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The Future is Open

Open your future with The Open University.

We’ve been the experts in distance learning for over 50 years, allowing you to fit study around your life. Our world-leading teaching strategies and educational technologies mean you’ll get an immersive and interactive learning experience with support from dedicated tutors every step of the way.

Whatever future you’re looking for, your possibilities are open.

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Undergraduate

Postgraduate

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.

News from the OU

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OU research impact

Open University research shapes policy and practice, drives innovation and has practical applications which change lives across the globe.

Learn more about the impact of our research

OU research impact

OU research impact

Register your interest

Courses starting from October 2023 will open for registration in March 2023.

If you’d like to be kept updated, you can find your course and register your interest now.

As soon as registration opens, we’ll get in touch with your next steps.

Find your course

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.

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.

Read more about equality and diversity