The three-year cycle
An award is valid for three years subject to annual monitoring and continued compliance. The first year is included in the initial assessment fee. Monitoring in years two and three is charged at €190 per year, bringing the standard first-cycle total to €870.
The decision and public register show the dates and recognised scope. An award does not remain active simply because a renewal application has been started or an invoice has been paid. The register remains the reference for the current status.
The annual update
Submit a short update, normally one page, confirming the institutional details and any changes to teaching, staff, learner terms or privacy information. Summarise recent feedback and progress on the two improvement actions; identify what you will work on next.
Link only changed documents or evidence of a material issue. There is no routine requirement to resend the whole application, provide financial statements or prepare a formal annual quality report. A serious concern can lead to a focused evidence request or discussion before continued status is confirmed.
Report material changes within 30 days
Relevant changes include ownership or legal identity, a new location, a substantial change in delivery model, loss or restriction of an operating permission, interruption of educational delivery or a serious issue affecting learners or evidence integrity.
A new campus or subsidiary is not automatically added to an existing award. CQASE first determines whether the scope needs a further review. Any additional work and fees must be agreed before it begins. Keep public claims within the existing scope while a change is under consideration.
Using the status and renewing it
An active institution may describe itself as “Institutionally accredited by CQASE” and link to its record. The statement must not imply programme accreditation, government recognition or a guarantee about qualifications. Remove or correct claims when the status is suspended, withdrawn or expired.
Begin renewal at least 90 days before expiry. Renewal reviews the current institution against the agreed framework version and checks progress since the previous assessment. The renewal review fee is €390, including the first year of the new cycle. If renewal is not completed in time, the existing award expires.
Where CQASE identifies a material failure, it records the grounds and provides an opportunity to respond, subject to urgent protective suspension where necessary. The complaints and appeals procedure explains how a decision can be challenged.