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Last updated on 18 Nov '25The Open UniversityWhat's new?
The university is now accepting applications for the Feb 2026 intake. The deadline for the same is Jan 08, 2026.
About The Open University
Established in 1969, the Open University is a public research university based in Milton Keynes, England, which offers courses in online format only. It is the largest university in the United Kingdom, in terms of student enrollment, with a total of 200,000 students enrolled across different courses at the university.
Accredited by the UK's Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education, the university tends to show little hesitation when admitting students, as can be understood by the fact that the Open University acceptance rate stands at 87%, per unofficial sources. It is popular among Indian students who are looking for a degree that can be pursued with greater flexibility, without the need to move abroad.
Don't be fooled by its online nature, it was rated the University of the Year 2025 for Teaching Excellence by the Daily Mail, and also achieved a Gold Star Rating as part of the Teaching Excellence Framework for 2023.
University Information
Mentioned below are some interesting facts you should know about studies a OU:
|
Particular |
Data |
|---|---|
|
Location |
Milton Keynes, England, UK |
|
Endowment |
GBP 3.6 Million |
|
Total International Students |
8,819 (Source: Unofficial) |
|
Students with a Disability |
38,991 |
|
Total Courses |
692 |
|
Average Duration of Courses |
UG: 3 years PG: 1-3 years |
|
Notable Alumni |
Tim Berners-Lee, Gordon Brown, Fleur Anderson, Ian Byrne, & Ben Davies |
History
The university was founded by the Labour Government under the leadership of Prime Minister Harold Wilson with the idea of building a technical institution that could develop services for the overall welfare of the community. It received the Royal Charter in 1969 and welcomed a cohort of around 24,000 part-time adult learners in 1971.
1988 saw the opening of the Open University Business School, one of the very few triple-accredited business schools in the country.
Commonly asked questions On Highlights
Yes, a degree from the Open University based in Milton Keynes, is valid in India, as the institute's degrees are comparable to degrees offered by any other UK university.
Further, its Business School is also among an exclusive group of institutes to have attained triple accreditation by AACSB, AMBA & EQUIS.
OU is known for offering distance learning courses to students worldwide.
Yes, Open University graduates are eligible for applying to jobs anywhere in the world, as many employers accept distance-learning based degrees.
OU itself runs a dedicated internship offering platform: OU OpportunityHub, that lists a number of remote work opportunities across the UK, in the field of the applicant's choice.
The Open University is licensed as a sponsor under the points-based immigration system, which means that the institute can sponsor student route visas for international research applicants planning to come to the UK to study.
For more information regarding visa requirements & processing, students are advised to refer the International research student applications page of the Open University.
The Open University Ranking 2026
The Open University maintains its reputation as one of the best distance learning universities in the UK, and performs respectably as part of the rankings given by prominent platforms. The Open University Ranking is #82 in the UK, and #515 in the world, per the latest edition of the Shiksha Popularity Rankings.
By Other Ranking Bodies
Several prominent names like QS World and US News have ranked the university on a global level, for the year 2025. The Open University QS Ranking stood at #251 for Sociology, while US News gave the Open University World Ranking to be #891 for the year 2025. Times Higher Education also ranked it #801 in the world for 2025.
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Commonly asked questions On Rankings
As per the Government of India (GOI)'s official National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF), the Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU), is the #1 ranked open university in the country.
It is followed by the Netaji Subhash Open University & the Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar Open University in the latest NIRF rankings.
The Open University Courses
You can choose from more than 180 postgraduate and around 268 undergraduate options when it comes to Courses at the Open University. Almost all these programs can be pursued online, from the comforts of your home. Degree, Diploma, and Certification are some of the formats in which you can take up a program at the university.
The Open University Popular Courses
Computer Science, Data Science, Business, Management, Health, Cybersecurity, Artificial Intelligence, Finance, Data Analysis, Health, Law, and Psychology are some of the courses that tend to see greater demand from students compared to other course options.
The Open University Free Courses
You can also take up a free course, with an average duration of 4-24 hours, across streams like Education, Business, History, Nature, Society, Politics, and Digital Computing, among others, as part of the university's OpenLearn platform.
We can fast-track your application in a week.
We can fast-track your application in a week.
We can fast-track your application in a week.
Commonly asked questions On Popular Programs
Open University is known to offer a number of certification, Diploma & degree courses to students, across a number of prominent industry relevant fields including: Business Administration, Engineering, Accounting, Biology, Chemistry, Healthcare, Criminology, Music & Social Science among others.
The choice of the best course, ultimately comes down to the interests of a student.
Listed below are some popular courses offered by the institute:
· BSc (Honours) in Accounting & Finance
· BSc (Honours) in Computer Science with Artificial Intelligence
· MSc in Cyber Security
· MBA
· MBA (Technology Management)
Yes, English language proficiency is a mandatory requirement to be fulfilled by international students planning to pursue higher studies from the institute.
IELTS is considered as an acceptable proof of the same along with TOEFL, Cambridge English & the GCSE.
