BA/BSc (Honours) Open degree

Accessibility

Our qualifications are as accessible as possible, and we have a comprehensive range of support services. Our BA/BSc (Honours) Open uses a variety of study materials and includes the following elements depending on the modules you choose:

• Online study – most modules are online; some have a mix of printed and online material. Online learning resources could include websites, audio/video, and interactive activities
• Pre-determined schedules – we’ll help you to develop your time-management skills
• Assessment in the form of short-answer questions, essays, and examinations
• Feedback – continuous assessment includes feedback from your tutor and using this to improve your performance
• Using and producing diagrams and screenshots
• Finding external/third-party material online
• Accessing online catalogues and databases
• Specialist material, such as works of art and musical manuscripts
• Specialist software, such as Sibelius (a music writing package)
• Mathematical and scientific expressions, notations and associated techniques
• Online tutorials
• Group-work
• Practical work
• Residential schools/field schools/laboratory schools

Every module has its own Accessibility Statement with more detailed accessibility information – you’ll find these on individual module descriptions.

Visit our Disability support page to learn about our services.

There are no formal entry requirements for this qualification.

At The Open University we believe education should be open to all, so we provide a high-quality university education to anyone who wishes to realise their ambitions and fulfil their potential.

Even though there are no entry requirements, there are some skills that you'll need to succeed. If you're not quite ready for OU study we can guide you to resources that prepare you, many of which are free.

Answer a few quick questions to check whether you're ready for study success

Planning your module choices

You’ll begin your BA/BSc (Honours) Open with one of a range of introductory modules, which will provide you with a foundation in your chosen subject(s) and help develop general study skills. You may want to focus on one subject – such as science or the humanities – but there's nothing to stop you from studying modules from entirely different areas. You can explore our suggested routes through the degree under the Course details tab for inspiration.

For certain subject areas – such as biology, economics, or psychology – you may need to include specific modules at Stage 1 or have completed previous study so that you’re prepared for Stages 2 and 3. But don’t worry. We’ll help you choose the right module at the right stage.

For the following subject areas, we also have online tools that will help you decide if you’re ready:

• Mathematics
• Engineering
• Science
• Languages

How much time do I need?

• Most of our students study part time, completing 60 credits a year.
• This will usually mean studying for 16–18 hours a week.

Find out if you have enough time to study with our time planner

Preparing for study with an Access module

Students who start their study with an Access module are more likely to be successful when they advance to Stage 1 of their qualification. They’re specially designed to give you a gentle introduction to OU study, boost confidence in your study skills, and help you gain a broad overview of your chosen subject area.

You’ll also benefit from:

• feedback from your tutor through regular one-to-one phone tutorials
• support from a dedicated team throughout your study
• detailed written feedback on your work.

Skills for career development

Only 19% of graduate employers are interested in specific degree subjects studied. Most are more interested in your skills, such as communication, digital literacy and problem-solving, as well as attributes such as initiative, sector awareness, and global citizenship. The BA/BSc (Honours) Open is an ideal way to showcase your abilities across a broad range of skills and get ahead in today’s highly competitive job market.

"The flexibility of the Open degree helped keep things new and exciting. Plus, studying all these different topics means I now have a skill set that’s unique to me.”
Luke Simmons, BA (Hons) Open

The employers we work with know that diversity of knowledge brings great strength. They highly value OU students and graduates, describing them most often as ‘self-starters’, ‘diverse’, ‘determined’, ‘adaptable’ and ‘work-ready’. An Open degree on your CV not only shows your skills and subject knowledge but also highlights to current or future employers that you are flexible and agile, having studied across a range of subjects.

By studying our BS/BSc (Hons) Open, you can develop a diverse range of transferable skills, expertise, and capabilities, including:

• Initiative, self-management and resilience
• Commercial and sector awareness
• Communication
• Collaboration
• Digital and information literacy
• Numeracy
• Problem-solving

Career relevance

The flexibility of our BA/BSc (Honours) Open degree makes it relevant to a wide range of careers and industries. It can help you to develop in your existing employment or be a passport to a whole new career. Its flexibility particularly suits people with multi-faceted work roles; and anyone needing to develop their skills, knowledge and understanding to manage changes in their current job or future career path.

Exploring your options

From the start of your studies, our experienced Careers and Employability Services team can help you learn how to describe what you’ve gained from your BA/BSc (Hons) Open in ways that employers will take notice of, including:

• explaining how you achieved your degree
• how to present the valuable skills and strengths it has given you
• highlighting any relevant subjects studied by including your module choices in CVs and applications.

For up to three years after you finish your studies, you’ll have full access to The Open University’s Careers and Employability Services for a wide range of information, advice and guidance. This includes:

• a range of self-directed activities, resources and downloadable guides
• intelligent tools such as interview simulation and CV review tools powered by AI (Artificial Intelligence)
• online career skills workshops
• employer panel sessions and direct connections with employers advertising opportunities to OU students
• email, phone or video consultations with a Careers and Employability Consultant.

Some areas of the Careers and Employability Services website are available for you to see now, including help with looking for and applying for jobs. You can also read more general information about how OU study enhances your career.  Once you are a registered student, you will also have access to career information and advice on the Open Qualifications Study Home site.

You can also visit the graduate careers website Prospects for hundreds of job ideas.