Triple Accredited Universities in UK

Studying at an internationally recognised triply accredited can add colours to your resume. Only a few elite higher education schools in the world are triply accredited and degrees gained from these colleges are accepted worldwide and remain in demand among industries. This article contains complete information on the triple accredited universities in UK. 

Only a very few selected universities in the world are triply accredited and the ones which do remain in high demand. The UK has the highest number of triple-accredited business schools than any other country in the world. However, there are a total of 135 triple-accredited universities in the world as of 23 October 2024.

Accreditations are important for business schools as they speak for the quality of education, curriculum and faculty of the business school. If a university is “accredited”, it means that the university has been evaluated by an external authorised and recognised body which deems the university as a trustworthy and credible source of imparting education. This also means that the quality of education provided by the university is at a satisfactory level. On the other hand, if a university is not accredited then, it simply means that the university has not been accredited by an external organisation and thus may not meet the quality standard and thus students holding degrees may not seem credible to the employers.

Every accreditation is like a crown for a university as it vouches for its quality of education and the degrees that the universities provide. For this reason, the triple-accredited universities are sometimes also known as the triple-crown accredited universities. Many top highly ranked business schools in the world like the Oxford Said and Cambridge Judge Business School don’t have the crown of triple accreditations. That is why, universities with lower rankings maintain high academic standards to win and maintain triple accreditations as these set them apart in business education. This article covers complete information about the triple-accredited universities in the UK.

What is Triple Accreditation?

A university/business school having triple accreditations means that the particular education imparting body is evaluated by three different international organisations which in turn renders it satisfactory for delivering quality education. The triple accreditations, also known as the “triple crown” are available to only 1-2% of the top business schools in the world. 

Triple accreditations assure students that the university abides strongly by the high-quality standard of imparting global education and that their degrees will remain valid and in-demand globally. 

The top 3 international  business accreditations are:

1. Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB) - US
2. Association of MBAs (AMBA) - UK
3. and EFMD Quality Improvement System (EQUIS) - Belgium

What is Triple Crown Accreditation?

The triple-crown accreditation is a much-coveted honour for business schools around the world. Having a triple crown accreditation distinguishes the business schools from the others in terms of quality of education, better curricula and faculties. For business schools to be triple-crowned, they are evaluated by the top 3 accrediting bodies namely AMBA, AACSB and EQUIS for factors like internationalisation, faculty, and quality of research. As of October 2024, only 135 business schools in the world have received the triple-crown status. 

List of Triple Accredited Universities in the UK

The UK boasts the maximum number of triple-accredited universities in the world. Below are the top Triple Crown Accredited Business Schools in the UK for international students:

Triple Accredited Business Schools in the UK
Adam Smith Business School (University of Glasgow)	Leeds University Business School (Leeds University)	Aston Business School (Aston University)
London Business School	Birmingham Business School (University of Birmingham)	Loughborough University School of Business & Economics (Loughborough University)
Cranfield School of Management (Cranfield University)	Manchester Metropolitan University Business School	Henley Business School (University of Reading)
Newcastle University Business School (Newcastle University)	Imperial College Business School (Imperial College London)	University of Nottingham Business School (University of Nottingham)
King’s Business School (King’s College London)	Open University Business School (Open University)	Lancaster University Management School (Lancaster University)
University of Sheffield Management School (University of Sheffield)	Kent Business School (University of Kent)	Strathclyde Business School (University of Strathclyde)
Hult International Business School	Edinburgh Business School (University of Edinburgh)	Durham University Business School (Durham University)
University of Exeter Business School (University of Exeter)	Bradford University School of Management (University of Bradford)	University of Liverpool Management School (University of Liverpool)
Bayes Business School (City, University of London)	Warwick Business School (University of Warwick)	Alliance Manchester Business School (University of Manchester)

Triple Accreditation Evaluation Criteria 

Check out the details on all these top 3 business accreditations below:

1. AACSB

Any business school that is AACSB accredited is evaluated based on the following three standards:

1. Strategic Management and Innovation: It enlists the entire range of activities that the business school engages in to fulfil its missions and also informs the school of resource management. 
2. Learner Success: It assesses that the business school ensures learner’s success by delivering content that is current, relevant, forward-looking, globally oriented, aligned with program competency goals, and consistent with its mission, strategies, and expected outcomes.
3. Thoughtful Leadership, Engagement and Societal Impact: As er this standard, the review team looks out that the business school’s faculty produces significant intellectual contributions that evolve into thought leadership aligned with the school's mission. 

