The Open University was established in 1969 with the specific aim of making higher level study both more accessible and more flexible for learners than a traditional, full-time university course might be. The OU today is the UK’s largest higher education establishment, with around 200,000 learners registered each year. They offer more than 200 qualifications across a wide range of subjects, including postgraduate degrees, undergraduate honours degrees, certificates and diplomas, many accredited by leading professional bodies. Here are some of the OU’s key characteristics.

Flexible

The Open University are masters in creating flexible study programmes, after all, that was their reason for being. But what does flexible actually mean? Firstly, it means you won’t have a fixed lecture timetable; learning materials are provided online or seminars at agreed times so they can fit around your other commitments. Flexible also means that you can change your options from module to module, perhaps switching from full time to part time, or even pausing altogether. The OU don’t have set starting points each year, so you can start when it suits you. And you can also pay module by module if you wish. Typically, 72% of OU students are working full or part-time while they study, compared with around 20% of OU students who study full time. The OU is ranked number one as the most popular UK university for part-time undergraduates, teaching 42% of all UK part-time undergraduates.

Accessible

80% of OU students fund their studies with a student loan, meaning they don’t pay any upfront costs. Loan funding, grants and other financial support varies between England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland so please check your home nation’s local information for more details. Sometimes, the Open University will accept students on to a course with no formal entry or prior qualifications, but you’ll have to go through interviews and assessments to make sure it’s the right route for you.

Supportive

The Open University do their best to provide both a supportive community and learning environment for students, even those students who aren’t ‘on campus’. Students are connected with a community of fellow students for support and social activities, for example. The OU scored 87% for overall student satisfaction in the National Students Survey and ranked first for Assessment and Feedback.

Expert

The OU has always championed innovation in learning and continues to do so with VR and AI experiences for students. Open University qualifications are globally recognised and 86% of OU qualified students say OU study helped them achieve their career or personal goals. Employers will often acknowledge that an OU student has juggled working and studying so it can also demonstrate determination and time management skills too. The OU produces more CEOs and Managing Directors for UK companies than any other UK University. More than 30,000 UK employers, including 80% of FTSE 100 companies, have sponsored staff with the OU. And the OU is the largest provider of degree apprenticeships in England, with over 2,700 apprentices working with over 750 employers.

Interested in applying?

Not all Open University applications are required to go via UCAS so check out the details for your specific course on their website, www.open.ac.uk