The Open University, located online at www.open.ac.uk, is a prominent institution in the education and training sector, renowned for its flexible distance learning programs. The university caters to a broad audience, including working professionals, individuals seeking career advancement or personal enrichment, and those who require the flexibility that traditional campus-based education cannot offer. As a pioneer in distance learning, The Open University provides a wide range of undergraduate and postgraduate courses across various disciplines, leveraging digital platforms to deliver high-quality education accessible from anywhere in the world. The company's approach to education is designed to be inclusive, supporting students from diverse backgrounds and with different levels of prior learning. By offering programs that range from short courses for personal interest to full degrees, The Open University meets the needs of a wide demographic of learners seeking to achieve their educational goals without compromising their personal or professional commitments. This focus on accessibility, flexibility, and comprehensive support makes The Open University a key player in the global education landscape, continuously adapting to the evolving needs of its students.
The Open University receives high praise from many students for its flexible learning options and supportive environment. Reviewers frequently highlight the life-changing opportunities provided by the university, allowing them to balance their studies with work and family commitments.
The quality of course materials and the overall educational experience are also commended, with many expressing satisfaction with the structure and relevance of the modules. However, some consumers express disappointment regarding the decline in tutor engagement and responsiveness compared to previous years, noting that the quality of support can be inconsistent. Despite these criticisms, the majority of feedback reflects a positive sentiment towards the Open University, making it a favorable choice for many learners seeking higher education.
Summary generated with AI from recent reviews
Each source counts by its number of reviews. Only reviews written by people are scored.
| Source | Rating | Reviews | Weight | 6-mo | Fake risk |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Trustpilot Imported Trustpilot reviews | 4.3 | 60 | 100% | ● Medium |
Monthly average rating from reviews written by people · latest review Nov 2025.
| Month | Average | Reviews |
|---|---|---|
| Oct 25 | 1.8 | 6 |
| Nov 25 | 4.6 | 54 |
Share of positive (4–5★) and negative (1–2★) reviews mentioning each topic · based on the 60 most recent reviews.
“Excellent, relevent and very intetesting module materials”
“I had a ten year gap between studying at the OU and the difference is striking”
Same method for every company: overall rating, legitimacy checks, the average rating of reviews mentioning each area and the 6-month trend · Education & Training.
| Company | Overall | Legit | Service | Quality | Website & app | Trend | Reviews |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | 4.3 out of 5 (good) | 100 out of 100 | 4.1 out of 5 (good) | 4.1 out of 5 (good) | 3.5 out of 5 (good) | — | 60 |
| 4.8 out of 5 (good) | 100 out of 100 | 4.8 out of 5 (good) | 4.2 out of 5 (good) | 4.2 out of 5 (good) | — | 85 | |
| 5.0 out of 5 (good) | 100 out of 100 | 5.0 out of 5 (good) | — | — | — | 57 | |
| 5.0 out of 5 (good) | 100 out of 100 | 5.0 out of 5 (good) | — | — | — | 37 | |
| 4.5 out of 5 (good) | 100 out of 100 | 4.9 out of 5 (good) | — | — | — | 25 |
Bottom line: The Open University is #5 of 5 on overall rating in this group. On service, Truka scores higher (5.0 vs 4.1).
60 reviews of The Open University. Filter by what matters to you.
I only studied for a few weeks. Then deferred. I got mail saying I was now liable to pay a full year tuition back to SLC. That’s like being asked to pay a full years energy bill for a few weeks usage. SLC will be getting a few weeks worth of the total. OU can pay the rest back. No wonder they are doing well! Robbing people blind.
The OU is an extremely well and highly professional university. The modules are well written, excellent website access, and brilliant tutors.
The online material was really interesting and the tutors were so helpful.
I studied a Masters in Engineering along with two mechanical engineering modules (T229 and T329). In all cases, I had access to interesting and challenging material, and excellent tutor support - both in tutorials and one-to-one if required. The assessments were challenging and enjoyable, and I always received thorough, useful feedback. Overall, it was an enjoyable and worthwhile experience, leading to a career change - I cannot recommend highly enough.
Quick answers to the questions people ask most.
The Open University offers a high degree of flexibility, allowing students to study part-time or full-time, and to adjust their study intensity each year. For more details on program flexibility, visit www.open.ac.uk.
You can pursue undergraduate, postgraduate, and professional degrees across a wide range of subjects. For a full list of available courses and programs, please check our website.
Yes, The Open University is designed to be flexible, allowing you to study at your own pace and time, making it ideal for those who are working or have other commitments.
The Open University provides extensive support through tutors, study materials, and mental health resources. For specific support services, please visit our website or contact student support.
Yes, The Open University offers various resources and support systems for mature students and those with caregiving responsibilities to help balance their studies with personal commitments.
