Research at the OU
The Open University is unique among UK universities in combining a mission to widen access to higher education with research excellence. Research and knowledge exchange is fundamental to The Open University's founding principle: to be 'open to people, places, methods and ideas’.
Our research underpins the teaching we deliver to almost 170,000 students as the UK’s largest university. It informs the high-quality free open educational resources we provide to learners worldwide. It feeds into the TV and radio programmes we make with our partner the BBC, which reach an audience of 40 million viewers annually.
Faculties & themes
Our current strategic plan is aimed at strengthening our academic reputation, improving our research environment, ensuring there is intellectual breadth and rigour across all our curriculum areas with a focus on a number of key themes.
Partner with us
Our Enterprise team are dedicated to develop Knowledge Exchange opportunities and are the first port-of-call to begin exploring how the OU can work with you.
Impact
Our world-leading innovative research and development ranks in the top third of UK universities. It influences policy and practices from local to global levels.
Research degrees
The OU has a vibrant international community of research students working in state-of-the-art facilities with academics who are leading experts in their disciplines.
Governance
Our research is conducted to the highest standards of excellence, rigour and integrity within a framework of internal and external policies and principles.
Work for us
Our careers mission is to provide excellent training and development opportunities for researchers at all stages of their career so that they excel in their profession.
News & articles
Sustainable materials for smarter roads
As the Christmas holiday period approaches, when short days, heavy traffic and adverse weather conditions can make festive travel tricky by road, OU academics are investigating new environmentally sustainable materials for use in road marking that could make our driving safer and easier.
- Research project to allow groups at risk of exclusion to enjoy the Arts 11th December 2019
- Bringing pieces of Mars moon back to Earth 5th December 2019
- Climate crisis: six steps to making fossil fuels history 3rd December 2019
Upcoming Events
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Open Research Online database
OU research is available to all via our free public access online repository, home to thousands of peer-reviewed publications.
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