University of Kentucky®
Delivering online education to individuals residing outside the United States can lead to a range of compliance challenges, including navigating U.S. sanctions and export controls, and adhering to regulatory requirements imposed by host countries. The Global Compliance Research Group (GCRG), composed of members from the Office of Legal Counsel, University Financial Services, Information Technology Services, and UK Online – Distance Learning, diligently monitors global compliance issues related to distance education. The global compliance review applies solely to the online didactic activities of academic programs, excluding field placements and non-academic programs.
Guidance Dashboards
Our Global Compliance Map offers detailed country-specific status updates and provides public disclosures to students. The Internal Global Compliance Dashboard is specifically designed for UK’s admissions teams, online program directors, advisors, recruiters, faculty instructors, and related deans to provide comprehensive insights and essential guidance for considering the legal risks associated with offering online programs overseas.
Generally, programs may not enroll students from countries that are categorized as:
- Cannot Offer
- Requires Case-by-Case Review, or
- Pending - Further Action Is Required
For countries with other statuses, programs must adhere to the legal guidance outlined in the Internal Dashboard and take appropriate actions as necessary.
Country Review Request
If any college or department is interested in promoting online programs in a specific country (or countries) currently categorized under "Requires Case-by-Case Review" or "Review has not started," please fill out the form below. The GCRG will prioritize reviews for countries with the greatest interest expressed.
Location Matters
The field used to determine enrollment eligibility is based on “Location of Study,” not current address or permanent address, and not the student’s nationality.
- For Applicants: Please reference the “First-Term Location” field which has been added to the application forms since July 1, 2024.
- For Enrolled Students: Please reference the "Location Verification - Country" field provided at registration.
Please note: No students are permitted to study in countries categorized as "Cannot Offer." Please contact distancelearning@uky.edu for guidance.
If online students intend to study in a country categorized as "Requires Case-by-Case Review," the program advisor or another college/program representative must submit a case-by-case review to the GCRG using the Global Compliance Case-by-Case Review Request Form. Online students may only proceed to study in countries under this category upon receiving a positive final recommendation from the GCRG.
About Visas
International students residing overseas do not require visa sponsorship to participate in UK’s online programs. However, international students living in the United States must already hold an immigration status which permits them to enroll in a UK online program. For questions regarding visa eligibility, please consult UK’s International Student & Scholar Services (ISSS).
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