What Is It Like to Study an MBA at UoPeople?

MBA costs are rising but the upsides of the degree are increasing. Here’s everything you need to know about earning your MBA tuition-free at UoPeople.

Studying a Master’s in Business Administration will not only prepare you to take on senior management positions in existing businesses, but it will also increase your salary expectations, provide you with the knowledge to start your own business, and expand your network globally.

Drawing from the fields of psychology, economics, accounting, sociology, and finance, an MBA provides interdisciplinary knowledge to be able to help make rational decisions, approach business with ethics in mind, and provide for a well-rounded approach to one’s career.

Why Study at UoPeople

With countless options to earn your MBA worldwide, traditional, online, and hybrid programs exist to earn your degree, either full-time or part-time. While the decision depends on one’s personal style of learning and goals, available time, financial constraints, and previous experience, there are many benefits to earning one’s MBA at an online, accredited university like University of the People.

For starters, because the program is entirely online, the flexibility of the program means that students can continue working, raise a family or attend to any other pre-existing responsibilities without sacrificing their education. Students can choose when and where they want to study.

Additionally, the lower cost of the degree compared to other MBAs and it being 100% online means that students from all over the world can be in attendance, and so far, the University has students from over 200 countries and territories around the world. This diversity means that unique perspectives are shared through the online and pedagogical style of learning that makes for a robust and intriguing educational experience.

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Program Goals

At University of the People, the MBA program was created with strong goals in mind centered around employability.

Through interdisciplinary education, the MBA program provides graduates with:

• The knowledge and skills to plan, structure, manage and monitor organizations
• Skills to increase productivity and client relations
• A cross-cultural understanding of the global economy
•  Networking skills to bond with peers from around the world

With these goals in mind, students are able to:

• Analyze core business processes
• Understand effective uses of technology
• Make educated and ethical decisions
• Manage conflict and foster communication
• Take ownership of personal and professional growth

Admission Requirements

In the United States, traditional MBA programs typically require the completion of a 4-year Bachelor’s degree, resume, personal statement, two letters of professional recommendation, a GMAT score of at least 600, proof of English proficiency, and at least 2-3 years of work experience. In Europe, MBA programs share similar requirements like the completion of a Bachelor’s degree, at least 3 years of work experience, the passing of an admissions test like a GRE or GMAT, an English language certificate, and international work or study experience.

However, at University of the People, where education is intended to be a universal human right, admissions requirements are much less stringent. There are just four requirements to complete your application for an MBA at UoPeople, namely:

• Have English proficiency
• Demonstrate undergraduate degree completion
• Have at least 2 years of work experience
• Have one reference (employer or professor)

Curriculum and Cost

MBA costs continue to rise around the world and can cost $100,000-$200,000 by the time the degree is in your hands. Compared to MBA programs in America and abroad, UoPeople offers a relatively low-cost program because it’s online and world-renowned professors volunteer their time to facilitate classes.

UoPeople is tuition-free, meaning there are no costs associated with tuition; however, there are course assessment fees and a one-time non-refundable application fee of $60. Assessment fees are $200 per course. The estimated total cost of an MBA from UoPeople is $2,940.

The program is 12 courses and 36 credits with coursework that covers:

• General Education, major courses (8 core courses/24 semester hours)
• Electives (a minimum of 3 electives/ 9 semester hours)
• Capstone Project (3 semester hours)

Here’s a brief look at some of the major courses you can expect to take while earning your degree:

• Managerial Accounting
• Financial Management
• Marketing Management
• Business Law, Ethics and Social Responsibility
• Operations Management
• Strategic Decision Making and Management

It is expected that students can dedicate 15-20 hours per week per course for optimal results.

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How it Works

There are nine learning weeks per term, and students study through teamwork and project-centered learning. UoPeople is built on a pedagogical model that emphasizes peer-to-peer learning and interaction. There are discussion forums in which students critique each other’s work, as well as times where students will work on group projects and prepare presentations to share with the online class.

The small class sizes allow for students to forge relationships with peers from around the world. There are students from over 200 countries and territories enrolled at UoPeople, so it offers a diverse environment with a naturally global network. It could even be that your future business partner happens to be your classmate!

Along with the support of course facilitators and peers, students have access to a program advisor throughout their time studying at UoPeople who is there to help assist with any questions or concerns along the way.

Academic Leadership

As with any institution, the quality of education is only as strong as those who lead. Serving as the Dean of the Business Administration program, Dr. John A. Quelch is also the Leonard M. Miller University Chair Professor at the University of Miami. From 2017 to 2022, John was dean of the University of Miami Herbert Business School and the University’s vice provost for executive education. He has also served as dean of the London Business School and the China Europe International Business School. He was senior associate dean at Harvard Business School, where he is now the Charles Edward Wilson Professor Emeritus.

He is the author, co-author, or editor of 17 Harvard Business Review articles, 25 books, and over 200 case studies, which have sold over 7 million copies.

Assisting in devising the Business Administration program at UoPeople is a long list of volunteers who are professors and professionals within the field of business globally. For example, Dr. Barbara E. Kahn (Professor of Marketing, Wharton School) and Prof. Kriengsak Charoenwongsak, (a Senior Fellow at Harvard University, USA, and a Fellow at the University of Oxford) are part of UoPeople’s Business Administration Advisory Board.

The notable group comes together to design the program curriculum and instill knowledge in their students through well-devised and quality coursework.

Job Outlook

The program’s strength is built by its academic leadership, fortified through its students, and exercised in the workforce. Even though tuition fees are rising for MBA programs (except for at UoPeople as it’s tuition-free), the upsides of an MBA are also growing as salary expectations increase with the degree.

In 2017, for example, the average salary for those with an MBA was $142,000, which represents a 12% increase since 2014.

An MBA allows students to excel in careers in a variety of positions, such as:

1. Chief Technology Officer (CTO)
2. Financial Manager
3. Management Consultant
4. Investment Banker
5. Sales Manager

By studying at UoPeople, you’ll avoid going into debt for earning your MBA, but you’ll receive the upsides of earning higher salaries by earning the degree. Additionally, you’ll learn many valuable life skills that will help both in the workforce and in your personal life, like time management, communication skills, ethical reasoning, and more.

Want More Information?

To find out more about UoPeople’s MBA program, you can visit our FAQ page here. Again, you can apply here. UoPeople also shares webinars from the MBA program, which you can watch here.

There’s always someone available to help you answer all your questions about getting your MBA at UoPeople. You have the power to take the first step to improve your future and opening up a world of possibilities by earning your MBA.