Bachelor of Business Administration
> Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What if one fails to complete the curriculum in the maximum assigned duration?
Can I receive a Master's degree through the International Open University?
Where does the coursework take place?
What if there is slow internet connection?
Is there any fee involved before the exams?
I want to join the BBA program. Where do I begin?
The International Open University is an online educational institution. The entire program is taught online via internet. Anyone from any part of the world can join easily and benefit from it, Insha Allaah.
Admission is open throughout the year. If a student is admitted and enrollment is closed, he/she will begin his/her studies the following semester.
The registration form is available here:
http://www.islamiconlineuniversity.com/campus/login/signup.php
You will get a reply form the registrar regarding your admission confirmation and fee payment details in a few days, Insha Allaah.
Before you begin the registration process, make sure you have the required scans (a scan of your HSC or certificate and a recent color photograph) ready on your PC.
What does the enrollment process entail?
Upon the completion of the 3 registration steps, the payment of the fees included, you will receive an email with the enrollment instructions few days before the beginning of the semester during the regular enrollment period. If you have completed the registration before or after the regular enrollment period, you may enroll via the early enrollment system by visiting this link. Please note that you have only two attempts to enroll. Therefore, you should choose your courses carefully. Staff will be able to help you only if there is some genuine reason.
When does the late registration period start?
Registration is open all year round though we advise you to register right away. You will be able to register in the current semester if the deadline has not passed. If the deadline has passed, you will be registered for the following semester and you may enroll into courses via the early enrollment system.
The deadlines of registration are broadly divided into three categories:
Early Registration Period:
Spring: beginning of October to mid-February
Fall: beginning of April to mid-August
Regular Registration Period:
Spring: mid-February to mid-March
Fall: mid-August to mid-September
Late Registration Period:
Spring: mid-March to end of March
Fall: mid-September to end of September
Registered students will be sent the exact dates of each semester a couple of weeks before the semester starts.
What are the tuition fees?
Alhamdulillaah, all the courses offered are completely free, but we charge affordable semester registration fees.
Please see here for details
http://www.islamiconlineuniversity.com/bba/enrollment.php
Click here and select your county of residence to see the course fee
http://www.islamiconlineuniversity.com/bba/scale-fee.php
These are the only fees we charge per semester. The course is completely tuition free, and the course material is also provided free of cost. Additionally, there is an E-Library provided as a study aid for the students.
For new students: No matter when the semester is scheduled to start, once you complete the payment, you will be given access to course materials.
If my transcripts are not in English, will you still accept them?
In order to make the process easy for the students, IOU has translators available who will translate your documents (for some languages). Please check with us to see if we have a translator for the language your certificate is in. If we do not have translation services available for your language, your non-English high school transcripts and certificate must be fully translated into English and notarized by a notary. You must submit the original transcript along with the translated copy. A copy of the translated notarized copy should be uploaded during the online registration process.
What is the minimum required qualification to apply for BBA?
To apply for the BBA program, the candidate must have at least a high school diploma. The high school diploma must be scanned and uploaded along with a recent color passport size photograph. If the diploma and photo are not uploaded, your admission will not be confirmed.
Can a student who doesn't have the minimum required qualification join the IOU BBA program?
The BBA is a degree program for students who meet all the requirements mandated by the Somalian laws. The requirement to enter a bachelor’s degree program in any country is the completion of 12 years of study. To accommodate students who do not have a high school diploma but want to study in an organized Business Administration program and obtain a certificate, the IOU has the Open Education Program, which offers the same courses as the BBA program. Students from both the BBA degree program and the Open Education Program are taught in a similar manner and given the same course materials. Students can access the same supplementary sessions conducted by the same tutorial assistants. The only difference is in the certificate provided upon successful completion of the program. For more information, click here.
The semester registration fee is the same for any of these streams you may choose; whether it be mainstream study, Open Education Program or the alternative stream of Audit Courses. This is because the manner we conduct the study for all our students is the same.
Can I do this course without taking exams?
To enable the students who do not wish to take exams but acquire the knowledge of business administration taught in an organized structure, we have introduced the alternative stream of audit courses. The audit courses stream provides all the above opportunities of studies to a student but they are exempted from taking tests and exams and submitting assignments. If they wish, they can take the tests and research and submit assignments, but they will not fail if they do not do so.
