Editing Open University (section)

=== Qualifications ===
==== Undergraduate ====
Open University modules have associated with them a number of [[Credit Accumulation and Transfer Scheme]] (CATS) credits – usually 30 or 60 – depending on the quantity of the material in the module and a level (1, 2, 3, or 4) corresponding to the complexity, with 120 credits roughly equating to the year of study for a full-time student.

[[File:Walton Hall, Milton Keynes - view from S.jpg|thumb|Walton Hall, Milton Keynes]]

The OU offers a large number of undergraduate qualifications, including certificates, diplomas, and bachelor's degrees, based on both level and quantity of study. An OU [[Honours graduate|undergraduate degree]] requires 300 (or 360 for honours) CATS credits.

Students are generally advised not to undertake more than 60 credits per year, meaning that an undergraduate degree will take typically six years to complete. With the exception of some degrees in fast-moving areas (such as computing), there is generally no limit on the time that a student may take. Students need special permission to take more than 120 credits (equivalent to full-time study) at any time;<ref>{{Cite web |title=OU regulations 8.5.2 stipulating limit on maximum concurrent modules |url=http://www3.open.ac.uk/our-student-policies/pdf/studentregs.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061212031006/http://www3.open.ac.uk/our-student-policies/pdf/studentregs.pdf |archive-date=12 December 2006 |access-date=2006-10-08 |df=dmy-all}}</ref> such permission is not usually granted.{{Citation needed|date=December 2013}}

Originally the BA was the only undergraduate degree, and it was unnamed. The modern OU grants degrees of Bachelor of Arts (BA), Science (BSc), Laws (LLB) and Engineering (BEng); the BA and BSc may be named (following a specified syllabus) or unnamed (constructed of courses chosen by the student) degrees.

Many OU faculties have now introduced short modules worth ten credits. Most of these modules are taught online and start at regular intervals throughout the year. They typically provide an introduction to a broader subject over a period of ten weeks, these are generally timed during vacations at conventional universities in order to take advantage of their facilities. Some science modules, which require only home study, are complemented by residential courses, in order to allow the student to gain practical laboratory experience in that field; typically, an award of a degree or diploma will require completion of both.

Different modules are run at different times of the year, but, typically, a 30 or 60-credit undergraduate module will run from October to June, with some dual-presentation modules also running from February to October. Assessment is by both continual assessment (with, normally, between four and eight assignments during the year) and, for most, a major assignment or, on some modules, a final examination.

===== Open degree =====
[[File:St Michaels Church of the Open University, Walton (geograph 2335167).jpg|thumb|223x223px|St Michael's Church at the Open University campus]]

As well as degrees in named subjects, the Open University also grants multidisciplinary "Open" degrees. Open degrees provide students with access to a wide variety of subjects to develop a personalised curriculum to meet their vocational needs and personal interests.<ref name="Open by Degrees">{{Cite web |title=Open by Degrees: A Case of Flexibility or Personalization? |url=http://oro.open.ac.uk/54750/1/Open-by-Degrees_-A-Case-of-Flexibility-or-Personalization_.pdf }}</ref> The Open degree may be awarded as a Bachelor of Arts Open, a Bachelor of Science Open (either with or without honours), a Master of Arts Open or a Master of Science Open.<ref>{{Cite web|title=F81 {{!}} MA/MSc Open {{!}} Open University|url=http://www.openuniversity.edu/courses/postgraduate/qualifications/f81|access-date=2021-03-05|website=The Open University|language=en}}</ref>

The Open degree is the most popular qualification at the university,<ref>{{Cite web |last1=Phillips |first1=Tricia |author2=Open University |date=2013-01-22 |title=Celebrity students: The Open University Hall of Fame |url=http://www.mirror.co.uk/microsites/ou/celebrity-open-university-hall-of-fame-1549422 |access-date=2021-01-26 |website=mirror |language=en}}</ref> followed by BSc (Hons) Psychology; Cert of HE in Psychology; Bachelor of Laws (Hons); and BA (Hons) Business Management.<ref name="renamed100"/> Around 20,000 students are enrolled on the Open degree, which makes the Open University the UK's largest multidisciplinary education provider.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Celebrating "Open" curriculum at The Open University {{!}} #YourDegreeYourChoice |url=http://www.open.ac.uk/blogs/openquals/ |access-date=2021-01-26 |language=en-GB}}</ref> As of 2018, over 236,000 alumni have graduated with an Open degree,<ref name="Open by Degrees" /> and in 2019, the Open University celebrated its 50th anniversary; as did its flagship Open Programme.<ref name="renamed102">{{cite web |title=Celebrating "Open" curriculum at The Open University |url=https://www.open.ac.uk/blogs/openquals/?p=879#more-879 |website=Open University | date=25 October 2022 |access-date=17 November 2023}}</ref>

===== Other qualifications =====
The Open University grants undergraduate ''Certificates'' (abbreviated Cert) typically awarded after 120 completed credits at Level 1 (where each credit corresponds to roughly 10 hours of study, therefore 120 credits represent about 1200 hours of effort), ''Diplomas'' (abbreviated Dip) after 240 credits – typically 120 credits at Level 1 and 120 credits at Level 2. Open University also awards ''[[Foundation degree]]s'' (abbreviated FD).

OU also offers a limited number of [[CertHE]] (120 CATS) and [[DipHE]] (240 CATS).

==== Postgraduate ====
The Open University provides the opportunity to study for a [[Doctor of Philosophy|PhD]] on a part-time distance, or a full-time basis (on-site for science subjects and most social sciences, off-site with some supervisions on-site for arts) in a wide range of disciplines as well as an [[Doctorate in Education|EdD]] for professionals in education. Since 2019 the Open University has also offered a professional doctorate for healthcare workers. The university offers a range of [[Master's degree|Master's]] levels modules such as the [[Master of Business Administration|MBA]] and [[Master of Public Administration|MPA]], [[Master of Science|MSc]], [[Master of Arts|MA]] and [[Master of Education|MEd]], and [[Master of Research|MRes]], and a number of postgraduate diplomas and certificates including innovative practice-based modules and postgraduate computing qualifications for professionals. Postgraduate certificates are awarded for 120 credits of study on specified modules; postgraduate diplomas are awarded for 240 credits of study on specified modules. The university offers "Advanced Diplomas" that involve 60 credits at the undergraduate level and 60 credits at the postgraduate level – these are designed as "bridges" between undergraduate and postgraduate study.

Its master's degrees in the field of engineering are accredited to support registration as a [[Chartered Engineer]], the highest level of engineering professional registration in the United Kingdom.<ref>[https://www.engc.org.uk/education-skills/course-search/recognised-course-search/?page=1&q=open+university&s=current Recognised course search]. ''Engineering Council''. Retrieved 30 July 2022.</ref>