Fees for Post Masters Graduate Diploma programs

Fees for Bachelors programs

Strategies:

1. We aim to keep the costs of gaining a Gaia University degree competitive with the fees required by more conventional, private, 'bricks and mortar' universities and colleges offering comparable programs.

We can do this because we have low overheads, low capital investment requirements and because our teaching 'staff' are self-employed independents who live, generally, in relatively modest income requirement situations (such as ecovillages and permaculture projects).

2. Some of the costs involved in a degree pathway are for service tutorials delivered at the Associate's local level. This strategy opens the door for local payments in complementary currencies and by work exchange. We will publish guidelines for the value of such tutorials and for clear negotiations.

Contained in this strategy is the dream of a common language for negotiations across the Gaia University learning community.

3. We will be working up a relative wealth approach that will adjust the fees required according to a) the relative wealth of the Associate in relation to local wealth levels and b) the relative wealth of the local economy in relation to Gaia University's base economy. Appropriate fee levels will be worked out with Regional Organizers in accordance with Gaia University guidelines.

If we can get this strategy working well Associates with high relative wealth will be gifting resources to Gaia University that enable us to offer bursaries and sponsored places to Associates with low relative wealth.

Contained in this strategy is the dream of a worldwide WorkNet capable of adjusting for relative wealth for all manner of purposes.

4. Associates provide a large part of the learning support themselves by working in an Action Learning Guild (supported by a Process Adviser). This mutual teaching and learning exchange requires only a little fee money for support.

5. To reduce cash flow demands, payment of fees by installments is offered wherever possible.

6. An Associate is encouraged to set up their own sponsorship through, for example, developing a borrowing circle in their local community - this may require that the Associate chooses, as their action learning project, a project of benefit to the local community. Making Gaia University degrees affordable is one of our aims.

7. We are pleased to have successfully negotiated with our accreditors a relative wealth approach for Accreditation Fees. These fees are now based on the following criteria (country of origin or residence). "Economy 1": 100%; "Economy 2": 50% "Economy 3": 25%. While we search for better designations to describe the relative access to economic resources of peoples on the planet, we are content to be able to offer this opportunity for those who live in lower economically resourced countries. Gaia University International has also made the commitment to offer a scholarship program that reflects different access to wealth. Our fees for our international programs in Economy 2 and 3 reflect this automatic scholarship for those from countries with lower access to wealth.

Government funding:

In some countries Governments provide assistance to people when studying. Associates and Regional Organizers are encouraged to research this route without much emotional investment in the outcome. We would like to know of any leads people develop to financial assistance that might help the wider Gaia U community. We have just been informed that a Canadian Trust Fund already had Gaia U on their "approved" list for release of funds. This is encouraging news and we welcome similar experiences.

International Scholarship/Bursary Fund:

Gaia University has a strong commitment to enabling Associates with a demonstrated commitment to proactive world change to study, regardless of their financial circumstances. To this end we will dedicate 10% of all International fees to this fund and encourage others to contribute as well. Donations may be made on this page or by contacting us. In some countries these donations are tax-deductible. If you have leads please contact us.

Our fee structure which offers associates from lower economically resourced countries an automatic scholarship is a key part of our commitment to making Gaia U degree programs affordable. We trust that others will support this practice of Fair Share in action.

If you have leads for loan sources in your country please contact us.

Refund Policy for Deposit and Tuition Payments:

Refunds are given as follows:

Before Orientation:     
Deposit     
Up to 1 month prior to orientation    75%
Up to 2 weeks prior to orientation    50%
Up to 1 week prior to orientation    25%
Any additional tuition payment     
Up to orientation    100%

After Orientation:     
Deposit     0%
2-Installment per Year Payment Plan     
Within 1 Month after start of orientation    50%
Within 3 Months after start of orientation    25%
After 3 Months after start of orientation    0%
All other installment plans   
No refunds are given