Designing and Building AI Products and Services
Uncover potential applications of AI for growth
What Is MIT xPRO’s Designing and Building AI Products and Services Program?
Designing and Building AI Products and Services is a 10-week online program from MIT xPRO designed for professionals and entrepreneurs working in the field of artificial intelligence (AI). The program helps you understand technology and business design principles and applications of AI across various industries and organizational functions. The goal is for you to create an AI-based product proposal, which can be presented to your internal stakeholders or investors.
The curriculum covers the stages involved in designing AI-based products, along with the fundamentals of machine learning and deep learning algorithms, and applies these insights to solving practical problems. You will also be exposed to the rapidly evolving agentic AI landscape, emerging standards like Model Context Protocol (MCP), and real-world implementation through a customer service case study through a series of live sessions with program faculty Dr. Brian Subirana, gaining perspective on the latest directions of AI product design.
What Do You Gain from This MIT xPRO Program?
Program Highlights
Develop an AI project proposal to present to internal stakeholders or investors
Acquire market-ready skills for evaluating AI solution opportunities and gauging the appropriate technologies for your organization
Advance your knowledge through crowdsourcing, demos, and design-support activities
Gain insights from faculty on rapidly evolving agentic AI landscape, emerging standards like Model Context Protocol (MCP), and real-world implementation through a customer service case study in the live sessions
Earn a certificate and 6 Continuing Education Units (CEUs) from MIT xPRO
What You Will Learn in the Designing and Building AI Products and Services Program?
The MIT xPRO Designing and Building AI Products and Services program curriculum unfolds across 10 weeks, beginning with the fundamentals of AI design and advancing through machine learning, deep learning, generative AI, and human–computer interaction before arriving at applied AI product design. Real-world case studies and mini-lessons are built into every module, pairing core concepts with technical and product design skills.
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Module 1: Introduction to the Artificial Intelligence Design Process
Get familiar with the stages of designing an AI-based product, with attention to specifics such as cost metrics and the technical requirements of an AI software development plan.
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Module 2: Artificial Intelligence Technology Fundamentals — Machine Learning
Identify a range of machine learning algorithms, and examine different approaches, including Bayesian and regression models. Study unsupervised and semi-supervised machine learning methods, then run and analyze results across various algorithms. Also, gain insights into applying AI to uncover genetic disease predispositions.
Mini-lessons:
Examine classifiers, including linear models and decision boundaries, along with how feature engineering affects them
Understand the "train, validate, test" methodology and how it helps avoid training error pitfalls
Work through Bayesian classifiers by using a five-step prediction method
Compare logistic regression against support vector machines for binary classification
Explore unsupervised clustering techniques, including k-means, for grouping data naturally
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Module 3: Artificial Intelligence Technology Fundamentals — Deep Learning
Building on the machine learning fundamentals from Module 2, move into the basics of deep learning, covering neural networks, artificial neurons, and the simulation of complex networks. Examine Dr. Regina Barzilay's work applying AI to breast cancer detection, along with Tempo, an AI detection application built on multimodality.
Mini-lessons:
Study artificial neurons and gradient descent, and understand how artificial neural networks are structured and function. Gain grounding in multilayer perceptrons, building toward implementing both single- and multilayer perceptrons.
Examine autoencoders, including how they are built and implemented. Implement CNNs, and prepare to run CNN applications. Learn how RNNs handle sequential data in tasks such as speech recognition and language translation.
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Module 4: Designing Artificial Machines to Solve Problems
Identify how superhuman intelligence shows up in an AI product, and weigh the advantages and disadvantages of applying AI technology. Cover AI implementation and design, including how avatars are created through image generation and voice cloning.
Learn how the first stage of transformers in natural language processing (NLP) architecture converts written text into tokens for processing, then study the second stage, in which those tokens become vectors that capture meaning. Explore what generative AI can and cannot do once decoders are added to transformer architecture.
Analyze a case study examining AI's limitations in gynecological decision making, review errors that occur in image generation and language processing, and learn technical approaches to addressing them.
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Module 5: Generative AI
Discover various applications of AI, including improving business processes, supporting expert decision making, evaluating benchmarks, and optimizing NLP embeddings and prompt engineering. Learn RAG and chain-of-thought prompting, then apply both in an interactive chatbot assignment focused on designing a RAG system.
