Program Rhythm

Standard Program Lengths

The designed lengths of our programs are as follows:

Gaia U Accredited Diplomas: 2 years

Completing a 2-year diploma program accredited by Gaia U (offered by us and/or by one of our partners) entitles you to apply to enter the last (or capstone) year of either a bachelor's or masters degree program with Gaia U.

This is a fresh innovation for 2012 and is intended to

• provide a low-cost route to professional competence though a diploma in its own right,
• provide an economical progression route to a degree for all and especially for 'mature students' who may not have had the privilege of a college education,
• enable the many excellent providers in the 'informal'  ecosocial sector to add value to their offerings with a diploma option.

Bachelor of Science Degree: 4 years

Our externally accredited bachelor's degree is a 4-year program. However, due to our UK accreditation system, Year 3 is an optional career year. In consultation with your advisors, you may opt to take this year or to proceed directly from Year 2 to Year 4. Additionally, you may receive accreditation for prior learning and experience (APL/E), which could allow you to enter your degree program in Year 2 or, in unusual cases, accelerate into Year 4 similar to the process described in the Master's program below. If you are seeking APL/E credits please provide full details on your application form.

Master of Science Degree: 2 years

Our externally accredited master's degree is a 2-year program. All candidates begin in Year 1.

If an associate has already spent many years working at a strategic level - as an entrepreneur, organizer or designer in the fields of environmental or social change - and has made a substantial contribution at a community or global scale, they may petition to accelerate their program after the successful completion of their third output packet. The decision to shift an associate to an accelerated master’s program is based on the competence, discipline and project outcomes evidenced in their documentation to date. There is a fee for portfolio evaluation for acceleration.

Externally Accredited Post-Graduate Diploma: 1 year

The post-graduate diploma program is available to add topics to existing bachelor's and master's degrees. This UK pattern is very useful as it helps an associate to progress their learning over a lifetime by working at advanced levels, but without the scale of documentation and research expected in a full degree. Post-graduate diplomas enable associates to become familiar with the Gaia U action learning methodology, advisory system, get support for strategic level projects and make significant transitions in their careers. The post-graduate diploma (or Masters degree with Gaia University) is a prerequisite for application to the doctoral program which will be offered by Gaia University in the future.

Program Rhythms

For ease of program management, we view each program from the perspective of a pre-capstone phase and a capstone phase. This means that a bachelor's associate in either Year 1 or Year 2 of their program is operating within the pre-capstone phase and all requirements of Year 1 and Year 2 must be fulfilled within that phase before being allowed to move into the capstone phase of the program.

Pauses and Extensions

We understand that life may bring unexpected changes and have thus designed several options to assist you in completing your degree or diploma if your original time frame becomes unmanageable. These options are designed to allow you to manage your program proactively and thoughtfully as a capable action learner.

Pause: In any program year you may request up to 12 months of 'pause'. Pause months offer you the ability to take a break from working on output packets or to catch up on your documentation work. No advising support is available during pause months unless you wish to purchase individual or multiple sessions to maintain contact with your advisor (which we strongly recommend). Your scheduled tuition payments are also suspended for the duration of pause months as long as you are up to date on your tuition fees. Pause months may be taken at any time during the program year and do not need to be consecutive. A minor administrative fee per pause month will apply.

Extensions: If after completing all active months of your normal program phases (including any pause months you have inserted) you need more time to complete your program, you may arrange for extension months with appropriate additional fees.