Application Process

All individuals wishing to apply for acceptance to pursue a Graduate degree program follow this application process.

Overview of the Application Process – Steps 1 and 2

Step 1 – UoPeople Foundations Application Process. Students must:

• • • Pay the $60 non-refundable application fee.
    • Complete the online application that requests his or her education history and personal information such as the applicant’s name, date of birth, and address. The Office of Admissions may request that applicants provide additional information about their education history to supplement the information submitted in the online application.
    • Show evidence of English language proficiency (see below).

Step 2 – Application Process to Be a Degree Seeking Student (DSS) in a Graduate Program.

• • • Successfully complete UoPeople Foundations Program

In addition, to become a degree student, MBA Students must submit the following documents:

• • • A resume showing at least two years of work experience and the dates of all employment (e.g., month and year)
    • A letter of recommendation

In addition, to become a degree student, MSIT Students must submit the following:

• • • Documentation of coursework in college-level either Calculus, Linear Algebra, or Statistics
    • Documentation of knowledge of at least one programming language (either non-credit training or academic credit)

Notes about the Application Process

• • • UoPeople is licensed, authorized, exempted or approved in every U.S. state and the District of Columbia.
    • UoPeople accepts for admissions consideration official college and university credentials that show graded coursework taken in pursuit of and/or the award of a Master’s and/or Doctoral degree.
    • University of the People does not require scores on the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) or the Graduate Management Aptitude Test (GMAT).
    • Any document sent by an applicant and/or student in support of their application may be reviewed by relevant institutions, including the institution issuing the documentation and/or by approved UoPeople credential evaluation services. Applicants and/or students will be responsible for any additional fees required for third-party evaluation.

All applicants who start the online application are assigned an Admissions Advisor who is available to guide and support them throughout the entire admissions process. The Admissions Advisor is available to answer questions, and provides encouragement to applicants as they complete the application requirements.

Demonstrating English Proficiency

English is the language of instruction and all applicants must demonstrate English proficiency. Please note that English Language proficiency must be demonstrated during Step 1 of the application process. Applicants at the graduate level must submit proof of English Language proficiency in one of the following ways:

• • • Be a native English speaker; or
    • Show evidence of having earned a degree from a college or university where English was the primary language of instruction; or
    • Provide an official transcript indicating completion of at least 30 semester credit hours with an average grade of “B” (3.00 on a 4.00-point scale) or higher at an accredited college or university where the language of instruction was English; or
    • Provide a score report that shows having met the minimum score requirement on one of the following English proficiency qualification exams:

ESL Listening 80

English Proficiency Qualification	Minimum Score Required  for Graduate Students
Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL*) Paper-based Test (PBT)	60
TOEFL* Internet-based Test (iBT)	71
International English Language Testing System (IELTS) Academic Test	6.5
Pearson Test of English (PTE) Academic Test	50
Eiken English Proficiency Exam	Pre-1
4-Skill Michigan English Test (MET)	55
Michigan Examination for the Certificate of Competency in English (ECCE)	650
Michigan Examination for the Certificate of Proficiency in English (ECPE)	650
College Board Accuplacer ESL Exam Series	ESL Language Use 85 ESL Listening 80 ESL Reading 85 Sentence Meaning 90 ESL Writeplacer 4
Exams identified within the Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR)	B-2
Duolingo English Proficiency Test	50

* To submit TOEFL scores, the institutional code for UoPeople is 4577.

English proficiency qualification test documentation may be submitted electronically by the issuing institution unless otherwise specified by the University. If submitted via regular post, documentation must be either original documents or notarized photocopies bearing original stamps and signatures from a notary public or the issuing institution. Meeting the minimum language proficiency requirements does not guarantee admission to the University. Applicants are welcome to contact the Office of Admissions at admissions@uopeople.edu with any questions regarding English proficiency qualifications.

Students Unable to Provide Proof of English Proficiency

Applicants who cannot present evidence of meeting one of the qualifications listed above are referred to the English Second Language (ESL) program. The ESL program contains 8 different levels of proficiency.

As part of the ESL program, an applicant may choose to be placed into the highest level (8). Alternatively, an applicant may choose to determine his or her English level by registering and paying $49 for English level test. Whichever option is chosen, every applicant is provided with all 3 choices. After a decision is made and an applicant is placed into a certain level.