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Module 6: Designing Intelligent Human–Computer Interaction (HCI)
Draw on this module's resources to understand HCI techniques, application areas, and trade-offs. Learn how to define the right level of machine involvement in HCIs, and identify ways to put AI to work to your advantage.
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Module 7: Superminds: Designing Organizations That Combine Artificial and Human Intelligence
Get introduced to the concept of superminds, and compare the different types. Analyze how humans and machines working together can exceed the sum of their parts, and apply cognitive processes to problems facing organizations and communities.
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Module 8: Marketplace Frontiers of AI Design: Research
Learn how AI and generative adversarial networks generate fake images and videos from real data, and assess the technical, social, and economic impact of AI technologies.
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Module 9: Marketplace Frontiers of AI Design: Practice
Apply the Lawler model to define an AI problem, then design and build a summary of an AI product or process, drawing on everything covered in the previous modules.
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Who Is the Designing and Building AI Products and Services Program For?
The Designing and Building AI Products and Services program is developed for technical product leaders, technology professionals and consultants, and entrepreneurs looking to explore AI technology fundamentals and tools in depth, along with the design processes for AI-powered products.
Technical product managers and leaders responsible for machine learning and AI-based initiatives within their organizations | Evaluate AI opportunities and apply modern AI approaches to design products, services, and solutions that create business value. |
Technology professionals who design and develop technology solutions aligned to organizational needs | Build expertise in evaluating AI approaches, designing intelligent workflows, and developing AI-enabled products and solutions. |
Technology consultants | Strengthen capabilities in identifying AI opportunities, designing AI-enabled solutions, and advising clients on implementation and value creation. |
Entrepreneurs building AI-driven applications, products, or services | Learn frameworks for identifying opportunities, designing AI-powered offerings, and evaluating build-versus-buy and implementation decisions. |
UI/UX designers and leaders | Develop capabilities for designing intelligent interfaces, human–AI interactions, and AI-enabled user experiences. |
AI and technology enthusiasts, including aspiring AI product makers and curious learners | Stay ahead of developments in gen AI, RAG, agentic AI, physical AI, intelligent workflows, and AI-powered products and services. |
Note: The content of this program assumes previous knowledge of calculus, linear algebra, statistics, and probability. Basic Python experience will also be beneficial.
Past Participants of Designing and Building AI Products and Services
Past participants of MIT xPRO’s Designing and Building AI Products and Services program come from diverse backgrounds, industries, functions, and cultures, bringing a range of work experience to each cohort. This cohort diversity gives you access to varied perspectives, helping you build more innovative solutions for the challenges facing your own organization.
Diverse Functional Responsibilities
A Wide Range of Work Experience
Top Industries
Top Countries
What Do Past Participants Have to Say About the Program?
I learned real-world applications and a framework to understand technologies, which, when combined with business considerations, can be leveraged for pilots that solve real problems. Overall, I feel my AI literacy has increased as a result of this program.
...
Devrim Leonard
Head of Global
Transportation Operations, Google
Overall, this program helped me build a solid understanding of foundational AI concepts and sparked a strong motivation in me to continue learning. It provided the groundwork I needed to begin approaching AI more actively and confidently in future initiatives. ...
Ingrid Jimenez
Global SAP CoP Plan to Cash Lead, Mondelez International
The best part of the program is its comprehensive and practical approach to learning. The blend of hands-on projects, especially using tools like Jupyter Notebooks, alongside timely discussions on ethics, bias, and model operations, provides a well-rounded education. It ensures that participants not only learn how to design AI applications but also understand the broader implications and real-world applications....
Aleksandar Kontrin
Pricing Process Manager,
SKF
The best part of this program was the vibrant community of students. We formed an amazing group of professionals, passionate and eager to share experiences and support each other in AI. The office hours were helpful, and I particularly appreciated Miruna's professionalism and willingness to help us out....
Antonio Pizzutelli
Senior Design Manager,
eBay
I appreciated the breadth of information about different AI algorithms and approaches, and also the depth where I felt I understood the differences and how they worked well enough to be effective in my organization when discussing these technologies and their use cases....
