Evidence package for a new International Branch Campus
Evidence package for a new International Branch Campus
This guide is deliberately limited to a new International Branch Campus of a university established outside Saudi Arabia. It does not address a Saudi private higher-education institution, a branch of an existing local private institution, or a programme-addition request. The bylaw defines a foreign university as an academic institution established outside the Kingdom and a university branch as an entity established in the Kingdom and owned by that foreign university through a Saudi legal entity. Official source: [CUA, *Foreign University Branches Regulatory Bylaw*, Art. 1, p. 2]
For this route, viability evidence is an express establishment requirement rather than optional planning material. The foreign university, or its legally authorised representative, files with the General Secretariat and must include a study that establishes the viability of the proposed branch. The December 2024 CUA guide treats a New International Branch Campus as one of four distinct feasibility-study application types and describes the study as a foundation for the regulatory path to licensing and operation. Official sources: [CUA Bylaw, Art. 4, p. 3] CUA, *Feasibility Study Guide*, pp. 2–3 and 16–22]
The published assessment framework begins with the external case for the campus. It calls for an account of the Saudi economy and the campus contribution, quantified local demand for higher education and intended programmes, a five- to ten-year demand outlook, and an evidence-led appraisal of competing provision. That appraisal includes capacity and utilisation, competitor pricing in the relevant region, beneficiary and labour-market demand, future needs, and the fit between academic offerings, sector needs and national priorities. Official source: [CUA, *Feasibility Study Guide*, pp. 16–17]
The institutional case is equally specific. CUA asks for founder information and, when relevant, partner profiles and responsibilities. It also calls for location suitability, a high-level site and floor-plan view, governance evidence, an organisational chart, student-support arrangements, and learning/information resources. The quality section seeks the internal quality-assurance framework, accreditation evidence from the foreign university’s home-country accreditor, a plan addressing gaps against applicable standards, and adherence to Education and Training Evaluation Commission standards for academic programmes. Official source: [CUA, *Feasibility Study Guide*, pp. 18–19]
Financial evidence must show how the proposal can endure, not simply how it will open. The framework requests revenue streams, enrolment and tuition assumptions, operating-cost detail, capital expenditure, pre-operating expenditure, the capital structure, and forecast income statements, balance sheets and cash flows. It expressly identifies NPV, IRR, payback-period, break-even and scenario analysis. The final domain requires a timed five- to ten-year launch plan, programme rollout dates and rationale, plus an admissions ramp-up plan with capacity by faculty and programme. Official source: [CUA, *Feasibility Study Guide*, pp. 19–22]
CUA’s methodology distinguishes requirement-level labels of “Required” and “If applicable.” It assesses requirements within critical sub-domains on a pass/fail basis, with failure of any critical requirement resulting in automatic disqualification. Other applicable requirements are assessed against completeness, transparency and evidence-based justification using a three-point scale. Applicants should therefore retain reliable underlying evidence and make analytical choices intelligible to reviewers. Official source: [CUA, *Feasibility Study Guide*, pp. 5–7]
The regulatory sequence then separates establishment from permission to operate. The standing committee studies establishment applications and refers its recommendations to the Council. Once establishment approval has been issued, the owner applies to the General Secretariat for the licence; the branch may not conduct its activity before that licence is issued. The executive rules require an engineering certificate, from an entity accepted by the General Secretariat, confirming that facilities, premises and equipment meet applicable Saudi standards at the licensing stage. Official sources: [CUA Bylaw, Arts. 5 and 7, pp. 3–4] CUA Executive Rules, Arts. 2–3, p. 3]
The executive rules refer to the General Secretariat’s approved establishment form, legal-status evidence, and documents proving financial solvency and the capacity to establish and operate the branch. The referenced legal-status evidence includes a commercial registration and incorporation document for the branch’s legal entity, a non-profit institution licence, or Ministry of Investment approval for a foreign investor, according to legal status. Official source: [CUA Executive Rules, Art. 2, p. 3]
No sufficient official Saudi source was identified to establish this requirement: a published mandatory feasibility-study template, a universal numerical threshold for enrolment or capital, a processing time for an establishment request, a specified service-fee amount, or a named online application portal. The bylaw authorises the General Secretariat to set consideration for services but does not establish an amount in the official sources reviewed. Article 4 also allows the Minister, upon the committee’s recommendation, to add requirements or grant exemptions. Current requirements should therefore be confirmed directly with the General Secretariat before filing. Official source: [CUA Bylaw, Arts. 4 and 16]
Sources last verified: 20 September 2026.
