Membership criteria

Membership criteria are set to ensure that universities within ACU membership are committed to the mission, vision and values of the ACU, as well as a steadfast belief in education, social responsibility, international development, and collaboration with other like-minded institutions.

Full members

• Must be legally incorporated and situated in the Commonwealth (unless they have chosen to remain in membership when their country withdraws or is removed from the Commonwealth)
• Must be approved by the appropriate government authority to provide higher education
• Must be approved by the appropriate government authority to award their own degrees
• Must have at least 250 full-time equivalent students (50% of whom must be studying at first or higher degree level)
• Must have graduated at least one cohort of students

Associate members¹

• Must be legally incorporated and situated in the Commonwealth (unless they have chosen to remain in membership when their country withdraws or is removed from the Commonwealth)
• Will normally be university colleges, colleges of universities, or other higher education institutions whose students may be awarded the degrees of another institution under a franchise, licence or other collaborative agreement. The degree-awarding institution itself must be located in the Commonwealth and eligible for full membership of the ACU
• Must be approved by the appropriate government authority to provide higher education
• Must have at least 250 full-time equivalent students (50% of whom must be studying at first or higher degree level)
• Must have graduated at least one cohort of students

_{¹ Associate members are not eligible to vote at General Meetings or participate in elections for the ACU Council or its officers.}