Our initiative with Harvard Business School Online (HBS Online) allows University of the People students to take a selection of HBS Online courses as part of their studies through the Collaborating Colleges program. In taking these courses, UoPeople students receive a Credential of Readiness (CORe) certification to help them stand out in a competitive job market and credit toward their UoPeople degree, while learning the fundamentals of business.

University of the People (UoPeople) is a member of Harvard Business School Online’s (HBS Online’s) Collaborating Colleges program. Harvard Business School Online offers a unique and highly engaging way to learn vital business concepts via an innovative online platform that brings the Harvard Business School classroom to you.

UoPeople undergraduate students can enroll in and receive need-based scholarships for HBS Online’s flagship program the Credential of Readiness (CORe), a three-course primer in the fundamentals of business. The three courses are Economics for Managers, Financial Accounting, and Business Analytics. Upon successful completion, participants will receive an HBS Online Credential of Readiness and can earn academic credits toward their UoPeople degree.

“I am excited to welcome University of the People to HBS Online’s family of Collaborating Colleges,” said Senior Associate Dean of HBS Online Debora Spar. “Now, more than ever, we need to provide an equal opportunity to education for all, and this relationship is an important step in Harvard Business School’s broader diversity and inclusion initiatives.”

This collaboration, along with other high profile partnerships, reinforces the high level of UoPeople’s degrees, and is an excellent opportunity for our students to earn credits toward their degree from one of the top universities worldwide.

“With online education at an all-time high, this relationship expands UoPeople’s mission to offer even greater quality, online, accessible, and affordable higher education to qualified students,” said UoPeople President Shai Reshef. “We always look for opportunities to enrich our student experience. We are, therefore, incredibly proud to provide our students with the chance to experience the richness of the acclaimed HBS Online curriculum and receive a valuable credential to help them stand out in the job market.”

At University of the People, we will continue to open the gates to higher education, and strive to offer our students the best opportunities available.

To begin the admission process, you register for CORe and then one graduate-level course with us:

• CORe (noncredit or credit). You apply for CORe directly with Harvard Business School Online.
• 1 economics course (microeconomics, economics of business, or managerial economics).
  • Before registering for the economics course, you’ll need to pass our online test of critical reading and writing skills or earn a B or higher in EXPO 34 Business Rhetoric, which counts as an elective towards the program.

You need to earn a passing grade in CORe and a B or higher grade in the economics course, without letting your overall Harvard cumulative GPA dip below 3.0.

Eligibility: The CORe credential must be earned prior to enrolling in any degree-applicable courses at Harvard. Before enrolling in any degree-applicable courses, you need to possess a four-year, US regionally accredited bachelor’s degree or its foreign equivalent. You cannot already have or be in the process of earning a master’s degree in finance or a related field. The CORe credential cannot be more than three years old at the time of application.

Applying To the Degree Program

During the semester that you are completing the economics course, submit the official application to the program. 

Don’t delay! It is critical to prioritize the degree course for admission and apply before completing subsequent courses. By doing so, you’ll avoid the delayed application fee and the loss of degree credit for expired courses, and you’ll gain access to exclusive degree candidate privileges.

Eligible students who submit a complete and timely application will have 11 more courses after admission to earn the degree.

For more details about eligibility, the application process, and application fees, visit Admissions. 

Visit the finance degree requirements page for information about on-campus requirements and completing the degree.

January & Spring Registration Is Open!

Register now for January and spring term courses. You can register for January courses through Jan. 3 and spring courses through Jan. 20.Explore Courses & Register

All programs require the completion of a brief application. The applications vary slightly from program to program, but all ask for some personal background information. You can apply for and enroll in programs here. If you are new to HBS Online, you will be required to set up an account before starting an application for the program of your choice.

Our easy online application is free, and no special documentation is required. All applicants must be at least 18 years of age, proficient in English, and committed to learning and engaging with fellow participants throughout the program.

After submitting your application, you should receive an email confirmation from HBS Online. If you do not receive this email, please check your junk email folders and double-check your account to make sure the application was successfully submitted.

Updates to your application and enrollment status will be shown on your Dashboard. We confirm enrollment eligibility within one week of your application.

As an HBS Online participant, you join the HBS Online community; however, you will not be considered an HBS student. To become an HBS student, you must be enrolled in our MBA, executive education, or doctoral programs. When you earn your certificate or credential, you will not be considered an HBS alum. We offer ongoing learning opportunities and additional benefits, however, for individuals who have successfully completed HBS Online programs.

If you elect the undergraduate credit option for the Credential of Readiness (CORe) program, you will be enrolled at Harvard Extension School (January or September CORe cohorts) or Harvard Summer School (May CORe cohort) and eligible for student privileges like a Harvard University ID number (to access online library resources), free career and academic webinars, a Harvard Gmail account, and education tax credit and loan deferments.

By electing to enroll in the undergraduate credit option of the Credential of Readiness (CORe) program, participants can earn eight undergraduate credits from Harvard Extension School (January or September CORe cohorts) or Harvard Summer School (May CORe cohort).

At this time, it is not possible to earn academic credit for any other HBS Online programs. For information on learning requirements and grading for HBS Online courses, visit our Policies Page.

Upon successful completion of an HBS Online program, participants will receive a Certificate of Completion or, in the case of CORe participants, a Credential of Readiness from Harvard Business School Online.

Certificates and credentials are delivered by mail to your home address after your final grade has been processed.

nce you’ve earned your Certificate of Completion or Credential of Readiness, list it on your resume along with the date of completion like this:

Credential of Readiness (CORe)

Harvard Business School Online
CORe: Credential of Readiness, [Grade]
[Cohort Start Month and Year]

List your credential on your LinkedIn profile under “Education” as follows:

School: Harvard Business School Online
Dates Attended: [the year you participated in the program]
Degree: Other; CORe Credential of Readiness
Field of Study: Leave blank
Grade: “Pass,” “Pass with Honors,” or “Pass with High Honors” as applicable
Activities and Societies: Leave blank

Certificate Programs

Harvard Business School Online
Certificate in [Course Name]
[Cohort Start Month and Year]

List your certificate on your LinkedIn profile under “Education” as follows:

School: Harvard Business School Online
Dates Attended: [the year you participated in the program]
Degree: Other; Certificate in [Course Name]
Field of Study: Leave blank
Grade: “Complete”
Activities and Societies: Leave blank

For program descriptions for LinkedIn, please refer to the course-specific FAQs.