Programme Accreditation and Re-accredidation

The focus in the accreditation of new programmes is on evaluation of their capacity or potential to meet the NCHE's quality requirements within a specified period of time. Consequently, the evaluation focuses on the quality of the policies, strategies, procedures, curriculum, etc. that have been developed for the new programme. In the case of existing programmes, the focus is more on evaluation of implementation aspects and the achieved learning outcomes.

The Programme Accreditation Manual provides to both the higher education provider, as well as the NCHE Secretariat, guidance and advice on how best to implement the programme accreditation system. As laid down in the Quality Assurance System for Higher Education in Namibia, where necessary, NCHE also cooperate with other Statutory Bodies to develop Integrated Accreditation Manuals for dual accreditation purposes.

The first step in the procedures for programme accreditation for an institution that intends to offer new programmes is to apply to the NCHE for accreditation of the programmes. The Application Form (Download Here) must be completed by both the public and private higher education institutions, offering higher education programmes at NQF Level 5 and above. Completed application forms must be submitted officially to the NCHE Secretariat.

Accreditation of a new/existing programme is valid for a maximum period of six years, after which the programme becomes eligible for re-accreditation. However, NCHE reserves the right to require re-accreditation of the programme before the cycle lapses if evidence points to serious inadequacies, if more than 40 per cent of the contents of the curriculum are changed and/or when the programme is offered at a new site of delivery.

According to the Quality Assurance System for Higher Education in Namibia (2009), apart from meeting the NCHE's accreditation requirements, the programmes must meet the requirements of other statutory bodies, where applicable. Thus, NCHE entered into cooperation agreements with different professional bodies to streamline the accreditation process by endorsing the programmes after the professional bodies approve the curricula.

The following is the list of academic programmes accredited by NCHE:

