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Accessibility statement
Student using a study calendar on their laptop computer
Exactly how long your qualification takes will depend on how many credits you study a year and which course you choose.
In this section we give you a rough idea of how long it takes, based on how most of our students study with us.
Flexible study with us means you can vary how long it takes to complete your qualification. It also means you can spend more or less time studying each week, depending on what you need to do and what’s going on in your life.
You’ll study your qualification on a module-by-module basis, so you sign up for only what you’re going to study that year.
The tables below give you an idea of how long it could take to complete a qualification.
Part-time study | 60 credits a year
Certificate of Higher Education
(120 credits)
Certificate of Higher Education
(120 credits)
2 years
2 years
Diploma of Higher Education
(240 credits)
Diploma of Higher Education
(240 credits)
4 years
4 years
Bachelors/Honours degree
(360 credits)
Bachelors/Honours degree
(360 credits)
6 years
6 years
Full-time study | 120 credits a year

Some undergraduate qualifications follow a different pattern of study. Individual descriptions will be able to tell you more.

Certificate of Higher Education
(120 credits)
Certificate of Higher Education
(120 credits)
1 year
1 year
Diploma of Higher Education
(240 credits)
Diploma of Higher Education
(240 credits)
2 years
2 years
Bachelors/Honours degree
(360 credits)
Bachelors/Honours degree
(360 credits)
3 years
3 years
The number of hours you'll need to put into studying will depend on how many credits you’re taking. Per week, that would look like:
For useful study tips from OU students, you can also check out our finding time page.
Your qualification is likely to start in October, but some do have February or April start dates as well.
If you need it, we can help with planning your qualification and modules.
For information on when to apply, check out our key dates.
76% of Open University students fit study around full- or part-time jobs.
The OU is super flexible. I've been able to complete my studies wherever I've been in the world. I've been able to progress academically and gain career experience at the same time.
The OU was the most flexible, distance and online-learning University. This allowed me to continue working full-time whilst applying my learning to the workplace which was the most important factor.
The flexibility of the OU was crucial to my studying. Without it, I wouldn't have been able to cope. I studied part-time in my first year whilst I found my footing… Once I realised that I enjoyed the independent learning aspect, I stepped up to full-time.
Level info