1 Video,
Last updated on 28 Apr '26The Open UniversityWhat's new?
- Deadline to apply for the Oct intake at OU is Sep 10, 2026
About The Open University
The Open University is a public research university in Milton Keynes, England. The university offers degree courses only in the online format. It is the largest university in the UK in terms of student enrollment. The university enrols 200,000+ students. Accredited by the UK's Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education, the university welcomes student enrolment from 100+ countries. The Open University acceptance rate stands at 87%, per unofficial sources. It is ideal for Indian students interested in getting a UK degree with better flexibility and lower costs.
It was rated the University of the Year 2025 for Teaching Excellence by the Daily Mail, and also holds a Gold Star Rating as part of the Teaching Excellence Framework for 2023.
The Open University Facts
Mentioned below are some interesting facts students should know about studies at OU Milton Keynes:
|
Particular |
Data |
|---|---|
|
Location |
Walton Hall, Milton Keynes, NK7 6AA, England |
|
Endowment |
GBP 3.6 Million |
|
International Students Enrolled |
8,819 |
|
Students with a Disability |
38,991 |
|
World Leading Research (REF 2021) |
82% |
|
Average Duration of Courses |
UG: 3 to 6 years PG: 1 to 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 to develop services for community welfare. It received the Royal Charter in 1969 and welcomed 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 institutions in the UK.
Check out the videos below to know more about studies in the UK for Indian students:
Commonly asked questions On Highlights
Yes, a degree from the Open Uni 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.
OU can be a great choice for Indian students for the reasons mentioned below:
- Triple accredited by the AACSB, AMBA, and EQUIS
- Low tuition costs and no visa required
- Better flexibility to study and work together
- Flexible entry eequirements
- Diverse course options
Indian students looking for a low cost UK degree, recognised across the globe, should apply for Open University Admissions.
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.
Open University Ranking 2026
The Open University is considered to be one of the top universities nationally. According to Shiksha, the Open University ranking in UK stands at #83 in 2026 at the national level. Also, the university is ranked #536 in the world by Shiksha Popularity Ranking 2026. Moreover, a few of the Open University courses are also ranked by Shiksha Popularity Ranking as mentioned below-
| Open University Course Name | Shiksha Popularity Ranking 2026 (World) | Shiksha Popularity Ranking 2026 (UK) |
|---|---|---|
| LLM | #234 | #44 |
| MA | #288 | #51 |
| Others PG | #426 | #82 |
| MS | #561 | #65 |
| MIM | #586 | #82 |
By Other Ranking Bodies
Apart from Shiskha, mentioned below is how the university performs as part of the university rankings given by some other prominent platforms:
- The Open University World Ranking 2026 is #801, according to Times Higher Education
- US News ranks it #891 among Global Universities for 2025
#536
#90
Commonly asked questions On Rankings
OU ranks among the top 10 universities in the UK for course quality, per an unofficial source. It jumped 26 spots among colleges and universities in the UK to rank #6 on a country-level for the quality of its programs.
Several alumni have reported satisfaction with the course quality with its B-school programs accredited by AACSB, EQUIS, and AMBA.
Law, Arts & Humanities, and Psychology are the best ranking courses offered by OU in Milton Keynes, as per the Times Higher Education. Listed below is how the university ranks globally for some of its popular courses:
| Course | Global Rank |
|---|---|
| Law | #301 |
| Arts & Humanities | #401 |
| Psychology | #501 |
Yes, Open Uni OU in Milton Keynes is highly respected in the UK as a legit, chartered university. It's B-School is among the top 1% in the world and triple-accredited by AACSB, EQUIS, and AMBA.
It receieved a Royal Charter in 1969 and its degrees are recognised worldwide including in Europe, Asia, and the US.
The Open University Courses
The Open University offers over 120 PG and 200 UG courses to Indian students across prominent fields. These are delivered completely online with live classes, recorded lectures, and assignments. Business, Psychology, Computer Science, Creative Writing, Finance, and Law are some of the areas in which students can pursue these courses.
The Open University Popular Courses
Listed below are some popular Open University courses for Indian students:
- MA in History
- MA in Creative Writing
- Certificate of Higher Education in Computing and IT
- PG Certificate in Finance
- PG Certificate in Computing
The Open University Free Courses
The university also offers several short-term courses that students can pursue for no cost. These are introductory programs that are available in streams like Education, Business, History, Nature, Society, Politics, and Digital Computing, among others. Students can pursue these via the OpenLearn platform.
We can fast-track your application in a week.
We can fast-track your application in a week.
Guided 4.4K students to UK universities.
Commonly asked questions On Popular Programs
Open University offers several certification, diploma & degrees across fields like Business Administration, Engineering, Accounting, Biology, Chemistry, Healthcare, Criminology, Music & Social Science, among others.
