Meet our students and alumni

Rebecca Miller, Dunbar

Attending the degree ceremony was important to me because I never went to university after school and I always felt like I’d missed out on something. It took me seven years to achieve this degree and I really wanted to celebrate that.

Rebecca started her ‘dream job’ shortly after completing her Bachelor of Science (Honours) Degree in Psychology. She is Youth Education Manager for Scotland and Tyne and Wear at the Royal National Lifeboat Institution, and believes her OU studies helped her to get the post. Click here to read more.

Sean Lafferty, Oban

I am over the moon about the support I have been getting both from my union and my company.

Sean is an On-board Services Manager with ferry operator Caledonian MacBrayne (CalMac). Scottish Union Learning fully sponsored him to do an OU Certificate of Higher Education Open in Business and Management, which he says helped him gain promotion. Sean is now studying for a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) Degree in Business Management, supported by his Rail, Maritime and Transport (RMT) union and CalMac. Click here to read more.

 Karis Williamson, Inverness

I enjoyed 'The arts past and present' the most as it opened up new worlds for me and it gave me confidence to tackle things I never imagined I would, such as studying the ancient world, Buddhism and Seamus Heaney.

'Trailblazer' disability campaigner Karis has spoken of her 'life changing' studies with The OU. Karis began studying with The OU in Scotland aged 16. The teen has congenital muscular dystrophy and left school in the last year of primary. With two OU courses successfully completed, Karis is now studying towards an Open Degree. Click here to read more.

Roy Lawrence, Anstruther

I decided to undertake this course with The OU due to the outstanding service I had received when commissioning The OU over the last eight years and the excellent relationships I had with people within the organisation.

Roy is a Fife Council manager, responsible for the workforce development of around 3,000 social work and social care staff. So positive was his experience of using The OU to develop his staff’s skills, that he signed up to study with The OU himself. Roy has gained a Postgraduate Certificate in Business Administration. Click here to read more.

Morven Baigent, Glasgow

I don’t regret for a minute the decision that I made to study through The Open University. It’s such an efficient way of learning because you’re in charge of it.

Morven has graduated with a Bachelor of Science Honours Open Degree from The OU, with a focus on Maths and Statistics. After gaining credit transfer from previous studies at another university, Morven combined studying for her OU degree with caring for her daughter and then working full time at the Prince’s Trust, where she has twice been promoted. Morven is an Open Learning Champion at her workplace, helping others to use The OU’s free open educational resources. Click here to read more.

Tasnim Nazeer, Glasgow

With four children to manage in addition to freelance journalistic work, I had to organise myself and establish a routine. However, it is possible – my degree success proves that!

Tasnim is an award-winning journalist and author, and a mum. She did a Bachelor of Arts Honours Degree in English Language and Literature with The OU, and has now embarked on postgraduate study. Click here to read more.

Alan S. Morrison, Forfar

My MBA provided me with a 'career parachute' when my role in my chosen career disappeared overnight.

Alan runs a successful media and PR company which has just celebrated five years in business. He changed career after 24 years in journalism, taking voluntary redundancy when his role disappeared due to restructuring. Alan’s Master of Business Administration postgraduate degree from The OU, which he had already gained for personal development, enabled him to explore new options. Click here to read more.

Sam Orme, Huntly

Studying for the degree has had positive impacts. I was promoted to software developer the week after I submitted my final assessment, losing ‘junior’ from my job title in the process!

Sam is a software engineer. He did a Bachelor of Science Honours Degree in Computing and IT Practice with The OU while working full time. Credit from a Higher National Diploma previously gained at college counted towards Sam’s degree. Click here to read more.