Access Courses | Preparing for Study

England

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Accessibility statement

An Access module is a great place to start if you want a gentle introduction to Open University study.

Designed specifically for OU students, an Access module can help you to discover more about your interests and where you want your learning to take you.

There are several Access modules to choose from, starting in February, May and October. They’re usually 30 weeks long, and most students study for about 8–10 hours a week.

If you want to complete your Access module in less time, we also offer a fast-track option that lets you complete it in 18 weeks by increasing your study time to 16–20 hours a week.

We recommend that you apply early to guarantee your place.

You’ll explore a range of broadly related subjects within one module. That means you’ll have the time and space to discover where your natural interests lie before settling on your ultimate qualification goal.

We’re different to other universities because we’re open to people based on their potential rather than their prior qualifications. Most of our courses have no formal entry requirements, and our students come from diverse educational backgrounds. So, we offer a choice of starting points depending on how confident you are in your study skills. You can either dive straight in at Stage 1, or you might prefer a gentler start with some extra preparation, in which case, an Access module is ideal.

You won’t be alone. When you study an Access module, you’ll have:

To study an Access module, you just need a phone and access to a computer with a good internet connection; that’s it. Your work on the Access module will be assessed through four short written assignments and some activities online.

Our study materials will not only develop your knowledge but also your skills and confidence. They’re designed specially to help with things like:

Why start with an Access module?

If your education suffered because of your start in life, there are Access courses you can take. Don’t be scared if you don’t have A levels or even GCSE’s, I didn’t and now I’m a practising lawyer. The OU not only boosted my career prospects, it made me more confident, articulate and allowed me to change my lifestyle. I owe everything I’ve achieved in my career to the OU.

An Access module is a great place to start if you want a gentle introduction to Open University study.

Designed specifically for OU students, an Access module can help you discover more about your interests and where you want your learning to take you.

There are several Access modules to choose from, starting in February, May and October. They’re usually 30 weeks long, and most students study for about 8–10 hours a week.

If you want to complete your Access module in less time, we also offer a fast-track option that lets you complete it in 18 weeks by increasing your study time to 16–20 hours a week.

We recommend that you apply early to guarantee your place.

You won’t be alone. When you study an Access module, you’ll have:

Our study materials will not only develop your knowledge but also your skills and confidence. They’re designed specially to help with things like:

Why start with an Access module?

An Access module is a great place to start if you want a gentle introduction to Open University study.

Designed specifically for OU students, an Access module can help you discover more about your interests and where you want your learning to take you.

There are several Access modules to choose from, starting in February, May and October. They’re usually 30 weeks long, and most students study for about 8–10 hours a week.

If you want to complete your Access module in less time, we also offer a fast-track option that lets you complete it in 18 weeks by increasing your study time to 16–20 hours a week.

We recommend that you apply early to guarantee your place.

You won’t be alone. When you study an Access module, you’ll have:

Our study materials will not only develop your knowledge but also your skills and confidence. They’re designed specially to help with things like:

Why start with an Access module?

Depending on your eligibility and the availability of places, you may be able to apply to study your Access module for free.

To qualify, you must:

Once you've started the registration process on your Access module, either online or over the phone, we'll contact you about your payment options. This will include instructions on how you can apply to study for free if you are eligible and if funded places are still available.

If you're unsure whether you meet the criteria to study for free, you can check with one of our friendly advisers on +44 (0)300 303 0069 or request a call back.

Don't worry! We offer a choice of flexible ways to help spread the cost of your Access module. The most popular options include:

To explore all the available options, visit Fees and Funding.

Arts and languages Access module

Kickstart your study with this introduction to literature, history, art and the English language. You’ll also touch on other arts disciplines such as classical studies, creative writing and religious studies.

Arts and languages Access module: fast track

Business and law Access module

Develop an understanding of business and law while gaining confidence in academic writing and building study skills.

Business and law Access module: fast track

Psychology, social science and wellbeing Access module

Get an introduction to the topics that make up the social sciences and engage with theory and real-world events to build skills and knowledge in preparation for further study.

Psychology, social science and wellbeing Access module: fast track

Science, technology and maths Access module

Explore a range of STEM subjects through a mix of theoretical and practical experiments to help prepare you for studying in these areas with the OU.

Science, technology and maths Access module: fast track

Students who start with an Access module are more likely to be successful when they advance to OU Stage 1 study.