Listed below are some popular courses offered by the institute:
- BSc (Honours) in Accounting & Finance
- BSc (Honours) in Computer Science with Artificial Intelligence
- BSc (Honours) Data Science
- MSc in Cyber Security
- MBA
- MBA (Technology Management)
Students usually need atleast 40 hours/week for a full-time course and 15-20 hours/week to pursue part-time courses at the Open University (OU) in the UK.
Students can adjust course modules. The modules are delivered one at a time. This allows students to balance their study and work commitments better.
OU courses are mostly online. The university uses a blended approach to deliver courses. Most programs materials are delivered online, however, some courses modules may require printed materials, physical books, and use of some apps.
The programs can be delivered from back home in India, without the need to arrive to the UK.
The Open University Admissions 2026
Indian students planning to study at The Open University need to provide a bachelor's degree from a recognised university in India for PG courses, or an upper second class honours degree or a Master's degree (relevant to the proposed area of research) for PhD. Other requirements include English language proficiency, academic transcripts, a research proposal, and a copy of the passport ID page.
Open University Application Deadline 2026
OU Milton Keynes has 3 main intakes (Oct, Feb, and Apr) for Indian PG and PhD students. Mentioned below are the upcoming deadlines for Indian students to apply by:
|
Intake |
Deadline |
|---|---|
|
October 2026 |
Sep 10, 2026 |
|
February 2027 |
Jan 7, 2027 |
|
April 2027 |
Mar 11, 2027 |
Open University Eligibility Criteria for Indian Students
Mentioned below are the basic entry requirements Indian students need to meet to be eligible for higher studies at the Open University in Milton Keynes:
| Particular | Required |
|---|---|
| Documents Required |
|
| English Test Scores Accepted |
|
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.
To know more, students are advised to refer the official course page of the university.
Yes, English language proficiency is a mandatory requirement to be fulfilled by Indian students planning to pursue higher studies from the institute.
IELTS is considered as an acceptable proof of the same. An IELTS score of 6.5 with no band less than 6.0 is the minimum requirement for most courses at OU.
Yes, students are allowed to transfer credits of the last 16 years at the Open Uni in UK. To do this, they will need to apply for credit-transfer.
The application can be made to the official email id of OU. Students will need to provide the below list of documents along with the application:
- An official transcript of units completed, grade achieved, or qualification
- Certificate of completion (if available)
- The submitted documents need to be in English
To know more, contact one of the Shiksha Study Abroad counsellors.
The Open UniversityThe Open University Scholarships for Indian Students
The university is not known to offer any scholarships for Indian students. Most Open University Scholarships are only available to residents of the UK or asylum seekers. Indian students have to seek outside scholarships to study in the UK. However, the scholarships that can be applied to distance-learning programs at the Open University are very limited. Students are advised to consult with the university before applying for any of the outside scholarships, including the ones mentioned below:
|
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?
Scholarship requirements for Indian students in the UK vary for different financial aid programs. However, given below are some requirements students usually need to meet:
- Be an Indian student, applying to online courses at a university in the UK
- Maintain good-academics
- Show a weak economic background
Commonly asked questions On Scholarships
There are 2 types of scholarships available-
Internal Scholarships (guaranteed for eligible students): Most UK universities automatically offer Indian students a scholarship of £2,000 – £5,000 which is deducted from their tuition fee. No separate application is needed.
External Scholarships (competitive, application required):
• Chevening Scholarship: UK Government scholarship covering full tuition + living allowance. Highly competitive, requires 2+ years of work experience.
• Commonwealth Scholarships: For students from Commonwealth countries including India. Fully funded.
• British Council GREAT Scholarships: £10,000 scholarships available with select universities.
• University-specific awards: Many universities offer merit-based awards of £5,000–£15,000 for students with 70%+ grades.
36 monthsThe Open University Post Study Job Outcomes
The Open University (OU) provides dedicated career-support services to Indian students in the form of career counseling, access to job portals, and networking opportunities with alumni across the globe. Career services remain available to students even after they graduate.
The Open University UK Placement Rate
The university has not officially released the latest figures regarding what percentage of its graduates are currently employed in full-time roles. However, given below is a breakdown of the top industries where OU Milton Keynes graduates are working:
|
Industry |
Percentage of Open University Graduates Working |
|---|---|
|
Business Development |
11.9% |
|
Operations |
10.3% |
|
Education |
8.1% |
|
IT |
7.1% |
|
Engineering |
6.3% |
Source: Unofficial
The Open University Internships
The university maintains a dedicated platform for finding remote-work opportunities, named the OU OpportunityHub. The platform lists a diverse range of jobs that best fit a student's 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.
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.
UK student visa holders can work up to 20 hours per week during term time and full time of 40 hours during vacations.
Best ways to find part time jobs as student-
- University job portals- Most universities have dedicated jobs boards for students.
- On-campus jobs- Library assistants, cafeteria, student union, tutoring.
- Indeed.co.uk / LinkedIn- Part-time retail, hospitality, customer service roles.
- Networking- Connect with the Indian student community — many share job leads.
