The Open University

The quality of the coursework was very good and, most importantly, relevant to my work so that I can apply my new skills in the real world. There is a wealth of student support workshops that can be viewed on demand. If you are coming back to studying after a very long break then such study skills guidance is excellent. I had a few instances when I needed to ask for help (home life, health issues, neurodivergent difficulties) and it's very clear they have a lot of experience in dealing with such situations because I was given some very good advice...even if I didn't realise it at the time. You DO need to put the time and effort in, and be able to stick to regular studying sessions.

Amazing experience,fantastic tutors. It was a stressful process but it was 100% worth it!

Since starting during the pandemic I have had a first rate experience with the OU. It has met all my needs and expectations for distance learning and I am very grateful. I highly recommend study with the OU. The tutors are very supportive and the materials and presentation have been fantastic

Informative, up to date study materials, good tutors and tutorials, excellent library.

Very interesting and informative courses. A vital independent store of thought.

Studying is a privilege, and the Open University makes it accessible for many people. I have been studying with them, and I have always felt supported. They want you to succeed, and they provide the materials to refine and develop your skills.

The Open University is a great place to study and work, they are caring about the students, helpful tutors and staff, events to bring people together. They give people regardless of who they are a chance in life. Considerate and understanding with bereavements. What more can you ask for a community as one big happy family. The Open University.

The OU are so supportive , and the modules are very informative with lots of choice, and a dedicated tutor helping you all the way through the module giving you advice.

OU has been amazing throughout my studies, my study gap and my return. They've been a constant stream of support and guidance and are always willing to go the extra mile to help you achieve your goals, ambitions and even deadlines.

Great uni, great staff very helpful in your degree navigation. Love how staff kept me engaged even when I wanted to give up. Won the Lenny Henry Outstanding achievement award which iced my degree nicely

Had a great experience with the OU. Quality of teaching on my French and Spanish course was excellent and the course material interesting and motivational. Would recommend studying with them.

It appears the degree results website is not accessible and the IT team simply do not want to help - All they say is email the results team!!! The whole setup is terrible and not really that student friendly. There are many typos and links that did not work during my course, and this one tops the lot. Imagine if someone was mentally effected by this and the worst happened...

I hoped to try a free Spanish course, with the posibility to take it further. Despite general computer skills, I found the course difficult to manage. Some of the sections would not work and I could not attempt the review as there was no way I could add accents to my typing.

In response to the Open University’s reply to my review dated 12 October 2025: I would like to express my sincere appreciation for your prompt attention to my comments and your willingness to investigate the concerns I raised regarding the ill-treatment I have received, and continue to receive, from certain principals and Academic Conduct Officers within the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences (FASS). I fully acknowledge and respect the Open University’s commitment to maintaining robust standards of academic integrity and quality. These values are unquestionably fundamental and highly regarded. However, such standards cannot be upheld through the stigmatisation of students or the fabrication of evidence intended to falsely accuse an honest and diligent student of academic misconduct. It is deeply troubling that I have been subjected to what I believe to be unjust and discriminatory actions, including attempts to impose severe penalties and refer me to a disciplinary committee likely to endorse those penalties without due regard for my student rights. Equally concerning is the ongoing denial of my right to access my End-of-Module Assessment (EMA) or the overall result for the module International Relations: Continuity and Change in Global Politics (DD313). These actions appear to have been taken with impunity by a FASS Academic Conduct Officer, seemingly supported by the Secretary to the Academic Misconduct Appeals Committee (AMAC). While the reasons behind such treatment remain unclear, I cannot dismiss the possibility that it may be motivated by bias, retaliation, or may be due to my Arabic-Muslim background, or other improper considerations. In short, lastly, I remain unconvinced that this pattern of discriminatory treatment, stigmatisation, and harassment serves the genuine purpose of upholding academic integrity and quality at the Open University. Thanks

The Open Universiry are simply awful. They charge way too much for an online course. You never hear off some tutors. Tutorials they just read off slides. They don’t understand what reasonable adjustments are and they always ignore them. They’ve threatened to remove me from my course whilst I’m waiting for a student loan to process even though I’ve paid for half the course already as it’s been deferred. They’re chasing me by telephone even though I have an RA not to call unless the call is pre-booked. They also said they would kick me off the course as I hadn’t done any work but as it’s a deferred course I have already done the work and completed and banked the first assignment. I’m autistic and life is hard enough without having to deal with quite frankly heavy handed responses from admin staff!

This review is not in relation to tutors or module material, both of which I found to be more than acceptable, it is for the shocking lack of student support offered by the OU. It is incredibly difficult to speak to an advisor, and the individual I spoke to today had no idea with how to deal with my query. I have been trying to get advice regarding references for almost a month now. The Open University requires you to fill in a form in order to gain academic references, yet this is not how the majority of universities require them to be provided, they all ask for a name and email. All I want is for an OU advisor to offer me support on how to proceed with these applications! the poor customer service is actually delaying my academic progression. I have lodged a complaint, but who knows if that will be dealt with, having sent several emails requesting student support which have been ignored I'm beginning to lose hope.