Program Design and Purpose
AAC reviews whether the program has clear aims, coherent learning outcomes, appropriate curriculum structure, and a defined academic profile.
Programmatic accreditation
Programmatic Accreditation
External peer review of academic program quality against AAC standards.
AAC Programmatic Accreditation supports higher education institutions seeking external review of academic program quality, learning outcomes, curriculum design, teaching and assessment, resources, stakeholder engagement, and program-level quality assurance.
Program-level quality assurance
What Programmatic Accreditation Reviews
AAC Programmatic Accreditation focuses on the external review of a specific academic program. The procedure examines whether the program is clearly designed, properly resourced, effectively delivered, aligned with its stated aims and learning outcomes, and supported by appropriate quality assurance processes.
Teaching, Learning, and Assessment
AAC reviews how teaching, learning, assessment, academic integrity, and student progression are organized and monitored.
Resources and Academic Staff
AAC reviews whether the program has appropriate academic staff, administrative support, learning resources, and operational capacity.
Quality Assurance and Improvement
AAC reviews whether the program is monitored, evaluated, improved, and informed by student, staff, and stakeholder feedback.
Standards
AAC Programmatic Accreditation Standards
Programmatic Accreditation is conducted against AAC standards for program-level quality assurance. The standards support a structured review of institutional context, program design, delivery, resources, stakeholders, and continuous improvement.
Institutional Overview
The institutional context, mission, legal status, governance, and capacity relevant to the program.
Ethics and Diversity
Ethical principles, diversity, fairness, inclusion, and responsible treatment of students and stakeholders.
Strategic Design of Program(s)
Program aims, learning outcomes, curriculum structure, academic coherence, and strategic relevance.
Quality Management and Improvement
Program-level quality assurance, monitoring, evaluation, feedback, and continuous improvement.
Administration and Teaching Staff
Academic leadership, teaching staff, administrative support, qualifications, workload, and staff development.
Student and Stakeholder Engagement
Student support, student participation, stakeholder engagement, employer input, and external feedback.
Learning and Teaching
Teaching methods, assessment design, learning environment, academic integrity, and student achievement.
Program Handbook
Program information, academic rules, student guidance, assessment requirements, and public communication.
International reference
Learn More about ESG →
Based on Recognized Quality Assurance Principles
AAC accreditation guidelines are informed by the European Standards and Guidelines for Quality Assurance in the European Higher Education Area (ESG). Other national and international quality assurance references may also be reflected in the formulation of AAC standards.
Procedure
Programmatic Accreditation Procedure and Timeline
The Programmatic Accreditation procedure normally takes about 8 to 12 months. The procedure provides AAC and the higher education institution with a structured evaluation of program strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, risks, and improvement priorities.
Typical duration: about 8 to 12 months from application and scope confirmation through review, decision, and publication.
Application and Scope Confirmation
- Initial meeting with the higher education institution.
- Submission of the application form and initial self-report or application materials.
- Approval by the AAC Accreditation Commission for the official opening of the accreditation procedure.
Official Opening and Review Procedure
- Signing of the accreditation contract.
- Preparation of the self-report according to AAC standards and guidelines.
- Site visit of 2.5 to 5 days at the higher education institution.
- Compilation of the expert report by the expert panel.
- Statement on the report by the higher education institution.
- Final accreditation decision by the AAC Accreditation Commission.
- Option for complaint regarding the procedure or appeal regarding the Commission decision, according to AAC rules.
- Publication of the accreditation report.
- Accreditation is valid for 6 years and must be renewed afterwards.
Peer review and decision-making
Expert Review, Report, and Commission Decision
AAC Programmatic Accreditation is based on peer review. Experts review the submitted evidence, participate in the site visit or review meetings, prepare findings, and contribute to the expert report.
Expert Review
Qualified experts review the self-report and supporting evidence, prepare questions, and assess the program against the relevant AAC standards.
