The Open University is the largest provider of part-time undergraduate higher education in Wales. It is a world leader in providing innovative and flexible distance learning opportunities at higher education level, including undergraduate, postgraduate and access courses.

• Over 16,000 students across Wales are currently studying with The Open University.
• There are OU students in every constituency in Wales.
• 2/3 of our students work full or part time while they are studying with us.
• 40% of our students come to us without traditional university entry qualifications.
• 48% of our students come from Wales’ most disadvantaged areas.

The OU works with businesses, charities and public bodies in Wales to help them develop their staff, and encourage more people into lifelong learning, regardless of their background. Over 139 companies in Wales are sponsoring an employee to study with us.​

The OU in Wales offers vocational degree programmes in nursing and social care, and since 2020, it has been training teachers on its innovative, bilingual PGCE course. Through its degree apprenticeship in Applied Software Engineering, the OU is also helping apprentices across Wales train for a career in IT whilst they earn a salary.

The OU in Wales’ bilingual platform OpenLearn Wales and OpenLearn Cymru offers free Welsh and English medium learning resources to encourage access to higher education.

Equality and Diversity at The Open University in Wales

Social justice is at the heart of The Open University's mission. We are creating an inclusive university community and a society where people are treated with dignity and respect, where inequalities are challenged, and where we anticipate and respond positively to different needs and circumstances, so that everyone can achieve their potential. Visit The Open University's Equality and Diversity website, which includes information about our Equality Scheme, our outcome-focused equality objectives, our equality statistical information and our annual report.