a whole-institution review, but one programme is.
Can an institution have both?
Yes. Many institutions start with one and add the other later. At SAC, where an institution has materially distinct divisions, or seeks programme-level accreditation, each scope is assessed through a separate application, review record, decision, certificate and renewal cycle. That keeps decisions clean: a result for one scope never silently changes another.
How SAC handles each
Both use the same seven-step process and the same independent review model: a panel of three trained assessors, a site visit, and a separate decision committee. Higher Education is open for applications now. See the full process, check eligibility, or read about the eight Higher Education quality domains.
Not sure which to start with? Contact our team and describe your institution: we can help you choose the right scope before you apply.