Confirmed Records for the Foreign-University Branch Establishment and Licensing Route
Official Route and File-Preparation Sequence
Confirm that this is the correct route
Establish that the applicant is a foreign university, or its legally authorised representative, and that the proposed entity is its Saudi branch through a local legal entity. The bylaw does not treat this as the route for a local private HEI or its branch. CUA Bylaw, Arts. 1 and 4
Assemble the establishment-request core
Gather the university profile, branch basic statute, academic-structure statement, planned start date and viability study identified in Article 4. CUA Bylaw, Art. 4
Add executive-rule records
Complete the General Secretariat’s approved form and the applicable legal-status and financial-capability evidence. Match the legal evidence to the applicant’s status rather than assuming a single document applies to every case. CUA Executive Rules, Art. 2
Develop the feasibility study for the international-campus framework
Structure the study around the five published domains: market and competition, resources, quality and compliance, financial analysis, and implementation. Address the framework’s “Required” and “If applicable” items with evidence. CUA, *Feasibility Study Guide*, pp. 5–7 and 16–22
File the establishment request
The bylaw directs the request to the General Secretariat. No sufficient official Saudi source was identified to establish a named online portal or published form fields; the submission channel should not be assumed. CUA Bylaw, Art. 4; CUA Executive Rules, Art. 2
Committee examination and recommendation
The standing committee studies foreign-branch establishment requests and refers recommendations to the Council. The reviewed sources do not establish a review duration or undisclosed internal review criteria. CUA Bylaw, Art. 5
Apply for the operating licence after establishment approval
Following establishment approval, the owner applies to the General Secretariat for the licence and includes the required engineering certificate. The rules give the branch three years from notification of the establishment approval to complete licensing requirements; the committee may grant a one-year extension. CUA Bylaw, Art. 7; CUA Executive Rules, Arts. 3 and 5
Do not begin activity before licensing
The branch cannot operate before the licence has been issued. The executive rules state a five-year licence term, renewable using the approved form subject to renewal requirements. CUA Bylaw, Art. 7; CUA Executive Rules, Art. 4
Guide Table
| Document type | Common use | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Route definition | Shows that the proposal is a foreign university branch through a Saudi legal entity | This establishes bylaw scope; it does not replace the evidence package. CUA Bylaw, Art. 1 |
| Feasibility study | Demonstrates the viability of establishing the branch | It is an explicit establishment-request requirement; classification A. CUA Bylaw, Art. 4 |
| Market and competition | Tests demand, programme case, competitor supply, capacity, pricing and labour-market fit | This is the first domain in the New International Branch Campus framework. *Feasibility Study Guide*, pp. 16–17 |
| Resources | Assesses founders, partners, location, facilities, governance and student support | The framework requests evidence and detail calibrated to the relevant requirement. *Feasibility Study Guide*, p. 18 |
| Quality and accreditation | Sets out internal assurance, accreditation and compliance arrangements | It includes home-country accreditation evidence and ETEC standards for programmes. *Feasibility Study Guide*, p. 19 |
| Financial analysis | Demonstrates sustainability through revenue, cost, investment, funding, forecasts and indicators | NPV, IRR, payback, break-even and scenario analysis are expressly named. *Feasibility Study Guide*, pp. 19–22 |
| Implementation | Maps the launch sequence, programmes, admissions and capacity | The published timed plan covers the first five to ten years. *Feasibility Study Guide*, p. 22 |
| Establishment request | Sends the evidence package to the General Secretariat | The standing committee studies the request and recommends to the Council. CUA Bylaw, Arts. 4–5 |
| Licence application | Completes the engineering certificate and licensing request after establishment approval | Activity cannot begin until the licence is issued. CUA Bylaw, Art. 7; Executive Rules, Art. 3 |
International Branch Campus Feasibility Questions
Is a feasibility study compulsory for a foreign university branch establishment request?