Once a student completes the required course(s) and obtains the required grade(s), the student will be fully accepted and can begin taking courses in UoPeople Foundations.

A final course grade of a “C” or better and at least a 50% on the final exam is considered a passing grade for course 8 or ENGL 0101 English Composition 1. Both conditions must be met to show proficiency. Students may repeat course number 8 (ENGL 0008 Intermediate English 2 (EAP)) twice.

If unsuccessful in passing course level 8 on the second try, students will be dismissed without appeal. A student dismissed for failing an English course may request for reinstatement to the University no sooner than five academic terms later.

Confirming Your Spot

Applicants must save their spot by signing an Introductory (Foundations) Course Agreement within seven days of being informed of their admission. Accepted applicants are required to sign and submit an Introductory (Foundations) Course Agreement with the University. Applicants who fail to sign their  Introductory (Foundations) Course Agreement within the required timeframe will be assumed to have declined the offer to study at UoPeople.

Applications that are not completed by the deadline specified may be closed. Admissions deferrals are allowed routinely for up to one term. Requests for deferral for longer than one term require a showing of special circumstances and will be considered on a case-by-case basis.

Students who wish to defer their start date after signing the Introductory (Foundations) Course Agreement may apply for deferral from the Self-Service Portal. Start date deferrals are allowed for up to five terms only. Special circumstances requiring deferral for longer than five terms will be considered on a case-by-case basis. Students should note that term deferral count as an inactive term.

NOTE: A student will only be enrolled in the University if he or she completes an application for admission, meets all of the requirements for admission, and executes an Enrollment Agreement. There is no guarantee that a student who successfully completes the Introductory (Foundations) Courses will thereafter be able to enroll in the University.

A student who takes the Introductory (Foundations) Courses without being enrolled in the University will not be eligible to receive credits for such courses, and therefore, will not be able to transfer credits for such courses to another academic institution.

If a student who successfully completes the Introductory (Foundations) Courses is thereafter admitted to the University, then, upon executing an Enrollment Agreement and paying the assessment fees for the Introductory (Foundations) Courses (unless such fees are waived), the Introductory Courses may, with the approval of the University, be converted to Degree Courses and the student will then be able to receive credits for such courses.

Students in the Introductory (Foundations) Courses are required to read, and to the extent applicable to non-degree-seeking students: (a) comply with the University’s Code of Conduct and other policies, requirements and procedures; (b) conduct coursework with integrity, including submitting their own original work; (c) conduct themselves in a professional manner, treat all other students, faculty, volunteers and administrators with respect, and refrain from any behavior that may be deemed to be offensive, discriminatory, threatening, bullying or deliberate embarrassment or harassment of others; (d) refrain from engaging in deceptive, dishonest or fraudulent behavior, including encouraging or inducing another applicant or student to engage in such behavior; (e) comply with the instructions in the course syllabus and the reasonable directions of instructors; (f) participate actively in class, course and discussion forums; (g) submit assignments and coursework on time and as required; and (h) fulfill peer assessor responsibilities fairly, non-competitively and professionally. Students in the Introductory Courses should be aware that other students in the same courses may be enrolled in the University in a Degree-Seeking Program.

Application Process to Be a Degree Seeking Student (DSS) in a Graduate Degree Program – Step 2

Minimum Requirements at UoPeople Foundations

Foundations courses are one of the graduate’s degree program admissions criteria. In their first term, newly admitted Foundations students will be placed in Foundations courses related to their desired master’s degree program. Please note, assigning courses that relate to the major of interest depends on how early students save their spot in a given term and general availability. More information about these courses can be found under the course catalog. Once students complete their first three Foundation courses, they will be able to select one more Foundations course from the list below.

Once students meet the master’s program’s admissions criteria, including completing successfully the Foundations courses, they may enroll into their desired master’s program. Once accepted into the desire program, in most cases, students will be granted credit for all completed UoPeople Foundations courses. Please note that Foundations students are not considered enrolled students in the University before completing these introductory courses.

