History
In 1969 one ambition changed the world, giving anyone, anywhere the power to learn. Established by the Royal Charter (pdf 235kb) and globally recognised, The Open University has pioneered distance learning for over 50 years, delivering exceptional teaching and outstanding support to students across the UK and the world.
Education
Our qualifications range from certificates, diplomas and short courses to undergraduate and postgraduate degrees.
- Whatever you want to study, we’re sure to have the right course for you.
Research
- Choose the research degree area closest to your field of interest to find out about the department, its research priorities and philosophy, the research environment, and facilities available.
- Within each research area is a list of topics which tell you more about specific areas of research, current and prospective projects, entry requirements, available supervisors and contact details for advice.
Career
- An Open University qualification is attractive to employers.
- Employers know that many of our students study while working. Therefore, they’re aware that Open University study can be challenging, and that it requires you to develop a variety of valuable skills and qualities – all of which will be assets to any workplace.
- You’ll also be attractive to employers because, being an Open University graduate, you’ll stand out from the crowd of conventional campus-based university graduates.
Distance Learning Courses
- Short Course AI language technology in the workplace
- Short Course Advanced therapeutic relationships
- Short Course Advancing Social Psychology
- Short Course Approaches to Mental Health
- M.A. Art History
- Short Course Athletic Development - A Psychological Perspective
- Short Course Beginners Chinese 1
- Certificate Beginners Chinese 2
- Certificate Beginners Chinese 3
- Short Course Beginners French 1 eh oui
- Certificate Beginners French 2
- Certificate Beginners French 3
- Short Course Beginners German 1 fang an
- Certificate Beginners German 2
- Certificate Beginners German 3
- Certificate Beginners Italian 1
- Certificate Beginners Italian 2
- Certificate Beginners Italian 3
- Certificate Beginners Spanish 1
- Certificate Beginners Spanish 2
- Certificate Beginners Spanish 3
- Short Course Beginners' Chinese
- Short Course Changing Geographies of the United Kingdom
- Postgraduate Diploma Childhood and Youth Studies
- Postgraduate Certificate Childhood and Youth Studies
- CertHE Childhood and Youth Studies
- Short Course Children and Young People's Worlds
- Short Course Chinese Business Culture Essentials
- M.A. Classical Studies
- Short Course Communication and Information Technologies
- Short Course Communication skills for business and management
- Short Course Contemporary Issues in Organisations
- DipHE Counselling
- Short Course Crime and Global Justice
- M.A. Crime and Justice
- Short Course Crime, harm and the state
- DipHE Criminology
- DipHE Criminology and Law
- Short Course Critically exploring psychology 1
- Short Course Cultures
- Short Course Developing a coaching culture
- Certificate Discovering Wales and Welsh
- Short Course Doing Economics - People, Markets and Policy
- DipHE Economics
- B.A. Economics (Honours)
- Short Course Economics in Practice
- CertHe Education Open
- Postgraduate Certificate Education in Wales
- Certificate Elementary Chinese 2
- Short Course Elementary Chinese 3
- Short Course Elementary French 1
- Certificate Elementary French 2
- Short Course Elementary French 3
- Short Course Elementary German 1 sprechen und verstehen
- Certificate Elementary German 2
- Certificate Elementary Italian 1
- Certificate Elementary Italian 2
- Short Course Elementary Italian 3
- Certificate Elementary Spanish 1
- Certificate Elementary Spanish 2
- Short Course Elementary Spanish 3
- M.A. English Literature
- Short Course Evaluating psychology - research and practice
- Short Course Exploring Childhood and Youth
- Short Course Exploring legal boundaries
- Short Course Exploring mental health and counselling
- Postgraduate Diploma Global Development
- M.Sc. Global Development
- Postgraduate Certificate Global Development
- Short Course Global development in practice
- Short Course Greek and Roman myth - stories and histories
- DipHE Health and Social Care
- DipHE History and Politics
- Postgraduate Diploma Integrated Practice in Childhood and Youth
- Short Course Introduction To Mental Health Science
- Short Course Introduction to criminology
- Short Course Investigating Forensic Psychology
- Short Course Investigating Psychology 1
- Short Course Issues In Research With Children And Young People
- Short Course Key Challenges In Global Development
