Skill Up - The Flexible Skills Fund

The Open University in Northern Ireland, in partnership with the Department for the Economy, is offering a limited number of fully funded microcredential courses to help you upskill and reach your career potential.

What are microcredential courses?

They're short courses designed to help you build in-demand career skills and knowledge in specific areas.  

In just 10–12 weeks you can gain specialised skills using our flexible online learning. Created by world-class OU academics and with many endorsed by leading industry partners, microcredentials offer a perfect balance of academic excellence and workplace relevance. 

With 10–13 hours of study per week, you can gain: 

  • cutting-edge knowledge in a specialised subject, informed by world-class academics 
  • practical skills you can immediately apply to your work or to boost your CV. 

We are now accepting applications for a range of Skill Up funded microcredential courses starting on 24 March 2025 and running for 10 weeks. Applications close at 12 noon on the 10 February 2025. Spaces are limited so early application is recommended.

 

 

Applications close 12 noon 10 February 2025

What you can study

There are currently seven undergraduate microcredential courses funded through the Department for the Economy’s Skill Up initiative. All courses start on 24 March and run for 10 weeks.

Green skills

Leadership and management

Who can apply?

To be eligible for a fully funded place you must be:

  • domiciled in Northern Ireland
  • eligible to work in Northern Ireland
  • settled in Northern Ireland, and ordinarily resident in the UK for at least three years or have indefinite leave to enter or remain in the UK
  • over 18 years of age

In addition, you must meet the individual entry requirements for your chosen course. These can be viewed by following the links for each of the courses listed above.

Proof of address will be required. For further information about what we will accept as evidence and how to submit it, please see our list of example documents. We will only ask you to send your proof of address if your application is successful.

Additional criteria from the Department for the Economy

  • Applicants must not be enrolled on more than two Skill Up courses with any provider in the same academic year.
  • Where a course is oversubscribed, priority will be given to applicants who have not previously studied through Skill Up funding with The Open University. 

How to apply

Do not register via any of the course links provided on this page. You must use the application form link below. Course links are provided for information only.
 
Guidance notes for applicants: it is important to read these guidance notes carefully before applying. They include key information about how to apply, entry requirements, key timescales and contact information, as well as other useful information about microcredential study.

Application form for microcredential courses.

Only submit one application form with one course choice. Additional application forms will be disregarded so consider your course choice carefully before applying.

Should courses receive a high number of applications, the university reserves the right to close applications early. Relevant updates will appear on this page.

Information for formally deferred Skill Up students  

Postgraduate courses

To apply to re-join a formally deferred postgraduate module, please complete this online form.

Microcredential courses

To apply to re-join a formally deferred microcredential module, please complete this online form.

What our students say 

Find out what our students thought of their OU study experience by watching this video and reading their quotes.

I embarked on a business module at a time when I was navigating significant change in my own life. The Skill Up fund has set me firmly on my way to a full Master of Business (MBA) qualification, something I would not have considered were it not for this opportunity.

Sarah A, OU student

When I started my journey with the OU, I honestly never thought I would achieve the academic record I have and I’m immensely proud. The opportunities that are now available to me are vast and I am a huge advocate for the Open University as a mechanism to achieve that. If you get the opportunity to apply for a fully funded place don’t hesitate, it’s a fantastic opportunity to upskill and gain further qualifications and without the burden of debt.

Sarah M, OU student