Audit courses stream is for those people who want to complete the BBA courses without having to prepare for exams. The duration of the semester is the same as for BBA and so is the fee structure. After the semester completes, the students are graded for auditing the courses. And at the end of their study they are given a certificate of attendance from the IOU, in sha Allah.
Can I take Bachelor’s in Business Administration with any other bachelor program?
Yes you may, under the IOU Dual Program. Please check the details
here: http://www.islamiconlineuniversity.com/dual-program.php.
I have registered for the Certificate/ Diploma in Business Administration; however, due to a change of circumstance, I want to enroll in the Bachelor in Business Administration instead. Is it possible?
Yes, you may do so. Please contact the help desk via the ‘Helpdesk Contact Form’ for further details.
Does Bachelor in Business Administration have a course waiver system?
No, course waiver is not applicable to Bachelor in Business Administration.
Can I take extra courses that are not part of the curriculum of my program?
Yes, you may take courses from other IOU degree, diploma or certificate programs. This includes courses that are outside the integral part of their program.
These extra courses will appear on a student's provisional and graduate transcript with the final course mark and noted as “Additional Courses Completed”.
What are the graduation requirements of the Bachelor’s in Business Administration Program?
Please find the graduation requirements of the Bachelor’s in Business Administration Program here in this link: http://www.islamiconlineuniversity.com/bba/graduate-requirement.php
Do I have to re-register if I wish to do Bachelor in Business Administration after completing the Diploma or Certificate in Business Administration course? Furthermore, do I have to repeat the same courses or have to pay any credit transfer charges?
International Open University aims to facilitate opportunities to the students so they may excel in Business Administration field. Students who have completed their Certificate or diploma in Business Administration and wish to start a batchelor in the same field the following semester can apply for switching their stream.
Students are not required to either re-register, repeat any of the courses or to pay the credit transfer charges (but if they want, they can repeat the courses) . For further details, please contact the help desk via the ‘Helpdesk Contact Form’
Do I have the provision of credit transfer here?
Yes students can apply for credit transfer for courses offered at IOU. Please read the details from here http://www.islamiconlineuniversity.com/bba/credittransfer.php
I forgot my password, what should I do?
In order to reset your password, click on the 'forgotten password' button located just under the login fields. If your password reset was not successful and you are still unable to log in, contact the Help Desk at helpdesk@iou.edu.gm or you may also contact the Help Desk via live chat on campus:http://www.islamiconlineuniversity.com/campus/. Please do not create a new account; having multiple accounts with IOU is not allowed under any circumstance.
I forgot my login credentials and I cannot recall my IOU registered email ID, what should I do?
If you forgot your login details or are unable to access your old email account, kindly contact the Help Desk at helpdesk@iou.edu.gm or you may also contact the Help Desk via live chat on campus:http://www.islamiconlineuniversity.com/campus/.
Please do not create a new account; having multiple accounts with IOU is not allowed under any circumstance.
When will enrollment and classes begin?
The International Open University offers two terms each year. The enrollment for Spring semester begins on 1st March while for the Fall semester, it begins on 1st September.
Is an English language certification like TOEFL or IELTS required?
No. English language certification is not a requirement for any of the IOU programs. However, you should be aware that English is the medium of instruction for the entire program and you need to have a good command over the language to enroll into the program. You must display the ability to communicate effectively in terms of reading, writing and speaking fluently in English. This is vital for your success as a university student.
What will happen to the uncommon courses when I change my stream? Will my grades for such courses be recognized and mentioned in my final transcript.
Yes, these uncommon courses will appear on the student's permanent academic record with the final course mark and noted as "Additional Courses". However, they are not included in calculating the student's Grade Point Average and do not count towards the degree, diploma or certificate credit.
May I know the universities where IOU's graduates were able to take admission in higher/postgraduate studies based on IOU's issued degree?
While it is quite difficult to keep track of this, we have been notified of some of our graduates pursuing postgraduate studies in Indonesia and Gambia.
How is it that IOU is accredited by the Somalia's Ministry of Culture and Higher Education however, the institution as per the credentials is located in The Gambia? So is IOU following the Gambia standards and legislation or Somalia?
IOU is registered and accredited in Somalia. This was the first country in which IOU received full registration and accreditation. IOU then subsequently applied for registration in Gambia and has established a headquarters there. The finalization of registration is underway in The Gambia. We hope to conclude the finalization soon, In sha Allah. IOU also has provisional registration by the National Council of Higher Education in Malawi. We are also busy with the finalization of registration in Malawi currently. Once full registration is granted in Gambia and Malawi, IOU will then shift completely over to their systems and legislation.