- Short Course Law, Society And Culture
- Short Course Leadership And Management Of Public Services
- Short Course Leading, Managing, Caring
- Short Course Making Social Worlds
- Short Course Managing a budget
- Short Course Mental Health And Community
- Postgraduate Diploma Mental Health Science
- Short Course Modern Political Ideas
- Short Course Online counselling - getting started
- Short Course Perspectives In Health And Social Care
- Short Course Principles Of Social And Psychological Inquiry
- M.Sc. Psychology
- DipHE Psychology
- B.Sc. Psychology (Honours)
- Short Course Psychology Of Childhood And Youth
- Short Course Researching Everyday Geographies
- Short Course Researching Global Development
- Short Course Social Research - Crime, Justice And Society
- DipHE Social Sciences
- CertHe Social Sciences
- Postgraduate Certificate Social and Psychological Inquiry
- Short Course Sport and Exercise Psychology in Action
- Short Course The Role Of The Human Resource Professional
- Short Course The impact of storytelling in business
- Short Course The languages of crises
- Short Course The languages of crises
- Short Course Trauma-informed counselling
- Short Course Workplace Learning with Coaching and Mentoring
- Short Course You and Your Money
- Short Course Young Children's Play and Creativity
- Short Course Young Lives, Parenting and Families
- Short Course Advanced Creative Writing
- Short Course Art and Its Global Histories
- DipHE Arts and Humanities
- CertHe Arts and Humanities
- Short Course Beginners Chinese 1
- Short Course Beginners French 1 eh oui
- Short Course Beginners German 1 fang an
- Certificate Beginners Italian 1
- Certificate Beginners Italian 2
- Certificate Beginners Italian 3
- M.A. Classical Studies
- DipHE Classical Studies
- M.A. Creative Writing
- Short Course Creative Writing
- Short Course Discovering the Arts and Humanities
- Short Course Elementary Chinese 1
- Short Course Elementary French 1
- Short Course Elementary German 1 sprechen und verstehen
- Certificate Elementary Italian 1
- Certificate Elementary Italian 2
- Short Course Elementary Italian 3
- Short Course Empire: 1492-1975
- DipHE English
- CertHE English Language
- DipHE English Language
- M.A. English Literature
- Short Course English for Academic Purposes Online
- Short Course English in the World
- Short Course English literature from Shakespeare to Austen
- Short Course Exploring the Classical World
- Short Course Greek and Roman myth - stories and histories
- M.A. History
- DipHE History
- B.A. History (Honours)
- DipHE History and Politics
- Postgraduate Certificate Humanities
- Short Course Introducing English language studies
- Short Course Introducing the Social Sciences
- Short Course Key Questions in Philosophy
- DipHE Language Studies
- DipHE Law and French
- DipHE Law and German
- CertHE Law and Languages
- DipHE Law and Languages
- DipHE Law and Spanish
- Short Course Literature In Transition - From 1800 To The Present
- B.A. Music (Honours)
- MA/MSc Open
- M.A. Philosophy
- Master Philosophy part 1
- Master Philosophy part 2
- Postgraduate Certificate Professional Studies in Education
- Postgraduate Diploma Professional Studies in Education
- Short Course Reading And Studying Literature
- Short Course Revolutions
- Short Course Rundblick - beginners' German
- Short Course Telling Stories - The Novel And Beyond
- M.A. Translation
- Postgraduate Diploma Translation
- Postgraduate Certificate Translation
- Master Translation in Practice
- Short Course Advanced networking (CCNP Enterprise)
- Short Course An Introduction to Business and Management
- Short Course Analytical thinking for problem solving
- Short Course Beginners Chinese 1
- Postgraduate Certificate Business Administration
- Postgraduate Diploma Business Administration
- CertHE Business Management
- DipHE Business Management
- Short Course Business and Employment Law
- Short Course Business design for the digital world
- Short Course Chinese Business Culture Essentials
- Short Course Cisco networking (CCNA) part 2
- Short Course Communication skills for business and management
- Short Course Contemporary Issues in Organisations
- Short Course Creating and sustaining value
- CertHE Data Analysis
- DipHE Data Analysis
- Short Course Data Management
- Short Course Data management and analysis
- DipHE Design and Innovation
- CertHE Design and Innovation
- Short Course Developing a coaching culture
- Short Course Developing leadership
- Short Course Developing strategy to manage uncertainty
- Short Course Digital marketing content creation
- Short Course Doing Economics - People, Markets and Policy
- B.A. Economics (Honours)
- Short Course Economics in Practice
- CertHe Education Open
