PROCESSING FEES

University of the People is a tuition-free, non-profit institution. The University does not charge students to take classes, does not charge for any reading and other study materials, as well as does not charge for annual enrollment. As a non-profit academic institution dedicated to opening access to higher education, UoPeople has succeeded in cutting down almost the entire cost of higher education. 

In order to remain sustainable, we charge small processing fees for application and examination processing. Applicants are charged a non-refundable onetime $10-$50 Application Processing Fee to cover the cost for us to review and process an application. The amount charged is based on the applicant’s place of residence – applicants from developing countries pay a lower amount.  

UoPeople is currently accepting new applications. 

With all new applications started from August 27, 2012, UoPeople has introduced an Exam Processing Fee of $100 per end-of-course exam. Applicants who apply starting from August 27, 2012 and become students, are expected to pay this fee. However, for those individuals who are unable to do so, UoPeople will soon have a Micro-Scholarship Portal that will enable donors to contribute directly to individual students in need of assistance. Additionally, students might be able to apply for a UoPeople scholarship.

Our aim, as it has always been, is to see to it that no student will be denied the right to access higher education.  We will remain tuition-free, meaning students will not be charged for their educational instruction, course materials or annual enrollment. Additionally, we will seek to ensure that no qualified student be denied studying with UoPeople for financial reasons.

The determination of processing fees, as well as any University Grants or University Financial Aid, is at the sole discretion of UoPeople. University Grants and processing fees are currently determined using publicly available data from the World Bank and the CIA World Fact Book. Inclusion of a place of residence in the list does not imply any legal position of University of the People regarding its status. The University reserves the right to change the cost of the Exam Processing Fee. The amount of the Exam Processing Fee will be reviewed annually, and any change to the fee amount will be implemented as of September 1 each year. Students will be notified of the change in fees no later than June 1 each year. 

 .

University of the People is a tuition-free university. The University is a not-for-profit institution that does not charge students to take classes. Readings and course materials are available online, free of charge for each and every registered student.

Harnessing the power of the web, University of the People is the first among tuition-free universities. Determined to change the global mindset on higher education delivery, UoPeople and hopefully other tuition-free universities will evolve traditional academic methods of learning and turn to the internet to bring university programs within reach of the majority, rather than keeping it in the hands of the minority – irrespective of financial, geographical or social constraints.

 Supporting under-served populations, the concept of tuition-free universities was created to provide access to structured, degree-level programs in Business Administration and Computer Science. UoPeople accepts those qualified applicants who have graduated from high school, have access to a computer and Internet and have sufficient English skills to complete the English-only courses.
Social networking and assisting one another is a big factor in the success of tuition-free universities online.  Peer-based and collaborative learning forms part of the overall learning and grading system where students are required to fully participate in discussions and answer questions posed by the faculty and other students in their groups and forums.

Underpinning the peer-based learning methodology is the constant presence of academic faculty – both employed and volunteer – who provide the necessary support, within the learning environment, for students as they progress.

UoPeople is not yet an accredited institution; however its academic leadership and its advisory committee, comprised of senior academics from the likes of Columbia University, NYU, Yale and INSEAD, ensure its commitment to provide quality academic programs.

Although UoPeople is considered part of the innovative idea of tuition-free universities, to ensure self-sustainability, it needs to charge nominal Application and Exam Adminstration fees. The Application Processing Fee is between $10-$50 as adjusted on a sliding scale based on the economic situation in each applicant’s country or place of residence. Additionally, beginning with all new applications started August 27, 2012, UoPeople has implemented an Exam Processing Fee of $100 per course. Students unable to pay the Exam Processing Fee may apply for a scholarship.