The Open University

“I’ve just graduated at 40 and feel that the world has become more open to me”

11 December 2019

Twenty-two years ago, Rebecca Bungay, 40, started her journey to higher education like most students, but found the road well-travelled was not for her and left university after only six weeks. Years later, determined to achieve her lifelong goal, Rebecca embarked on a degree course with the OU. Last month, Rebecca received her degree in […]

“Education has changed my life”

13 October 2019

Mark began his journey with the OU whilst serving a life-sentence in prison. Through his studies he discovered a passion for learning and since his release has enabled him to turn his life around. Now he uses his own experiences to help other prisoners learn. We spoke to Mark to discover more about how the […]

Emma Roache stood outside Ely Cathedral in her graduation robes

Emma’s story: “Giving up was simply not an option”

20 September 2019

Emma Roache could have led a very different life to the one she leads now, thankfully she’s not one to let an unfortunate set of circumstances hold her back. After a difficult childhood, she found herself homeless at just sixteen and living in a residential B&B surrounded by crime and drugs. Under such bleak conditions, […]

Katharine Boulton at her graduation ceremony

“I realised not all was lost”

11 September 2019

“Even when things go wrong, there are always options,” says 27-year-old OU graduate Katharine Boulton. Despite not getting the university grades she hoped she would, she didn’t let this stop her and combined her industry experience with an OU Masters in Medicinal Chemistry. “I initially went to university to study forensic science,” Katharine explains. “I […]

Donna and her husband toasting with a glass of champagne

“Language studies with the OU helped me further my career”

28 August 2019

A degree in foreign languages with the OU enabled Donna James to flourish both personally and professionally through her career development. She believes that her OU studies played a big part in furthering her career. “My greatest success was passing my degree with First-Class Honours on my 25th birthday – I practically screamed the house […]

“The OU completely changed my life”

10 July 2019

Science was the one subject Ray Barber loved since he was a boy. Working as a college technician with no qualifications, he embarked on an OU degree and his life took an amazing turn; which he credits to the qualifications he gained with the OU. He’s since travelled the world with his work, including a […]

Life on the frontline of nursing – pioneer student discusses her journey with the OU

29 May 2019

Pioneer student, Jacky looks back at her life and study with The Open University, spanning over 40 years. She succeeded in becoming the only registered nurse at her hospital to have a degree and after completing further study with the OU, she launched a new career as a Nursing Tutor. “I was born and raised […]

From prisoner to OU student and staff member

7 May 2019

Stephen Akpabio-Klementowski’s story shows exactly how life-changing education can be. His journey has taken him from a prisoner, to an OU student and now to an OU member of staff supporting the Students in Secure Environments team. Stephen first began studying for his BSc in Social Science with The Open University while he was in […]

Shooting for the stars (and beyond)

5 May 2019

How did the planets in our solar system come to be? This is just one of the questions PhD student Vincent Deguin, 28, and his fellow planetary scientists at The Open University are exploring. Vincent is working on pioneering research into the earliest stage of planet formation, building and testing equipment that will help to […]

Studying at sea – Tracy’s incredible OU journey across the ocean

3 May 2019

As any OU student will tell you, studying takes place anywhere and everywhere. This was especially true for Tracy Thorpe, who spent most of her OU journey in the middle of oceans whilst working full-time as a first mate and chef on private sailing yachts. Tracy started her degree in Modern Languages (French and English) […]

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