Degree Authorization

Private and Out-of-province Public Institutions - Legislation

The Degree Authorization Act requires private and out-of-province public post-secondary institutions to obtain consent from the Minister of Advanced Education and Labour Market Development if they wish to do any of the following:

• Grant or confer a degree in British Columbia.
• Provide a program in British Columbia that leads to a degree that is conferred inside or outside British Columbia.
• Advertise a program offered in British Columbia leading to a degree that is conferred inside or outside British Columbia.
• Sell, offer for sale, or advertise for sale or provide by agreement for a fee, reward or other remuneration, a diploma, certificate, document or other material that indicates or implies the granting or conferring of a degree.

The Degree Authorization Act also requires private and out-of-province public post-secondary institutions that wish to use the word “university” in their name to either obtain consent from the minister to do so, or be authorized by a British Columbia statute to do so.

The Degree Authorization Act Regulations include requirements for financial security and establish fees.

There are some exemptions to the consent requirements of the Degree Authorization Act.

The degree quality assessment process established under the Degree Authorization Act will be subject to the provisions of the Personal Information Protection Act. Other legislation respecting post-secondary education in British Columbia may be found in the BC Statutes home page.