- Short Course Elementary Chinese 1
- Short Course Employment relations and employee engagement
- Short Course Entrepreneurship in Context
- Short Course Environmental Management 2
- Short Course Exploring innovation and entrepreneurship
- M.Sc. Finance
- Postgraduate Certificate Finance
- Postgraduate Diploma Finance
- Short Course Finance for strategic decision-making
- Short Course Financial analysis and decision making
- Short Course Financial markets and the financing of organisations
- Short Course Global development in practice
- Postgraduate Certificate Human Resource Management
- Postgraduate Diploma Human Resource Management
- Short Course Human Resource Management in Context
- Short Course Innovation - Designing for Change
- Short Course Introducing Statistics
- Short Course Introduction to business and workplace coaching
- Short Course Introduction to digital marketing
- Short Course Investigating The Social World
- Short Course Leadership And Management Of Public Services
- Short Course Leadership In A Changing World
- Short Course Leading, Managing, Caring
- Short Course Making Strategy With Systems Thinking In Practice
- Short Course Management Accounting And International Finance
- Short Course Managing Change With Systems Thinking In Practice
- Short Course Managing in a Changing World
- Short Course Marketing in Action
- BA/BSc Open Degree (Honours)
- Short Course Project Management
- Master Research Methods for Finance
- Short Course Search marketing
- Short Course Shaping Business Opportunities
- Short Course Social media marketing
- Short Course Strategic Capabilities for Technological Innovation
- Short Course Strategic Management
- Master Supply Chain Management
- Short Course Supply Chain Management
- Short Course Sustainable Creative Management
- Postgraduate Certificate Systems Thinking in Practice
- Postgraduate Diploma Systems Thinking in Practice
- Short Course Technology And Innovation Management
- Postgraduate Certificate Technology Management
- M.B.A. Technology Management
- Postgraduate Diploma Technology Management
- M.Sc. Technology Management
- Short Course The Role Of The Human Resource Professional
- Short Course The impact of storytelling in business
- Short Course Understanding Customers
- Short Course Understanding digital societies
- Short Course Understanding financial statements
- Short Course You and Your Money
- Short Course Art and Its Global Histories
- Short Course Beginners French 1 eh oui
- Short Course Beginners German 1 fang an
- M.A. Childhood and Youth
- Short Course Children and Young People's Worlds
- B.Sc. Combined STEM (Honours)
- Short Course Continuing Professional Development in Practice
- Short Course Developing a coaching culture
- Short Course Developing subject knowledge for the primary years
- CertHE Early Childhood
- DipHE Early Childhood
- EdD Education
- MA/M.Ed Education
- CertHe Education Open
- CertHE Education Studies (Primary)
- Postgraduate Certificate Education in Wales
- Short Course Elementary French 1
- Short Course Elementary German 1 sprechen und verstehen
- Short Course English for Academic Purposes Online
- Short Course English in the World
- Short Course English literature from Shakespeare to Austen
- Short Course Exploring Childhood and Youth
- DipHE Higher Education Open
- Graduate Certificate Higher Education in Children and Families
- Graduate Certificate Higher Education in Computing and IT
- Graduate Diploma Higher Education in Computing and IT Practice
- Graduate Certificate Higher Education in Computing and IT and a Second Subject
- Postgraduate Diploma Integrated Practice in Childhood and Youth
- Short Course Introduction to business and workplace coaching
- Short Course Investigating Psychology 1
- Short Course Investigative Approaches In Biology And Chemistry
- Short Course Issues In Research With Children And Young People
- CertHE Mathematical Sciences
- Short Course Mathematical Thinking In Schools
- MA/MSc Open
- Postgraduate Diploma Professional Studies in Education
- Postgraduate Certificate Professional Studies in Education
- B.Sc. Psychology (Honours)
- Short Course Psychology Of Childhood And Youth
- Master Research Methods for Finance
- Short Course Researching Everyday Geographies
- Short Course Sport and Exercise Psychology in Action
- Short Course Workplace Learning with Coaching and Mentoring
- Short Course AI language technology in the workplace
- Postgraduate Certificate Advanced Networking (CCNP Enterprise)
- Short Course Changing Geographies of the United Kingdom
- Short Course Cisco networking (CCNA) part 1
- Short Course Communication and Information Technologies
- Postgraduate Certificate Computing
- M.Sc. Computing
