Explore OU courses
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We offer a range of options that allow you to develop your knowledge and skills, whatever your study goal. Not ready to commit to a degree? You could start with a certificate or diploma of higher education. These are respected qualifications in their own right, but they also allow you to gradually build your studies, so if you opt for a degree later, you’re already part way there.
If you want to study with the OU but you’re not quite sure you are ready, an OU Access module is the ideal way to prepare. These modules can help you understand the requirements of online distance learning. Even though these modules are not eligible for ELC funding, you may even be able to study for free. For more information, see Get started with an Access module.
| Access module | Credits |
|---|---|
| Arts and humanities | 30 |
| Psychology, social science and wellbeing | 30 |
| Science, technology and maths | 30 |
With over 200 qualifications to choose from, you can study towards a degree or start with a certificate or diploma and build on your studies as you go.
Accounting and Finance
Arts and Humanities (Creative Writing)
Business Management
Business Management (Accounting)
Business Management (Economics)
Business Management (Innovation and Enterprise)
Business Management (Leadership Practice)
Business Management (Marketing)
Business Management and Languages
Computing and IT
Computing and IT and Business
Computing and IT and Design
Computing and IT and Mathematics
Computing and IT and Psychology
Computing and IT and Statistics
Computing and IT (Communications and Networking)
Computing and IT (Communications and Software)
Computing and IT (Software)
Computing with Electronic Engineering
Cyber Security
Engineering
Health Sciences
Psychology
Psychology with Counselling
Sport, Fitness and Coaching
All undergraduate qualifications
Browse all undergraduate qualifications we offer – certificates, diplomas and degrees.
As the largest academic institution in the UK and a world leader in flexible supported learning, we’re renowned for our engaging postgraduate programmes. Because OU study is modular, you build up your qualification as you go. Like stepping-stones, some postgraduate certificates and diplomas allow you to advance from one to the next, eventually leading up to a masters degree.
Cyber Security
Engineering
Environmental Management
Finance
Global Development
Human Resource Management
Laws
MBA (Master of Business Administration)
MBA (Technology Management)
Psychology
Space Science and Technology
Systems Thinking in Practice
Technology Management
All postgraduate qualifications
Whatever your study goals, choose from our certificates, diplomas, and masters degrees to get you there.
Browse by subject
The majority of our modules can be studied by themselves, on a stand-alone basis. If you later choose to work towards a qualification, you may be able to count your study towards it.
Choose from modules giving you a broad introduction to the arts and humanities, or focus on a particular subject ranging from art history to philosophy.
OU Level 1
Cultures
Discovering the arts and humanities
Revolutions
OU Level 2
Classical Latin: the language of ancient Rome
Creative writing
Early modern Europe: society and culture c.1500-1780
Exploring art and visual culture
Exploring philosophy
Exploring religion: places, practices, texts and experiences
Exploring the classical world
Music, sound and technology
Reading and studying literature
Telling stories: the novel and beyond
The British Isles and the modern world, 1789–1914
Understanding music
OU Level 3
Advanced creative writing
Art and its global histories
Central questions in the study of music
English literature from Shakespeare to Austen
Europe 1914-1989: war, peace, modernity
Key questions in philosophy
Literature in transition: from 1800 to the present
The making of Welsh history
The Roman empire
Why is religion controversial?
Whether you’re seeking entry into the world of business or looking to progress your career towards a management position, our business and management courses have much to offer you.
OU Level 1
An introduction to business and management
Business data analytics and decision making
Communication skills for business and management
Discovering mathematics
Fundamentals of accounting
Introducing statistics
Working with people in sport and fitness
You and your money
OU Level 2
Developing leadership
Exploring innovation and entrepreneurship
Financial accounting in context
Financial analysis and decision making
Shaping business opportunities
Understanding customers
OU Level 3
Creating futures: sustainable enterprise and innovation
Doing economics: people, markets and policy
IT systems: planning for success
Leadership in a changing world
Marketing in action
Strategic management
Choose from modules that will introduce you to the latest computing technology, or focus on a particular aspect such as Cisco networking or Java programming.
