The Open University (OU) in Scotland is the country’s leading provider of part-time higher and flexible education – with 73% of our students combining work and study (2020/21). Social justice is at our core and we are committed to ensuring high quality education is accessible to all, regardless of age, income, qualifications or geography. Due to their open admissions policy, no formal entry requirements are needed for most undergraduate qualifications or modules, and 22% of Cunninghame North OU students started university entrance level qualifications. The university provides a supportive personalised open learning community to make studying online as engaging, immersive and interactive as possible. Over the last decade, the OU has consistently been in the top three Scottish universities with an average satisfaction score of 91.5% for OU students in Scotland. Kenneth Gibson MSP said: “The Open University makes university studies accessible to those who may not manage to travel to a campus due to time, finances or mobility. “67% of OU students in Cunninghame North work part time; 50% come from the two most deprived quintiles of the Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation (SIMD); and 29% have declared a disability. “This level of access is transformative for many OU students who likely wouldn’t have entered higher education otherwise. “The OU is however open to anyone, which is why 9% of those in Cunninghame North are over 55 - proving you are never too old to learn!” The OU works with Ardrossan Academy, Garnock Community Campus, Largs Academy and St Matthew's Academy to help S6 pupils gain study skills through a funded online programme. It also has partnerships with Cunninghame Housing Association Ltd, EDF Energy, Largs Academy and NHS Ayrshire & Arran who sponsor staff to study. 67% of Cunninghame North OU students qualify for the Part-Time Fee Grant, which covers undergraduate course fees. To find out more go to www.open.ac.uk/scotland/study . ENDS
