Legal and Regulatory Matters	9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2018
Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]
Legal and Regulatory Matters	Legal and Regulatory Matters Laureate is subject to legal proceedings arising in the ordinary course of business. In management's opinion, we have adequate legal defenses, insurance coverage, and/or accrued liabilities with respect to the eventuality of these actions. Management believes that any settlement would not have a material impact on Laureate's financial position, results of operations, or cash flows. For further description, see our 2017 Form 10-K and our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the quarters ended March 31, 2018 and June 30, 2018. Update on Turkey Regulatory Matters The Company previously disclosed in its 2017 Form 10-K that, on April 18, 2017, Istanbul Bilgi University (Bilgi) received from the Turkish Higher Education Council (the YÖK) the results of its 2015-2016 annual audit (the 2015-2016 Annual Audit) and that the Company was appealing the result of that audit. The YÖK also conducted a supplemental audit of the 2015-2016 academic year (the 2015-2016 Supplemental Audit) and the annual audit of the 2016-2017 academic year (the 2016-2017 Annual Audit). On April 6, 2018, Bilgi received the results of the 2015-2016 Supplemental Audit and the 2016-2017 Annual Audit by resolutions of the YÖK which, among other things, approved a portion of the payments previously made by Bilgi to a subsidiary of the Company for management, operational and student services and intellectual property and disallowed and required reimbursement of a portion of such payments. In order to comply with the resolutions of the YÖK and avoid sanctions, Bilgi has complied with those resolutions and the Company has reimbursed to Bilgi the disallowed payments; however, it has appealed the YÖK’s decision on the 2015-2016 Annual Audit in the Turkish court system, as well as the YÖK’s decisions pursuant to the 2015-2016 Supplemental Audit and the 2016-2017 Annual Audit. The YÖK is currently conducting its 2017-2018 annual audit (the 2017-2018 Annual Audit) of Bilgi. As part of the 2017-2018 Annual Audit, Bilgi has received inquiries from the YÖK requesting clarifications regarding certain academic and financial matters. Bilgi is preparing responses to the YÖK. In May 2018, an amendment to Turkey's higher education law was passed, which could affect certain transactions of Turkish universities that are deemed to be related party transactions. In order for it to be implemented, the amendment requires the Turkish government to issue final directives, which have not yet been issued. These directives are expected to be of significant importance in determining whether the amendment will have an impact on our operations. Once the final directives are received, the Company will evaluate whether this amendment to the higher education law has an effect on our operations, including the existing contractual relationships that the Company maintains with Bilgi, our institution in Turkey. At this time, we cannot predict the impact, if any, of this amendment to our business, financial condition, results of operations or cash flows. Bilgi is one of the subsidiaries that the Company plans to divest; accordingly, it is included in Discontinued Operations for all periods presented.

Legal and Regulatory Matters

Laureate is subject to legal proceedings arising in the ordinary course of business. In management's opinion, we have adequate legal defenses, insurance coverage, and/or accrued liabilities with respect to the eventuality of these actions. Management believes that any settlement would not have a material impact on Laureate's financial position, results of operations, or cash flows. For further description, see our 2017 Form 10-K and our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the quarters ended March 31, 2018 and June 30, 2018.

Update on Turkey Regulatory Matters

The Company previously disclosed in its 2017 Form 10-K that, on April 18, 2017, Istanbul Bilgi University (Bilgi) received from the Turkish Higher Education Council (the YÖK) the results of its 2015-2016 annual audit (the 2015-2016 Annual Audit) and that the Company was appealing the result of that audit. The YÖK also conducted a supplemental audit of the 2015-2016 academic year (the 2015-2016 Supplemental Audit) and the annual audit of the 2016-2017 academic year (the 2016-2017 Annual Audit). On April 6, 2018, Bilgi received the results of the 2015-2016 Supplemental Audit and the 2016-2017 Annual Audit by resolutions of the YÖK which, among other things, approved a portion of the payments previously made by Bilgi to a subsidiary of the Company for management, operational and student services and intellectual property and disallowed and required reimbursement of a portion of such payments. In order to comply with the resolutions of the YÖK and avoid sanctions, Bilgi has complied with those resolutions and the Company has reimbursed to Bilgi the disallowed payments; however, it has appealed the YÖK’s decision on the 2015-2016 Annual Audit in the Turkish court system, as well as the YÖK’s decisions pursuant to the 2015-2016 Supplemental Audit and the 2016-2017 Annual Audit. The YÖK is currently conducting its 2017-2018 annual audit (the 2017-2018 Annual Audit) of Bilgi. As part of the 2017-2018 Annual Audit, Bilgi has received inquiries from the YÖK requesting clarifications regarding certain academic and financial matters. Bilgi is preparing responses to the YÖK.

In May 2018, an amendment to Turkey's higher education law was passed, which could affect certain transactions of Turkish universities that are deemed to be related party transactions. In order for it to be implemented, the amendment requires the Turkish government to issue final directives, which have not yet been issued. These directives are expected to be of significant importance in determining whether the amendment will have an impact on our operations. Once the final directives are received, the Company will evaluate whether this amendment to the higher education law has an effect on our operations, including the existing contractual relationships that the Company maintains with Bilgi, our institution in Turkey. At this time, we cannot predict the impact, if any, of this amendment to our business, financial condition, results of operations or cash flows. Bilgi is one of the subsidiaries that the Company plans to divest; accordingly, it is included in Discontinued Operations for all periods presented.