International accreditation for business schools is an independent review of a school’s quality, available at three levels: the school as an institution, individual degree programs such as an MBA or DBA, and individual courses such as executive education modules. A business school chooses the level that matches what it needs to prove, and each level has its own review, certificate and public listing.
The European Association for Higher Education Advancement (EAHEA) offers Full Accreditation and Online Accreditation for institutions, Program Accreditation for degree programs of more than 300 clock hours and Course Accreditation for courses of fewer than 300 clock hours. This guide explains how these services fit a business school, who needs them and where to start.
What the Review Looks at
Institutional review covers administration, organization, finances, the educational system, and student and alumni services. For a business school, this means ownership and governance, financial stability, program design, faculty, assessment, student support and contact with alumni. Program review looks at the curriculum, learning outcomes, teaching, assessment and resources of one degree. Course review looks at one course on its own terms.
The Three Levels for a Business School
| Level | EAHEA Service | Typical Business School Use |
|---|---|---|
| Institution | Full or Online Accreditation | A stand-alone school that wants a review of the whole school |
| Program | Program Accreditation | An MBA, executive MBA, DBA, BBA or specialized master’s program |
| Course | Course Accreditation | Executive education courses, certificates and workshops of fewer than 300 clock hours |
Institutional accreditation does not cover degrees, programs or courses, and Program and Course Accreditation can be obtained with or without institutional accreditation. See institutional vs. programmatic accreditation.
Who Needs It
- Stand-alone and private business schools, which have no university name behind them and rely on independent evidence.
- Business schools inside universities, which may want a separate statement about their programs. See business schools inside universities vs. stand-alone schools.
- Executive education providers, which offer many short programs to professionals.
- Online business schools, which teach mostly or entirely at a distance. See online MBA accreditation.
- Schools that recruit internationally, where students and sponsors cannot visit and need a checkable signal of quality.
What Stakeholders Ask
Business school stakeholders ask concrete questions. Prospective students want to know whether the program is genuine and useful for their career. Employers who sponsor tuition want evidence that the program has been reviewed. Partner schools want assurance before signing a dual degree or exchange agreement. Authorities and funders may have their own requirements. Accreditation helps with the first three, because the status is public in the Accredited Institutions directory, and it supports the fourth only to the extent that those authorities accept it. See how business schools benefit from independent quality assurance.
Workload and Credit Statements
Business programs, especially executive programs, are often taught part-time and in intensive formats, which makes workload hard to compare. EAHEA’s credit systems state workload in hours: Institutional Learning Credits (ILC) for master’s and MBA programs, Executive Units of Competency (EUC) for doctoral and DBA programs, Professional Advancement Credits (PAC) for bachelor’s and BBA programs and Modular Units of Competency (MUC) for programs of 150 hours or less and for short courses. They are independent EAHEA metrics, and receiving institutions decide how to treat them. See credit systems for executive and professional business programs.
What It Does Not Do
- It is not government authorization. EAHEA accreditation is not intended to substitute legal authorization, recognition or regulation under local law.
- It does not award degrees or titles. A school may use the names MBA or DBA only within the rules of its national framework and, for EAHEA credits, within the level name rules. See level names and titles.
- It is not a ranking. It does not compare schools.
- It does not guarantee admission, credit transfer, visas, jobs or salaries.
Where to Start
- List the school’s programs and courses with level, duration and delivery mode.
- Decide what needs independent evidence and for whom.
- Check eligibility. For institutional accreditation: one year of operation with a graduating class, the same ownership or control for one year and one year of responsible financial management, or a goodwill letter for a new institution.
- Choose the route, using the planning guide for business programs or choosing between Full, Online, Program and Course Accreditation.
- Prepare the evidence: governance, finance, program specifications, faculty, assessment and student support.
Fees follow the World Bank country income classification and are listed on the Service Fees page. Apply online or contact the Secretariat for guidance. For a general introduction, see About Accreditation.
Services This Guide Covers
Frequently Asked Questions
Full or Online Accreditation for the school as an institution, Program Accreditation for degree programs of more than 300 clock hours such as an MBA or DBA, and Course Accreditation for courses of fewer than 300 clock hours.
No. Institutional accreditation does not cover degrees, programs or courses. The MBA would need its own Program Accreditation.
It can apply for Program or Course Accreditation for its offerings, which can be obtained with or without institutional accreditation. Whether the school can be reviewed separately at institutional level depends on its legal structure, so ask the Secretariat.
No. It states whether a school or program meets published standards. It does not compare schools.
No. EAHEA does not guarantee any job or other result, and accreditation should not be used to promise salaries or career outcomes.
Individual courses of fewer than 300 clock hours may hold Course Accreditation, and longer programs may use Program Accreditation.