Degree accreditation

TOPRA has established its degree accreditation programme to promote the inclusion of healthcare regulatory affairs in appropriate undergraduate degrees, in order to raise awareness of regulatory affairs as a career, improve the pipeline of talent and increase access to the profession.

Accreditation of a degree programme is an important mark of assurance that the course meets the professional standards set by TOPRA and meets the needs of the regulatory profession. 

These standards align with the TOPRA Competency Framework and as such provide students with an important first step on the pathway to becoming a TOPRA Registered Member. 

Accreditation gives students and employers confidence that the course will prepare students for the workplace. It also recognises and promotes excellence in the teaching of regulatory affairs.

We were delighted to accredit our first regulatory affairs module recently and hope that it will help to raise awareness of regulatory affairs at undergraduate level. There is a significant skills gap in the profession and this is one of the initiatives we have developed to develop the regulatory talent pipeline.” – Samantha Cooper, Former Director of Professional Development, TOPRA

Accredited institutions

Find out more about Kingston University's Pharmaceutical Science with Regulatory Affairs BSc (Hons) programme.

Samantha Cooper, discusses our degree accreditation programme.

Who can be accredited?

Universities and degree-awarding bodies worldwide, such as further education colleges and those delivering externally validated undergraduate programmes, may all apply for accreditation. 

Accreditation may be applicable to degrees in regulatory affairs or to modules on regulatory affairs included as part of a broader degree such as pharmaceutical sciences or engineering.  

Accreditation may be awarded following an independent assessment of degree programmes to ensure they include a solid academic and practical foundation in regulatory affairs. 

The accreditation process is not intended to define the specific contents of the curriculum to be delivered but to ensure that the content meets the standards set by TOPRA to deliver regulatory content in line with our core competencies.

For further information, please download the TOPRA Degree Accreditation Handbook (Adobe PDF) or email Sammi Kwok at meetings@topra.org.

Accreditation fees

Accreditation is valid for three years. The application fee for the initial application assessment and subsequent revalidations will be based on the cost to TOPRA of assessing the application and visiting the university. This fee will be calculated individually for each university and is available on request. 

Once the programme is accredited an annual fee is payable as follows:

• Degree programme annual fee: £2,000 (+ VAT at the applicable rate)
• Module accreditation annual fee: £1,000 (+VAT at the applicable rate)

Changes to the programme during the accreditation period
Accredited institutions will be obliged to inform TOPRA of changes to their programme.  Minor changes to the programme will incur no additional fee. Review of major changes will incur a charge of £250 (+ VAT at the applicable rate).

TOPRA reserves the right to require a full re-accreditation application if the changes are deemed to be substantial enough to require this.

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