Open University is recognised and renowned throughout the world for the quality of its research. Our research engages with some of the major issues facing the world today, informs public opinion and policy, and promotes debate and engagement with questions of global importance.
The quality of our research and teaching is apparent: in the 2008 Research Assessment Exercise (RAE), over 60% of our research was rated as ‘internationally excellent’ or ‘world-leading’, with noticeable strengths in Computing, Art History, Sociology, Literature, Art and Design, and Development Studies. This placed us in the top 50 universities for research in the UK.
The corporate world is unanimous: Open University students are both welcome and in demand.
Corporate recruiters realise that our graduates have practical real-world knowledge, from which their businesses can benefit.The Global Student Satisfaction Awards empower students across the globe to determine the best universities of 2019. By rating institutions on a scale from 1 to 5, on multiple studies-related questions, we found the top educators in the world.
Learn more about the Global Student Satisfaction AwardsThe Open University has its headquarters at Walton Hall in Milton Keynes, which is 80km north of Central London, midway between Oxford and Cambridge, and just off the M1 motorway, linking it to Birmingham and the north of England.
Academics at Milton KeynesAround 1,200 full-time academics are based at the Milton Keynes campus, along with some 250 of our 1,400 full-time and part-time postgraduate research students.
Research at Milton Keynes
The University has invested significantly in its infrastructure for research, increasing laboratory space at Milton Keynes headquarters by nearly 50 percent in the last seven years. Our newest facility is the Jennie Lee Building, which houses dedicated laboratories for pervasive computing and deployment of ambient and ubiquitous technologies.
Services at Milton KeynesOur students and academics are supported by around 4,000 administrative, technical, secretarial and student services staff. Among the administrative and service units with a public-facing role who are based at Walton Hall are:
The OU plays an active role in Milton Keynes life. Among the local networks in which it is a partner, member or sponsor are:
The campus is open to students, alumni supporters and local residents at Open Days held every two to three years. In 2009 the OU celebrated its 40th anniversary by opening up the campus at the Open Unlimited event.
Great experience, everything was online and it is perfect for people who work and study at the same time. I am happy with the modules, but I would have enjoyed it more, if they were up to date.
I really didn't know what to expect when I started my degree. Especially as I am an off-site part-time student I didn't think I would have access to all the benefits that full-time students do however this is definitely not the case. We are able to visit the campus anytime and when we are there we have full access to all the facilities and resources that the other students...
I obtained a lower second class BSc degree in Biochemistry at the University of Ghana, followed by a Mathematics Advanced Diploma from the UK Open University, graduating with a distinction. I thoroughly enjoyed both courses.