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Can I do it?

We believe that where you start in life shouldn't limit where you go. Whatever future you're looking for, if you're determined to succeed and prepared to work hard, your possibilities are open.

Make studying more affordable with a Part-Time Tuition Fee Loan. You can start studying without paying a penny upfront. You won’t have to pay anything back for up to four years and not until you’re earning more than £25,000 a year (current income threshold).

Explore all your funding options in our Fees and funding in England guide

We’ll help get you started

We offer a choice of starting points depending on how confident you are in your studies. If you’re unsure which starting point is right for you, our interactive tools can help you find out.

Am I ready for OU study?

It doesn't matter what you have or haven't studied before or when you last picked up a text book, there's a starting point for everyone with the OU. Answer a few quick questions to see where you should start.

Finding time to study

OU qualifications are designed to be flexible, but you will need to meet some deadlines. You can study full or part time, vary how much you do from year to year, or even take a complete break.

Disability support

If you have a disability, long-term health condition, specific learning difficulty (such as dyslexia), or mental health difficulty, then we are here to support you. Join the UK's largest disabled student community.

Are there any entry requirements?

Most of our courses don’t have entry requirements, but there are some things you need to think about to be successful in your study. Answer a few quick questions to see where you should start with OU study.

Check where to start  

Watch Barry's story (25 seconds)

I’ve gained so much confidence doing this course and it’s shown me that I’m capable of speaking with anyone academically, that I’m not inferior to anyone. Now I proudly tell anyone I’m a school dropout; it’s something The Open University finally allowed me to put to bed. It gave me an opportunity to have an actual career instead of working dead-end jobs for the rest of my life.

Barry Ryan, BSc (Hons) Psychology