Managerial Accounting	BUS 5110
Financial Management	BUS 5111
Marketing Management	BUS 5112
Organization Theory & Behavior	BUS 5113
Business Law, Ethics & Social Responsibility	BUS 5115
Operations Management	BUS 5116
Managing in the Global Economy	BUS 5211
Education in Context	EDUC 5010
Learning Theory	EDUC 5210
Curriculum Design	EDUC 5220
Creating Positive Classroom Environments	EDUC 5240
Databases	MSIT 5210
Operating Systems	MSIT 5212
Algorithms	MSIT 5214

In order to apply to be a Degree Seeking Student, all students enrolled in UoPeople Foundations must have successfully completed courses as follows:

• • • To be considered for admission to a Graduate Degree Program, students must enroll in a minimum of three (3) and up to four (4) courses from their respective program in UoPeople Foundations.
    • Students in UoPeople Foundations must earn at least a Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA) of 2.67 or above in the first three courses they take in UoPeople Foundations.
    • Students who do not earn a 2.67 in each of these first three courses may take up to a maximum of four courses from their respective program in order to try to demonstrate preparedness for graduate-level work. They must earn a Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA) of 2.67 or above in the four courses in order to be considered for admission to a Graduate Program.
    • Students who have completed four (4) courses in UoPeople Foundations and have not earned the minimum 2.67 CGPA will be dismissed for not having the required CGPA and will not be able to appeal their dismissal. The student will be able to return to UoPeople in accordance with the Reinstatement Policy after 5 terms of being away from the University.
    • Students who have already met the CGPA requirements but have not sent the official documents as defined in the Admissions Policy, will be allowed to send their documents within three terms of completion of the last Foundations course taken. If the official documents are not sent within the three terms following completion of the Foundations courses, the student is dismissed. They will be able to return to UoPeople in accordance with the Re-enrollment/Reinstatement Policy but must submit the required documents to be eligible to take additional courses.

If a student completes UoPeople Foundations and is accepted to UoPeople as a Degree Seeking Student, their CGPA is reset to 0.00.

Questions about applying to a Graduate Program offered by the University of the People should be directed to admissions@uopeople.edu.

Submission of Official Documents

Whilst in UoPeople Foundations, all graduate applicants wishing to be accepted as Degree Seeking Students in a Graduate Degree Program must submit the following:

Submit Proof of Bachelor’s Degree Completion – Diploma

Applicants must submit proof of having earned a Bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution by sending an official transcript in one of the following formats:

1. 1. 1. The original diploma or transcript showing the date of graduation (can be mailed to UoPeople or submitted online);
      2. A color scan/photocopy of the original diploma or transcript showing the graduation date;
      3. A black and white photocopy of the original diploma or transcript showing the graduation date that has been certified by a notary (can be mailed to UoPeople or submitted online); or
      4. The best evidence available including a signed certification from the applicant regarding having earned the credential, a written explanation of why an official diploma and/or transcript cannot be sent, and/or an attachment of an unofficial/copied/scanned diploma or transcript.

All diplomas and transcripts submitted for admissions consideration by mail should be sent to:

University of the People
Office of Admissions
595 E. Colorado Blvd.,
Suite 623 Pasadena, CA 91101,
USA

Whilst in UoPeople Foundations, MBA applicants wishing to be accepted as a Degree-Seeking Student in the MBA Program must submit the following additional documents:

Resume

Applicants submit a resume showing at least two years of full-time work experience.

Letter of Recommendation

Applicants submit a letter of recommendation from an individual who can write knowledgeably about their academic background and/or work experience. The letter must be written by the recommender and be addressed to the UoPeople Office of Admissions. Applicants should submit the recommender’s first and last name, email address, and phone number, including the country code.

Submission of these materials does not guarantee acceptance. The Office of Admissions will assess an applicant’s dossier on an individual basis to determine acceptance, keeping a full record of the submissions and evaluations.

All documents submitted for admissions consideration must be received by the Office of Admissions at UoPeople by Week 6 of the term prior to beginning studies as a Degree Seeking Student as specified in the Admissions Calendar shown below.

Diplomas and transcripts that are not in English must be submitted together with an official notarized translation mailed directly to UoPeople or submitted online.

All documents submitted as part of the application process become the property of University of the People and will not be returned to applicants.

 

[6] Only coursework at the 5000-level and above is counted in this maximum, and it must be from the respective program.