As IOU has signed Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) with various universities, will the graduates of IOU be eligible for the admission/credit transfer in the said university automatically?
The onus lies with the applicant seeking credit transfer externally to apply using the standard IOU-issued documents. In the motivation of the application, the student may naturally refer to an MoU in place.
The other university will follow their procedures to determine the validity and scope of the MoU. If the MoU explicitly cites credit transfer/recognition, then the applicant should not face challenges.
However, there are instances where admissions departments of partner universities might not grant credit transfer of some/all courses because the MoU might not have been intended for the purpose of credit transfer, or there could have been changes to syllabi that prevents credit transfer, as courses between IOU and partner university are no longer aligned.
It would be best to check the conditions of the MoU in place with the specific partner university to explore its scope.
How do I take exams?
Module tests can be taken anywhere within the prescribed time. The midterm and final exams must be taken only in an IOU approved exam center. There are several designated IOU centers present across the globe. You may look for a center near your city, prior to the start of semester exams, and register for it. If there is not an IOU approved exam center nearby, you can suggest an exam center and we will approve it even if you are the only student taking exams there, Insha’Allah. Please read the exam center requirements here https://iou.edu.gm/stream/exam-center-requirements/
What if i have a slow internet connection?
It is recommended that the IOU students try to have a high speed internet connection to make the best use of all the services. However, if a student is unable to obtain a high speed connection, we have audio and video lectures available which can be downloaded and saved to listen or watch later. However, as exams are required to be attempted online as well, you must arrange a high speed internet connection to submit exams successfully.
May I know the universities where IOU's graduates were able to take admission in higher/postgraduate studies based on IOU's issued degree?
While it is quite difficult to keep track of this, we have been notified of some of our graduates pursuing postgraduate studies in Indonesia and Gambia.
As IOU has signed Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) with various universities, will the graduates of IOU be eligible for the admission/credit transfer in the said university automatically?
The onus lies with the applicant seeking credit transfer externally to apply using the standard IOU-issued documents. In the motivation of the application, the student may naturally refer to an MoU in place.
The other university will follow their procedures to determine the validity and scope of the MoU. If the MoU explicitly cites credit transfer/recognition, then the applicant should not face challenges.
However, there are instances where admissions departments of partner universities might not grant credit transfer of some/all courses because the MoU might not have been intended for the purpose of credit transfer, or there could have been changes to syllabi that prevents credit transfer, as courses between IOU and partner university are no longer aligned.
It would be best to check the conditions of the MoU in place with the specific partner university to explore its scope.
Does IOU accept students of other institutions or recognise work experience as learning?
Is International Open University an accredited university?
The National Accreditation and Quality Assurance Authority (NAQAA) has granted the International Open University a three year Provisional License to operate as a higher education institution in The Gambia effective 29 April, 2019. This license also serves as an institutional accreditation of International Open University, the Gambia, by National Accreditation and Quality Assurance Authority.
Moreover, the Ministry of Higher Education, Research, Science and Technology has granted to the International Open University a license to operate an online university in The Gambia with effect from May 13, 2014.
For more information about accreditation click on the given link https://iou.edu.gm/stream/accreditation/
Is there a separate fee for learning materials?
There is no fee charged for course materials, which consists of a PDF file. Flash videos and mp3 audios are available for online streaming as well as for download. We also provide an E-Library for students free of charge. If a student wishes to purchase hard copies of the required texts, they may do so from external sources.
What are the minimum and maximum periods in which the Bachelor's degree may be completed?
Bachelor's Degree can be completed in four years period.
Full-time registration*
Minimum period: 4 years
Maximum duration: 6 years
Part-time registration
Minimum period: 6 years
Maximum duration: 9 years
What is the level of English required to join a Bachelor's Degree program?
In order to join IOU’s Bachelor’s program, the students must have concluded their high school qualification in the medium of English.
The course content is explained very clearly with the help of lectures recorded by the instructors and recorded supplementary sessions conducted by the teachers. You can contact the teacher if you have any questions about course content. Although the courses are simplified as much as possible, it is preferable that you first register for a free diploma course https://diploma.iou.edu.gm/opencampus/ and try to complete at least one diploma course. If you are able to understand the lectures and texts of the free diploma course, then you should be able to study in the BA ALS program with no difficulty in sha Allah.
