The future is open with The Open University

Gain a career-boosting qualification with the experts in supported distance learning.
Earn while you learn with flexible online courses and expert tutor support every step of the way. It’s time to unlock possibilities you didn’t dream possible.

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Browse our courses

Choose from over 200 qualifications and 400 modules.

Boost your career

86% of our alumni say that study with us helped them achieve their career goals.

Distance learning

Three quarters of our students study alongside work. Our teaching fits around you.

Funding your studies

80% of our students pay for their course with a student loan.

The future is Open

The future is unpredictable, but it’s still yours for the taking with flexible study that means you can learn while you earn. Keeping your options open.

Congratulations OU graduates!

This Autumn, thousands of OU graduates across the four nations will attend their degree ceremonies where their hard work, commitment and determination will be celebrated in front of audiences packed with proud loved ones. Their journeys began with a single step. So can yours. Choose your course. #OUfamily

Congratulations OU students!

Well done to our amazing students! Thousands of students have just received their module results and are celebrating their achievements. Next year, you could be one of them. How will you celebrate? #OUResults

Find out more about the qualifications we offer

News from the OU

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OU research impact

Our research transforms lives across the four nations and globally. We take a challenge-led and open approach to research and driving real world change across the themes of Sustainability, Tackling Inequalities and Living Well.

Find out more about our research and the new Open Societal Challenges research platform

Statement on equality and diversity

The OU was founded to open up higher education to all, regardless of background or circumstances. Our mission is to be open to people, places, methods and ideas—and as such, equality and diversity are at the heart of everything we do.

Our vision of a fair and just society

We are creating an inclusive university community and a society where:

People are treated with dignity and respect
Inequalities are challenged
We anticipate, and respond positively to, different needs and circumstances so that everyone can achieve their potential

Our equality and diversity principles

We value diversity and we recognise that different people bring different perspectives, ideas, knowledge and culture, and that this difference brings great strength.
We believe that discrimination or exclusion based on individual characteristics and circumstances, such as age; disability; caring or dependency responsibilities; gender or gender identity; marriage and civil partnership status; political opinion; pregnancy and maternity; race, colour, caste, nationality, ethnic or national origin; religion or belief; sex; sexual orientation; socio-economic background; trade union membership status or other distinctions, represents a waste of talent and a denial of opportunity for self-fulfilment.
We recognise that patterns of under-representation and differences in outcomes at The Open University can be challenged through positive action programmes.
We respect the rights of individuals, including the right to hold different views and beliefs. We will not allow these differences to be manifested in a way that is hostile or degrading to others.
We expect commitment and involvement from all our staff, students, partners and providers of goods and services in working towards the achievement of our vision.

To read our equality scheme in the full or abbreviated version, or to find out more about equality and diversity at The Open University, visit the Equality and Diversity Website.

You can also read our anti-racism and anti-discrimination statements.