First American University to Offer Online BA Degree Taught in Arabic

UoPeople Offering 1,000 Scholarships to Expand Higher Ed Access in Arab World

Pasadena, California – June 21, 2021 – To expand access to affordable college education for Arabic-speaking students, University of the People (UoPeople) is the first American-accredited university to offer a fully online bachelor’s degree taught completely in Arabic. In addition, UoPeople just opened three learning centers for Syrian refugees in Jordan.

After a comprehensive review, the new online bachelor’s of science in business administration degree in Arabic recently received accreditation from the U.S. Distance Education Accrediting Commission (DEAC). The first classes will begin in September.

“We believe that higher education is a fundamental human right, which is why we created UoPeople: the first non-profit, tuition-free, American-accredited online university,” said UoPeople President Shai Reshef.

UoPeople’s tuition-free model offers students an affordable solution to earn a quality college degree. To help support the university’s continued operation, UoPeople charges a $60 application fee, and a $120 assessment fee per course completed. A bachelor’s degree can be completed for $4,860. For those who cannot afford the modest course assessment fees, UoPeople will provide 1,000 full scholarships to eligible students enrolling in the new bachelor’s degree in Arabic.

“We are proud to be the first American university to offer an online bachelor’s degree that is fully taught in Arabic,” said John Sexton, Chair of UoPeople’s President’s Council and President Emeritus of New York University. “The language barrier has long been an obstacle for many Arab students to earn a college degree. Now, with the use of online technology, we are able to take a major leap forward in achieving educational equity and increased access for students in the Arab world.”

The curriculum was carefully adapted into the Arabic language by a number of experts to preserve the quality of the academic programs while ensuring compatibility with the Arabic region and culture.

UoPeople currently has more than 5,000 students enrolled in its associate degree program in Arabic. These students will now be able to complete their bachelor’s degree in Arabic or English, if they have reached the necessary language proficiency.

“When I learned that a bachelor’s degree in business administration was being offered in Arabic, it was a dream come true. Now, I can get this degree from an accredited American university with no knowledge of English, which is unique and wonderful to us in the Arab world,” said Hind Jaber, a current UoPeople student.

From its inception in 2009, UoPeople has focused on providing opportunities for those who have no other recourse for higher education. The university currently enrolls more than 75,000 students from more than 200 countries. The majority of its students are non-traditional ranging from working adults and students with children to undocumented students and asylum-seekers, including more than 6,000 refugees mainly from Syria.

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About University of the People

University of the People (UoPeople) is the Education Revolution. Believing that higher education is a fundamental right for all, it is the first non-profit, tuition-free, American-accredited online university. Currently there are 75,000 students from more than 200 countries and territories. Designed to open access to higher education globally, UoPeople helps qualified high school graduates overcome financial, geographic, political, and personal constraints keeping them from collegiate studies. The university offers associate and bachelor’s degree programs in business administration, computer science, and health science, as well as an MBA and M.Ed. program. Graduates of UoPeople can be found working at such companies as Deloitte, Amazon, Apple, Pfizer, Google, Microsoft and IBM. UoPeople collaborates with Harvard Business School Online, New York University, University of California Berkeley, McGill University, and the University of Edinburgh and has received support from foundations such as the Gates Foundation, Ford Foundation and Hewlett Foundation. Learn more at www.uopeople.edu.