Care experienced

The Open University is a positive choice if you have care experience and are interested in higher education.

We recognise that care experience can impact on education. Our open admissions policy means you don’t need formal qualifications to study with us at undergraduate level. 

We take our responsibilities as a corporate parent seriously. To find out more about what we do to support care leavers and care experienced students, have a look at our Corporate Parenting Plan.

We are always keen to hear from our care experienced students and those who are interested in studying with us about how we can improve their learning experience with us.

As we are a distance learning university, we offer a different kind of university experience. You don’t need to move away to study, and you can study at a time and a pace that works for you.

You can choose to study for a degree, diploma or certificate, or take a stand-alone module. We provide supported, personalised open learning.

More information

Find out more about:

• the support we offer our learners
   
• fees and funding - over half of all new students in Scotland qualify for a Part-Time Fee Grant to cover the cost of their undergraduate module fees in full
   
• our Access modules, which can help you prepare for returning to education
   
• Making Your Learning Count, a short module that gives you credit for previous informal study on OpenLearn – the OU’s home of free learning
   
• the right course for you
   

Updating your student profile

• Go to StudentHome – Profile (on left hand side of webpage) – Update personal details – About you – Identity, needs and circumstances – Edit details.  
   
• Scroll up to the question headed ‘Care Leaver’. There are four options: I have never been in care / I was in care in Scotland for a time (up to the age of 18) / I have been in care in the rest of the UK / I do not wish to declare. 
   
• Choose one and click the Submit tab at the bottom of the screen to update your record.  

Information sent to our care experienced students includes our new e-newsletter.