06-30-2020, 11:50 AM
Based in Gambia and recently rebranded as International Open University (although most pages still refer to it by its old name), this is an interesting find.
Their "tuition-free" claim seems to follow the same model as the University of the People, with fees being charged as part of their semester registration fee. Nevertheless, the fees are relatively reasonable and varies depending on the country of residence, with the upper end of the scale reaching just a little above $2500 for the full Bachelor's degree program. Being a resident of a developing country will significantly lower costs (the lowest possible cost for the degree is a little under $900). They also offer a free Diploma in Islamic Studies.
https://diploma.iou.edu.gm/opencampus/
https://iou.edu.gm/
Quote:The International Open University (IOU) was launched by Dr. Abu Ameenah Bilal Philips in 2007 as a higher education institution that offers intensive online undergraduate and graduate programs completely tuition-free.A quick disclaimer: Dr. Bilal Philips has his share of controversies, so caveat emptor should be applied here. I suppose we can follow the same line of reasoning for Liberty University, but that is a discussion for another time.
Their "tuition-free" claim seems to follow the same model as the University of the People, with fees being charged as part of their semester registration fee. Nevertheless, the fees are relatively reasonable and varies depending on the country of residence, with the upper end of the scale reaching just a little above $2500 for the full Bachelor's degree program. Being a resident of a developing country will significantly lower costs (the lowest possible cost for the degree is a little under $900). They also offer a free Diploma in Islamic Studies.
https://diploma.iou.edu.gm/opencampus/
Quote:Studying with the IOU is affordable, and manageable. There is a part time /full time semester registration fee that students need to pay per semester, a part-time semester registration fee that ranges from US $70 to US $200 and a full-time semester registration fee that ranges from US $110 to US $320 per semester based on the standard of living in the student’s country of residence. Please note that apart from the semester registration fees, there is a one-time 10 USD admission processing fees.Apparently exam centres are necessary for all final semester exams, but I could not find much information about the location of these centres. I am assuming it follows a similar model to Saylor Academy and would require students reaching out to a trusted proctor.
Quote:All semester final exams are administered, online, at the International Open University (IOU) designated centers across the globe.IOU does not have US-based accreditation, but with DegreeForum members all around the world, this may be a useful find to someone.
https://iou.edu.gm/