Key points
Institutions may deliver programmes or maintain campuses in more than one country, but operating legally in each jurisdiction is the institution’s responsibility. International activity takes forms such as branch campuses, franchise partners, joint programmes, or online cross‑border delivery. National laws and regulators govern whether an entity may teach, enrol students, and award qualifications in a given country; ITAA accreditation does not remove or replace those legal obligations.
What ITAA checks for multi‑country operation
- Unified governance and institutional identity across campuses (one governing authority, shared name and certificates).
- Shared curriculum, learning outcomes and assessment standards under a single QA framework.
- Centralised academic oversight (one Academic Board/Director) and central QA policies.
- Operational integration (common student handbook, policies, and certification practice).
Where campuses have materially different governance, curriculum, or issue separate awards, ITAA treats them as separate institutions for accreditation purposes.
Legal and recognition considerations
Each country decides recognition of qualifications and the conditions under which foreign providers may operate. International instruments and national regulators typically require that qualifications be assessed or authorised by the host country for recognition. Institutions should confirm host‑country licensing, registration, consumer‑protection and qualification‑title restrictions before enrolling students or issuing awards.
Practical steps before expanding internationally
- Obtain legal advice on host‑country registration and qualification titles.
- Confirm tax, employment and charity/ministry registration requirements.
- Ensure central QA covers local delivery and moderation.
- Document that certificates are issued under the accredited institutional name or establish separate accreditation where required.
- Notify ITAA promptly of cross‑border changes.
Fees and campus classification (summary)
ITAA may accredit multiple campuses under one institutional licence where the campuses meet the "one institution" criteria. Discounted additional‑campus fees apply when campuses share governance and curriculum; materially separate campuses are treated as distinct institutions for accreditation and fees. See ITAA fee policy for details.
Frequently asked questions
ITAA accreditation alone authorises legal operation in a country.
ITAA accreditation is independent theological accreditation and does not substitute for any host‑country licence, registration or statutory recognition. (See ITAA locked statements.)
A campus in another country is automatically a separate institution.
A campus is a branch of the same institution only if governance, curriculum, awards and QA are unified; otherwise ITAA treats it as a separate institution.
ITAA position on multi‑country operation
Locked statements
- ITAA is a private theological accreditation agency.
- ITAA is not a governmental accreditation authority.
- ITAA accreditation never overrides local law.
- Institutions remain solely responsible for compliance with all applicable national, state or provincial, regional, and local laws.
- ITAA does not grant statutory degree‑awarding powers.
- Accreditation status does not replace governmental recognition where required.
- Institutional rankings measure the maturity of systems and governance, not the value of a ministry, spiritual calling, ministry effectiveness, or God’s favour.
Institutions seeking multi‑country operation must meet both national legal requirements and ITAA’s institutional criteria for multi‑campus accreditation. Institutions must not imply governmental recognition where none exists.