1. The Open University offers over 200 qualifications including named degrees, for example, an honours degree in psychology and the popular Open degree.
2. No student debt – for many, it provides a debt-free way to getting a degree as, if you are living with your parents, financial support is assessed on your own income, not parental income. The average cost of an Open University degree is around £4,000.
3. Credibility with employers – some qualifications are linked to industry professional bodies; many employers sponsor their staff to study with The Open University. 2/3rds of the FTSE 100 companies have sponsored staff on Open University courses.
4. Employability of Open University graduates – more than 80% of Open University students are employed within six months of graduating. The Open University also offers an award-winning careers advisory service to students.
5. Support – there is a range of support for Open University students online, face to face and by phone from Open University tutors, study advisors and other students.
6. Flexibility of Open University study – students can earn as they learn, and study at their own pace. For young students, this means they can achieve a degree at the same time as building up work experience.
7. High levels of student satisfaction – The Open University has been ranked in the top two by the National Student Survey since the survey began in 2005.
8. Sense of community – The Open University has a lively student community and is the most popular UK University on Facebook. Since the first students were admitted, over two million people have studied with The Open University.
9. A popular university – increasing numbers of younger people are choosing to study with The Open University rather than campus universities. Last year, over 25,000 Open University students were under 25.
10. Leading multi-media technology – The Open University uses high end and popular technology such as iPods to deliver courses. It is one of the few UK universities to have its own YouTube channel and materials on iTunesU.
