The OU student profile

• Recruiting OU students and graduates
• Finding out about the graduate labour market
• The OU student profile
• About the OU Careers Advisory Service for employers
• Contact the OU Careers Advisory Service for employers
• FAQs

Is this the kind of employee you need?

OU students study part-time, often while working. OU study is challenging and demanding, and students develop a variety of valuable skills and qualities that are relevant to the work place. For example, they become proficient in planning and organisation, time management and computer literacy. They also show initiative, flexibility, self-motivation and perseverance as they juggle study and other commitments.

The OU student profile is different from that of conventional campus-based universities.

• Our student population is much greater than other UK universities at over 210,000.
• The age range is from 18 to 60+ with over 60% of students aged between 25 and 44.
• Around 75% of students are working while they study, many of them in full-time employment.
• Around 60% of students are studying vocationally relevant subjects to change their career or to gain promotion.
• Many students have considerable work experience and work-based skills before they commence their studies.
• The OU has a policy of open entry.
• Many OU students are sponsored by their employers. Study with the OU offers a flexible way for staff to study and develop knowledge and skills whilst working. Some companies offer to pay for study retrospectively on successful completion. This has been shown to have a positive effect on student success. Over 30,000 companies have so far sponsored their staff through OU study. These include British Airways, Ford Motor Company, Halifax plc, Ministry of Defence, Motorola, Pfizer and Unilever
• Much sponsorship is also derived from local SMEs. For more details of how the OU can work with your organisation visit the section on Professional and management development.
• Recognition of OU qualifications by a number of professional organisations means that you or your staff can progress along an accredited route of OU study. This will contribute to your continuing professional development or your organisational performance.