OU Level 1
Introduction to computing and information technology 1
Introduction to computing and information technology 2
Technologies in practice
OU Level 2
Algorithms, data structures and computability
Cisco networking (CCNA) part 1
Communication and information technologies
Electronics: sensing, logic and actuation
Managing IT: the why, the what and the how
Object-oriented Java programming
Web technologies
OU Level 3
Applied statistical modelling
Cisco networking (CCNA) part 2
Communications technology
Computational applied mathematics
Data management and analysis
Interaction design and the user experience
IT systems: planning for success
Mechanical engineering: computer aided engineering
Renewable energy
Software engineering
Web, mobile and cloud technologies
Learn to write fiction, poetry, biographies and drama for the stage, radio and film. Or start with being inspired by literature from Shakepeare through to present day writers.
OU Level 1
Discovering the arts and humanities
OU Level 2
Creative writing
Reading and studying literature
Telling stories: the novel and beyond
OU Level 3
Advanced creative writing
English literature from Shakespeare to Austen
Literature in transition: from 1800 to the present
Expand your development as an engineer as you can learn about the underpinning science and mathematics, engineering analysis or the impact of engineering on design.
OU Level 1
Engineering: frameworks, analysis, production
Engineering: mathematics, modelling, applications
Engineering: origins, methods, context
Technologies in practice
OU Level 2
Core engineering A
Core engineering B
Design for engineers
Electronics: sensing, logic and actuation
Environmental management: systems and sustainability
Mechanical engineering: heat and flow
OU Level 3
Communications technology
Computational applied mathematics
Electronics: signal processing, control and communications
Environmental management 2
Mechanical engineering: computer aided engineering
Nanoscale engineering
Renewable energy
Structural integrity: predicting and assessing performance
Web, mobile and cloud technologies
Learn more about the major environmental issues affecting us all from a political, societal or scientific point of view.
OU Level 1
Environment: journeys through a changing world
Global challenges: social science in action
Questions in science
OU Level 2
Energy and sustainability
Environment and society
Environmental management: systems and sustainability
Environmental science
International development: making sense of a changing world
OU Level 3
Environment: responding to change
Environmental management 2
Environmental policy in an international context
Geology and sustainability
Infectious disease and public health
International relations: continuity and change in global politics
Renewable energy
Science project course: environmental science practical project
Terrestrial ecosystems
From a broad introduction to health science you can focus on aspects such as cell biology, infectious diseases or the science of the senses.
OU Level 1
Contemporary topics in science
Human biology: a body in balance
Science and health: an evidence-based approach
OU Level 2
Brain, mind and mental health
Human biology
Investigating human health and disease
Cell and molecular biology
OU Level 3
Infectious disease and public health<
Public health: health promotion and health security
Science project module: health sciences
Signals and perception: the science of the senses
Choose from modules giving you an introduction to marketing as a key business function, or focus on how marketing influences customers, marketing communications or marketing a new enterprise.
OU Level 1
An introduction to business and management
Communication skills for business and management
OU Level 2
OU Level 3
Marketing in action
Creating futures: sustainable enterprise and innovation
Looking to start a career in Psychology? Interested in broadening your understanding of human behaviour? With degrees accredited by the British Psychological Society (BPS), see where The Open University’s psychology courses could take you.
OU Level 1
Encountering psychology in context
Exploring psychological worlds: thinking, feeling, doing
Introducing the social sciences
Introduction to childhood studies and child psychology
Young children's play and creativity
OU Level 2
Living psychology: from the everyday to the extraordinary
Psychology of childhood and youth
OU Level 3
Advancing social psychology
Approaches to mental health
Issues in research with children and young people
Signals and perception: the science of the senses
Young lives, parenting and families
Browse all OU courses.
Browse other qualifications
- Apprenticeships High quality work-based learning, delivered at scale and flexibly to suit your organisation’s needs.
- Higher Technical Qualifications Develop the knowledge, skills and behaviours required for in-demand digital roles.
- Microcredentials Professional development short courses with academic credit designed to gain specialist knowledge and skills.
- Vocational Qualifications Evidence-based qualifications that you complete in the workplace.
Funding your studies
Learn how much your qualification will cost and how to finance your studies.
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