FAQs

University of the People What is University of the People? What is the learning model for University of the People and Who are the students? Where is the University based? Who started University of the People? How can a tuition free university succeed and be effective? What does University of the People look like? How many students does University of the People expect to enroll? How does University of the People promote the students success?

General Program Information What programs does University of the People offer? Is University of the People an accredited university? Can I transfer credits to University of the People? Does UoPeople grant Master's  or Doctorate degrees? Where does the study take place? How do I take exams? Are there any fees involved? What programs will University of the People offer its students and how long will each take to complete?

Application Process What are the application requirements? If I applied before and was denied admission can I reapply next term?

Financial Are there any fees? Is there a separate fee for learning materials?

International Applicants Is the TOEFL exam required ? My transcripts are not in English. Will you accept them?

University of the People

What is University of the People? University of the People (UoPeople) is the world’s first tuition-free, online academic institution dedicated to the global advancement and democratization of higher education. The high-quality, low-cost and global educational model embraces the worldwide presence of the Internet and dropping technology costs to bring university level studies within reach of millions of people across the world. With the support of respected academics, humanitarians and other visionaries, the UoPeople student body represents a new wave in global education.

 

What is the learning model for University of the People and Who are the students? Comprised of students from around the world, the UoPeople’s student body  will learn through the peer-to-peer teaching method with the support of Instructors. Within the online study communities, students will share resources, exchange ideas, discuss weekly topics, submit assignments, and take exams. Please click here for more information concerning online learning The curriculum itself will be supported by respected scholars. A community of educators, comprised of active and retired professors, master level students and other professionals, will participate and oversee the assessment process.They will also develop ongoing procedures for curriculum evaluation and development.

 

Where is the University based? With a convenient virtual address, www.uopeople.org, University of the People is accessible anywhere a computer and Internet connection exists. The students and Instructors represent a diverse group coming from both developing and developed countries.

 

Who started University of the People? Founder and President Shai Reshef established University of the People to marry the opportunities between unprecedented access to the Internet, dropping technology costs, and rising tuitions worldwide.(UoPeople) is the world’s first tuition-free, online academic institution dedicated to the global advancement and democratization of higher education. The high-quality, low-cost and global educational model embraces the worldwide presence of the Internet and dropping technology costs to bring collegiate level studies to even the most remote places on earth. With the support of respected academics, humanitarians and other visionaries, the UoPeople student body represents a new wave in global education.

 

How can a tuition free university succeed and be effective? Distance learning is a growing trend in the U.S. When applied to a tuition-free model distance learning has an enormous potential to make education an equalizer by providing educational opportunities to those otherwise unable to pursue higher education for financial or other reasons.  University of the People will be able to effectively function on a limited budget without sacrificing the quality of education. Embracing collaborative learning and utilizing open educational materials, University of the People makes the best use of a student body from around the world while limiting operating costs.

What does University of the People look like? As mentioned there are no buildings, trees or grass to rest on between the classes – all the programs, materials, and services can be found online. UoPeople consists mainly of the people who study in it, and the materials they use. Students are grouped in classes which reflect their progress. The student advances along with his or her peers as they are given the same lesson and assignments every week.

How many students does University of the People expect to enroll? University of the People anticipates thousands of students to enroll within the first five years of operation. The power of online networking and word-of-mouth marketing will facilitate the growth of the University, while the open-source and peer-to-peer educational model will make it possible to handle such rapid expansion.

 

How does University of the People promote the students success? The learning model includes lessons, classes, discussions, readings, assignments and exams like any university. The students receive maximum freedom in location and hours. Still, in order to push the students for academic success, there are several tools that ensure their commitment, and promote their academic success. University of the People's goal is to allow students to live their lives, make a living at whatever means are available in their environment, while still being able to enjoy a supportive learning environment which will help to lead them to a better life.

General Program Information

What programs does University of the People offer? University of the People offers a unique learning experience in two fields of study: Business Administration Computer Science

Is University of the People an accredited university? University of the People intends to obtain accreditation, but cannot promise nor guarantee the time-frame in which this might occur.  If the University is accredited at the time the degree is awarded, the student would have the benefit of having graduated from an accredited institution. Prospective and current students of UoPeople should take into consideration the possibility that they will finish their studies with us with no accredited degree.

Can I transfer credits to University of the People? At the present, University of the People is not an accredited institution. Consequently, at this stage we are unable to accept transfer students who are seeking credit for coursework at another institution.  In the future, we hope to be able to consider credit earned at an accredited educational institution for purposes of transfer to UoPeople

Does UoPeople grant Master's  or Doctorate degrees? No. Currently, the University of the People does not confer degrees. At the present our programs offers a new learning experience similar to academic studies towards four degrees; An AS and BS  in Computer Science and an AS and BS in Business Administration.

Where does the study take place? University of the People classes take place online, so people can learn wherever an Internet connection is available. Whether you have a fast connection or a slow one you get the same lesson, as all materials, including the lessons, are online texts. To allow even more people to participate the lessons can be read in the span of a few days.  They are not restricted to a specific time so that the students can read and participate whenever their lives allow it.

How do I take exams? Are there any fees involved? At the  present, all exams are administered online. University of the People will waive all assessment processing fees for this term but in the future we do intend to charge an assessment processing fee for each course.

What programs will University of the People offer its students? In the initial stages, University of the People will offer a new learning experience in two fields: Computer Science and Business Administration. These programs may in the future, lead towards four undergraduate degrees: AS and a BS degree in Business Administration and an AS and a BS in Computer Science.

Application Process

What are the application requirements? To view the application requirements, please click here

 

If I applied before and was denied admission can I reapply next term? Yes. You will need to submit a new application, but make sure to check the box that indicates you are re-applying so we can identify you in our database and locate your academic transcripts and other information.

Financial

Are there any fees? University of the People is a tuition-free university. At the present, the University does not charge application and assessment processing fees,, however, these fees  will not necessarily be waived in the future.

 

Is there a separate fee for learning materials? No, there is no fee for any learning materials. Everything is available via our website and online using free Internet resources.

International Applicant

Is the TOEFL Exam required ? No. The TOEFL Exam is not a requirement for acceptance to University of the People.

 

My transcripts are not in English. Will you accept them? Any non-English transcripts of degree must be fully translated into English and authorized by a notary. You must send the original transcript (or its authorized by a notary copy) with the translated copy as part of the Application Process.