“The Open University has opened many doors for me and made me believe that anything is possible.”

 “I wanted to work in the NHS – and now I do.” 

Amy was inspired by her own ill health to begin a BSc (Hons) in Health Sciences but didn’t have the right qualifications in place. Thanks to The Open University’s open entry policy, she has been able to achieve her degree, get a job in the NHS and is now embarking on a Master’s degree in Public Health. 

She already had a Level 3 Health and Social Care Extended that she’d got at her local college, and had GCSEs, but she wanted to keep moving forward. After a maths tutor told her that she’d studied at the OU and how fantastic it was, Amy’s mind was made up. 

She said: “As a result of ill health, I couldn’t attend a brick university. After my maths tutor told me how great the OU was, I looked into it further and was amazed to discover that there were no entry requirements other than a desire to study. It very much appealed to me that the OU was inclusive for all. This open entry policy as crucial to me as, without it, I would have found it difficult to progress in my education. 

“I’d always been interested in health and science, as I’d spent a lot of time with healthcare professionals myself as a patient. I loved the idea of combining the two together in a degree. The module list was so diverse, including Cell Biology, Practical Science, Infectious Diseases, Mental Health, Human Biology – the list goes on!” 

Amy made up her mind to use her illness to her advantage. 

She said: “I wanted to make sure my life kept pushing forward. I wanted to end up working in a health-related discipline, preferably the NHS, to give back for the care I’ve received over the years. I also wanted a degree to prove to myself that I could do anything I put my mind to. I decided to use my resilience and determination to achieve a higher education qualification. So I bit the bullet and applied for a student loan.” 

She found distance learning perfect for her requirements and lifestyle. 

“Throughout my life, I’ve had to have time off of education for medical reasons. With distance learning, I didn’t have to,” she said. 

The pandemic in 2020 made things challenging while she wrote her dissertation, but throughout her studies, she found her way through any obstacles that came her way. 

She said: “I struggled a little in the first year, with getting used to the structure of distance learning and finding my way around the timetabling and module website, but I quickly got used to it. I asked staff at the OU for support when I was struggling and they were more than helpful and supportive.  

“The biggest challenge was staying motivated during the Covid-19 pandemic, but my wonderful family and friends helped cheer me on.  

Of course, there was also my health to contend with and during my studies I was diagnosed with neuropathic chronic pain due to the many orthopaedic procedures I had during my childhood. The pain made concentrating very difficult at times. My family and friends were so supportive and that helped me get through. Plus, the understanding from OU tutors and staff was brilliant. When I needed an extension for an assignment because of my ill health, no questions were asked. I only experienced kindness and appreciation of my situation. 

“With my medical condition, the flexibility the OU offers was extremely important to me. I had good and bad days, where I felt like I either could or could not study, but this was fine with the OU. If you study with the OU, you can study anywhere and anytime. The flexibility was so beneficial to me as, without it, I would have found it very difficult and might have had to withdraw from the course. 

“Igot a part-time job in the middle of my studies but, prior to that, I had to fit my studies around family commitments and also frequent hospital appointments in London. With my medical needs, it was quite tiring. It was a challenge but I’m proof that it can be done if you want to achieve it.” 

Amy found multiple sources of inspiration and enjoyed all the different elements of her degree. 

She said: “I was inspired by the enthusiasm of the tutors, and by the support they gave me to ensure I achieved my qualification. Plus, the various modules within my degree also inspired me and sparked interests I didn’t know I had, which motivated me even more. My family also inspired me to keep going.  

“In my first year I attended a day school which was great as I got to meet students and tutors face-to-face. The tutors were all extremely supportive and very prompt at replying to queries over email throughout my degree. Everything was very well organised. We also had ‘live’ laboratory sessions with experts, during which we went through experiments and could ask questions; these were great in terms of building connections with OU staff. The books for each year were also delivered in plenty of time, which was great as I could get ahead on the reading.” 

The highlights were what made it all worth it for Amy. 

“The best moment of my studies was when I finished my dissertation project. I did it on influenza and the microbiome and I found it so interesting,” she said. 

“The graduation ceremony, albeit virtual, was another highlight – it was a moment to reflect and was in recognition of all my hard work, tears, perseverance and determination to succeed. There’s no feeling like it!” 

Amy says The Open University has given her a lot – ranging from confidence, to the prospects she always dreamed of. 

She said: “When I started with the OU I had quite low self-confidence, but now I feel much more confident in myself personally and professionally. The OU is a journey, but not just an educational one, it’s a personal one too. The OU enabled me to apply for jobs within the NHS. I’m currently an NHS Health and Wellbeing Coach but I’m now studying for a Master’s in Public Health. My goal is to enter the public health field and try to benefit and influence the population’s health for future generations. My Master’s, coupled with my knowledge from my OU degree, will stand me in good stead for working in this sector.   

“My OU studies have hugely enhanced my chances of getting the kind of job I want. The OU teaches you so many skills that are essential for life and the workplace –  time management, autonomous working and flexibility.  

“The Open University has opened many doors for me and made me believe that anything is possible. It makes you realise your potential and allows you to step out of your comfort zone and grow as a person. You are your only limit!” 

To any potential students, she has this message: “If you’re thinking of doing an OU qualification, don’t hesitate. It’s a little scary at first, but you’ll meet such wonderful people from so many walks of life. The most rewarding feeling is afterwards when, despite all the challenges of studying and life, you’ve done it. You’ve achieved one of the most rewarding things you ever will and you’ve enhanced your future. Believe in yourself and you’ll be unstoppable.”