‘At the OU, I was able to get on with living my life’

Posted on 28 May 2025 • Education, Student stories

Jordan, a 26-year-old secondary school teacher from the Isle of Wight was able to land the job she always wanted with the help of The Open University (OU). Despite having to drop out of a campus university, she pivoted to online-supported learning with the OU and personalised her qualification to suit her lifestyle.

“Like so many, I went to a traditional university when I was 18 because I thought it was what I was supposed to do. But after the first year, I left as I struggled with living away from home. I’m a home bird and I didn’t like not being on the island where all my friends and family were,” she said.

“The rigid structure also didn’t suit me. I’m an independent learner, which is why the OU was a much better fit. I just wish I’d known about the OU when I was at school, as the savings I would have made on rent alone would have been huge without even considering the cheaper fees.”

Personalising her course

Determined to fulfil her dream of becoming a teacher, Jordan was able to transfer credits from her first year of studies and customise her OU degree to suit her needs.

“I was so relieved that the time I’d spent at university hadn’t been wasted and thankful that I’d finally found a qualification where I could utilise my strengths.

“With my career goal of being a teacher and safeguarding specialist in mind, I opted for the Open Degree and selected modules that aligned with the skills I wanted to build. I really struggle with exams, but that didn’t matter with the OU as I was able to choose essay-based modules where I could work towards a deadline in my own time.

“I was even able to tailor the pace at which I wanted to study. As I was eager to get my degree, I opted for 60 credits a year. Even though my schedule was busy, I was still able to hold down a full-time job, which allowed me to gain vital practical experience in addition to my qualification.

“Unlike being a student at a campus university, at the OU, I was able to get on with living my life. Whilst I was studying, I bought a house, got engaged and established a name for myself in the local education community. All of this helped me secure a qualified teaching position as soon as I’d finished my degree and PGCE.”

Achieving her ambitions

Now a graduate, Jordan has some words of advice for others with a desire to kickstart their career with an OU degree.

“I was thrilled to find out that I’d been awarded a distinction in my degree. The hard work was worth it, and I’d encourage anyone else considering OU study to give it a go.

“I had excellent support every step of the way, whether it was from my tutors, advice teams or my fellow students.

“Because of the OU, I now jump out of bed, excited for a day at work. I’m well on the way to building a career in a stable profession that I love – a position that I wouldn’t be in if I’d stayed at a campus university.”

If you’ve been inspired by Jordan’s journey, you can register by 11 September for courses starting this October.