Please note that If you realize later that you are not able to understand course content and need to withdraw from the program, there will be no refund. We, therefore, request that you pay only after careful consideration.
Can a student who doesn't have the minimum required qualification join the Bachelors program?
No, students cannot join this program if they do not meet the admission requirements.
When IOU’s site says it is accredited globally, does it mean IOU's degrees will be accepted by universities in all countries including US, Canada, Australia, UAE, etc.?
This program is accredited by NAQAA, the accreditation authority in the Gambia. Students originating from other countries may have to complete additional studies and/or training, or fulfill additional requirements to be recognized in their own countries. Such applicants and students are encouraged to validate the recognition they may receive in their countries with the registered and accredited IOU Bachelors degree prior to registration and graduation.
What is the minimum required qualification to apply for a Bachelor's Degree?
In order to join IOU’s Bachelor’s program, the students must have concluded their high school qualification in the medium of English.
In order to be admitted to our accredited online Bachelor degree, the candidate must have completed high school. The high school certificate/diploma is the credential awarded to a secondary school student who successfully completes high school level (approximately 12 years of study) . Those who have completed further studies and have degrees beyond high school may submit those certificates if they no longer have their high school certificate with them.
The high school diploma must be scanned and uploaded along with a recent color passport size photograph and photo ID. If the diploma and photo are not uploaded, your admission will not be processed. Additionally, the attested copy of these documents are required to be sent to IOU Head Office before the completion of the program.
When does the registration period start?
Registration is open all year round though we advise you to register right away. You will be able to register in the current semester if the deadline has not passed. If the deadline has passed, you will be registered for the following semester and you may enroll into courses via the early enrollment system.
Spring Semester
Early Registration Period: 1st Oct - 28th Feb
Semester commencement: 1st March
Regular Registration/Enrollment Period: 1st March - 29th March
Fall Semester:
Early Registration Period:: 1st April - 31st August
Semester commencement: 1st September
Regular Registration/Enrollment Period: 1st September - 28th Sept
I want to join the Bachelors program. Where do I begin?
The International Open University is an online educational institution. The entire program is taught online via the internet. Anyone from any part of the world can join easily and benefit from it, In sha Allaah.
Admission is open throughout the year. If a student is admitted and enrollment is closed, he/she will begin his/her studies the following semester.
Please visit this link to know the complete admission process https://iou.edu.gm/stream/process/
If my admission documents are not in English, will you still accept them?
In order to make the process easy for the students, IOU has translators available who will translate your documents (for some languages, e.g Arabic, Urdu, Hindi, Bangali, Bahasa, Russian, Malay). If we do not have translation services available for your language, your non-English high school transcripts and certificates must be fully translated into English and notarized by a notary. You must submit the original transcript along with the translated copy. A copy of the translated notarized copy should be uploaded during the online registration process.
Can I study using Smartphone?
While it is possible to study using smartphones, it might not be an efficient way to do so. This is because certain coursework like Assignments are required to be written and lots of research needs to be done to write the assignments. Hence, it is better that you use Laptop/computer to do the assignments.
Is it possible for me to complete the course in less than three years? If it is possible, how many courses should I take each semester?
No, this option is not available for the BBA program. The program can only be studied under a part-time or full-time study plan and can be completed in 4 years minimum.
Does IOU have a system for course waivers and credit transfer for BBA?
No, Course waivers and Credit Transfers are not applicable for the BBA program.
Can I take additional courses from another stream under the BBA program?
No, a student cannot take additional courses under this program.
Can I do this course without taking exams? (Can this program be audited?)
This option is not available for the BBA Program.
Is there any exam center fee involved before the exams?
There is no fee charged by IOU separately for examinations. Students only need to pay a modest semester registration fee before enrolling into the semester. This depends on the country of residence of the student. Please click here* to see the fees for your country. However, students will have to pay any associated fees to the exam center, if the center administrator/manager demands it .
What career path can I choose after completing the BBA program?
Career paths for graduates of this programme include: Marketing Executive, Human Resource Executive, Marketing Manager, Sales Executive, Research and Development Executive.
What are the semester registration fees?
Click and select your county of residence to see the semester registration fee:
BBA https://iou.edu.gm/stream/bba/fee/
These are the only fees we charge per semester. The course material is provided free of cost online Additionally, there is an E-Library provided as a study aid for the students.
For new students: No matter when the semester is scheduled to start, once you complete the payment, you will be given access to course material through the Early Enrollment system.
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