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Life changing experience The joy of learning made easy and flexible. OU has helped my transition from a lost directionless individual to having direction and a real sense of purpose. The support and flexibility are key tenets to successful study with OU
Avoid OU like the plaque!!! I have had nothing but issues since I've started my course a month again!! I started a part-time 6 year degree course, and it's been nothing but a nightmare. Theres constant lack of communication, and they're expecting us to be mind readers. The very first online session I attended, the very first thing that they asked was, have you submitted a blank/dummy assessment? You should have done this already, to prepare you for your first assessment! Now, how can I be expected to do something IF NOBODY TELLS ME! The Tutorials are pointless since they just read off slides, and if your like me and don’t have access to Microsoft 365 then GOOD LUCK! Since they've blatantly lied to say that they will supply you with Microsoft 365, THEY DON'T, whenever you open attachment, it'll ask for a product key, which I don't know / don't have and can't afford to get one! When I attended my 2nd Tutorial I was once again asked a question of "Have you read this case-study" - and at my last lesson NOBODY TOLD ME TO DO THIS!, there was no notification, nothing in the set tasks, no form of communication to say you need to do this. I feel as though at my next lesson they're going to ask if I've read war and peace! I've e-mailed my tutor 4 TIMES FOR HELP!!!!, and not had a single reply back to any of them, I've even spoken to my supposed Tutor on an online lesson to say can I book a one-to-one with you since I've got a few concerns, she agreed, and I've yet to hear back from her, and I'm not going to keep chasing her since she's failed to reply back to any of my other e-mails! I've e-mailed the student support team, they're not helpful either. I work full-time and I missed a phone call from them since I was busy at work, they left me a voicemail message saying that I can book in an appointment for someone to ring me back at a more suitable date & time, I arranged a phone-call back for the same day between 1-2pm since I'll be on my break. I waited….i waited….. No phone call!!! (what a shocker there) I emailed them back the day after saying that this isn't good enough! I got an email dated 30th Oct and it just says that it's gone down as a 'Prioirty 1-ASAP' call, it's now 4th Nov, Still not had a phone call, (and you wonder why I've lost faith in them) Whilst I'm trying to get hold of SOMEONE and/or ANYONE to help me, my studies are still on-going pushing me further behind. DON’T WASTE YOUR TIME WITH OPEN UNIVERSITY!!! I've read somewhere that only 1 out of 4 students actually pass their degree SHOCKING STATICS if you ask me, but i can understand why My first assessment is due on 27th Nov, and I'm still non the wiser what I'm supposed to actually do, I know I'll end up failing this course, but it's not because I'VE failed, it's because THEY'VE failed me UPDATE 04/11/25 Still not had this phone, even after sending further e-mails OU if your reading this, it would be nice for you to even acknowledge my existence Update 13/11/25 I would like to reply back to your feedback about Microsoft 365, I do not have access to this, I've checked all my notifications, still not found any shred of evidence about a Microsoft 365 product key, please contact me to show me or provide me with said documentation Oh and also, you haven't tried to contact me, please don't Lie, you've only tried to contact me once hence why I booked a suitable date + time for you to call me back, and you failed to agree to that time, the emphasis should be placed on you to contact me! but like always I'll send you more and more e-mails to chase up this "supposed phone call" which you'll ignore
I had an excellent experience as a distance-learning student, with excellent quality of materials, and tutors who always respond to any queries professionally. Very informative and good choice of modules, and they were very interesting to study as well. I absolutely enjoyed the DIY science experiments, as part of some modules.
Until covid when fees were raised ou provided education for anyone who wanted it allowing you to fit studies into your life.
My experience with the Open University has been nothing short of spectacular. The courses are well designed, the tutors are helpful (I've been lucky!), and the student support team is always available. The library gives you access to a wealth of resources and the careers service offers students support and events. I am over the moon with my first year at the OU and am looking forward to the next ones.
Fantastic from start to finish - informed guided and supported through the journey from fresh person to graduate
Professional, caring and encouraging towards students development. I am thoroughly enjoying my module and I am enthusiastic about my career.
Ever since I joined the Open University in 2021 I have have an amazing experience from my tutors, all of them. My confidence in learning has been boosted and it has been fun. I got the courage to start helping others and I do so as a volunteer and in my own career I have progressed. Its even better now I have started stage 3 I was nervous at first but now I feel really confident and calm enjoying my studies all round. I can't thank everyone enough.
Studying with the Open University has transformed my life. Balancing full-time work and family while studying was challenging, but the OU’s flexibility and support made it possible. I recently completed my BA (Honours) Open Degree and will graduate in October 2025, something I’m very proud of. The quality of the materials and the support from tutors have been exceptional. The OU has not only provided me with academic knowledge but also helped me develop resilience and confidence. I feel ready to pursue postgraduate studies. If you're considering studying while working, go for it! The Open University can truly open new doors.
The Open University, located online at www.open.ac.uk, is a prominent institution in the education and training sector, renowned for its flexible distance learning programs. The university caters to a broad audience, including working professionals, individuals seeking career advancement or personal enrichment, and those who require the flexibility that traditional campus-based education cannot offer. As a pioneer in distance learning, The Open University provides a wide range of undergraduate and postgraduate courses across various disciplines, leveraging digital platforms to deliver high-quality education accessible from anywhere in the world. The company's approach to education is designed to be inclusive, supporting students from diverse backgrounds and with different levels of prior learning. By offering programs that range from short courses for personal interest to full degrees, The Open University meets the needs of a wide demographic of learners seeking to achieve their educational goals without compromising their personal or professional commitments. This focus on accessibility, flexibility, and comprehensive support makes The Open University a key player in the global education landscape, continuously adapting to the evolving needs of its students.
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