Michael Borchert
Distinguished Architect,
Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis
I am truly grateful for this program experience. The best part was becoming more familiar with the terminology of the field through the glossary and lecture examples. I now have a much better overall working knowledge than I did before taking the program....
Janet Tharaldson
Chief Operating Officer, Percy.ai
Considering that I am in the product management space, the best parts of the program were the ones that described the business-related impact of different AI technologies, as well as the evaluation and deployment approaches....
Kosmas Raptopoulos
Strategy and Innovation Director, EXUS
The best part is understanding the framework. It provides a general idea of the knowledge and tools necessary to develop AI projects.
Victor Mejia
Product Manager
Nextivity
Where Are the Program’s Past Participants From?
Disclaimer: All product and company names are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective holders. Use of product and company names does not imply any affiliation with or endorsement by the holders.
The list of companies is only indicative and not exhaustive.
What Can You Expect to Learn in the Designing and Building AI Products and Services Program?
Faculty Live Sessions
Session 1: The Agentic AI Landscape — Present and Future
Examine the evolving agentic AI landscape and how leading organizations are building sustainable advantage on the path toward artificial general intelligence. Review recent developments shaping the industry, explore likely priorities for the next 12 months, and assess longer-term scenarios. Learn how to evaluate closed- and open-source AI options using a practical scorecard, and understand when combining multiple approaches may be most effective.
Session 2: Emerging Standards for Agentic AI — Model Context Protocol and Beyond
Explore why standards are becoming critical as agentic AI applications scale. Gain a detailed understanding of the MCP, and examine additional emerging standards that support trustworthy, interoperable, and autonomous agent behavior.
Session 3: Case Study — Building an Agentic Platform from the Ground Up
Analyze a real-world agentic customer service case study, examining the business drivers, system architecture, and tools required to build and deploy an AI agent. Review representative design patterns and implementation elements, and explore additional use cases to understand the broader potential of agentic platforms.
Note: Live session content is subject to change. The above topics are addressed through faculty-led sessions and complement the core module instruction.
Key Takeaways
This MIT xPRO program is uniquely structured to deepen your capabilities in building AI-based solutions and working with generative AI. The program will help you to:
Categorize Different Machine Learning Algorithms
Classify and describe various machine-learning algorithms, such as supervised, unsupervised, and reinforcement learning, highlighting their unique characteristics and applications.
Different Convolutional/Deep/Recurrent Neural Network Algorithms
Distinguish between different types of neural networks, including convolutional neural networks (CNNs), deep neural networks (DNNs), and recurrent neural networks (RNNs), to explain their structures, functionalities, and use cases.
Categorize Generative AI technologies
Understand the architectures underlying transformer and other generative AI approaches to be able to critically assess when to use them in a given business context.
Evaluate the Four Stages of the AI Design Process Model
Critically assess the four key stages of the AI design process, discussing their significance, challenges, and best practices for successful implementation.
Enhance AI Agents with Advanced Generative AI Techniques Explain how RAG, chain-of-thought prompting, and tool integration extend the capabilities of transformers, enabling AI agents to reason more effectively, access external knowledge, and perform complex tasks across platforms.
Explain How Humans and Computers Interact in AI
Analyze the interaction between humans and computers in AI systems, focusing on how human input, oversight, and collaboration enhance AI performance and decision making.
Describe How Different Types of Superminds Address Various Problems
Illustrate the concept of superminds—groups of individuals and machines working together—and how different configurations of superminds can effectively tackle diverse problems.
Predict AI Opportunities in Digital Business Processes
Identify and forecast potential AI-driven opportunities within digital business processes, emphasizing areas where AI can drive innovation, efficiency, and competitive advantage.
Build a Business Case for Initiating an AI Application
Develop a comprehensive business case for the initiation of an AI application, including cost-benefit analysis, strategic alignment, risk assessment, and an implementation road map.
Meet the Designing and Building AI Products and Services Program Faculty
Brian Subirana
Former Director, MIT Auto-ID lab
Brian Subirana holds a PhD in AI from MIT’s Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory (CSAIL) and an MBA from the MIT Sloan School of Management. He is also Prof...
