Skip to Content

Discontinue Higher Education Programmes

Service Details

Service Description

This service enables higher education institutions to cancel an academic programme that was previously approved for delivery.

Customer base

Higher Education Institutions

Service fees

No fees

Service Completion Time

15 working days

Service channels

Required Documents

  1. Letter from the home campus confirming that this programme will no longer be offered in Dubai (For International branch campuses)
  2. Letter to KHDA explaining the reasons for the removal of the programme by the higher education institute and outlining the proposed action plan for current students and staff (teach-out process).
  3. Proposed draft communication to students.

Terms and Conditions

  1. KHDA Educational Services Permit and the trade license must be valid at the time of submitting the application for this service.
  2. No Higher Education Institution may wholly or partly discontinue, suspend, or close any of its approved Higher Education Programmes for any reason without first obtaining the written approval of KHDA and providing reasonable alternatives for students enrolled in these programmes.
  3. KHDA may discontinue, suspend, or close any of the Higher Education Programmes offered by a Higher Education Institute if the conditions for approval are not met, or if the Institute fails to comply with the criteria, conditions, and standards adopted by KHDA concerning the Higher Education Programmes.
  4. The university must finish the teach-out process for all students enrolled in the Higher Education programmes before applying for this service.

The Process

  • Step 1: Apply via KHDA e-services portal, attaching the required documents.
  • Step 2: KHDA reviews the application to confirm the continuity of study and that no students are currently enrolled in the programme before informing the higher education institution of the final decision.
  • Step 3: Once approved, the Educational Services Permit will be updated to exclude the deregistered programmes, and an official Approval Letter will be issued.
Page last updated 03 July 2026