The general requirements for international students are mentioned below:
Test | Minimum Score |
|---|---|
87-109 | |
5.5-6.5 | |
Cambridge English Language Assessment | First Certificate in English |
GCSE (or equivalent) | Grade 4 (formerly, Grade C) |
The Open University Admissions 2026
The Open University Admission Process is different in the sense unlike other universities in the UK, you don't have to submit a UCAS application. You can apply directly via the university website. As part of the process, you don't have to pay the Open University Milton Keynes Application Fee, either, as that is included as part of the module fees.
Open University Application Deadline
As an Indian student, you can apply for three different intakes, namely October, February, and April. Mentioned below are the upcoming deadlines at the university:
|
Intake |
Deadline |
|---|---|
|
October 2025 |
Closed |
|
February 2026 |
Jan 08, 2026 |
|
April 2026 |
Mar 12, 2026 |
Open University Eligibility
- Official transcripts
- A valid GMAT or GRE score
- Prove English Proficiency
- Minimum 3 Years of Prior Work Experience
- UK Student Visa
- Valid passport
- Bank Statement showing enough funds to study and live in the country
- Any other course-specific requirement
Open University Admission Requirements
The university does not have any additional requirements for most of its courses. You're advised to check the individual course page for the program you're interested in.
English Language Requirements
You would have to demonstrate that you have a good grasp on verbal and written English, and for that, you have to attain the minimum score or grade in any of the tests mentioned below:
|
Test |
Minimum Score |
|---|---|
|
87-109 |
|
|
5.5-6.5 |
|
|
Cambridge English Language Assessment |
First Certificate in English |
|
Grade 4 (formerly, Grade C) |
Documents| Type of documents | Applicable for |
|---|
Commonly asked questions On Admissions
The Open University entry requirements varies by courses. Most of the courses at Open University have no formal GPA requirements.
Students only need to have an understanding of some basic concepts with regards to the area of studies they are applying to & demonstrate proficiency in verbal & written English.
For a course-by-course description of the Open University Admission Requirements students are advised to refer the official course page of the university.
Open University graduates are the recipients of job offers from some of the best private & government based organizations in the UK & abroad. The UK's National Health Service (NHS), Ministry of Defence & the British Army are known to recruit OU graduates.
Operations, Business Development, IT. Education & Engineering are some prominent industries employing the university graduates.
The Open UniversityThe Open University Scholarships
The university is not known to offer any scholarships for International students. Pretty much all of the Open University Scholarships are available to residents of the UK or asylum seekers. Therefore, as an Indian student, you'd have to look for the general scholarships available to Indian students for studying in the UK.
However, the pool of general scholarships that can be applied to distance-learning courses is very limited
Mentioned below are some popular scholarships you can apply for:
|
Scholarship Type |
Scholarship Name |
Financial Award |
Course Level |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Need and Merit-based |
Commonwealth Distance Learning Master's Scholarship |
Covers tuition fees and study grants |
Master's |
|
Need and Merit-based |
UK Study Online Scholarship |
Covers 25% of Tuition Fees |
Bachelor's or Master's |
How can I get a scholarship for the Open University?
- Should be an International student applying to an online course at a university in the UK
- Maintain good-academics
- Show that you come from an economically weak background
- The requirements tend to vary for different programs, and you are advised to check the specific eligibility criteria for each scholarship
The Open University Popular Courses
36 monthsThe Open University Placements
Since the university operates in an online format, it is not known to conduct placement drives on a large scale. Despite that it still maintains its connections across Industries, and mainly in the Government Sector.
Graduates are of interest to companies in sectors like Business Development, Operations, Engineering, Education, and IT, among others.
The Open University Placement Rate
The Open University Placements data has not been made available by the university. However, a breakdown of the prominent sectors, graduates of the university were able to land jobs at is available on the university's official LinkedIn account.
Here are the more prominent industries the university's graduates found employment:
|
Industry |
Percentage |
|---|---|
|
Business Development |
11.88% |
|
Operations |
10.25% |
|
Education |
8% |
|
Information Technology |
7.1% |
|
Engineering |
6.3% |
The Open University Internships
The university maintains a dedicated platform for finding remote-work opportunities, named the OU OpportunityHub, that lists a diverse range of jobs that best fit your profile, in hybrid, work-from-home, and work-from-office formats.
Commonly asked questions On Placements
Yes, OU is known to offer placement opportunities to students, enrolled in diploma, certification or degree courses at the institute. The institute maintains a platform for finding employment opportunities in the form of the OU OpportunityHub.
The platform also lists a number of remote internship opportunities available across the UK.
