Student satisfaction
National Student Survey
Relative position84th percentile
Official source →
University profile
The Open University in profile
The Open University is a public university. Profile, courses, entry and funding at a glance.
1969
Founded
Gold
TEF award
133
Programmes listed
Published outcomes & experience
Comparable indicators for Open University, calculated from published official datasets. This is not an overall university ranking.
Graduate outcomes
Graduate Outcomes survey
Relative position25th percentile
Official source →Continuation
Students continuing after their first year
Relative position1st percentile
Official source →Provider percentiles are StudySmarter calculations across providers with sufficient comparable coverage. Missing or stale dimensions are omitted, and small differences should not be overinterpreted. No commercial review scores are used.
About Open University
The Open University (Open University) is a public university, founded in 1969.
It is a recognised UK degree-awarding body, so its degrees are nationally recognised. It holds a Gold award for teaching quality in the Office for Students' TEF 2023. It is based in Walton Hall, Milton Keynes, MK7 6AA.
Numbers & facts
The key facts about Open University at a glance.
1969
Founded
Milton Keynes
Location
133
Programmes listed
Public university
Institution type
Gold
TEF award
I want to …
Start regardless of qualifications
Most Open University modules are open entry: there are no formal entry requirements, so you can begin whatever your previous grades. If you're unsure where to start, an Access module eases you in before you commit to a full qualification.
Study on your own schedule
Open University is built for part-time, distance study: you learn online around a job or family, module by module, and set your own pace. There's no need to relocate or attend campus.
Study from your country
Because Open University teaches at a distance, you can study from outside the UK without a student visa. You'll need a good standard of English; fees and available modules vary by country.
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Programmes at Open University
133 programmes at Open University. Search live or filter by subject, level and study mode:
| Course | Award | Subject |
|---|---|---|
| Childhood and Youth Studies | BA (Hons) | Nursing & Health |
| Criminology | BA (Hons) | Law |
| Computer Science with Artificial Intelligence | BSc (Hons) | Computer Science |
| Art History and Visual Cultures | BA (Hons) | History |
| Business and Economics | BA (Hons) | Business & Management |
| Arts and Humanities | BA (Hons) | General Studies |
| Early Childhood | BA (Hons) | Education & Teaching |
| Economics | BA (Hons) | Economics |
| English Language | BA (Hons) | English & Literature |
| Environmental Studies | BA (Hons) | Environmental Science |
| International Relations | BA (Hons) | Politics & International Relations |
| Language Studies | BA (Hons) | Modern Languages |
| Business and Law | BA (Hons) | Business & Management |
| Business Management | BA (Hons) | Business & Management |
| Business Management and Languages | BA (Hons) | Business & Management |
| Classical Studies | BA (Hons) | History |
| Criminology and Law | BA (Hons) | Law |
| Criminology and Psychology | BA (Hons) | Law |
| Criminology and Sociology | BA (Hons) | Law |
| Education Studies (Primary) | BA (Hons) | Education & Teaching |
| English Language and Literature | BA (Hons) | English & Literature |
| English Literature | BA (Hons) | English & Literature |
| English Literature and Creative Writing | BA (Hons) | English & Literature |
| Geography | BA (Hons) | Environmental Science |
| Health and Social Care | BA (Hons) | Nursing & Health |
| History | BA (Hons) | History |
| History and Languages | BA (Hons) | History |
| History and Politics | BA (Hons) | History |
| Law and Languages | BA (Hons) | Law |
| Marketing and Business Management | BA (Hons) | Business & Management |
| Music | BA (Hons) | Art & Design |
| Philosophy and Psychological Studies | BA (Hons) | Psychology |
| Politics, Philosophy and Economics | BA (Hons) | Economics |
| Religion, Philosophy and Ethics | BA (Hons) | Philosophy & Religion |
| Social Sciences | BA (Hons) | Sociology & Social Sciences |
| Social Work (England) | BA (Hons) | Nursing & Health |
| Social Work (Northern Ireland) | BA (Hons) | Nursing & Health |
| Social Work (Scotland) | BA (Hons) | Nursing & Health |
| Social Work (Wales) | BA (Hons) | Nursing & Health |
| Sociology | BA (Hons) | Sociology & Social Sciences |
| /BSc (Hons) Design and Innovation | BA | Engineering |
| /BSc (Hons) Open | BA | General Studies |
| Bachelor of Design | BDes (Hons) | Engineering |
