The Open University admitted its first students in 1971. It is the UK's largest university, with over 200,000 students and customers. The OU represents 22% of all part-time higher education students in the UK.
The university is ranked amongst the top UK universities for the quality of its teaching. Of the 23 subjects assessed by the Quality Assurance Agency, 17 have been placed in the top 'Excellent' category.
Courses are available throughout Europe and, usually by means of partnership agreements with other institutions, in many other parts of the world. About 26,000 learners are studying OU courses outside the UK.
The OU's undergraduate level courses do not require any entry qualifications. Over a third of people starting these courses have qualifications below conventional university entry requirements. Despite this, around 70% of OU students successfully complete their courses each year.
Two thirds of students are aged between 25 and 44, but students can enter at the age of 18.
Nearly all OU students are part-time and about 70% of undergraduate students remain in full-time employment throughout their studies. More than 150,000 OU students are on-line.
OU courses are considered to be among the world's best distance education materials and are regularly awarded for their innovation. In recent years, 'Computing, An Object-Oriented Approach' won a British Computer Society award for IT, 'Discovering Science' received a British Environment and Media Award for its innovative use of CD Rom, and 'Geology' was named as one of Europe's best new multimedia products when it won the knowledge and discovery category at the prestigious EuroPrix awards.
Nineteen subject areas within the OU have been recognised as producing research work with evidence of international quality and a further seven subjects show evidence of national excellence.
The following dedicated box number and postcode should be used for all general enquiries (especially regarding course enquiries):
COURSE INFORMATION AND ADVICE CENTRE
OPEN UNIVERSITY WORLDWIDE LTD
Email:general-enquiries@open.ac.uk Tel: 01908 653231 Fax: 01908 655072 The Open University PO Box 724 Milton Keynes MK7 6ZS
Sales of Open University materials and arrangements for collaborative partnerships are handled by: Email:ouwenq@open.ac.uk Tel: +44 (0) 1908 858785 Fax: +44 (0) 1908 858787 Walton Hall Milton Keynes MK7 6AA, UK
CENTRE FOR HIGHER EDUCATION RESEARCH AND INFORMATION (CHERI) Email:cheri@open.ac.uk Tel: 0207 447 2506 Fax: 0207 837 0290 344-354 Gray's Inn Road London WC1X 8BP
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