The Open University Fees
The Open University Fees for a full-time honours degree is GBP 24,552 (INR 27.9 L). The table below gives a detailed breakdown of the OU Fees as per different course types:
|
Qualification |
Course Duration |
Per year cost |
Total Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Certificate of Higher Education (120 credits) |
1 |
GBP 8,184 (INR 9.30 L) |
GBP 8,184 (INR 9.30 L) |
|
Diploma of Higher Education (240 credits) |
2 |
GBP 8,184 (INR 9.30 L0 |
GBP 16,368 (INR 18.60 L) |
|
Honours Degree (360 credits) |
3 |
GBP 8,184 (INR 9.30 L) |
GBP 24,552 (INR 27.90 L) |
| Courses | 1st Year Tuition Fees | Duration & Eligibility |
|---|---|---|
B.E. / B.Tech(5 courses) | INR 20 LGet Fee Details | Duration: 36 months Exam Accepted: PTE |
PG Diploma(13 courses) | INR 7 L - 15 LGet Fee Details | Duration: 12-30 months Exam Accepted: PTE |
BBA(4 courses) | INR 20 LGet Fee Details | Duration: 36 months Exam Accepted: PTE |
MBA/PGDM(2 courses) | INR 20 L - 26 LGet Fee Details | Duration: 18 months-2 years Exam Accepted: PTE, IELTS: 6.5 & Above |
MIM(4 courses) | INR 12 L - 14 LGet Fee Details | Duration: 24-36 months Exam Accepted: PTE |
B.A.(2 courses) | INR 20 LGet Fee Details | Duration: 36 months Exam Accepted: PTE |
B.Sc.(3 courses) | INR 20 LGet Fee Details | Duration: 36 months Exam Accepted: PTE |
LL.M.(2 courses) | INR 11 LGet Fee Details | Duration: 24 months Exam Accepted: PTE |
M.A.(8 courses) | INR 10 L - 13 LGet Fee Details | Duration: 24-36 months Exam Accepted: PTE |
M.Sc.(7 courses) | INR 11 L - 17 LGet Fee Details | Duration: 24-36 months Exam Accepted: PTE |
Commonly asked questions On Fees and Eligibility
The cost of living in Milton Keynes, varies based on the kind of accommodation & the standard of living a student opts to take up.
As per the British Council's the latest official cost of living report, the estimated monthly cost of living in the UK (not including London), is GBP 900-GBP 1,300 (INR 1.02 L-INR 1.47 L).
This includes: accommodation, bills, groceries & some other expenses a student may incur over the duration of the stay in the UK.
The cost of studies at Open University, varies per the type of the course, a student is applying for.
The cost of full-time degree courses with a duration of 3 years at OU, Milton Keynes is: GBP 24,552 (INR 27.9 L), while that of a 2-year Diploma is: GBP 16,368 (INR 18.6 L) & a 1-year Certificate of Higher Education is: GBP 8,184 (INR 9.3 L).
The Open University Notable Alumni
Several Politicians, Actors, Media Personalities, and British Athletes are known to have pursued their studies at the university. This includes Musician Micky Dolenz, Writer Muhammad Abdul Bari, Physicist Oliver Penrose, and Meteorologist Claire Nasir.
Mentioned below are some other names who form part of the Open University Notable Alumni:
| Name | Known For | Alumni |
|---|---|---|
| Graham Potter |
English Professional Football Manager Former Manager of Chelsea, Brighton and Hove Albion, and West Ham United Graduated with a degree in Social Sciences in 2005 |
|
| Ben Davies |
Welsh Professional Football Player Has played for Tottenham Hotspur Graduated with a degree in Business and Economics |
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| Holliday Grainger |
British Actress Known for her role as Robin Ellacott in the TV Series, Strike Pursued a course in English Literature |
.jpg/960px-Holliday_Grainger,_Tell_It_To_Th_Bees_(cropped).jpg) |
| Meles Zenawi |
Former Politician and Militant Commander Former President and Prime Minister of Ethiopia Completed an MBA in 1995 |
 |
Commonly asked questions On Alumni
Gordon Brown, known for being the prime minister of the United Kingdom & the leader of the Labour party between the years 2007 to 2010 is an honorary doctorate from the Buckinghamshire, based Open University in Milton Keynes.
Brown was also a Member of the Parliament in the UK between 1983 to 2005, & also the Chancellor of the Exchequer between 1997 to 2007.
College comparison
Compare The Open University with other similar colleges
| College | 1st Year Tuition Fees | Ranking |
|---|---|---|
| INR 10.83 L | -/- | |
| INR 6.04 L - 6.11 L | -/- | |
| INR 8.23 L | -/- |
CompareThe Open UniversityStudying in UK
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Insights on education, demographics & weather.
The Open University Campus
The Open University campus is home to around 1,200 full-time academics, along with 250 full-time & part-time postgraduate research students. Since the university operates mostly in an online format, it does not offer the usual services you'd find on other campuses, except for labs and research facilities.
The Open University Location
The university only has one main campus based at Walton Hall, in Milton Keynes.
The Open University Campus Life
- Student Life at OU is mostly based around the research facilities you have on offer as a research student
- As a student, you can access the library or the OU common room which remains open 24/7
- Other facilities at the campus include computer labs and technical support
- For housing, you'd have to look off-campus, and the same for dining
The Open University
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The Open UniversityLocation
| University City | Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire, UK |
The Open UniversityCampuses
Walton Hall Milton Keynes MK7 6AA
Visit official siteThe Open UniversityContact Information
Walton Hall, Kents Hill, Milton Keynes MK7 6AA, United Kingdom
Milton Keynes ( Buckinghamshire)
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