- Postgraduate Diploma Computing
- Top-up BSc Computing and IT Practice (Honours)
- CertHE Computing and IT and Design
- Postgraduate Diploma Cyber Security
- M.Sc. Cyber Security
- B.Sc. Cyber Security (Honours)
- DipHE Data Analysis
- CertHE Data Analysis
- Short Course Data Management
- B.Sc. Data Science (Honours)
- Short Course Data management and analysis
- Short Course English for Academic Purposes Online
- Graduate Certificate Higher Education in Computing and IT
- Graduate Diploma Higher Education in Computing and IT Practice
- Graduate Certificate Higher Education in Computing and IT and a Second Subject
- Short Course Information Security
- Short Course Network Security
- Short Course Software Development
- M.Sc. Software engineering
- Short Course Systems Security
- Postgraduate Certificate Systems Thinking in Practice
- Postgraduate Diploma Systems Thinking in Practice
- Short Course Web Technologies
- Short Course Web, Mobile and Cloud Technologies
- Short Course Applied Statistical Modelling
- Short Course Approaches to Mental Health
- Short Course Astronomy
- B.Sc. Biology (Honours)
- B.Sc. Chemistry (Honours)
- B.Sc. Combined STEM (Honours)
- CertHE Data Analysis
- DipHE Data Analysis
- Short Course Earth Processes
- Short Course Evaluating Contemporary Science
- Short Course Finance for strategic decision-making
- Short Course Financial analysis and decision making
- Short Course International, Environmental And Space Law
- Short Course Introducing Statistics
- Short Course Introduction To Mental Health Science
- Short Course Investigating Human Health And Disease
- Short Course Investigative Approaches In Biology And Chemistry
- DipHE Mathematical Sciences
- CertHE Mathematical Sciences
- Short Course Mathematical Thinking In Schools
- M.Sc. Mathematics
- Postgraduate Certificate Mathematics
- Postgraduate Diploma Mathematics
- B.Sc. Mathematics (Honours)
- Short Course Nanoscale Engineering
- CertHE Natural Sciences
- DipHE Natural Sciences
- Graduate Certificate Physics
- Short Course Questions In Science
- Short Course Remote Experiments In Physics And Space
- Short Course Science And Health - An Evidence-based Approach
- Short Course Signals And Perception - The Science Of The Senses
- Postgraduate Certificate Space Science
- Master Space Science
- Short Course Space Science
- Postgraduate Diploma Space Science and Technology
- Short Course Business and Employment Law
- Short Course Civil Justice and Tort Law
- Short Course Contract Law
- Short Course Contract Law and Tort Law
- Short Course Crime and Global Justice
- M.A. Crime and Justice
- Short Course Crime, harm and the state
- Short Course Criminal Law and the Courts
- DipHE Criminology and Law
- Short Course European Union Law
- Short Course Evidence Law
- Short Course Exploring legal boundaries
- Short Course Exploring legal meaning
- Short Course Family Law
- Short Course Foundations of UK immigration law (OISC Level 1)
- Short Course International, Environmental And Space Law
- Short Course Introduction to criminology
- Short Course Investigating Forensic Psychology
- CertHE Law
- DipHE Law
- L.L.B. Law (Honours)
- CertHE Law and French
- DipHE Law and French
- CertHE Law and German
- DipHE Law and German
- CertHE Law and Languages
- DipHE Law and Languages
- CertHE Law and Spanish
- DipHE Law and Spanish
- Short Course Law, Society And Culture
- LL.M. Master of Laws
- BA/BSc Open Degree (Honours)
- Short Course Public Law
- Short Course Public Law And Criminal Law
- Short Course Social Research - Crime, Justice And Society
- B.Sc. Combined STEM (Honours)
- Short Course Core Engineering A
- Short Course Electronics - Sensing, Logic and Actuation
- M.Sc. Engineering
- CertHE Engineering
- Postgraduate Diploma Engineering
- M.Eng. Engineering
- DipHE Engineering
- B.Eng. Engineering (Honours)
- Short Course Engineering - Frameworks, Analysis, Production
- Short Course Engineering - Origins, Methods, Context
- Short Course Engineering - frameworks, analysis, production
- Short Course Environment and Society
- Short Course Environmental Policy in an International Context
- Short Course Making Strategy With Systems Thinking In Practice
- Master Manufacture Materials Design
- Short Course Nanoscale Engineering
- BA/BSc Open Degree (Honours)
- Short Course Renewable Energy
- Postgraduate Certificate Space Science
- Master Space Science
- Postgraduate Diploma Space Science and Technology
- Short Course Strategic Capabilities for Technological Innovation
- Short Course Systems Security
- Short Course Team Engineering
- Short Course Technology And Innovation Management
- Postgraduate Certificate Technology Management
- Postgraduate Diploma Technology Management
