‘OU study opened the door to a whole new career,’ says trainee detective, John

Posted on 12 August 2025 • Science, maths, computing and technology, Student stories

When surf school owner John, 47, challenged himself with a return to education, he had two clear goals – to study a captivating subject, while unlocking new career opportunities. John never imagined that his Open University (OU) degree would set him on course to become a Detective Constable in his home county.

As a new chapter begins, John shares how his curiosity about the natural world led him to OU study and a career path he never dreamed was possible.

A thirst for knowledge

After many years of teaching budding surfers how to ride waves and keep themselves safe in the ocean, John had a revelation. Despite his experience and expertise, he didn’t fully understand the science behind his passion.

“Living and teaching on the coast, the weather’s all over the place and the landscape is so varied,” John describes. “So as much as I know how to handle the environmental factors practically, I suddenly had this urge to learn how and why everything happens around us.”

Starting with podcasts and information he could find online, John couldn’t get enough of what he was learning, wondering for the first time if he could manage to study a science subject at degree level.

“I’d always found science quite difficult at school, but I think it can be taught in quite a baffling way,” says John. “When I signed up to study Natural Sciences, I still didn’t know if I had a degree in me, but the first module was about water, which was a perfect start! Now I finally, properly understand why it acts the way it does.”

Discovering what he was capable of

Having been out of education for over 20 years, John surprised himself, achieving high marks and loving the way he was learning.

“The online student portal is just brilliant, it’s so easy to work with and the materials are presented in such a way that you get hooked and end up studying for longer than you planned to!”

John adds, “I found the mix of materials really worked for me – books, online interactive content and videos – it’s all simple to access and keeps you interested.”

Juggling part-time study with work felt daunting at first, until John looked at it in a different way.

“I was enjoying my studies so much, it didn’t take long for me to get it in perspective,” says John. “I just thought that six years would come and go whether or not I was doing a degree, so I thought about what I wanted my future to look like.”

A new direction

With his partner taking over the day-to-day running of the surf school and with a first-class degree under his belt, it was time for John to look at his career prospects.

“I was firing off CV’s and not getting much of a response, so I decided to check in with the OU’s careers and employability service,” John remembers.

“I can’t fault it. You can get advice on your CV and the careers information available is vast. I completed a questionnaire online and one of the jobs it recommended for me was detective!”

After some digging, John discovered that thanks to OU study, he was eligible for Detective Degree Holder Entry, which was open for applications to his local police force at the time.

“The recruitment process was tough, but my OU degree was pivotal to my success,” John says. “On a fundamental level, it’s changed the way I think. I’m now more critical and have the skills to evaluate whether something’s worth reading or listening to.”

Now in the first stage of his training, John looks back on the journey that led him there.

“My time at the OU was so fulfilling on a personal level. And career wise, it’s opened doors that just weren’t there,” John reflects. “The way the economy is at the moment, having an opportunity like this is transformative – I can’t imagine what I would be doing without it.”

Advice to others

About to embark on more qualifications, this time in policing, John finds that he’s now an advocate of life-long learning.

“I’ll always suggest the OU to people I know if they’re considering their future. I send them links to Open Learn which is free for anyone to use and is a great way to get back into a learning mindset,” says John.

“And then if you do want to go on to a degree course, it’s modular, so you can dip your toe in without a huge commitment,” John advises.

“I went through a tough time during my degree – I was diagnosed with cancer and had lots of treatment and operations to cope with, but my studies gave me something positive to focus on with the flexibility I needed. I’m so glad I kept going.”

John adds, “I would recommend OU study to anyone, it’s the real deal!”

 

Inspired by John’s story?

If you’re thinking about a new career, or taking the next step in the sector you’re in, OU can help you get there. Search for your perfect course today and find out where your OU journey can take you.

Apply by 11th September for courses starting this October.