How to register

Getting your school involved

Interested institutions should allocate one person to be the coordinator and The Open University will advise that person about the scheme and answer questions. We can also arrange a visit to individual schools, to meet with staff to discuss YASS, or deliver a presentation to pupils. The institution will then agree to accept responsibility for selecting and registering suitable students.

It is not possible to register online as pupils are under 18. The appropriate YASS registration forms will be supplied to the school and should be returned to The OU in Scotland.

The process differs from school to school, but often the school’s YASS coordinator will meet students and their parents before the modules begin to prepare them for what lies ahead. In some cases parents have been so impressed with the modules that they have decided to do an Open University course themselves!

Click here for a diagram outlining the steps.

Eligibility

• YASS is open to S6 students in full-time study in Scottish schools.
• There are no entry requirements for students wishing to study a YASS module.
• 30 point modules - an Open University academic advisor will contact the school coordinator or the student to discuss each application before students are accepted onto the YASS programme.
• Co-ordinators registering large numbers of students will be contacted by The Open University before their students are accepted onto the YASS programme.

Is YASS for everyone?

• YASS works best for students who are not only academically able, but who are motivated and committed too, and able to cope well with independent learning.
• Before they consider the scheme, students need to be aware of the extra study requirements. For example a 30-point module run from October to June and can demand up to 14 hours of independent study each week.
• Applicants should be able to demonstrate genuine motives for wanting to study at university level with The Open University. These are likely to include a passion for a particular subject, the desire to gain an additional qualification or learn at a higher level, positive family experiences of The Open University or a keenness to experience a university workload.

Pre-registration advice for schools

The Open University encourages schools to:

• Organise YASS information events for students and parents.
• Ensure all interested students use the YASS website to research their module options before deciding which module to take.
• ​Undertake one-to-one interviews with prospective students to help them make informed choices about their modules.

If you are unsure if some students will cope with a full module, The Open University offer a fantastic range of free courses through OpenLearn. There are over 700 courses and students can work at their own pace and start whenever suits their timetable. This is a great opportunity for students to get an idea of what to expect from independent university study.

Change of Mind

If a student has second thoughts about studying with The OU before their module starts they should contact us to cancel their registration before the module start date. This means we will be able to use the funding for the benefit of another student.

If a student decides to stop studying once the module has started, in most cases unfortunately the funding will be lost. However, it is still important that they contact us to cancel so that they don’t receive a ‘Fail’ result at the end of the module.