TCU Institution Accreditation Procedures

The Tanzania Commission for Universities (TCU) is a body corporate established on the 1st July 2005, under the Universities Act 2005 (Chapter 346 of the Laws of Tanzania) with mandate to recognise, approve, register and accredit Universities operating in Tanzania, and local or foreign University level programmes being offered by registered higher education institutions. It also coordinates the proper functioning of all university institutions in Tanzania so as to foster a harmonised higher education system in the country.

The Tanzania Commission for Universities succeeded the former Higher Education Accreditation Council (HEAC) which was established in 1995 under the Education Act 1995 with a legal mandate to regulate the establishment and subsequent accreditation of private university institutions in the country. Being limited only to private universities, such mandate was considered unfavourable for the promotion of a viable public-private partnership in higher education as stipulated in the National Higher Education Policy of 1999.

Therefore, such circumstances prompted the government to establish a harmonized higher education system in the country which led into the establishment of the Tanzania Commission for Universities. In order to ensure such a harmonious higher education system does not compromise institutional peculiarities and autonomy, each University has the legal right to operate under its own charter.

There are two steps to establish a University institution in Tanzania. Step one is application for Provisional Licence and step two is application for Certificate of Accreditation. The Provisional Licence is valid for three years, renewable once.

The procedure requires the institution/organization or an individual wishing to establish a University Institution in Tanzania to submit a formal application (in English) to TCU accompanied by a duly filled in TCU Form No. 1 as well as the following documents:-

Three copies of project write up for the proposed university;
Evidence of basic facilities for development of the proposed university;
Title deed or offer in the name of the proposed university or such other evidence on title to the proposed facilities;
Master-plan for the long-term development of the proposed university;
Implementation plan in related to the submitted master-plan;
Draft curricula for the initial programmes and the proposed fee structure thereof;
The draft charter using the model charter to be obtained from the Commission;
The details about the applicant showing clearly the proposed location of the proposed university as well as other details as shall be determined by the Commission

Please note that non refundable application fee for local investors is TZS 3,000,000 (three million shillings only) and foreign investors is $ 3,000 payable in advance.

The Provisional Licence Holder who met the conditions thereof may apply for Accreditation using TCU Form 9.

TCU Institution Accreditation Procedures

Ten step by step to be followed in establishing a new university are indicated in the diagram below:

institution_accreditation_procedure