About OSUN

What Can We Do Together That We Can't Do Alone?

Since its establishment in 2020, the Open Society University Network (OSUN) has successfully developed, at scale, a new model of global higher education that provides unrivaled opportunities for undergraduate students to pursue global learning with faculty from around the world. These opportunities bring together students from a diversity of geographies and backgrounds and fully integrate displaced and other marginalized students into partner institutions. The OSUN model is grounded in reciprocal relationships with a shared commitment among partners to build resilient institutions that cherish academic freedom and prepare students to address fundamental global challenges, such as climate change, inequalities, and human rights, as thoughtful and engaged citizens.

Six students working together around a table

Mission

OSUN’s mission is to prepare students from diverse geographies and backgrounds, through rigorous liberal arts and sciences education, to address global challenges as thoughtful and engaged citizens. It advances global learning, promotes academic freedom, and expands access to higher education.

Frequently Asked Questions

  • All opportunities are open to students, faculty, and staff from partner institutions. There are also many public events available and open to anyone that would like to join. These are listed in News and Events.

  • OSUN courses are open to all students registered at partner institutions. Not all campuses recognize OSUN courses on transcripts so it's best to check with your advisor before registering for a course.

  • Students at OSUN partners can apply for a certificate program through the OSUN portal during select application periods. While all Certificate Programs require students to take at least one Network Course, some are designed to be completed primarily online while others are designed to take advantage of courses offered in-person on participating campuses. Because we want students on all campuses to be able to participate in all Certificate programs, each Certificate program is currently working to develop OSUN Online Course options that allow students without an in-person option to complete program requirements. This is a work in progress; students without in-person course options are encouraged to consult with program directors to discuss online alternatives to required courses being offered in-person only. Learn more about Academic Certificates and learn about open application periods.

  • OSUN doesn’t offer scholarships to help cover the cost of tuition at OSUN partner institutions or at other locations. OSUN is a network and not a funder. 

  • OSUN is not expanding its base of partner institutions at this time.

  • Yes, students may apply to study abroad at a partner institution. Several OSUN institutions have partnered to host one another's students on exchange. In this model, eligible students pay tuition to their home institution, minus any scholarships they receive, and self-pay the cost of accommodations, meals, visa, and travel at the host institution. Students interested in studying at an OSUN partner institution are encouraged to speak with their study abroad or international office. Students must have the permission of their home institution to study abroad, and must apply to the partner institution for an exchange spot - the process will vary from campus to campus. OSUN does not have scholarship funds to assist with the cost of travel or living while abroad on as an exchange student.

  • Except where otherwise noted, content on this site is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License (Or Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial  4.0 License, if that is the preference). This license enables reusers to distribute, remix, adapt, and build upon the material in any medium or format, so long as attribution is given to the creator. The license allows for commercial use.

  • OSUN began in January 2020 with the aim of educating students to address tomorrow’s global challenges and to strengthen the foundations of open society amid the current authoritarian resurgence. OSUN unites higher education institutions around the world through collaborative courses and projects that encourage students and faculty to examine issues from different perspectives and to expand educational access to marginalized and displaced populations.

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