Accredited Membership is the EAHEA membership that an institution receives automatically when it is granted Full or Online Accreditation. It is not applied for separately, carries no separate fee and lasts exactly as long as the accreditation lasts: if the accreditation ends or is suspended, the membership ends or is suspended with it. Accredited Members have the right to vote at the General Assembly, but the Management Board decides on their admission to it.
Membership and accreditation are easy to confuse because they are often mentioned together. They are different things: accreditation is a review of quality with a decision, and membership is a relationship with the association. This article explains the four categories of the European Association for Higher Education Advancement (EAHEA), how each relates to accreditation, what happens at renewal and what a suspended member loses.
How Accredited Membership Arises
Full Accreditation and Online Accreditation grant Accredited Membership automatically, with no separate application or membership fee. Program Accreditation and Course Accreditation do not grant membership. An institution that is not accredited can join as an Associate Member, and a membership of that kind is not accreditation.
The Four Categories
| Category | For | Duration | Vote |
|---|---|---|---|
| Accredited | Education providers holding Full or Online Accreditation | As long as the accreditation lasts | Yes, subject to Management Board admission |
| Associate | Education institutions without, or not seeking, institutional accreditation | One year, renewed annually for a fee | Yes, subject to Management Board admission |
| Observer | Associations, agencies, NGOs and other organizations | One year, renewed annually for a fee | No |
| Affiliate | Individuals such as teachers, trainers and researchers | One year, renewed annually for a fee | No |
Associate, Affiliate and Observer Memberships are not accreditation and do not affect the result of an accreditation application. See the overview on the About Membership page.
Voting and the General Assembly
The General Assembly is the highest governing body of the association. Accredited and Associate Members have the right to vote at it, for as long as their membership lasts, but the Management Board decides whether a member is admitted to the General Assembly. Observer and Affiliate Members have no vote. EAHEA does not publish the criteria for the Board’s decision on this page, so institutions with questions should ask the Secretariat.
Effect on Other Services
- Quality Certification: accredited members may apply for it, and Associate and Observer Members have it included. See Quality Certification.
- Renewals: Program Accreditation renews free for holders of valid Full or Online Accreditation. Course Accreditation renews free for holders of valid Full or Online Accreditation or Associate Membership.
- Credit Certification: a partner discount applies at renewal for such holders.
- Membership is not a requirement for any accreditation service.
Renewal and Lapse
Accredited Membership follows the accreditation: it is renewed through the annual membership fee and, in every fifth service year, through the renewal fee with a re-accreditation review. Associate, Observer and Affiliate Memberships are renewed annually by paying the fee after EAHEA’s renewal invoice. Nothing is charged automatically. A membership that is not renewed ends. See renewing accreditation and membership.
Suspension and Revocation
A suspended member loses member rights, including voting and logo use, and receives no discounts. If an accreditation is suspended or revoked, the Accredited Membership is suspended or ends with it, and the status is published in the public directory with a short reason for five years. See what happens if accreditation lapses.
Describing Status Correctly
An Accredited Member should say that it is accredited, and state the type and dates. An Associate or Observer Member should say that it is a member and should never describe membership as accreditation. EAHEA marks may be used only within the valid period and scope, with the exact status. For a longer comparison, read accreditation vs. membership: what each means and Associate Membership: what institutions receive. Apply online or contact the Secretariat.
Services This Guide Covers
Frequently Asked Questions
Automatically, when it is granted Full or Online Accreditation. No separate application or fee is needed.
No. Only Full and Online Accreditation grant Accredited Membership.
Accredited and Associate Members have the right to vote, subject to the Management Board’s decision on admission. Observer and Affiliate Members have no vote.
Accredited Membership ends or is suspended with the accreditation.
No. Membership is not a requirement for any accreditation service and does not affect the result of an application.
Member rights, including voting and logo use, and any discounts.