The Open University

Emilie wearing a blue lab coat surrounded by scientific equipment,

‘OU study unlocked the career I’d always wanted’

22 October 2024

For many years Emilie, 47, put her professional aspirations aside, working hard to pay the bills and be present as a mum. It wasn’t until her son completed his degree that Emilie decided it was her turn to shine, embarking on an Open University (OU) degree that would unlock the career she dreamed of. Now […]

Tax system could be reformed to increase revenue says OU academic expert in advance of the Budget

21 October 2024

The Chancellor has made it plain that we can expect to receive tax increases in the Budget but what will they be? Jonquil Lowe, Senior Lecturer in Economics and Personal Finance, speculates on where we can expect the squeeze and says tax reform may be a driver. We have been primed to expect tax increases […]

Radio series Rare Earth returns for another season

17 October 2024

Tune into BBC Radio 4 weekly from today (18 October) to listen to the third season of OU / BBC radio series, Rare Earth, with environmental journalist Tom Heap and physicist Helen Czerski. Rare Earth digs into some of the biggest environmental issues facing our planet today, with fascinating insights from experts. Listeners can tune […]

Euclid space mission reveals first piece of its map of the Universe

15 October 2024

The European Space Agency’s (ESA) Euclid mission, supported by UK scientists at The Open University (OU) has unveiled new stunning images of stars and galaxies, forming the first section of its cosmic atlas. This first chunk of the map, which is a huge mosaic of 208 gigapixels, was revealed today at the International Astronautical Congress […]

Distinguished author and Nobel Laureate is awarded honorary degree

15 October 2024

Distinguished Zanzibar-born author and Nobel Laureate Abdulrazak Gurnah, who has been celebrated on both sides of the Atlantic, has been awarded an Honorary Doctorate by The Open University. He won global recognition in 2021 for becoming the first African writer in 30 years to receive the Nobel Prize for literature. It resulted in many earlier […]

New OU/BBC Radio Series Inside Health

15 October 2024

A brand-new OU/BBC radio series Inside Health starts on Tuesday 15th October at 09:30 on BBC Radio 4 and BBC Sounds. The six-part series will give listeners a better understanding of various health issues, distinguishing fact from fiction and bringing clarity to conflicting health advice. The Open University academic consultants on the series, Senior Lecturer […]

Nobel Peace Prize awarded to Japanese atomic bomb survivors’ group for its efforts to free the world of nuclear weapons

14 October 2024

Open University academic Dr Luc-Andre Brunet, a Senior Lecturer in Contemporary International History and Eirini Karamouzi, Senior Lecturer in Contemporary History from the University of Sheffield tell us more about Nobel-Prize-winning Nihon Hidankyo. The 2024 Nobel peace prize has been awarded to Nihon Hidankyo, a Japanese grassroots organisation created by survivors of the two US […]

A young blonde haired woman with her two young children.

‘When everything had gone dark, the OU lit up my life,’ says young mother of two

14 October 2024

Katherine from Aberdeenshire left school at 17 after having her first child, but instead of giving up on her career dreams she has remained determined to make her family proud. As a single parent with no childcare support, The Open University (OU) has allowed Katherine to pursue her passion whilst caring for her children. Now, […]

Five spooky stories that will have you dropping your paperback in horror

10 October 2024

If you’re looking for something to send a shiver down your spine this spooky season check out the five book choices of The Open University’s Jennie Owen, Lecturer in Creative Writing. These tales include ghosts, ghouls, monsters and horror, and are guaranteed to have you checking under your bed as the nights draw in. 1. […]