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 postgraduate modules and microcredential courses to help you reskill and upskill into areas where job growth is expected.

All courses are largely delivered online, allowing you to fit study around your life, from the experts in distance learning.

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You should read the How to apply section of this page, then take a look at what you can study andchoose your course

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 module. These can be viewed by following the links for each of the courses listed below.

How to apply

Registration for fully funded places must be completed using the relevant application form below by 1 October 2021. Please do not register using the course links at the bottom of the page.

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 postgraduate and microcredential study.

Please note applicants to the Flexible Skills Fund can apply to study up to 2 courses at any one time.

What you can study

Opportunities are available to study postgraduate modules as well as microcredentials. A module can go towards a postgraduate certificate or diploma, or be the first step towards a masters degree. Microcredentials are online professional development short courses that allow you to quickly build in-demand career skills and knowledge.

Postgraduate modules

Microcredentials

Postgraduate

Agile Leadership and Management (in collaboration with the Agile Business Consortium)
Cyber Security Operations (Cisco) (endorsed by Cisco Networking Academy)
Management of Change: Organisation Development and Design
Management of Uncertainty: Leadership, Decisions and Action
Teacher Development: Embedding Mental Health in the Curriculum (endorsed by the Mental Health Foundation)

Undergraduate

AWS: Solutions Architect (in collaboration with Amazon Web Services)
Cisco: DevOps using DevNet (endorsed by Cisco Networking Academy)
Business Management: Financial Accounting for Non-Financial Roles
Business Management: Fundamentals of Management Accounting
Business Management: Improving Organisational Practice
Business Management: Marketing Principles and Practice
Tackling the Climate Crisis: Innovation from Cuba

Ready for postgraduate study?

If you are unsure about postgraduate study, our free badged OpenLearn course, Succeeding In Postgraduate Study, will provide essential preparation for pursuing your learning at this level.

You can also explore the benefits of online learning and discover how to successfully learn with us by completing the free Get started with Online Learning course.

My hours were reduced due to lockdown but instead of letting it get me down, I looked into ways I could study. I was browsing training opportunities and applied for a fully funded course with the OU. I’m very excited to start learning again. I’m hoping it will give me the boost I need for a higher-grade job. I’m trying to convert all of my industry experience into a qualification that will give me the edge and advance my career to where I want to be.
Emma Bainbridge, postgraduate module in Sustainable Creative Management

Skill Up - The Flexible Skills Fund

COURSE REGISTRATION CLOSES SOON
DON'T MISS OUT

Who can apply?

How to apply

What you can study

Postgraduate modules

Microcredentials

Ready for postgraduate study?

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Skill Up - The Flexible Skills Fund

COURSE REGISTRATION CLOSES SOON DON'T MISS OUT

Who can apply?

How to apply

What you can study

Postgraduate modules

Microcredentials

Ready for postgraduate study?

Business Management: Marketing Principles and Practice

Business Management: Finance for Non-Financial Roles

Management of Change: Organisation Development and Design

Business Management: Improving Organisational Practice

Cisco: DevOps using DevNet

AWS: Solutions Architect

Business Management: Fundamentals of Management Accounting

Management of Uncertainty: Leadership, Decisions and Action

Global Development in Practice: Designing an Intervention

Online Teaching: Creating courses for Adult Learners

Online Teaching: Evaluating and Improving Courses

Teacher Development: Embedding Mental Health in the Curriculum

Online Teaching: Accessibility and Inclusive Learning

Online Teaching: Embedding Social, Race and Gender-Related Equity

Digital Photography: Creating a Professional Portfolio

Agile Management and Leadership

Cyber Security Operations (Cisco)

Tackling the Climate Crisis: Innovation from Cuba

Where do you live?

COURSE REGISTRATION CLOSES SOON
DON'T MISS OUT