England

Please tell us where you live so that we can provide you with the most relevant information as you use this website.
If you are at a BFPO address please choose the country or region in which you would ordinarily be resident.
Accessibility statement
Group of students studying and chatting in a park
The Open Futures Scholarship for Black Students offers ten students the opportunity to study for free.
The Open University is committed to driving change and ensuring that academic institutions remain inclusive and accessible for all members of society.
The Open Futures Scholarship for Black Students provides an opportunity for new, UK-resident students who identify as Black to study for free.
Ten scholarships will be available in 2026/27. A scholarship covers OU undergraduate credit-bearing modules and qualifications, paying for the full tuition cost of your qualification, up to 120 credits each seasonal academic year and 360 credits in total.
To be eligible, you’ll need to meet all the following criteria:
Full details of the scheme are available in the scholarship terms and conditions.
We launched our Black Students' Support Fund as our data showed that the number of new Black undergraduate students had significantly declined at The Open University.
Recent government research evidenced that more than half of Black children who live in the UK are living in poverty. Black students are also currently under-represented at The Open University compared with the rest of the sector: across the wider UK university sector for 2019/20, 9% of new undergraduate students were from Black backgrounds, compared with just over 3% at The Open University. It’s important that we start to close this gap between The Open University and the rest of the sector, and we are actively working to demonstrate to Black students that the OU is the right place for them to realise their ambitions and potential.
We know that offering everyone the same support, regardless of the situation they start from and the challenges they face, does not always result in equitable outcomes. Therefore, targeted interventions, such as financial support for particular groups of students, play an important role in promoting equity in access to study at the OU.
We have numerous other support programs that are not specific to race or ethnicity and address a variety of limitations or disadvantages that prospective students might face. For example, we offer financial support for carers, care-experienced learners, disabled veterans and asylum seekers. We also offer the study-related costs fund, which is open to anyone on a low income. Information on all our bursaries, scholarships and assistance schemes can be found on our fees and funding page.
We’re now accepting applications for the 2026/27 academic year. You’ll need to download the full scholarship terms and conditions and the application form to apply.
Once completed, please email your application and supporting evidence to our Student Fees team. Their contact details are on the first page of the application form.
Applications close at midday on 24 June 2026. We’ll email you by 10 July 2026 to confirm if you’re successful. We’ll also contact you to ensure you’re ready to study and, if needed, help you choose your course.
If you’ve got a question about the Open Futures Scholarship for Black Students, our advisers are here to help. Don’t hesitate to call us on 0300 303 5303 or email us at [email protected].
The Open Futures Scholarship for Black Students Fund wouldn’t be possible without the support of our generous donors. The scheme is kindly supported by:
If you would like to support the fund, please email us to discuss donating.
Level info