- M.B.A. Technology Management
- M.Sc. Technology Management
- Short Course Technology in Practice
- Short Course Web, Mobile and Cloud Technologies
- Short Course Approaches to Mental Health
- Short Course Brain, Mind and Mental Health
- Short Course Critically exploring psychology 1
- Short Course Evaluating Contemporary Science
- Short Course Evaluating psychology - research and practice
- Short Course Exploring mental health and counselling
- Graduate Certificate Health Sciences
- CertHE Health Sciences
- DipHE Health Sciences
- DipHE Health and Social Care
- Graduate Certificate Health and Social Care
- Graduate Certificate Higher Education in Children and Families
- Short Course Introducing Health And Social Care
- Short Course Introduction To Mental Health Science
- Short Course Investigating Health and Social Care
- Short Course Investigating Human Health And Disease
- Short Course Investigating Psychology 1
- Short Course Mental Health And Community
- Postgraduate Diploma Mental Health Science
- M.Sc. Mental Health Science
- Short Course Online counselling - getting started
- Short Course Perspectives In Health And Social Care
- Short Course Public Health - Health Promotion And Health Security
- Short Course Science And Health - An Evidence-based Approach
- DipHE Sport and Fitness
- Short Course Young Children's Play and Creativity
- Short Course Earth Processes
- Short Course Earth Science
- M.Sc. Earth Science
- CertHE Environment
- Short Course Environment - Journeys through a Changing World
- Short Course Environment - Responding to Change
- Short Course Environment and Society
- Postgraduate Diploma Environmental Management
- Postgraduate Certificate Environmental Management
- M.Sc. Environmental Management
- Short Course Environmental Management 2
- Short Course Environmental Policy in an International Context
- DipHE Environmental Science
- Short Course Environmental Science
- Short Course Environmental Science Challenges
- DipHE Environmental Studies
- Short Course International, Environmental And Space Law
- Short Course Making Environmental Decisions
- Short Course Sustainable Creative Management
- Short Course Terrestrial Ecosystems
- Short Course Understanding global development
- M.A. Art History
- Short Course Art and Its Global Histories
- Short Course Business design for the digital world
- CertHE Computing and IT and Design
- CertHE Design and Innovation
- DipHE Design and Innovation
- Short Course Digital marketing content creation
- Short Course Innovation - Designing for Change
- Master Manufacture Materials Design
- Short Course Manufacture Materials Design
- DipHE Music
- M.A. Music
- B.A. Music (Honours)
- M.A. Music Part 1
- Short Course Music, Sound And Technology
- Short Course Team Engineering
- M.A. Childhood and Youth
- Short Course Family Law
- Graduate Certificate Health and Social Care
- Graduate Certificate Higher Education in Children and Families
- Short Course Introducing Health And Social Care
- Short Course Investigating Forensic Psychology
- Short Course Investigating Health and Social Care
- Short Course Investigating The Social World
- Short Course Making Social Worlds
- B.Sc. Psychology (Honours)
- M.A. Social Work
- Postgraduate Diploma Social Work
- Postgraduate Certificate Social and Psychological Inquiry
- Short Course Understanding Customers
- Short Course Young Lives, Parenting and Families
- Short Course Applying Sport and Exercise Sciences to Coaching
- Short Course Athletic Development - A Psychological Perspective
- Short Course Exploring contemporary issues in sport and exercise
- Short Course Introduction to Sport and Fitness
- Short Course Sport and Exercise Psychology in Action
- DipHE Sport and Fitness
- Short Course Workplace with People in Sport and Fitness
- Short Course Introduction to digital marketing
- Short Course Social media marketing
- Short Course The languages of crises
- M.A. Translation
- Postgraduate Diploma Translation
- Postgraduate Certificate Translation
- Master Translation in Practice
- Short Course Understanding Customers
Student services
The OU has offices throughout the UK where your student support teams are based.
et in touch with our student ambassadors who can tell you more about what you can expect from studying with The Open University
Housing services
The University doesn't own student housing, but can offer some help on finding private accommodation off campus.
Library services
OU Researchers and research students have access to a world class collection of online resources, a document delivery service, and guidance on skills development.
ICT services
Using a computer is a regular part of your OU study, so here's information on a range of computing topics.