History
In 1969 one ambition changed the world, giving anyone, anywhere the power to learn. Established by the Royal Charter (pdf 235kb) and globally recognised, The Open University has pioneered distance learning for over 50 years, delivering exceptional teaching and outstanding support to students across the UK and the world.
Education
Our qualifications range from certificates, diplomas and short courses to undergraduate and postgraduate degrees.
- Whatever you want to study, we’re sure to have the right course for you.
Research
- Choose the research degree area closest to your field of interest to find out about the department, its research priorities and philosophy, the research environment, and facilities available.
- Within each research area is a list of topics which tell you more about specific areas of research, current and prospective projects, entry requirements, available supervisors and contact details for advice.
Career
- An Open University qualification is attractive to employers.
- Employers know that many of our students study while working. Therefore, they’re aware that Open University study can be challenging, and that it requires you to develop a variety of valuable skills and qualities – all of which will be assets to any workplace.
- You’ll also be attractive to employers because, being an Open University graduate, you’ll stand out from the crowd of conventional campus-based university graduates.
The Open University UK Key Statistics & Highlights
- #801 Ranking
- 83 Masters
- 78 Scholarships
- 1,955 Academic Staff
- 63,446 Students
- 5,076 Students (int'l)
- 40,605 Students (female)
- Public Institution Type
The Open University UK Overview
The Open University UK Scholarships
The Open University UK Scholarships
Below you will find scholarships related to The Open University UK. Distinction can be made between scholarships provided by the University and those provided by independent providers.
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The Open University UK Student Reviews & Awards
Based on 100 reviews
- 5 Star 40 Reviews
- 4 Star 39 Reviews
- 3 Star 18 Reviews
- 2 Star 3 Reviews
- 1 Star 0 Reviews
How Students Rated This University
- Overall Satisfaction 4.3
- Student Teacher Interaction 4.3
- Student Diversity 4.4
- Online Classroom Experience 4.3
- Admission Process 4.5
- Career Development 4.4
Clear Information & Flexible Learning Approach
I haven’t started studying at The Open University yet, but based on the information and communication I’ve received so far, the experience has been very clear and reassuring. The program structure is well explained, and I particularly appreciate the flexibility of distance learning, which allows students to balance studies with work and personal commitments. The university also provides detailed guidance about modules, expectations, and available support, which helps in making an informed decision. Additionally, their transparency regarding funding options and requirements gives a realistic picture of what to expect, even though financial support for international students is limited at the beginning. Overall, the approach feels organized, accessible, and student-oriented, which makes me feel more confident about potentially starting my studies there.
Certificate in law
2022-2025 prison officers in Tanzania in different regional
very good
The Open University (OU) is a unique and widely-respected institution known for its distance learning model, which provides a flexible way for people to earn a university degree. Here's a summary of the common student experience, based on numerous
Global Student Satisfaction Awards 2025
The Global Student Satisfaction Awards empower students across the globe to determine the best universities of 2025. Universities with a score above 4.0 (out of 5) in any of the 7 award categories, receive Badges of Excellence. Congratulations!
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Overall SatisfactionHow would you rate your overall study experience?
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Student Teacher InteractionHow helpful were your teachers?
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Student DiversityHow diverse was the atmosphere at your university?
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Online Classroom ExperienceHow was your experience with online courses?
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Admission ProcessHow simple was it to apply to your programme?
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Career DevelopmentDid the university provide support for your career development?
The Open University UK Rankings
Study Portals Meta Ranking
Studyportals ranking look at the scores of the most used ranking systems and present you with one number of how well this University performs.
World University Rankings
By Times Higher Education
The university hasn’t moved up or down in the rankings over the past year.
World University Rankings is a vital resource that provides the definitive list of the world's best universities. They look at how often they're producing new ideas, what their reputation is around the world, and how much they're contributing to science and academic fields. After calculating and comparing these criteria, THE ranks the universities accordingly.
3 year trend World University Rankings
| 2024 | 2025 | 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| 601 | 801 | 801 |
We don’t have enough recent ranking data to show a 3-year trend for this university.
Academic Ranking of World Universities
By Shanghai Jiao Tong University
The university hasn’t moved up or down in the rankings over the past year.
ARWU World University rankings is the first world university ranking. It ranks the world's top 1000 colleges and universities based on objective indicator. They look at the number of award-winning (Fields Medals and Nobel Prize) scientists who are located there, how much of their research is cited and referenced around the world, and how much they've contributed to different academic fields. After calculating and comparing these criteria, ARWU ranks the universities accordingly.
3 year trend Academic Ranking of World Universities
| 2023 | 2024 | 2025 |
|---|---|---|
| 701 | - | 901 |
We don’t have enough recent ranking data to show a 3-year trend for this university.
Best Global Universities Rankings
By U.S. News & World Report
This university doesn’t have a ranking for 2026 yet. Rankings are updated yearly, so check back later for the latest info.
Best Global Universities Rankings by U.S. News & World Report presents all the top universities from the U.S. and 60 other countries around the world. They measure the rate of students going to their second year of studies, as well as the rate of students who graduate. It also asks university representatives on the performance of universities, and evaluates university resources, teacher salaries, graduation rates, student academic achievements and satisfaction. After calculating and comparing these criteria, U.S. News ranks the top international universities accordingly.
3 year trend Best Global Universities Rankings
| 2024 | 2025 | 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| 888 | - | - |
We don’t have enough recent ranking data to show a 3-year trend for this university.
Student services
The OU has offices throughout the UK where your student support teams are based.
et in touch with our student ambassadors who can tell you more about what you can expect from studying with The Open University
Housing services
The University doesn't own student housing, but can offer some help on finding private accommodation off campus.
Library services
OU Researchers and research students have access to a world class collection of online resources, a document delivery service, and guidance on skills development.
ICT services
Using a computer is a regular part of your OU study, so here's information on a range of computing topics.