Dr. Thomas W. Malone
Patrick J. McGovern (1959) Professor of Management, MIT Sloan School of Management
Dr. Thomas W. Malone is the Patrick J. McGovern (1959) Professor of Management at the MIT Sloan School of Management and the founding director of the MIT Center for Collective...
Dr. Stefanie Mueller
Joint Associate Professor, MIT Electrical Engineering and Computer Science and MIT Mechanical Engineering
Dr. Stefanie Mueller is a joint associate professor between MIT Electrical Engineering and Computer Science and MIT Mechanical Engineering. She is also a member of CSAIL. In h...
Dr. Duane S. Boning
Vice Provost for International Activities at MIT
Dr. Duane S. Boning is the Clarence J. LeBel Professor in Electrical Engineering and a professor of electrical engineering and computer science in the Electrical Engineering a...
Dr. Andrew Lippman
Senior Research Scientist, MIT, and Associate Director, MIT Media Lab
Dr. Andrew Lippman is a senior research scientist at MIT and associate director of the Media Lab. He has been with the Lab since its inception. His work there has ranged from ...
Bruce Lawler
Entrepreneur and Executive Leader
Bruce Lawler is an entrepreneur and executive leader with consecutive public and private exits and early-stage investing success with leading venture organizations, including ...
Meet the Guest Speakers
David Anderton-Yang
Chief Executive Officer, Voomer
David Anderton-Yang heads Voomer, a startup that helps users build confidence in video interviews through AI-enhanced video analysis and feedback. A Forbes 30 Under 30 recipie...
Aruna Sankaranarayanan
Research Assistant, MIT Media Lab
Aruna Sankaranarayanan works within the Viral Communications group at the MIT Media Lab, where her research examines how deep learning and computer vision techniques can manip...
Certificate
Upon successfully completing the Designing and Building AI Products and Services program, you will earn a verified MIT xPRO certificate along with six CEUs. CEUs are a standardized measure of structured professional learning, widely recognized across industries for continuing education and career development purposes.
This program is graded as a pass or fail; you must obtain 70% to pass and receive the certificate of completion.
Note: After successful completion of program, your verified digital certificate will be emailed, at no additional cost, in the name you used when registering for the program. All certificate images are for illustrative purposes only and may be subject to change at the discretion of MIT.
Note: After successful completion of program, your verified digital certificate will be emailed, at no additional cost, in the name you used when registering for the program. All certificate images are for illustrative purposes only and may be subject to change at the discretion of MIT.
Receive an executive certificate with this learning journey
AI Strategy and Product Innovation
Lead AI Innovation from Strategy Implementation to Product Development
Experience a comprehensive learning journey with MIT xPRO, combining two popular executive programs to enhance your expertise in the new world of AI. This integrated approach blends cutting-edge AI insights with strategic leadership frameworks, equipping professionals to develop AI-driven products, implement AI solutions at scale, and lead transformation within their organizations.
Registration for this program is done through Emeritus. You can contact us at learner.success@emeritus.org
Frequently Asked Questions
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The Program
What is MIT xPRO’s Designing and Building AI Products and Services program about?
MIT xPRO's Designing and Building AI Products and Services is an online course built around AI product design by pairing program content on AI systems, AI algorithms, and AI models with practical, applied frameworks. Through user research and structured design workflows, professionals learn to build AI-powered products that solve real-world problems.
Is this AI product design course worth it?
For professionals who want a clear understanding of how to design, evaluate, and build AI systems effectively, MIT xPRO's Designing and Building AI Products and Services delivers exactly that as an AI for product designers course. The program builds AI skills that give participants a competitive edge across product, design, and technology roles through:
Real-world applications
Interactive exercises
Practical tools
Is this the best AI product design course for technologists and product designers?
The best program for technologists and product designers depend on their goals. MIT xPRO's Designing and Building AI Products and Services stands out among online courses for its depth in design, information architecture, and creating prototypes that pair human creativity with intelligent systems. Theory and real-world problems are woven together throughout the curriculum.
Who is this program for?
This online course is ideal for professionals who want to learn more about AI tools and related design challenges, including:
Product designers and managers
Technologists
Founders and entrepreneurs
If you are responsible for user interfaces, user testing, or shaping AI-powered data science solutions, this training provides practical, career-relevant skills.
How does one design and build AI-powered products?
