595 E. Colorado Boulevard.
Suite 623Pasadena, CA 91101
United States
Telephone: (626) 264-8880
Staff Liaison: Stephanie Huie Each institution is assigned a staff liaison who is their primary point of contact for accreditation activities.
Student Achievement URL: https://www.uopeople.edu/essential-uopeople-documents/bppe-school-performance-fact-sheets/ WSCUC Standards require that institutions regularly generate, evaluate, and make public data about student achievement, including measures of retention, and graduation, and evidence of student learning.
Current Accreditation Status: Accredited - Reflects the Commission's finding that the institution is in compliance with the Standards. Accredited
Most Recent Commission Action: May 20, 2025
Granted Candidacy: Candidacy is a status of preliminary affiliation with the Senior College and University Commission, awarded for a maximum of four years following a procedure for institutional review that includes self-study and on-site visitation. Candidacy indicates that the institution meets all or nearly all the Standards at a minimum level. Candidacy is not accreditation and does not ensure eventual accreditation; it means that an institution is progressing toward accreditation. This is the date that the institution was first granted the status of Candidacy with WSCUC. Not all institutions have become accredited with WSCUC through the Candidacy process. 2021
First Accredited: Date the institution was first accredited by WSCUC. 2024
Undergraduate FTE: 26,037
Graduate FTE: 2,955
Financial Structure Type: Institutions within the WSCUC region are classified as Non-profit, For-profit or State-supported. Non-Profit
Sponsorship: Choices include: No related entity, Proprietary with Parent Board, Religious Control, Multi-institutional system, Other. For more information please see the Related Entities Policy. No Related Entity
Academic Calendar: The period of time generally extending from September to June; usually equated to 2 semesters or trimesters, 3 quarters, or the period covered by a 4-1-4 calendar system. 4-1-4
Distributes Federal Financial Aid: No
Commission Actions
* Commission Action Letter, Retroactive Initial Accreditation, May 2025 action
* Commission Action Letter, Seeking Accreditation Visit 3, February 2025 action
* Commission Action Letter, Seeking Accreditation Visit 2, February 2023 action
* Commission Action Letter, Seeking Accreditation Visit 1, June 2021 action
* Team Report, Seeking Accreditation Visit 2, February 2023 action
* Team Report, Seeking Accreditation Visit 1, June 2021 action
The IB has partnered with the University of the People (UoPeople) to award scholarships for educators around the globe to earn a Master of Education (M.Ed.) degree.
These scholarships represent a collaborative effort and commitment to address the global shortage of quality educators worldwide, which in turn guarantees access to quality education for more students.
We are proud to support inspiring educators and help them reach the next stage in their careers, especially those who demonstrate a strong commitment to their own local communities, to lifelong learning and to the IB pedagogy.
Find out more about the UoPeople M.Ed. in Advanced Teaching.
Who should apply?
The IB UoPeople Scholarship aims to support new or developing educators who have never received a master’s degree in an education-related field and do not have access to affordable teacher education. Our scholarship recipients will receive funding for M.Ed. course assessment fees needed to complete the degree and transfer credit fees (if applicable), and UoPeople will waive the application fee.
See scholarship terms and conditions.
What you’ll need before starting your application
- Your updated resume
- A 3-minute video recording. Please see more instructions on how to make this video
- Professional letter of recommendation
Please see frequently asked questions below. For further questions about scholarships, please email us.
The 2025 scholarship application process is now closed
Frequently asked questions
I have already started my M.Ed. at UoPeople. Can I still apply?
Unfortunately, not. The scholarship is only open to students who have not yet earned credit toward the M.Ed. at UoPeople.
Where can I access the interview questions?
The interview questions are listed within the application form.
I have a master’s degree in a field other than education. Can I still apply?
Yes, you may apply if you have a master’s degree in a field not related to Education.
I do not have an undergraduate degree. Can I still apply?
Unfortunately, not. A bachelor’s degree is a requirement to be admitted to any master’s degree programme.
What is required for the letter of recommendation?
Letters of recommendation should be from a previous or current supervisor and should be signed and include the contact information of the recommender. Letters should be submitted directly from the author to the application portal or scholarships@ibo.org. We will not accept documents submitted directly from the applicant.
What is the University of the People (UoPeople)?
UoPeople is a tuition-free, non-profit, fully online American university offering accredited undergraduate and postgraduate degree options to students in 194 countries.
Programmes are developed using volunteer curriculum developers and instructors.
