Affiliate membership: Individual staff members at higher education institutions within the SADC that are not existing SARUA members, may apply to become affiliated members. While not representing their institutions as full members, affiliate members are granted a level of association with SARUA to facilitate collaboration, networking, and participation in SARUA’s initiatives and activities.

Institutional associate membership: Public and private higher education institutions outside the SADC, which subscribe to SARUA’s values, and which, in the view of the Board, are able to support the Association in the achievement of its objectives, are eligible to apply for individual associate membership. Such institutions must be recognised and duly accredited by statute or other applicable law as higher education institutions in the country in which they operate, or in each country in which they operate in the case of multinational institutions.

Collective associate membership: Higher education associations or networks within or outside the SADC, which are not recognised as formal representative national higher education bodies, but subscribe to the Association’s values, and wish to support the Association in the achievement of its strategic purpose and objectives, may apply for collective associate membership.

Collective full membership: National higher education bodies that have a formal mandate to represent their national higher education system, may apply for full collective membership of the Association. There shall be no more than one collective full member for each country, unless the relevant national ministry that is responsible for the relevant higher education sector confirms the existence of more than one formal higher education representative body. Prospective collective full members should subscribe to the Association’s values and support the Association in the achievement of its objectives.