Successfully building AI-powered products starts with a working grasp of AI models, AI algorithms, and ethical considerations, backed by rigorous user research and design workflows. MIT xPRO's Designing and Building AI Products and Services progresses from concept to implementation through hands-on projects, applied frameworks, and direct guidance from industry experts.
What skills do I gain from the Designing and Building AI Products and Services course?
The course builds new skills across AI product design, user interfaces, and information architecture while teaching you to address ethical concerns in AI. Practical abilities strengthened throughout include:
Creating prototypes
Evaluating AI systems
Applying mental models to solve design challenges and repetitive tasks effectively
How do I pick the right AI product design program for myself?
The right choice among online courses in AI product design depends on your career stage and learning goals. MIT xPRO's Designing and Building AI Products and Services offers structured course materials, practical projects, and a collaborative learning experience suited to professionals seeking applied, industry-aligned training.
What makes this AI product design course worth the investment?
MIT xPRO's Designing and Building AI Products and Services program combines applied learning and expert instruction to help participants successfully complete an AI product proposal. The program reflects on real-world applications and focuses on ethical, human-centered AI design, supporting long-term career opportunities and professional growth.
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The Learning Experience
How much time is required each week?
Each program includes an estimated learner effort per week. This is referenced at the top of the program landing page under the Duration section, as well as in the program brochure, which you can obtain by submitting the short form at the top of this web page.
How will my time be spent?
We have designed this program to fit into your current working life as efficiently as possible. Time will be spent among a variety of activities including:
Engaging with recorded video lectures from faculty
Attending webinars and office hours, as per the specific program schedule
Reading or engaging with examples of core topics
Completing knowledge checks/quizzes and required activities
Engaging in moderated discussion groups with your peers
Completing your final project, if required
The program is designed to be highly interactive while also allowing time for self-reflection and to demonstrate an understanding of the core topics through various active learning exercises. Please email us if you need further clarification on program activities.
What is it like to learn online with the learning collaborator, Emeritus?
More than 300,000 learners across 200 countries have chosen to advance their skills with Emeritus and its educational learning partners. In fact, 90 percent of the respondents of a recent survey across all our programs said that their learning outcomes were met or exceeded.
All the contents of the course would be made available to students at the commencement of the course. However, to ensure the program delivers the desired learning outcomes the students may appoint Emeritus to manage the delivery of the program in a cohort-based manner the cost of which is already included in the overall course fee of the course.
A dedicated program support team is available 24/5 (Monday to Friday) to answer questions about the learning platform, technical issues, or anything else that may affect your learning experience.
How do I interact with other program participants?
Peer learning adds substantially to the overall learning experience and is an important part of the program. You can connect and communicate with other participants through our learning platform.
What is the relationship between Emeritus and MIT xPRO?
Emeritus and MIT xPRO collaborate to create and deliver educational programs. None of these programs are Title IV-eligible.
Who is this program for?
This program is ideal for anyone aspiring to become an AI-driven product manager/leader, founders of AI startups, technology professionals, and UI/UX designers interested in building scalable AI products. However, prior knowledge of calculus, linear algebra, statistics, and probability is required, and basic Python experience is recommended.
How hands-on is the program?
The learning journey includes basic coding exercises, problem-solving workbooks, and a capstone project focused on creating an AI design process model. The immersive curriculum is ideal for those who are seeking practical AI training in product and solution design.
What kind of AI applications are covered in this AI product manager program?
The program explores the latest in AI technologies — from language processing and image generation to predictive modeling and human–computer interaction (HCI). Designed by world-renowned experts on artificial intelligence from MIT, the program is a great fit for professionals who are looking to learn about AI with an application-focused curriculum.
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Certification
What are the requirements to earn the certificate?
Each program includes an estimated learner effort per week, so you can gauge what will be required before you enroll. This is referenced at the top of the program landing page under the Duration section, as well as in the program brochure, which you can obtain by submitting the short form at the top of this web page. All programs are designed to fit into your working life.
This program is scored as a pass or no-pass; participants must complete the required activities to pass and obtain the certificate of completion. Some programs include a final project submission or other assignments to obtain passing status. This information will be noted in the program brochure. Please email us if you need further clarification on any specific program requirements.
What type of certificate will I receive?