What is the UoPeople Master of Education (M.Ed.) degree?
The tuition-free online Master of Education (M.Ed.) degree is available to applicants worldwide. Successful students will receive a Master of Education in Advanced Teaching with specializations at two levels: the primary and middle school level, and the secondary school level. Both specializations share nine core courses and one capstone course, but each have two of their own specialized core courses as well as one elective. Students are required to complete 13 courses, which includes core courses and electives, and a capstone project. UoPeople also offers a 16-course version of the M.Ed., which includes both the primary and secondary specializations.
What role does the IB play in the M.Ed. degree and why?
The IB provided a funding contribution to support the development and launch of the M.Ed. degree opportunity and works with IB World Schools to raise awareness of the degree. UoPeople believes that access to education plays a key role in strengthening fundamental freedoms, as well as promoting world peace and global economic development. The M.Ed. will help address the worldwide shortage of high-quality teachers.
What are the criteria for acceptance to pursue the M.Ed. degree?
Applicants of the M.Ed. program need to be 18 years of age or older. In addition, applicants need to have a Bachelor’s degree from a US accredited institution or an equivalent degree from an accredited international institution, and be proficient in the English language. See UoPeople’s website for more on admission requirements.
Is the M.Ed. degree accredited and internationally recognized?
UoPeople is accredited by the Distance Education Accrediting Commission, which is recognized by the U.S. Department of Education as an accrediting agency. The M.Ed. degree does not award a teaching certification.
How long does the degree take to complete?
UoPeople notes that the degree can be completed in less than a year. For some students, it may take 2-3 years. The course list can be found in the University Catalog, or on the UoPeople website.
Overview
University of the People is accredited by the WASC Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC), 1080 Marina Village Parkway, Suite 500, Alameda, CA 94501, 510.748.9001.
University of the People is recognized by the DEAC as an accredited online University, and adheres to all DEAC Standards and Code of Ethics.
WASC Senior College & University Commission (WSCUC) was formally created in 2012-13 when three education commissions under the umbrella of the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC) – Accrediting Commission for Senior Colleges and Universities (ACSCU), Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges (ACCJC), and the Accrediting Commission for Schools (ACS) — reincorporated as separate entities.
WSCUC is recognized as an institutional accrediting agency, and reviewed periodically for renewal, by the US Department of Education.
What is the WASC Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC)?
WASC Senior College & University Commission (WSCUC) was formally created in 2012-13 when three education commissions under the umbrella of the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC) – Accrediting Commission for Senior Colleges and Universities (ACSCU), Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges (ACCJC), and the Accrediting Commission for Schools (ACS) — reincorporated as separate entities.
WSCUC is recognized as an institutional accrediting agency, and reviewed periodically for renewal, by the US Department of Education.
What is the Distance Education Accrediting Commission (DEAC)?
The Distance Education Accrediting Commission (DEAC) is listed by the U.S. Department of Education as a recognized accrediting agency.
The Distance Education Accrediting Commission is recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA).
What Is Accreditation?
Accreditation is a private, voluntary, non-governmental peer-review process that reviews the educational quality of an institution or program. In the United States, accreditation is the primary means of assuring educational quality. Accreditation status confirms that an institution has voluntarily undergone a comprehensive self-study and peer examination that demonstrates the institution meets standards of accreditation. To receive accreditation, the institution must clearly demonstrate that it has established educational goals; offers formal, organized learning experiences and services that enable students to meet these stated goals; and that students and graduates have benefited from the learning experiences provided.
Furthermore, accreditation assures that an institution operates on a sound financial basis, has approved programs of study, qualified instructors, adequate facilities and equipment, ethical recruitment and admission policies, engages in continual improvement through self-evaluation and planning, and promotes its programs truthfully.
UoPeople is approved to operate by the State of California and is approved by the California Bureau for Private Postsecondary Education (BPPE) to award degrees. Bureau approval means compliance with minimum standards. BPPE's website can be found at https://www.bppe.ca.gov/
Click here to view UoPeople’s DEAC Student Achievement Disclosure for the Public.
Click here to view UoPeople’s Public Disclosures.
UoPeople is approved to operate by the State of California and is approved by the California Bureau for Private Postsecondary Education (BPPE) to award degrees. Bureau approval means compliance with minimum standards. BPPE's website can be found at https://www.bppe.ca.gov/
Click here to view UoPeople’s DEAC Student Achievement Disclosure for the Public.
Click here to view UoPeople’s Public Disclosures.