| Engineering | BEng (Hons) | Engineering |
| Accounting and Finance | BSc (Hons) | Accounting & Finance |
| Biology | BSc (Hons) | Biological Sciences |
| Biomedical Sciences | BSc (Hons) | Medicine & Dentistry |
| Combined STEM | BSc (Hons) | General Studies |
| Computing and IT | BSc (Hons) | Computer Science |
| Computing and IT and a second subject | BSc (Hons) | Computer Science |
| Computing with Electronic Engineering | BSc (Hons) | Computer Science |
| Cyber Security | BSc (Hons) | Computer Science |
| Data Science | BSc (Hons) | Computer Science |
| Economics and Mathematical Sciences | BSc (Hons) | Economics |
| Environmental Science | BSc (Hons) | Environmental Science |
| Forensic Psychology | BSc (Hons) | Psychology |
| Geography and Environmental Science | BSc (Hons) | Environmental Science |
| Health Sciences | BSc (Hons) | Nursing & Health |
| Healthcare and Health Science | BSc (Hons) | Nursing & Health |
| Mathematics | BSc (Hons) | Mathematics |
| Mathematics and its Learning | BSc (Hons) | Mathematics |
| Mathematics and Physics | BSc (Hons) | Physics & Chemistry |
| Mathematics and Statistics | BSc (Hons) | Mathematics |
| Natural Sciences | BSc (Hons) | General Studies |
| Nursing | BSc (Hons) | Nursing & Health |
| Physics | BSc (Hons) | Physics & Chemistry |
| Psychology | BSc (Hons) | Psychology |
| Psychology with Counselling | BSc (Hons) | Psychology |
| Public Health and Wellbeing | BSc (Hons) | Law |
| Social Psychology | BSc (Hons) | Psychology |
| Sport, Fitness and Coaching | BSc (Hons) | Sport & Exercise Science |
| Accounting and Finance | DipHE | Accounting & Finance |
| Art History and Visual Cultures | DipHE | History |
| Arts and Humanities | DipHE | General Studies |
| Biology | DipHE | Biological Sciences |
| Biomedical Sciences | DipHE | Medicine & Dentistry |
| Business and Economics | DipHE | Business & Management |
| Business and Law | DipHE | Business & Management |
| Business Management | DipHE | Business & Management |
| Business Management and Languages | DipHE | Business & Management |
| Childhood and Youth Studies | DipHE | General Studies |
| Classical Studies | DipHE | History |
| Computer Science with Artificial Intelligence | DipHE | Computer Science |
| Computing and IT | DipHE | Computer Science |
| Computing and IT and a second subject | DipHE | Computer Science |
| Computing with Electronic Engineering | DipHE | Computer Science |
| Criminology | DipHE | Law |
| Criminology and Law | DipHE | Law |
| Criminology and Psychology | DipHE | Law |
| Criminology and Sociology | DipHE | Law |
| Data Analysis | DipHE | Mathematics |
| Design | DipHE | Art & Design |
| Design and Innovation | DipHE | Engineering |
| Early Childhood | DipHE | Education & Teaching |
| Economics | DipHE | Economics |
| Education Studies (Primary) | DipHE | Education & Teaching |
| Engineering | DipHE | Engineering |
| English | DipHE | English & Literature |
| English Language | DipHE | English & Literature |
| Environmental Science | DipHE | Environmental Science |
| Environmental Studies | DipHE | Environmental Science |
| Geography | DipHE | Sociology & Social Sciences |
| Health and Social Care | DipHE | Nursing & Health |
| Health Sciences | DipHE | Nursing & Health |
| History | DipHE | History |
| History and Languages | DipHE | History |
| History and Politics | DipHE | History |
| International Relations | DipHE | Politics & International Relations |
| Language Studies | DipHE | Modern Languages |
| Law | DipHE | Law |
| Law and Languages | DipHE | Law |
| Marketing and Business Management | DipHE | Business & Management |
| Mathematical Sciences | DipHE | Mathematics |
| Mathematics and Physics | DipHE | Physics & Chemistry |
| Music | DipHE | Music & Performing Arts |
| Natural Sciences | DipHE | General Studies |
| Network Engineering | DipHE | Computer Science |
| Open | DipHE | General Studies |
| Philosophy and Psychological Studies | DipHE | Psychology |
| Physics | DipHE | Physics & Chemistry |
| Psychology | DipHE | Psychology |
| Religion, Philosophy and Ethics | DipHE | Philosophy & Religion |
| Social Care (Scotland) | DipHE | Nursing & Health |
| Social Sciences | DipHE | Sociology & Social Sciences |
| Sociology | DipHE | Sociology & Social Sciences |
| Software Development | DipHE | Computer Science |
| Sport and Fitness | DipHE | Sport & Exercise Science |
| FD Engineering | Degree | Engineering |
| FD Nursing Associate Practice | Degree | Nursing & Health |
| Law | LLB (Hons) | Law |
| Engineering | MEng | Engineering |
| Environmental Science | MEnvSci | Environmental Science |
| Physics | MPhys | Physics & Chemistry |
No course found. Browse courses at every UK university.
