Alana Taylor

A career in psychology is a big step closer for 20-year-old Alana Taylor, after she graduated in the subject with The Open University (OU).

The OU’s youngest graduate at a 2024 Glasgow degree ceremony has successfully achieved her Bachelor of Science (Honours) Psychology degree, and now has her sights set on an OU Masters.

Alana joined the OU in 2020 with National 5 qualifications, and her degree was funded by the Part-Time Fee Grant.

Planning for future career

Alana, of Hamilton, finds the university’s blend of supported distance learning ideal, allowing her to also focus on non-study priorities. She says:

“I dropped out of school at 16 as I am autistic and struggled with the school environment. 

Due to the method of The Open University’s modules, I was able to take on other responsibilities while studying.”

“I wanted to further my education and The Open University let me gain qualifications while also allowing me to focus on my mental health and my autism.

“I chose to study psychology as I’ve always had an interest in helping others and I want to pursue psychology as my future career.

“I chose to study at home as this was the best option for me due to being autistic.

“Due to the method of The Open University’s modules, I was able to take on other responsibilities while studying – pushing for my autism diagnosis, attending therapy, and providing support at home as my mum is a single parent to me. 

“I also like to be creative and try new hobbies. The Open University’s flexibility allowed me to continue to do these things while I was studying. 

Supportive tutors

“I was also provided with support from my tutors throughout my degree which also helped if I had fallen behind or was facing a challenge during my studies.”

Alana says: “I found out about The Open University through people at my mum’s work that had taken part in some of the modules. I had also seen some of the adverts online.

“Gaining my degree has helped me expand my knowledge of psychology and has confirmed to me that I would like to further my education in psychology by getting my Masters degree and then advancing my career.

“I was inspired by my mother who studied nursing as she felt it was the correct career path for her. 

“She did this while I was at primary school and she continues to inspire me by being a single mother and taking part in a job that she loves and also helps others.” 

Confidence gained

Studying has helped me to gain confidence in myself, both with my educational skills and personally. It has also shown me that even though I am autistic it does not limit my potential.”

Alana adds: “Studying has helped me to gain confidence in myself, both with my educational skills and personally. It has also shown me that even though I am autistic it doesn’t limit my potential.

“I have proved to myself that I am capable of achieving my goals even if it’s not done in the ‘conventional’ way of studying in person.”

To anyone embarking on an OU course, Alana advises: “Take advantage of all the resources available through the OU, such as the tutors, forums with other students, library, etc. 

“If studying does become too much you can always take time out and rejoin your course at a later date. 

“This is one of the features of The Open University that I found extremely helpful and I was thankful that I could take time out to focus on my mental health without losing any of the work I had already completed.”

Photo by Kathryn Tuckerman