Yes. Article 4 requires a study that explains and demonstrates the viability of the establishment. CUA’s published framework separately addresses a New International Branch Campus. Official sources: [CUA Bylaw, Art. 4] *Feasibility Study Guide*, pp. 16–22]
Who can lodge the establishment application?
The foreign university itself, or a person legally authorised to represent it, submits the request to the General Secretariat. Official source: [CUA Bylaw, Art. 4]
What core items must accompany the establishment request?
CUA lists the foreign-university profile, viability study, branch basic statute, academic components and proposed academic-start date. Official source: [CUA Bylaw, Art. 4]
What does CUA mean by the branch’s “basic statute”?
It is the foreign university’s approved instrument that identifies the branch, its Saudi legal entity and structure, and its administrative, financial and academic rules and policies. Official source: [CUA Bylaw, Art. 1]
Must the study test demand for the intended programmes?
Yes. The international-campus framework asks for analysis of local higher-education demand and demand for target programmes, including a five- to ten-year outlook. Official source: [CUA, *Feasibility Study Guide*, p. 16]
How far does the competition analysis go?
CUA asks for a review of comparable international-branch programmes, capacity and utilisation, and competitor tuition and associated fee structures in the relevant region. Official source: [CUA, *Feasibility Study Guide*, p. 17]
Is labour-market alignment part of the feasibility case?
It is. The framework calls for sectoral and national-priority alignment, graduate-demand evidence, and future labour-market trends relevant to the proposed academic offerings. Official source: [CUA, *Feasibility Study Guide*, pp. 17–18]
What resource and site evidence should the study contain?
It addresses founders, applicable partners, site suitability, and the physical, virtual and social resource plan, including high-level site and floor plans where available. Official source: [CUA, *Feasibility Study Guide*, p. 18]
Are governance and student support assessed?
Yes. The framework seeks authority-delegation and oversight evidence, an organisational chart, appropriate student services, and accessible learning and information systems with technical support. Official source: [CUA, *Feasibility Study Guide*, pp. 18–19]
What accreditation evidence is expected?
The study should demonstrate accreditation by the foreign university’s home-country accreditor, identify relevant gaps, and show how they will be addressed; the framework also states that the branch must comply with ETEC quality standards for academic programmes. Official source: [CUA, *Feasibility Study Guide*, p. 19]
Which financial tests does CUA expressly name?
The framework expressly identifies NPV, IRR and payback-period analysis, together with break-even and scenario analysis. Official source: [CUA, *Feasibility Study Guide*, pp. 20–22]
How does the published assessment methodology work?
Critical sub-domain requirements are pass/fail and any unmet critical requirement causes automatic disqualification. Additional applicable items are scored for completeness, transparency and evidence-based justification on a three-point scale. Official source: [CUA, *Feasibility Study Guide*, pp. 5–7]
What happens after establishment approval?
The owner proceeds to a licence application with the General Secretariat. Approval to establish does not authorise activity; the branch must wait for the issued licence. Official source: [CUA Bylaw, Art. 7]
Is there a deadline to complete the licensing requirements?
The branch has up to three years from notification of establishment approval. The standing committee may grant a one-year extension under the executive rules. Official source: [CUA Executive Rules, Art. 5]
Does the reviewed official material publish a form, fee or establishment-review timeframe?
No sufficient official Saudi source was identified to establish a published feasibility-study or application form, a fee amount, or a processing period. The bylaw only authorises the General Secretariat to determine consideration for its services. Official source: [CUA Bylaw, Art. 16]
This guide is for general information and is not legal or consular advice. Always verify current requirements with the receiving authority.