Best Campus to Study™ (BCTS)
An initiative of HERA – Higher Education Research & Analytics, USA

Last Updated: August 2026

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1. Purpose

This Policy governs:

• eligibility for BCTS Certification;

• certification decisions;

• the validity of certification;

• public communication of certification status;

• use of the BCTS Certified™ mark;

• use of associated scores and distinctions; and

• suspension, expiry or withdrawal of certification.

BCTS Certification is intended to recognise institutions that satisfy defined student-experience and institutional-assurance standards.

 

 

2. Nature of BCTS Certification

BCTS is a certification and benchmarking framework and should not be represented as a conventional numerical ranking unless BCTS expressly publishes a separate ranking product. Certification indicates that an institution has met the applicable BCTS assessment requirements for a specified certification cycle. It does not imply that every student will have the same experience.

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3. Certification Methodology

The BCTS Certification process may include three proprietary components:

• Campus Experience Index™ - Measures the lived student experience through structured student feedback.

• Institutional Assurance Audit™ - Evaluates institutional policies, systems, infrastructure, student services and supporting evidence.

• Campus Distinction Score™ - Integrates validated assessment outcomes into the final benchmark used for determining certification eligibility.

BCTS may periodically update the methodology, survey architecture, sample requirements, benchmarks and certification thresholds.

 

4. Certification Is Earned, Not Purchased

Payment of an assessment, registration, certification or participation fee does not guarantee BCTS Certification.

An institution may receive certification only after successfully satisfying the applicable assessment and verification requirements. Commercial engagement with BCTS, HERA or an affiliated provider must not be represented as influencing certification outcomes.

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5. Scope of Certification

Certification may apply to:

• an entire institution;

• a defined campus;

• a designated institutional entity; or

• another expressly stated assessment unit.

An institution must not extend the certification mark to campuses, programmes or entities outside the certified scope unless expressly authorised.

 

6. Certification Period

BCTS Certification is valid only for the period stated on the certificate or formal certification communication.

Institutions wishing to maintain certified status may be required to undergo reassessment for a subsequent cycle.

Certification automatically ceases to be current upon expiry unless renewed.

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7. BCTS Certification Mark

Only institutions formally awarded BCTS Certification may use the authorised BCTS Certified™ mark.

The mark may indicate to students and other stakeholders that the authorised institution has met the standards prescribed for the relevant certification cycle. This use is consistent with the general function of certification marks recognised by the USPTO. Use is subject to these Terms and any accompanying brand-usage guidelines.

 

8. Permitted Uses

During the valid certification period, an authorised institution may generally use the approved certification mark on:

• its official website;

• prospectuses;

• brochures;

• admissions materials;

• annual reports;

• social-media communications;

• institutional presentations;

• authorised advertisements;

• campus signage;

• press releases; and

• other approved institutional communications.

The mark must always relate accurately to the certified institution and certification period.

 

9. Prohibited Uses

Institutions may not:

• alter the BCTS mark;

• distort proportions;

• modify wording;

• use unauthorised colours or variants;

• remove the certification year where required;

• incorporate the mark into the institution's own logo;

• transfer certification to another institution;

• use the mark after certification expiry;

• imply certification of an uncertified campus;

• represent BCTS Certification as government accreditation;

• imply regulatory approval;

• fabricate or alter scores;

• represent certification as a ranking position unless expressly authorised; or

• use BCTS marks in any materially misleading manner.

 

10. Certification Claims

Permitted claims may include:  BCTS Certified™ YYYY (Eg. 2027) / Certified by Best Campus to Study™ /  Best Campus to Study™ Certified Institution. Institutions should use only claims formally approved or supported by their issued certification status. 

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Claims such as: “Country's No. 1 BCTS University” (Exmaple: USA's No. 1 / India's No. 1 BCTS University)

or “The Best University in India according to BCTS” must not be used unless BCTS has expressly published and authorised such a ranking claim.

 

11. Use of Scores

Where BCTS authorises publication of the Campus Distinction Score™ or other assessment outcomes, institutions must:

• reproduce scores accurately;

• state the relevant certification cycle;

• avoid selective manipulation;

• provide explanatory context where required; and

• follow current BCTS communication guidelines.

Confidential internal benchmarks must not be publicly disclosed without permission.

