Open degree

Key features of the course

• Tailor your qualification to suit your needs
• Choose modules from a wide range of subject areas
• Create your own unique multidisciplinary degree and skill set
• Adapt your study plans to match your evolving aspirations
• Count previous university study towards your qualification

Entry requirements

There are no formal entry requirements to study this qualification.

The BA/BSc (Honours) Open degree begins with one of a range of introductory modules, which are all designed to build a solid foundation for further study. Although this first module will provide the foundation for your qualification, having some basic skills before you begin can help you get the best from your studies. If, for example, you choose one of our science, maths or engineering modules, we recommend that you check with us that your IT and mathematical skills are at an appropriate level.

For the following subject areas, we offer online diagnostic tools to help you to decide if you’re ready, or if you could do with some extra preparation:

• Mathematics
• Science
• Languages

Skills for career development

A BA/BSc (Honours) Open degree equips you with a wide range of expertise, skills and capabilities which are much sought after in today’s highly competitive job market. An Open degree on your CV shows more than your level of knowledge about a subject; employers know that you are flexible and adaptable, having studied across a range of subjects. It also allows you to develop a diverse range of transferable skills, personal attributes and external awareness including:

• self-management and resilience
• initiative
• self-awareness
• collaboration
• problem-solving
• communication
• numeracy
• digital and information literacy
• global citizenship
• commercial and/or sector awareness

Career relevance

The flexibility of our BA/BSc (Honours) Open degree makes it relevant to a wide range of careers and industries. It can help you to develop in your existing employment or be a passport to a whole new career. Its flexibility particularly suits people with multi-faceted work roles; and anyone needing to develop their skills, knowledge and understanding to manage changes in their current job or future career path.

Other careers

Graduate employers from most sectors put value on a degree, however not necessarily the subject studied. The 2019 Institute of Student Employers’ Inside Student Recruitment report showed the percentage of graduate recruiters not looking for a qualification in a particular subject had risen to 86%.

Exploring your options

Once you register with us (and for up to three years after you finish your studies), you’ll have full access to The Open University’s Careers and Employability Services for a wide range of careers information. Advice and guidance. This includes online forums, website, AI interview simulation, our vacancy service as well as the option to email or have a phone or video consultation to a Careers Consultant. Some areas of the Careers and Employability Services website are available for you to see now, including help with looking for and applying for jobs. You can also read more general information about how OU study enhances your career.  Once you are a registered student you will also be able to access the information on the Open Programme’s Qualification site.

You can also visit the graduate careers website Prospects for hundreds of job ideas.

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