Programme Institution Accreditation Period
Diploma in Media and Communication Studies Level 6 UNAM Accredited with conditions, December 2023- November 2025
Diploma in Performing Arts Level 6 UNAM Accredited with conditions, December 2022 - November 2024
Diploma in Pharmacy Level 6 Health Professions Councils of Namibia Accredited, December 2022- November 2023
Diploma in Police Management Level 5 UNAM Accredited with conditions, December 2019-November 2021
Diploma in Project Management Level 6 UNAM Accredited with conditions, December 2022 - November 2024
Diploma in Sustainable Crop Production and Technologies Level 6 UNAM Accredited for a full cycle of six years, December 2023 - November 2029
Doctor of Business Administration Level 10 UNAM Accredited with conditions, December 2022 - November 2024
Doctor of Education in Organisational Learning and Development Level 10 UNAM Accredited for a full cycle of six years, December 2025 - November 2031
Doctor of Philosophy in Accounting Level 10 UNAM Accredited for a full cycle of six years, December 2025 - November 2031
Doctor of Philosophy in Afrikaans Studies Level 10 UNAM Accredited for a full cycle of six years, December 2025 - November 2031
Doctor of Philosophy in Anthropology Level 10 UNAM Accredited for a full cycle of six years, December 2025 - November 2031
Doctor of Philosophy in Applied Linguistics Level 10 NUST Accredited with conditions November 2024 - October 2026
Doctor of Philosophy in Applied Statistics Level 10 UNAM  Accredited for a full cycle of six years, December 2025 - November 2031
Doctor of Philosophy in Art and Design Level 10 UNAM Accredited for a full cycle of six years, December 2025 - November 2031
Doctor of Philosophy in Biochemistry Level 10 UNAM  Accredited for a full cycle of six years, December 2025 - November 2031
Doctor of Philosophy in Climate Science Level 10 UNAM Accredited for a full cycle of six years, December 2025 - November 2031
Doctor of Philosophy in Climate Science Level 10 UNAM Accredited for a full cycle of six years, December 2025 - November 2031
Doctor of Philosophy in Computer Science Level 10 UNAM  Accredited for a full cycle of six years, December 2025 - November 2031
Doctor of Philosophy in Crop Science Level 10 UNAM Accredited for a full cycle of six years, December 2025 - November 2031
Doctor of Philosophy in Development Studies Level 10 UNAM Accredited for a full cycle of six years, December 2025 - November 2031
Doctor of Philosophy in Education Organisational Learning and Development Level 10 UNAM Accredited for a full cycle of six years, December 2025 - November 2031
Doctor of Philosophy in English Studies Level 8 UNAM Accredited for a full cycle of six years, December 2025 - November 2031
Doctor of Philosophy in Environmental Biology Level 10 UNAM  Accredited for a full cycle of six years, December 2025 - November 2031
Doctor of Philosophy in Financial Mathematics Level 10 UNAM Accredited for a full cycle of six years, December 2025 - November 2031
Doctor of Philosophy in Financial Mathematics Level 10 UNAM  Accredited for a full cycle of six years, December 2025 - November 2031
Doctor of Philosophy in Fisheries and Ocean Sciences Level 10 UNAM Accredited for a full cycle of six years, December 2025 - November 2031
Doctor of Philosophy in Forestry Level 10 UNAM Accredited for a full cycle of six years, December 2025 - November 2031
Doctor of Philosophy in Geoinformatics Level 10 UNAM  Accredited for a full cycle of six years, December 2025 - November 2031
Doctor of Philosophy in Geosciences Level 10 UNAM Accredited for a full cycle of six years, December 2025 - November 2031
Doctor of Philosophy in German Studies Level 10 UNAM Accredited for a full cycle of six years, December 2025 - November 2031
Doctor of Philosophy in Health Sciences Level 10 NUST Accredited for a full cycle of six years, November 2021- October 2027 [AC-NUST 0026]
Doctor of Philosophy in Higher Education Studies Level 10 UNAM Accredited for a full cycle of six years, December 2025 - November 2031
Doctor of Philosophy in Information Science Level 10 UNAM Accredited for a full cycle of six years, December 2025 - November 2031
Doctor of Philosophy in Khoekhoegowab Studies Level 10 UNAM Accredited for a full cycle of six years, December 2025 - November 2031
Doctor of Philosophy in Management Sciences Level 10 NUST Accredited for the full cycle of six years, November 2025 - October 2031
Doctor of Philosophy in Mathematics Level 10 UNAM Accredited with conditions, October 2018-September 2020
Doctor of Philosophy in Mathematics Level 10 NUST Accredited for a full cycle of six years, November 2021- October 2027 [AC-NUST 0027]
Doctor of Philosophy in Media and Communication Level 10 UNAM Accredited for a full cycle of six years, December 2025 - November 2031
Doctor of Philosophy in Microbiology Level 10 UNAM  Accredited for a full cycle of six years, December 2025 - November 2031
Doctor of Philosophy in Natural and Applied Science Level 10 NUST Accredited for a full cycle of six years, December 2023- November 2029
Doctor of Philosophy in Natural Resource Management and Ecology Level 10 NUST Accredited with conditions, November 2025 - October 2027
Doctor of Philosophy in Nursing Science Level 10 UNAM Accredited for a full cycle of six years, December 2025 - November 2031
Doctor of Philosophy in Oshikwanyama Studies Level 10 UNAM Accredited for a full cycle of six years, December 2025 - November 2031
Doctor of Philosophy in Oshindonga Studies Level 10 UNAM Accredited for a full cycle of six years, December 2025 - November 2031
Doctor of Philosophy in Otjiherero Studies Level 10 UNAM Accredited for a full cycle of six years, December 2025 - November 2031
Doctor of Philosophy in Physics Level 10 UNAM Accredited for the full cycle of six years, From October 2018 - September 2024 [AC-UNAM 0010]
Doctor of Philosophy in Psychology Level 10 UNAM Accredited for a full cycle of six years, December 2025 - November 2031
Doctor of Philosophy in Public Health Level 10 UNAM Accredited for a full cycle of six years, December 2025 - November 2031
Doctor of Philosophy in Religious Studies Level 10 UNAM Accredited for a full cycle of six years, December 2025 - November 2031
Doctor of Philosophy in Sociology Level 10 UNAM Accredited for a full cycle of six years, December 2025 - November 2031

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