Average part-time earnings- £10–£15/hour, which can cover a significant portion of your monthly living expenses.
The Open University Cost for Indian Students 2026
The Open University tuition fees for Indian students planning to enrol in Master's courses range between GBP 3,675 and GBP 15,600 (INR 4.7 Lakhs and INR 19.9 Lakhs) for most courses. Students interested in a full-time MBA program need to pay between GBP 20,685 and GBP 23,200 (INR 26.4 Lakhs and INR 29.6 Lakhs) depending on the specialization.
For UG courses, the Open University fees for Indian students are GBP 26,520 (INR 33.8 Lakhs) for an 360 credit honours degree, GBP 17,680 (INR 22.55 Lakhs) for an 240 credit diploma of higher education, and GBP 8,840 (INR 11.3 Lakhs) for an 120 credit Certificate of Higher Education for the full-time course load.
1 GBP = INR 127.51
| Courses | 1st Year Tuition Fees | Duration & Eligibility |
|---|---|---|
M.Sc.(7 courses) | INR 11 L - 17 LGet Fee Details | Duration: 24-36 months Exam Accepted: PTE |
B.E. / B.Tech(5 courses) | INR 20 LGet Fee Details | Duration: 36 months Exam Accepted: PTE |
MBA/PGDM(2 courses) | INR 20 L - 29 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 |
BBA(4 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 |
UG Diploma(6 courses) | INR 13 L - 14 LGet Fee Details | Duration: 24 months Exam Accepted: PTE |
Commonly asked questions On Fees and Eligibility
Tuition fees at the Open Uni in Milton Keynes is paid per module (or course) as one studies them. This allows students to spread the cost of their studies over the course duration (several months or years).
For UG courses, students usually prusue one 60-credit module per year (part-time) or two 60-credit modules per year (full-time). Each module has its own cost.
Indian students can pay their fees at the Open Uni in Milton Keynes, via Flywire. The platform allows students to pay their tuition fees in INR via bank transfer, credit card, or debit card.
Payments can also be made using Direct bank transfers (SWIFT) and international credit or debit cards (in GBP).
Shiksha Study Abroad counsellors guide students for FREE on how to pay their tuition at the Open Uni in the UK.
The average monthly living costs in the UK (not including London) for Indian students is GBP 900-GBP 1,300 (INR 1.15 Lakhs - INR 1.65 Lakhs) as per the British Council. This covers rent, utilities, groceries & some other expenses.
To know more, check cost of living in the UK for Indian Students 2026
The Open University Notable Alumni
Several Politicians, Actors, Media Personalities, and British Athletes have pursued their studies at the Open University in Milton Keynes. 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 |
|
|
| Ben Davies |
|
.jpg) |
| Holliday Grainger |
|
.jpg/960px-Holliday_Grainger,_Tell_It_To_Th_Bees_(cropped).jpg) |
| Meles Zenawi |
|
 |
Commonly asked questions On Alumni
Gordon Brown, former UK PM and leader of the Labour party (2007 to 2010) worked as a tutor in the early part of his career at the Open Uni. He received an honorary doctorate from the Open Uni. Brown served as Member of Parliament between 1983 to 2005.
College comparison
Compare The Open University with other similar colleges
| College | 1st Year Tuition Fees | Ranking |
|---|---|---|
| INR 28.98 L - 37.23 L | #10 Guardian, 2025 | |
| INR 9.37 L - 18.91 L | #432 QS, 2026 | |
| INR 18.19 L | -/- | |
| INR 49.45 L | -/- | |
| INR 18.28 L | #53 THE, 2026 |
CompareThe Open UniversityStudying in UK
Key Facts About UK
Insights on education, demographics & weather.
The Open University Milton Keynes Campus
The Open University campus in Milton Keynes is home to 1,200 full-time academics, along with 250 full-time & part-time PG research students. As the university operates mostly in an online manner, the services and facilities on-campus are limited and only available to PG research students. There are no UG students at the Open University campus.
Open University Campus Location
The university operates 1 main physical campus at Walton Hall in Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire. It also operates some distance-learning offices and centres across the UK (Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland, and the Republic of Ireland).
Open University Campus Life for Indian Students
Mentioned below are some key aspects of the life of an Indian student in Milton Keynes:
- The Open University does not offer on-campus housing to Indian students. However, it has negotiated the use of housing facilities at a nearby university campus. More info is provided by the Graduate School Team once a student accepts the admission offer.
- The university operates world-class research facilities. This includes the Electron Microscopy lab, the NanoSIMS Lab, and the Stable Isotope Geochemistry Lab.
Commonly asked questions On Others
Yes, students are provided a tutor for every module to support and guide them. Students can contact them via call or message them on socials.
Students interested in a new career can also consult one of the career experts at OU. They help students with regards to their CV and help them connect with employers via internships and career fairs.
The Open University
Student Forum
Anything you would want to ask experts?About the author
Study Abroad Expert
The Open University
building
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)
Comments