Registration of Private HEIs

• Eligible Applicants 

Persons seeking to establish and operate a private Higher Education are required to submit an application for registration to the Higher Education Authority. The Authority shall approve an application for registration if the applicant complies with Part IV Section 20 of the Higher Ed­ucation Act No. 4 of 2013. 

The Higher Education Authority will re­ceive and consider an application from the following groups of applicants: 

• Applications from existing private higher education institutions which were licensed under the (repealed) University Act (1999).
• Applications for the establishment and operation of new private higher ed­ucation institutions.
• Foreign Universities seeking to es­tablish higher education institutions in Zambia.
• Application to effect changes to the registration status of a private higher ed­ucation institution.
• Applications from existing private higher education institutions which were licensed under the (repealed) University Act (1999) 

Private Higher Education Institutions which were licensed under the (repealed) University Act will be required to seek registration under the Higher Education Act No. 4 of 2013. These institutions have been allowed to operate under their cur­rent licenses up to 30th September 2015. Thereafter, these will require seeking and obtaining registration under the Higher Education Act No. 4 of 2013. 

• Applications for the establishment and operation of new private higher ed­ucation institutions 

The Higher Education Authority will receive and consider applications from new private higher education institutions from 1st April 2015. 

• Foreign Universities seeking to es­tablish higher education institutions in Zambia 

Foreign Universities seeking to register private higher education institutions in Zambia will follow the same procedure as elaborated in this document. 

• Application to effect changes to the registration status of a private higher education institution 

The proprietor of a private higher educa­tion institution shall, where any change or alteration occurs at the private higher education institution, inform the High­er Education Authority of the change or alteration within thirty (30) days of the change or alteration. 

A change shall only be effected in the establishment or operational plan of the private higher education institution if the Authority approves the change and the particulars of the change are recorded in the Register. 

A change in the establishment or opera­tional plan of a private higher education institution means:- 

• The provision of any additional fac­ulty or programme in the private higher education institution not included in any previous registration;
• The reopening of the closed private higher education institution;
• The change of ownership or manage­ment of the private higher education in­stitution, whether the change takes effect by way of partnership or otherwise;
• The transfer of the private higher edu­cation institution to a new site or change of its principal office;
• The alteration of any qualification for admission to the private higher education institution; or
• The provision of any type of educa­tion not falling within the classification in which the institution was previously registered. 

The application process

• All applicants shall complete the Ap­plication Form and submit to the Higher Education Authority.
• The applicant prepares and submits the “Operational Plan”. The contents of the Operational Plan for each of the cat­egories of applications are elaborated be­low.

• The applicant submits the completed application form and the Operational Plan, with the non-refundable Applica­tion Fee.
• The Higher Education Authority eval­uates the application. The Authority may, within thirty (30) days of receipt of an application, approve the application on such terms and conditions as it may de­termine, or reject the application.
• The Authority shall, where it rejects an application for Registration, inform the applicant, in writing, and give reasons therefore.
• A physical inspection is conducted at the premises of institutions qualifying for registration.
• The certificate of registration is issued.
• The registered institutions are published in the Government Gazette and Daily Newspaper. 

All applicants shall complete the Ap­plication Form and submit to the HEA. 

Application Fees

K500 (Zambian Owned HEI)

K1, 000 (Foreign Owned HEI) 

Application Processing Fees

K10, 000 (Zambian Owned HEI)

K15, 000 (Foreign Owned HEI) 

• The Operational Plan 

A private higher education institution shall develop an Operational Plan which shall include information on the follow­ing: 

• Premises where the higher education institution is to operate in Zambia.
• Vision, Mission and Strategy.
• Academic programmes, including the requirements of the courses, learning outcomes, and levels of awards.
• Student admission and Support sys­tems and structures.
• Governance and Management.
• Physical facilities for Teaching and Learning.
• Technology Infrastructure.
• Arrangements and facilities for Re­search
• Financial Resources
• Health and safety
• Academic and non-Academic Staff 

The proprietor of the private higher ed­ucation institution will submit the Op­erational Plan to the Higher Education Authority for approval. 

A private higher education institution shall not commence any operations until the Operational Plan is approved by the Higher Education Authority. 

• Institutional Audit

 The Higher Education Authority shall, for purposes of ensuring compliance with the provisions of the Higher Educa­tion Act, and verification of information provided by the applicant, conduct an In­stitutional Audit of the higher education institution. 

• Certificate of Registration

 The Authority shall, where it approves an application for registration, issue the ap­plicant with a certificate of registration in the prescribed form. 

The proprietor of a private higher educa­tion institution shall not operate the pri­vate higher education institution on any premises within Zambia, other than the premises specified in its certificate of reg­istration or other premises approved by the Authority for such purposes. 

• Appeals 

A person who is aggrieved by the decision of the Higher Education Authority may appeal to the Minister within thirty-days of the decision of the Higher Education Authority. 

• Criteria for Registration