 

 

12. Use of Distinctions

BCTS may recognise specific areas of demonstrated strength, such as:

• Campus Living;

• Student Wellbeing;

• Future Readiness;

• Learning Experience;

• Campus Culture; or

• other BCTS-defined distinctions.

Institutions may communicate only distinctions formally issued by BCTS.

 

 

13. Certification Does Not Constitute Accreditation

BCTS Certification is not intended to replace:

• statutory accreditation;

• government recognition;

• institutional licensing;

• regulatory approval;

• professional accreditation; or

• academic quality-assurance requirements.

Institutions must not communicate BCTS Certification in a manner likely to confuse stakeholders about its nature.

 

 

14. Certification and Student Outcomes

BCTS Certification does not guarantee:

• admission;

• employment;

• salary;

• placement;

• academic performance;

• student satisfaction;

• specific campus services; or

• individual outcomes.

Certification reflects performance against the applicable BCTS framework during the relevant assessment cycle.

 

 

15. Integrity of Student Participation

Institutions participating in BCTS must not:

• coach students to provide particular answers;

• provide incentives tied to favourable responses;

• suppress negative participation;

• impersonate students;

• submit responses on behalf of students;

• seek to identify confidential respondents; or

• otherwise manipulate the assessment process.

Evidence of manipulation may lead to review, suspension or withdrawal.

 

 

16. Institutional Evidence

Institutions are responsible for the accuracy and authenticity of submitted evidence.

BCTS may:

• seek clarifications;

• request supporting documents;

• conduct consistency checks;

• verify information through reasonable means;

• seek independent validation; or

• withhold certification where material concerns remain unresolved.

 

 

17. Suspension or Withdrawal

BCTS may suspend, revoke or withdraw certification where:

• material information was false or misleading;

• survey manipulation occurred;

• certification marks are misused;

• the institution makes materially misleading claims;

• serious issues arise that undermine certification integrity;

• applicable certification terms are breached; or

• continued use of the certification would materially compromise the credibility of BCTS.

 

 

18. Consequences of Withdrawal

Where certification is withdrawn, the institution may be required to:

• cease using the BCTS certification mark;

• remove certification claims from websites and marketing materials;

• stop issuing new materials containing the mark;

• correct inaccurate public claims; and

• comply with additional remedial directions issued by BCTS.

 

 

19. Expiry

At the end of the certification period, an institution must discontinue presenting itself as currently certified unless certification has been renewed. Historic certification may be referenced only where the year or certification cycle is clearly stated.  Example: “BCTS Certified™ 2027” rather than “BCTS Certified™” after the certification has expired.

 

 

20. Appeals and Review

BCTS may establish a formal review or appeals process for institutions seeking reconsideration of a certification decision.

An appeal should generally:

• be submitted within the prescribed period;

• identify the specific basis for review;

• provide supporting evidence; and

• not constitute an opportunity to submit materially new information that should have been provided during assessment, unless BCTS permits otherwise.

The review decision should be treated as final under the applicable certification-cycle rules.

 

 

21. Certification and Commercial Independence

BCTS intends to maintain a clear distinction between certification decisions and commercial services.

Advertising, institutional profiles, events, consultancy, admissions services or other commercial engagements must not influence:

• CEI results;

• IAA assessment;

• CDS calculation; or

• certification eligibility.

 

 

22. Public Directory

Certified institutions may be listed on the BCTS website or in authorised BCTS publications.

BCTS may display information including:

• institution name;

• country or location;

• certification period;

• approved certification status;

• authorised distinctions; and

• selected publicly releasable assessment information.

 

 

23. Intellectual Property in the Certification Mark

The BCTS certification mark and associated designs remain the intellectual property of HERA and/or its authorised entities. Certification grants only a limited, revocable, non-transferable right to use the approved mark during the valid certification period and in accordance with this Policy. No ownership rights are transferred to the certified institution.

 

 

24. Changes to this Policy

BCTS may revise certification requirements and mark-usage rules to protect programme integrity, accommodate methodology changes or reflect evolving legal requirements. The version applicable to a certification cycle should be identified within the relevant programme documentation.

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25. Contact

For general certification enquiries:

query@bestcampustostudy.com

For institutions that have completed payment and registration:

certifications@bestcampustostudy.com