Being an OU research student FAQs

Full-time PhD and MPhil students: You are required to live within an easily commutable distance of the Walton Hall campus in Milton Keynes, to ensure you can engage fully with your research and university life in general. You will be expected to come to the campus every day, to have regular contact with your supervisor(s), academic staff and other students, and to participate in induction and training activities. If in exceptional circumstances, you need to live further away you must obtain approval from the faculty to which you are applying and from the Graduate School for a residency waiver.

Part-time PhD students: If you are applying for part-time study you will need to be resident in the UK for the duration of your studies. In exceptional circumstances this requirement can be waived if the University is satisfied that you can engage fully with your research. You would still be required to travel to the UK regularly at your own expense and to take your examination in the UK. Students who are based outside the UK or who do not meet the criteria to be considered a ‘Home’ or ‘EU’ student may be required to pay a higher fee. Please contact us for advice.

Professional Doctorate students: Students studying on the Professional Doctorate programme can live anywhere in the world. You will be required to fund your own travel to the compulsory year 1 residential weekend in Milton Keynes. Similarly, you are required to fund your travel to the residential/day schools in years 2 and 3. Professional Doctorate students are required also to fund attendance at their viva which will be held at the OU campus in Milton Keynes. Students who are based outside the UK or who do not meet the criteria to be considered a ‘Home’ or ‘EU’ student may be required to pay a higher fee. Please contact the Research Degrees Team for advice.

As an OU student you will be assigned at least two supervisors who are usually University academic staff. Some students have an additional external supervisor. In exceptional cases, Professional Doctorate students may be assigned two external supervisors.

Our supervisors draw on their own experience and expertise of the subject to guide you, and give encouragement and constructive critical advice. They will also advise you in the preparation of your written thesis. See Being an OU research student for more information.

You will also attend induction and training events, and you will be supported administratively by the Research Degrees Team. We have a Graduate School Network (GSN) where you can access resources to support your studies and social media presences where you can build up a virtual network of fellow students and research staff. Professional Doctorate students have access to a dedicated website where they can find resources, online seminars, forums and an area for submitting their work and receiving feedback from supervisors.

Full-time students are required to study for a minimum of 37 hours a week. See Supervision and support for information on the meetings you will have with your supervisors. You can do up to 6 hours a week of paid work while you are a full-time research student.

Part-time students should normally expect to spend a minimum of 18.5 hours a week studying.

Yes, UK Visas and Immigration has licensed The Open University to recruit and register non-EEA PhD students. We will ask you for some information about your circumstances on your application form and at interview. We will also check your documents when you register. If you are in the UK, or coming to the UK, on a dependants’ visa, we advise you to apply for a visa for yourself, to ensure you retain the right to remain in the UK for the duration of your study.

What are the OU's English Language Requirements for doing a research degree?

In order to study with us, you will need to have a good command of English. If your first language is not English, you will need to verify that your competence in the English Language in all four elements (reading, writing, listening and speaking). The University requires a minimum IELTS score of 6.5 with no less than 6.0 in any of the four categories (or approved equivalent). If you are an overseas student, you must have your level of proficiency certified through a provider approved by UK Visas and Immigration and provide your certificate and grade with your application.

Yes, within the rules set out by UK Visas and Immigration. See Overseas students.

You will be encouraged to do so, as the ability to present your research and to receive constructive criticism are important skills to develop during your doctoral studies. See Being an OU research student.

The Open University provides a programme of training for the duration of your PhD studies in line with the Vitae framework. Additionally, you will receive training in developing discipline based skills, and you will have access to the Graduate School Network website website to support your training. See Training and development.

Professional Doctorate students are expected to have studied research methods at masters level (see the Professional Doctorates). They have access to the Graduate School Network where there are additional training resources, and workshops are provided at the residential/day schools each year. In addition, a Researching Practitioner Development Framework is being developed and will be made available to you as soon as possible. EdD students who wish to pursue a research career in HE should also refer to the Vitae framework.

Full and part-time research students are eligible to study for an additional OU taught course, only as part of research degree training, following approval from your supervisors and head of discipline. Once approval has been given the supervisors will contact the Research Degrees Team to register you on the chosen course. You may not study at any other University while you are registered as an Open University student.

For details, see Research facilities.

For details, see Research facilities.

For details, see Research facilities.

For details, see Living in Milton Keynes and Life on campus.

Milton Keynes is a vibrant, busy city with a wide range of accommodation.  Although there is no student accommodation on campus, we have an accommodation advisor who can help you navigate the rental process. If your application is successful, we will send you information about this service with your offer of a place. For more information on living in Milton Keynes see Being an OU research student.