In January, the University of Utah took a significant step toward expanding global access to its academic programs. Updated internal policy now allows students living in 21 countries to enroll in UOnline, the University of Utah’s central hub for fully online and hybrid degree and certificate programs.
This milestone reflects new policies designed to align with peer institutions, strong collaboration across campus, and a shared commitment to supporting students wherever they are, both geographically and academically.
Students living in the following countries can now apply to the U’s fully online degree and certificate programs with UOnline: Australia, Belgium, Brazil, Canada (Ontario only), Costa Rica, France, Ghana, India, Italy, Japan, Kenya, Luxembourg, Mexico, Netherlands, Nigeria, South Africa, South Korea, Spain, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, and Vietnam.
Building the Foundation: Research, Policy, and Best Practices
Prior to this policy update, UOnline programs were not authorized to enroll students residing outside the United States. While there was interest, there hadn’t been a concentrated effort to develop a carefully vetted, legally sound process.
“This has been a three-year project, so it’s exciting that we can now open up a new enrollment pathway.” says Kate Barnabas, Partnerships and Project Manager for the Office for Global Engagement. Barnabas coordinated the effort between University Connected Learning (UCL), Office of General Counsel (OGC), Admissions, and UOnline academic programs.
“After learning how a few of our peer institutions are serving students abroad, we built a process that could work at the U.” This ultimately led to a subscription with Hogan Lovells, a law firm that specializes in online higher ed regulations worldwide. World Trade Center Utah and the U.S. Commercial Service in Salt Lake City were also key partners who provided invaluable market insights and international connections to help navigate compliance.
The Program That Paved the Way
One program that helped move the project forward was the Master of Business Creation (MBC), an accelerator plus graduate degree for serious entrepreneurs.
Designed from the outset as a global program executed in select countries, MBC helped UOnline test and refine processes for enrolling international students in a fully online environment in Africa and is now expanding to Europe. MBC was invested in helping develop this new international enrollment pathway and were willing to be the first program to run through approvals. They provided feedback and supported expansion into additional countries. In turn, these efforts benefited other UOnline programs considering international student enrollment.
“The UOnline team was so helpful in mapping our way forward with the right approvals and risk assessments across key stakeholders on tight timing,” said Jeff Davis, marketing professor and MBC Global Director.
About UOnline
UOnline is the University of Utah’s central hub for fully online and hybrid degree and certificate programs, designed to extend the U’s academic mission beyond the physical campus. UOnline serves undergraduate, graduate, and certificate learners across a wide range of disciplines and provides access to core university resources, including advising, library services, and career support.
Housed within University Connected Learning (UCL), UOnline plays a key role in the university’s broader strategy to deliver flexible, high-impact education aligned with the University of Utah’s research excellence and public mission. Built to meet the needs of working professionals and non‑traditional learners, UOnline has grown steadily over the years and now plays a central role in the University’s enrollment strategy.
Advancing the University’s 2030 Strategy
Expanding international access through UOnline directly supports the University of Utah’s 2030 Strategy, particularly its enrollment growth and global engagement goals.
In recent years, this work has become increasingly important as heightened visa restrictions have limited many international students’ ability to study in the United States. By offering high‑quality online programs to learners abroad, the University can expand its global reach, strengthen international brand awareness, and create new, sustainable pathways to a Utah education.
“This change reflects a broader institutional mindset,” says Randy Mccrillis, Senior International Officer for the Office for Global Engagement. “There has been increased support for strengthening the U’s global presence, and responsibly expanding access is a great way to do that.”
Looking ahead, the University plans to add a handful of additional countries each year, continuing to evaluate regulatory environments and student support considerations as part of an ongoing, iterative process.
How to Apply
The application roll-out for programs is starting for Fall 2026 admission, with priority to programs with prospective students who have expressed interest. Each program’s Slate applications (also called the Future U app) are being updated now to allow students from the approved countries to apply. Interested students who are still unable to complete an application should contact the program directly to learn when its application will become available.