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SET YOUR AMBITION FREE

Want to achieve your ambition? Study with us and you’ll be joining over 2 million students who’ve achieved their career and personal goals with The Open University.

We’ve pioneered distance learning for over 50 years, bringing university to you wherever you are so you can fit study around your life, with expert tutor support every step of the way. In fact, our students rated us 88% for overall student satisfaction and we were ranked third in the 2021 National Student Survey. Meaning when it comes to realising your ambition, you couldn’t be in better hands.

Your Ambition. Our Mission.

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News from the OU

Our research

The OU's world-leading innovative research and development enriches lives and influences policy globally.

Learn more about our research

Co-produced by The Open University, this groundbreaking new five-part series from the BBC invites you to join Sir David Attenborough as he explores the extraordinary ways in which
plants have learnt to survive and thrive in almost every environment.

Immerse yourself in The Green Planet.

Co-produced by The Open University, this groundbreaking new five-part series from the BBC invites you to join Sir David Attenborough as he explores the extraordinary ways in which
plants have learnt to survive and thrive in almost every environment.

Immerse yourself in The Green Planet.

Sustainability at The Open University

We are dedicated to creating and sharing knowledge and learning to realise social and environmental justice. Visit our sustainability page to find out about the qualifications, microcredentials and free courses we offer; learn about our sustainability-related policies and how you can get involved; our partnership with the BBC; and read about our thriving Research and Knowledge Exchange community.

Find out more 

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 continued dedication to social justice and equality of opportunity is embodied in our vision and principles:

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.

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Coronavirus vaccination information

We’re supporting the delivery of up to 500 vaccinations a day. The OU’s Michael Young building is the premises for the Rainbow Pharmacy vaccination centre. If you have a question about your vaccination, call: 01908 893240.

Our coronavirus page has the latest on what the OU is doing in the fight against coronavirus.

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