This article is about the UK university. For other institutions with similar names, see List of open universities. For the general concept, see Open university. For other uses of the term, see Open university (disambiguation).
The Open University
Coat of arms of The Open University
Motto
Learn and Live
Type
Public, distance education university
Established
1969
Founders
Harold Wilson[1] Jennie Lee[1] Walter Perry[1] Peter Venables[1]
Budget
£474.1 million (2019–20)[2]
Chancellor
Baroness Lane-Fox of Soho[3]
Vice-Chancellor
Tim Blackman[4]
Students
208,308 (2022)[5]
Undergraduates
146,424 (2022)[5]
Postgraduates
11,379 (2022)[5]
Location
Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire
,
United Kingdom
Campus
Rural
Colours
Affiliations
EUA University Alliance Association of Commonwealth Universities Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools Universities UK
Website
www.open.ac.uk
The Open University (OU) is a public research university and the largest university in the United Kingdom by number of students.[6][7][8] The majority of the OU's undergraduate students are based in the United Kingdom and principally study off-campus; many of its courses (both undergraduate and postgraduate) can also be studied anywhere in the world.[9] There are also a number of full-time postgraduate research students based on the 45 hectares (110 acres) university campus at Walton Hall, Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire,[10] where they use the staff facilities for research, as well as more than 1,000 members of academic and research staff and over 2,500 administrative, operational and support staff.[11]
The OU was established in 1969 and was initially based at Alexandra Palace, north London, using the television studios and editing facilities which had been vacated by the BBC. The first students enrolled in January 1971.[12] The university administration is now based at Walton Hall, but has administration centres in other parts of the United Kingdom. It also has a presence in other European countries. The university awards undergraduate and postgraduate degrees, as well as non-degree qualifications such as diplomas and certificates or continuing education units. It also offers unique Open Degrees, in which students may study any combination of modules across all subjects.
With more than 208,308 students enrolled,[5] including around 34% of new undergraduates aged under 25[13] and more than 8,599 overseas students,[5] it is the largest academic institution in the United Kingdom (and one of the largest in Europe) by student number, and qualifies as one of the world's largest universities. Since it was founded, more than 2.3 million students have achieved their learning goals by studying with the Open University.[13] The Open University is one of only two[a] United Kingdom higher education institutions to gain accreditation in the United States of America by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education.[14] It also produces more CEOs than any other UK university.[15] Former UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown, astrophysicist Jocelyn Bell Burnell, broadcaster Anna Ford and actress Glenda Jackson are among those who have tutored for the OU.[16][17]
^ abcd"History of The Open University". The Open University. 13 June 2018. Archived from the original on 13 June 2018. Retrieved 13 June 2018.
^"Financial Report 2020" (PDF). open.ac.uk. Retrieved 9 December 2020.
^"Chancellor of The Open University". open.ac.uk. November 2014. Archived from the original on 8 April 2014. Retrieved 10 April 2014.
^"Vice-Chancellor – Professor Tim Blackman". The Open University. 28 June 2018. Retrieved 5 October 2019.
^ abcde"Facts and Figures 2021/22" (PDF). Open University. Retrieved 17 November 2023.
^Ison, Ray L. (2001), Ragsdell, Gillian; Wilby, Jennifer (eds.), "Systems Practice at the United Kingdom's Open University", Understanding Complexity, Boston, MA: Springer US, pp. 45–53, doi:10.1007/978-1-4615-1313-1_7, ISBN 978-1-4615-1313-1, retrieved 23 September 2021
^"Adult Skills and Lifelong Learning Inquiry". UK Parliament.
^"Financial Statements" (PDF). The Open University.
^"Study at the OU: What you can study if you're resident outside the UK". Retrieved 22 September 2010.
^"Biodiversity at Walton Hall Campus". Estates Division, The Open University. 19 December 2016. Retrieved 12 March 2023.
^"Research degrees | Being an OU research student | Life on campus". The Open University. Retrieved 10 March 2023.
^"Brief history of the OU". Archived from the original on 17 July 2010. Retrieved 8 October 2006.
^ ab"About The Open University". Open University. 22 November 2017. Retrieved 17 November 2023.
^"Open University : Database of Institutions Accredited". Middle States Commission on Higher Education, United States of America. Retrieved 10 October 2010.
^"OU produces more CEOs than any other UK university". School of Computing and Communications. 28 November 2019. Retrieved 20 November 2020.
^"Facts and figures". About The Open University. 22 November 2017. Retrieved 19 November 2020.
^"Dame Jocelyn Bell Burnell wins physics prize". OU News. 6 September 2018. Retrieved 30 January 2021.
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