Complete programme list for Open University; full-time, part-time and delivery variants are grouped (133 programmes, 2026).
Campus & locations
Open University is a campus-based public university in Milton Keynes.
Teaching runs on campus: lectures, seminars and labs alongside libraries and study spaces, with a student community of societies, sport and events around them. The day-to-day exchange with tutors and coursemates is a big part of the experience.
On campus
Libraries & study spaces Labs & teaching facilities Students’ union & societies Sport & fitness Support services
Locations
Milton Keynes
Typical campus facilities; the university’s own pages are authoritative.
Students & campus life
Who you’d study alongside at Open University in Milton Keynes. The student body in numbers, from official HESA data.
15,660
Students
enrolled (HESA, 2024/25)
0%
International
students from outside the UK
83%
Mature students
aged 25+ on entry
UK students by ethnicity
White94%
Asian2%
Black1%
Mixed2%
Other1%
Ethnicity of UK-domiciled students (HESA); international students not shown here.
Is Open University right for you?
A particularly good fit if you …
- want a recognised UK degree that fits around a job or family
- prefer studying flexibly, from anywhere in the UK
- can organise your own study routine and stay self-motivated
- want to spread the cost and pace over time
Less suitable if …
you want daily campus life, face-to-face teaching and a fixed structure. A campus university suits that better.
For parents
The questions parents ask most about Open University, answered briefly.
A recognised UK degree
The Open University awards its own degrees and is regulated in the UK higher-education framework. Its degrees are nationally recognised and a basis for postgraduate study.
Regulated fees & student finance
Home tuition is regulated, with the cap set by the UK nation. If you normally live in England, eligible tuition and maintenance loans can cover costs up front; repayment starts only above the income threshold.
Independently quality-assessed
Teaching quality holds a Gold award in the Office for Students’ TEF, an independent national assessment of teaching, learning and student outcomes.
Support from day one
Personal tutors, wellbeing and careers services accompany students from enrolment to graduation.
Career prospects
Graduate outcomes are tracked in the national Graduate Outcomes survey. Every course page here shows real earnings and employment data where available.
Structure & campus life
A fixed term rhythm in Milton Keynes with in-person teaching, exchange and campus life gives structure and motivation.
Accreditation & recognition
How to read Open University’s formal standing, the seals and what they mean:
Recognised degree-awarding body TEF Gold
Recognised UK degree-awarding body
The Open University awards its own degrees, which are accepted nationally and are the basis for Master’s and doctoral study.
TEF Gold for teaching quality
Independent national assessment by the Office for Students of teaching, the learning environment and student outcomes (TEF 2023).
Student finance eligible
Courses at recognised providers may qualify for tuition and maintenance support; eligibility depends on the student, course and home-nation system.
Admissions & entry routes
Apply through UCASUndergraduate applications run through UCAS, up to five course choices in one application.
Check the entry requirementsCheck the course’s accepted route: A-levels, Scottish Highers or Advanced Highers, BTEC, T-level, International Baccalaureate, Access qualifications or an international equivalent.
Mind the deadlinesThe main UCAS equal-consideration deadline is in late January; Clearing runs from July for remaining places.
Offers & resultsUniversities respond with conditional or unconditional offers; places are confirmed on results day.
Fees & funding
Home tuition at Open University is regulated, and the cap depends on the UK nation the provider sits in. The main routes:
Tuition Fee Loan
Eligibility and the maximum depend on ordinary residence, course and provider nation; paid directly to the university when awarded.
Maintenance Loan
Helps with living costs; the amount depends on household income and where you study.
Scholarships & bursaries
University-specific awards for grades, subjects or circumstances. Check the university’s funding pages.
Repayment
Starts the April after graduation, only above the income threshold, and is written off at the end of the plan term.
Tuition fees vary by course and fee status (Home vs International). Please check the university's own course page.
Frequently asked questions about Open University
Is Open University officially recognised?
Yes. The Open University is a recognised UK degree-awarding body; its degrees are nationally recognised.
How highly is Open University rated?
Open University is holds a Gold TEF award for teaching quality.
What can I study at Open University?
133 programmes are listed on this page, each with entry requirements, outcomes and fees. Use the filter above to find your subject.
How do I apply to Open University?
Undergraduate applications run through UCAS, with up to five course choices in one application. Each course page lists the typical entry requirements.
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