Affiliation

Institution TypesPolicy & Regulation

An arrangement in which a college operates under the academic authority of a parent university, which sets the curriculum, conducts examinations and awards degrees.

This model is common in South Asia, where one university may have hundreds of affiliated colleges. Affiliated colleges typically have limited curricular autonomy, though some earn 'autonomous' status granting greater academic freedom while still linked to the university.

Related Terms
Autonomous College
An affiliated college granted the freedom to design its own curriculum and conduct its own examinations while remaining linked to a university.
University
A degree-awarding higher-education institution spanning multiple disciplines, typically combining teaching and research.
State University
A university established and primarily funded by a state or provincial government, usually serving the population of that region.
Central University
A university established and primarily funded by the national (central) government through an act of the national legislature.
Deemed-to-be University
A status granted to a high-performing institution that confers university-like autonomy and the power to award its own degrees, even though it was not originally established as a full university.