The initial accreditation period by AACSB is 5 years and 6 years for the Continuous Improvement Review (CIR) phase. The peer review team expects the business schools to have a strategic plan as a principal artefact to be examined. The strategic plan lays the groundwork for the school's intellectual portfolio, peer group selection, and ambitions. It defines the mission, initiatives, goals, objectives, tactics, and success metrics, incorporating input from key stakeholders. 

2. AMBA

The Association of MBAs (AMBA) is the global standard for all MBA, DBA, and Master's degrees, accrediting only the top 2% of business schools in over 75 countries. AMBA accreditation relies on a comprehensive set of standards that address multiple facets of the MBA program such as:

1. Faculty Expertise: AMBA evaluates the qualifications and experience of teaching staff, including academic credentials, research contributions, and industry experience.
2. Curriculum Design: The curriculum must be relevant, challenging, and aligned with current business trends, balancing theory and real-world application.
3. Student Experience: AMBA considers student engagement, career support services, and the quality of the learning environment.
4. Program Outcomes: The effectiveness of the program in meeting learning objectives and preparing graduates for careers is assessed through employment rates and career progression.
5. Continuous Improvement: AMBA encourages accredited programs to regularly assess and enhance their offerings to maintain high standards.

3. EQUIS

The EFMD Quality Improvement System (EQUIS) is a globally recognised mark of excellence for business and management education, administered by the European Foundation for Management Development (EFMD). EQUIS accredits entire business schools, not just individual programs. This holistic approach evaluates the overall quality and performance of the institution. The following are the key principles on which EQUIS evaluates the business schools: 

1. Relevance: Educational programs and research should align with the demands of both businesses and society.  
2. Quality: It is essential to uphold high standards in teaching, research, and student assistance.  
3. Responsibility: Institutions need to prioritize ethical and responsible practices in their operations.  
4. Internationalisation: A worldwide viewpoint and active participation in the international community are crucial for institutions.  
5. Continuous Improvement: Institutions should consistently work towards enhancing the quality of their offerings and services.

Accreditations for Universities in the UK

There are over 46 accrediting bodies in the UK that evaluate universities based on their courses, missions, subjects, quality of imparting education, aligned faculties, and overall success of the learners. Check out the comprehensive list of the accrediting bodies for higher education institutions in the UK below. 

The Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education (QAA)	The Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC)	The Scottish Higher Education Funding Council (SHEFC)
The General Dental Council (GDC)	The Department for the Economy (DfE) in Northern Ireland	The Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC)
The Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA)	The Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS)	The Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (ICAEW)
The British Psychological Society (BPS)	The Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA)	The Royal College of Art (RCA)
The Royal Society of Biology (RSB)	The Royal College of Music (RCM)	The Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET)
The General Medical Council (GMC)	The Conservatoire for Dance and Drama (CDD)	The Institute of Physics (IOP)
The University of London International Programmes (UOLIP)	The Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC)	The Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA)
The Law Society of England and Wales	The Bar Standards Board (BSB)	The Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy (CIPFA)
The General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC)	The Chartered Association of Business Schools (CABS)	The Institute and Faculty of Actuaries (IFoA)
The Higher Education Funding Council for Wales (HEFCW)	The Office of Qualifications and Examinations Regulation (Ofqual)	The Office for Students (OfS)
Global Education Accrediting Commission (GEAC)	The Law Society	The British Accreditation Council (BAC)
International Association of Book-Keepers (IAB)	The National Council for the Training of Journalists (NCTJ)	Institute of Administrative Management (IAM)
The Association of Independent Schools of Art and Design (AIASD)	Institute of Hospitality (IoH)	The Foundation for International Business Administration Accreditation (FIBAA)
Association of Business Executives (ABE)	The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB)	Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP)
The European Quality Improvement System (EQUIS)	Accreditation Service for International Schools, Colleges and Universities (ASIC)	The Association of MBAs (AMBA)
The Bar Council

Source: Global Education Accrediting Commission