Review of University of the People

Like Rennier University, University of the People is a lid adorned with a modest price tag. Not free, mind you, but remarkably affordable. A $60 application fee opens the journey, followed by $120 for each course assessment. For a bachelor’s degree, the total might range from $2,500 to $5,000—a mere fraction of the towering costs of traditional universities, especially in the United States. Scholarships, like unexpected windfalls, can lighten the load further.

The Quest for Admission

The path to entry is a high school diploma or its equivalent—carefully notarized and sealed, then dispatched across oceans or plains to a distant office in California. It’s as if you’re sending a missive to a far-off kingdom. For those beyond American borders, the journey can twist into a logistical problem, with extra steps to prove your credentials worthy.

A Voyage

Once admitted, the experience unfolds like a self-guided voyage; You chart your course, surrounded by fellow travelers—your peers—who share the task of assessing each other’s work. It’s a collaborative expedition, yet the guides, the instructors, are volunteers, appearing like kindly scholars who drift in and out of the stacks. The rhythm is asynchronous, meaning you can pretty much take your own pace.

Tales from the Trail

A student can expect that, after a year on this path, gathered his credits like precious stones, transferred them to another realm, and secured a position with a 3.67 GPA—a shortcut to his destination. Another, pursuing a Master’s for $3,200, savored the journey’s affordability yet longed for the the human connection, which can sometimes be a big miss in an online program. Others spoke of moments lost in the maze, frustrated by sparse guidance or the uneven judgments of their peers, as if handed a map with faded lines.

Accreditation

The university’s accreditation stands as a passport, stamped by the Distance Education Accrediting Commission (DEAC) in the United States. It opens doors, yet its authority varies. Some employers, particularly in the US, seek the broader seal of regional accreditation. It’s a detail worth pondering, ensuring your credentials align with the shores you aim to reach.

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University of the People offers a frugal yet bold expedition through the realm of learning. It beckons to self-motivated students that need minimal escort. Yet for those who thrive under a watchful mentor’s gaze, it may feel like a ship too lightly crewed. It's worth, like any voyage, hinges on the destination you seek and the effort you’re willing to invest. So pause, survey the horizon, and consider well before you set sail.

(By the way, Rennier University offers tuition-free Masters and PhD programs).

PhD Scholarship in UAE - Apply Soon

There’s this university in the UAE called United Arab Emirates University (UAEU), and they’re offering a fully funded PhD scholarship for 2025. It’s in Al Ain, which is a city in the United Arab Emirates. This scholarship is open to students from all over the world, not just one place. You can apply for it online, which is super easy. The deadline to get your application in is March 31, 2025, so you gotta hurry a little. The cool thing is, it’s fully funded, meaning they pay for a bunch of stuff. It’s a great chance for anyone who wants to study something big like a PhD. When you apply, you need to send your passport copy, your transcipts from Bachelor’s and Master’s, your IELTS score, your CV, two letters from professors who know your work, and a statement about your research experience. Oh, and if you want more info, just check out their website at www.uaeu.ac.ae.

So, what does “fully funded” mean? It covers all your tuition, so you don’t have to pay for school. You also get money every month to help you live, like for food and stuff. Plus, it includes health insurance, which is awesome because doctor visits can be expensive. And here’s a bonus: if you do a research project, you might get extra cash! You can get 3,000 AED for projects outside the university or 2,000 AED for ones inside. That’s pretty sweet, right?

But there are some rules to get this scholarship. You need to have finished a Master’s degree and have a GPA of at least 3.5 out of 4. You can’t have a job or get money from other scholarships or sponsors while you’re doing this. Also, your past research has to be about topics like renewable energy, transportation, health, water, technology, or space. Those are some cool subjects to study!

When you apply, they need a few things from you. Send them a copy of your passport, your official transcripts from your Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees, and your IELTS test score. You also need a CV, which is like a list of what you’ve done. Plus, get two letters from professors who know your work to say you’re good at this stuff. Finally, write a statement about your research experience to show what you’ve worked on.

This scholarship sounds like an amazing deal for anyone who loves school and research. So, if you’re thinking about it, don’t wait too long—apply before March 31, 2025!