The Association of Commonwealth Universities is an international organisation dedicated to building a better world through higher education.
International collaboration is central to this ambition: by bringing universities together from around the world – and crucially the people who study and work within them – the ACU helps to advance knowledge, promote understanding, broaden minds, and improve lives.
The ACU champions higher education as a cornerstone of stronger societies, supporting its members, partners, and stakeholders as they adapt to a changing world.
The Commonwealth is a powerful network of 54 countries, working together to promote democracy, human rights, and the rule of law. These countries share a history, language, and institutional structures, which paves the way for collaboration and partnership.
The Commonwealth is a living laboratory for change, and a network with great potential – two-thirds of its population of 2.4 billion people are under the age of 30.
The ACU has over 500 member universities in 50 countries across the Commonwealth. 66% of our members are in low and middle income countries, and 5% are in small states.
Our network covers over 10 million students and more than 1 million academic and professional staff.
Queen Elizabeth Commonwealth Scholarships are a unique opportunity to study for a two-years Master’s at leading ACU member universities across the Commonwealth.
Find out more
The global COVID-19 pandemic spotlights the critical role virtual learning can play in universities' contingency plans to safeguard higher education through periods of uncertainty.
Read this article
The Association of Commonwealth Universities (ACU) has appointed Kirsty Cockburn as Director of External Engagement.
Read this article
Message from our Chief Executive and Secretary General.
Read this article
On 9 March – to celebrate Commonwealth Day – the ACU met with scholarship students, alumni and distinguished guests at the National Research Foundation (NRF) in Pretoria.
Read this article
On 9 March – Commonwealth Day – the ACU brought together bright minds from across the Commonwealth to meet our Patron, The Duchess of Sussex, at Buckingham Palace, ahead of the Commonwealth Service.
Read this article
Connecting universities across the Commonwealth to develop solutions to climate change.
Addressing critical academic staff shortages using quality assured, credit-bearing degree courses delivered through blended learning.
Find out more
Registrations for this event are now closed.
The inaugural ACU Peace and Reconciliation Network Conference will be taking place at Stellenbosch University, South Africa from 9-12 June 2020.
This week-long programme of lectures, field trips, and group project work, will focus on the theme of 'The Migration generation? Climate, youth and refugees'.
Becoming a member of the ACU means joining a vibrant global community of universities with a shared commitment to work together for the common good.
With more than 500 member universities across 50 countries, our membership reflects the diversity of the Commonwealth itself.