Expert Report and Institutional Statement
The expert panel prepares a report with findings and recommendations. The higher education institution may provide a statement on the report according to the applicable procedure.
Accreditation Commission Decision
The final accreditation decision is made by the AAC Accreditation Commission. Expert panels provide findings and recommendations, but they do not grant accreditation.
Support during review
Guidance During the Accreditation Procedure
AAC provides guidance for preparing the application and self-documentation for Programmatic Accreditation. AAC also provides feedback during the procedure and may offer recommendations on the further development of the institution’s self-documentation and quality assurance practice.
Application Guidance
AAC supports the institution in understanding the required application materials, procedural steps, and expected review scope.
Self-Documentation Support
AAC provides guidance on preparing self-documentation in line with AAC standards and guidelines.
Developmental Feedback
The process helps institutions identify improvement priorities and strengthen program-level quality assurance.
Application
Want to Accredit Your Program?
The first step is to submit the application form or contact AAC to discuss the intended Programmatic Accreditation scope. AAC will review the inquiry and contact the institution regarding the next procedural steps.
Next steps
Continue Through the Accreditation Section
Accreditation Overview
Review AAC’s accreditation pathways and understand how program, institutional, and AI-related accreditation pathways relate to each other.
Accreditation Process
Understand the general AAC accreditation process, from application to evidence review, Commission decision, monitoring, and renewal.
Institutional Accreditation
Explore AAC’s pathway for institution-wide external quality assurance review.
Application Form
Start the Programmatic Accreditation process by submitting the application form.
Directory
View public listings of accredited institutions, evaluations, AI+QA Institute members, and AI+QA statuses.
Contact AAC
Contact AAC to discuss Programmatic Accreditation scope, readiness, and next procedural steps.
Programmatic accreditation · Peer review · Quality assurance
Ready to Discuss Programmatic Accreditation?
AAC can help clarify the appropriate review scope, required evidence, expected procedure, and next steps for Programmatic Accreditation.
Programmatic accreditation
Programmatic Accreditation
External peer review of academic program quality against AAC standards.
AAC Programmatic Accreditation supports higher education institutions seeking external review of academic program quality, learning outcomes, curriculum design, teaching and assessment, resources, stakeholder engagement, and program-level quality assurance.
Program-level quality assurance
What Programmatic Accreditation Reviews
AAC Programmatic Accreditation focuses on the external review of a specific academic program. The procedure examines whether the program is clearly designed, properly resourced, effectively delivered, aligned with its stated aims and learning outcomes, and supported by appropriate quality assurance processes.
Program Design and Purpose
AAC reviews whether the program has clear aims, coherent learning outcomes, appropriate curriculum structure, and a defined academic profile.
Teaching, Learning, and Assessment
AAC reviews how teaching, learning, assessment, academic integrity, and student progression are organized and monitored.
Resources and Academic Staff
AAC reviews whether the program has appropriate academic staff, administrative support, learning resources, and operational capacity.
Quality Assurance and Improvement
AAC reviews whether the program is monitored, evaluated, improved, and informed by student, staff, and stakeholder feedback.
Standards
AAC Programmatic Accreditation Standards
Programmatic Accreditation is conducted against AAC standards for program-level quality assurance. The standards support a structured review of institutional context, program design, delivery, resources, stakeholders, and continuous improvement.
Institutional Overview
The institutional context, mission, legal status, governance, and capacity relevant to the program.
Ethics and Diversity
Ethical principles, diversity, fairness, inclusion, and responsible treatment of students and stakeholders.
Strategic Design of Program(s)
Program aims, learning outcomes, curriculum structure, academic coherence, and strategic relevance.
Quality Management and Improvement
Program-level quality assurance, monitoring, evaluation, feedback, and continuous improvement.
Administration and Teaching Staff
Academic leadership, teaching staff, administrative support, qualifications, workload, and staff development.
