Ready to return to study?

Thinking of returning to your studies in Science, Technology, Engineering or Mathematics (STEM) after a break? Not sure where to start? We hope you find valuable resources on this page and get the confidence you need to get registered for your next module and get back on track.

Contact Us

	England	Scotland	Wales	Northern Ireland	Republic of Ireland
Phone	0300 303 3469	0131 226 3851	0292 047 1170	028 9032 3722	01 678 5399
Email	general-enquiries@open.ac.uk	scotland@open.ac.uk	wales-support@open.ac.uk	northern-ireland@open.ac.uk	ireland@open.ac.uk

Courses & Qualifications

Whether you’ve been on a six month or six-year study break, figuring out what to study next can be a challenge. Visit our study page for inspiration and to see what subject areas are available. We offer both undergraduate and postgraduate qualifications including degrees, certificates and diplomas. If you are not sure what to study you could consider our Combined STEM degree which allows you to mix and match STEM subjects according to the subjects you are most interested in. If you’ve studied with us in the last three years, why not sign into student home where you can find out even more on modules and the latest news!

Don't hesitate. Reconnecting with my studies and experiencing The Open University is without a doubt the most sensible decision I have ever made.
Lester Sandles
BSc Hons Natural Sciences - 1st Class

Student Fees and Credit Transfer

If you are feeling prepared to register for your module but still have questions around fees and how to pay for your study, visit our student fees and funding website. Our costs are transparent so you know what’s expected from the outset. Study materials, tuition and assessment and exam costs are all included in our fees. See additional costs for other expenses you may need to plan for.

If you are looking to transfer from another University to The Open University’s Faculty of STEM make sure you look at our Credit Transfer site to see if your previous modules can count towards your study with us.

OpenLearn

Preparing for Study

If you are feeling a bit rusty when it comes to studying why not brush up your study skills with a few free courses on our OpenLearn platform. From brushing up on your Maths skills to further developing your digital literacy skills, there are short courses available to help you get back in to the student study mentality. If you have been away from the STEM industry for a while, there is even a course to help you sharpen your CV, job hunting skills, networking, and even how to balance work and life.

Careers & Employability Support

Our Careers and Employability team are able to help you with a variety of topics you will want to prepare alongside studying, if you’ve studied with us in the past three years. From CVs, applications and interviews to help with jobs and work experience our careers team has a variety of ways to help. Visit their website for more information or to get in touch with someone.

Further Support

Still feel like you need more support? Our student support team is here to help! Visit our Contact Us page to see all your options or open a chat with an advisor. Our advisors are available from 8:00 to 20:00 Monday- Friday and 9:00 to 17:00 on Saturdays.

I checked with the Student Support team in Edinburgh if I was eligible [for funding]. I had a few problems with my application but the team was amazing and they supported all the way and helped me with all the questions I had until I finally managed to submit my application.
Nadia Vigoni
Studying towards BSc Hons Natural Sciences