Upon successful completion of the program, you will receive a smart digital certificate. The smart digital certificate can be shared with friends, family, schools, or potential employers. You can use it on your cover letter, resume, and/or display it on your LinkedIn profile.The digital certificate will be sent approximately two weeks after the program, once grading is complete.
Can I get the hard copy of the certificate?
No, only verified digital certificates will be issued upon successful completion. This allows you to share your credentials on social platforms such as LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter.
Do I receive alumni status after completing this program?
No, there is no alumni status granted for this program. In some cases, there are credits that count toward a higher level of certification. This information will be clearly noted in the program brochure.
How long will I have access to the learning materials?
You will have access to the online learning platform and all the videos and program materials for 24 months following the program start date. Access to the learning platform is restricted to registered participants per the terms of agreement.
Does this MIT xPRO artificial intelligence program provide an AI certification?
The Designing and Building AI Products, Services, and Agentic Solutions program is a certificate program, and it does not provide any AI certifications. However, earning a certificate from MIT xPRO in AI product and solution design demonstrates both strategic insight and technical proficiency. It will help display your ability to lead AI product initiatives and apply advanced AI concepts to solve business challenges.
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Technical Requirements
What equipment or technical requirements are there for this program?
Participants will need the latest version of their preferred browser to access the learning platform. In addition, Microsoft Office and a PDF viewer are required to access documents, spreadsheets, presentations, PDF files, and transcripts.
Do I need to be online to access the program content?
Yes, the learning platform is accessed via the internet, and video content is not available for download. However, you can download files of video transcripts, assignment templates, readings, etc. For maximum flexibility, you can access program content from a desktop, laptop, tablet, or mobile device.
Video lectures must be streamed via the internet, and any livestream webinars and office hours will require an internet connection. However, these sessions are always recorded, so you may view them later.
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Payment Process
Can I still register if the registration deadline has passed?
Yes, you can register up until seven days past the published start date of the program without missing any of the core program material or learnings.
What is the program fee, and what forms of payment do you accept?
The program fee is noted at the top of this program web page and usually referenced in the program brochure as well.
Flexible payment options are available (see details below as well as at the top of this program web page next to FEE).
Tuition assistance is available for participants who qualify. Please email learner.success@emeritus.org.
What if I don’t have a credit card? Is there another method of payment accepted?
Yes, you can do the bank remittance in the program currency via wire transfer or debit card. Please contact your program advisor, or email us for details.
I was not able to use the discount code provided. Can you help?
Yes! Please email us with the details of the program you are interested in, and we will assist you.
How can I obtain an invoice for payment?
Please email us your invoicing requirements and the specific program you’re interested in enrolling in.
Is there an option to make flexible payments for this program?
Yes, the flexible payment option allows a participant to pay the program fee in installments. This option is made available on the payment page and should be selected before submitting the payment.
How can I obtain a W9 form?
Please connect with us via email for assistance.
Who will be collecting the payment for the program?
Emeritus collects all program payments, provides learner enrollment and program support, and manages learning platform services.
Are there any restrictions on the types of funding that can be used to pay for the program?
Program fees for Emeritus programs with MIT xPRO may not be paid for with (a) funds from the GI Bill, the Post-9/11 Educational Assistance Act of 2008, or similar types of military education funding benefits or (b) Title IV financial aid funds.
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Refund Policy
What is the program refund and deferral policy?
For the program refund and deferral policy, please click the link here.
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Accessibility
How does Emeritus support accessibility for learners?
Emeritus is committed to making high-quality education accessible and affordable to individuals, companies, and governments around the world. If you have questions about accessibility or would like to discuss available support options before enrolling, please contact accessibility@emeritus.org. For more information about our accessibility practices, please review our Accessibility Policy here.
Financing Options
Climb Credit*
We offer financing options with our partner, Climb Credit*. Click here to learn more.
Flexible Payment Options For All
Flexible payment options allow you to pay the program fee in installments. Click here to see payment schedule.
Didn't find what you were looking for? Write to us at learner.success@emeritus.org or Schedule a call with one of our Academic Advisors or call us at +1 401 443 9591 (US) / + 44 189 236 2347 (UK) / +65 3129 7174 (SG)
Flexible payment options available.
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