Student and Stakeholder Engagement
Student support, student participation, stakeholder engagement, employer input, and external feedback.
Learning and Teaching
Teaching methods, assessment design, learning environment, academic integrity, and student achievement.
Program Handbook
Program information, academic rules, student guidance, assessment requirements, and public communication.
International reference
Learn More about ESG →
Based on Recognized Quality Assurance Principles
AAC accreditation guidelines are informed by the European Standards and Guidelines for Quality Assurance in the European Higher Education Area (ESG). Other national and international quality assurance references may also be reflected in the formulation of AAC standards.
Procedure
Programmatic Accreditation Procedure and Timeline
The Programmatic Accreditation procedure normally takes about 8 to 12 months. The procedure provides AAC and the higher education institution with a structured evaluation of program strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, risks, and improvement priorities.
Typical duration: about 8 to 12 months from application and scope confirmation through review, decision, and publication.
Application and Scope Confirmation
- Initial meeting with the higher education institution.
- Submission of the application form and initial self-report or application materials.
- Approval by the AAC Accreditation Commission for the official opening of the accreditation procedure.
Official Opening and Review Procedure
- Signing of the accreditation contract.
- Preparation of the self-report according to AAC standards and guidelines.
- Site visit of 2.5 to 5 days at the higher education institution.
- Compilation of the expert report by the expert panel.
- Statement on the report by the higher education institution.
- Final accreditation decision by the AAC Accreditation Commission.
- Option for complaint regarding the procedure or appeal regarding the Commission decision, according to AAC rules.
- Publication of the accreditation report.
- Accreditation is valid for 6 years and must be renewed afterwards.
Peer review and decision-making
Expert Review, Report, and Commission Decision
AAC Programmatic Accreditation is based on peer review. Experts review the submitted evidence, participate in the site visit or review meetings, prepare findings, and contribute to the expert report.
Expert Review
Qualified experts review the self-report and supporting evidence, prepare questions, and assess the program against the relevant AAC standards.
Expert Report and Institutional Statement
The expert panel prepares a report with findings and recommendations. The higher education institution may provide a statement on the report according to the applicable procedure.
Accreditation Commission Decision
The final accreditation decision is made by the AAC Accreditation Commission. Expert panels provide findings and recommendations, but they do not grant accreditation.
Support during review
Guidance During the Accreditation Procedure
AAC provides guidance for preparing the application and self-documentation for Programmatic Accreditation. AAC also provides feedback during the procedure and may offer recommendations on the further development of the institution’s self-documentation and quality assurance practice.
Application Guidance
AAC supports the institution in understanding the required application materials, procedural steps, and expected review scope.
Self-Documentation Support
AAC provides guidance on preparing self-documentation in line with AAC standards and guidelines.
Developmental Feedback
The process helps institutions identify improvement priorities and strengthen program-level quality assurance.
Application
Want to Accredit Your Program?
The first step is to submit the application form or contact AAC to discuss the intended Programmatic Accreditation scope. AAC will review the inquiry and contact the institution regarding the next procedural steps.
Next steps
Continue Through the Accreditation Section
Accreditation Overview
Review AAC’s accreditation pathways and understand how program, institutional, and AI-related accreditation pathways relate to each other.
Accreditation Process
Understand the general AAC accreditation process, from application to evidence review, Commission decision, monitoring, and renewal.
Institutional Accreditation
Explore AAC’s pathway for institution-wide external quality assurance review.
Application Form
Start the Programmatic Accreditation process by submitting the application form.
Directory
View public listings of accredited institutions, evaluations, AI+QA Institute members, and AI+QA statuses.
Contact AAC
Contact AAC to discuss Programmatic Accreditation scope, readiness, and next procedural steps.
Programmatic accreditation · Peer review · Quality assurance
Ready to Discuss Programmatic Accreditation?
AAC can help clarify the appropriate review scope, required evidence, expected procedure, and next steps for Programmatic Accreditation.