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.
In making an application to become a member of the Association of Commonwealth Universities, the Executive Head of the University undertakes to ensure the observance of all the conditions and provisions of the Charter and the Statutes, and Regulations of the Association.