The Open University

The Open University is exactly that - “open”. Although it has a sizable, well-equipped campus in Milton Keynes, very few of the Open University’s students ever see it. Instead, the learning takes place wherever the students choose it to take place, which can be at kitchen tables, in private studies, or local libraries.

Entry requirements are also very open, with no qualifications needed for many of the undergraduate degrees. Instead, foundation-style courses help new students get a foothold in their chosen subject.

The Open University is perfect for people keen to progress academically but who have various commitments that hamper attendance at a more traditional-style university.

Notable alumni from the Open University are numerous, as so many students pass through its virtual doors, but include Mylene Klass, comedian Lenny Henry, and even the Prime Minister of Ethiopia Meles Zenawi.