Study with us

From short courses to formal qualifications at undergraduate degree and masters level, we offer a wide range of flexible study options to suit all levels and needs.


A teacher talking to primary school children

Certificate of Higher Education in Sport, Fitness and Management (T05)

What makes a top-flight sports coach or fitness instructor? This certificate investigates the factors that contribute to success, and gives you an in-depth knowledge of how the sector works. Focusing on the needs of participants or clients, you’ll explore training, nutrition, motivation and leadership; and increase your effectiveness and skills in these areas. As you study, you’ll always come back to what matters most: applying theory to practice.

Certificate of Higher Education in Early Childhood (T26)

This certificate is relevant for anyone interested in young children’s learning and development, including practitioners working in early-years settings or those wanting a career working with children from birth to seven years. In this certificate, you'll develop your understanding of policy and practice in early childhood. It will prepare you to engage with further study as a foundation for careers working with young children and their families across all sectors.

Certificate of Higher Education in Education Studies (Primary) (T29)

Are you interested in the education of children aged between 3 and 12? Are you thinking about pursuing a career within education or becoming a primary school teacher? This certificate will give you a sound foundation for further study relevant to a range of roles within education. You’ll be introduced to a variety of themes relating to primary education, and you’ll gain the knowledge and skills needed to work collaboratively and equitably in a range of settings. An interdisciplinary approach will also broaden your understanding of childhood and children’s lives and development.

Certificate of Higher Education in Childhood and Youth Studies (T43)

Interested in how social, cultural and psychological influences impact on the lives of children and young people? This engaging and wide-ranging interdisciplinary certificate is for anyone working with children and young people or with a general interest in the field. You’ll investigate policies, practices and issues affecting the lives of children and young people across a range of settings – developing your knowledge, your analytical skills and improving your practice.


close up of hand writing notes

Diploma of Higher Education in Sport and Fitness (W07)

This diploma will help put you on track for a career in fitness training, sports coaching or similar roles. It will develop work-related and academic skills to enhance your performance; and explore the key principles of sports science, psychology, training, coaching and leadership. You’ll apply your learning to practice, focusing on meeting participants’ physical and psychological needs. By the end of the course, you’ll be a more effective, reflective practitioner and you’ll be well on the way to a degree.

Diploma of Higher Education in Early Childhood (W50)

If you currently work with children from birth to seven years, or are looking to learn more about young children’s lives and experiences, this diploma could be of interest to you. You’ll investigate early childhood from national and international perspectives with a focus on the central importance of children’s voices and the participatory nature of young children’s experiences. In this diploma, you'll develop your understanding of policy and practice in early childhood. It will help prepare you for further study and gives you a foundation for careers working with young children and their families across all sectors.

Diploma of Higher Education in Education Studies (Primary) (W54)

Are you interested in the education of children aged between 3 and 12? Are you thinking about pursuing a career within education, or becoming a primary school teacher? This diploma will give you a sound foundation for further study relevant to a range of roles in primary education. You’ll develop your understanding of policy and practice in primary education, and gain the knowledge and skills needed to work collaboratively and equitably in a range of settings.

Diploma of Higher Education in Childhood and Youth Studies (W78)

Develop your understanding of the factors influencing and issues facing children and young people in a range of social and cultural contexts. This engaging and wide-ranging interdisciplinary diploma is for anyone working with children and young people or with a general interest in the field. You’ll investigate policies, practices and issues affecting the lives of children and young people across a range of settings – developing your knowledge, your analytical skills and improving your practice.


a teacher and child working together

BA (Honours) Childhood and Youth Studies (Q23)

What makes young people tick? What shapes and influences children’s development? How can the adults who work with children support them more effectively? Childhood and youth studies is one of the UK’s fastest growing academic disciplines. The OU is a pioneer in this field and over the last 15 years has developed this wide-ranging interdisciplinary degree for anyone working with children and young people or with a general interest in the field.

BSc (Honours) Sport, Fitness and Coaching (Q76)

If you’re an aspiring or practising leader of sport or fitness activities, this degree will develop your skills and understanding of sports science, psychology, training, coaching and leadership. It will enhance your awareness of your own role, increase your effectiveness at work and develop your communication and analytical skills – boosting your career prospects. You’ll apply science and theory to practice, reflecting on case studies or real and potential work situations. Drawing on video, text and online materials, you’ll focus on the all-round physical and psychological needs of sports participants or exercise clients.

BA (Honours) Early Childhood (Q89)

If you currently work with children from birth to seven years, or are looking to learn more about young children’s lives and experiences, this degree could be of interest to you. You’ll investigate early childhood from national and international perspectives with a focus on the central importance of children’s voices and the participatory nature of young children’s experiences. You’ll also gain an understanding of early childhood in diverse social, cultural and multi-disciplinary contexts.

Top-up BA (Honours) Early Childhood (Q90)

This top-up route enables experienced early years practitioners to gain our BA (Honours) Early Childhood in just one or two years. With an existing Foundation Degree, Higher National Diploma or Diploma of Higher Education in Early Years/Early Childhood, you’ll advance your professional development by completing two modules that cover working with children, and how research contributes to our understanding of children and young people.

BA (Honours) Education Studies (Primary) (Q94)

Are you interested in the education of children aged between 3 and 12? Are you thinking about pursuing a career within education or becoming a primary school teacher? This degree will give you a sound foundation for further study relevant to a range of roles within education. You'll develop your understanding of policy and practice in primary education, and gain the knowledge and skills needed to work collaboratively and equitably in a range of settings.


close up of hand writing notes

Postgraduate Certificate in Online and Distance Education (C23)

This certificate is presented by The Open University's Institute of Educational Technology and is open to students from countries all over the world. It offers the unique opportunity to study the theory and practice of online and distance education through modules created by experts from the Institute who are reinventing digital learning through the innovative use of new media and technologies.

Postgraduate Certificate in Professional Studies in Education (K27)

This professional postgraduate qualification introduces the field of education. It offers you the opportunity to explore one specialism from a choice of modules covering a range of areas, all of which encourage you to draw on your own experiences and undertake enquiry in your own context. This certificate is also the first stage of a study programme that progresses to a postgraduate diploma and a masters degree. This gives you the choice to step off at any point, with the Postgraduate Certificate in Professional Studies in Education, Postgraduate Diploma in Professional Studies in Education, or continue studying the whole programme towards the MA or MEd in Education.

Postgraduate Certificate in Childhood and Youth Studies (K32)

This certificate will be attractive to anyone with a personal or professional interest in exploring different aspects of children and young people’s worlds and who wish to develop critical analysis skills. It is relevant for graduates working with children or young people who wish to advance academically and professionally or those with a background in childhood and youth studies; youth work; youth justice; sociology; health and social care; social work; nursing; anthropology; psychology; education and the voluntary sector including charities and NGOs. It also gives those not currently working with children and young people, the opportunity to move into the profession or move between professions.

Postgraduate Certificate in Education (Wales) (K36)

To become a teacher, you need a PGCE with Qualified Teacher Status (QTS). Our PGCE will qualify you to work at either the primary or secondary school phases and focuses on the curriculum in Wales. You can study through the medium of English, Welsh or a combination. Teaching is online, including live online seminars, with face-to-face support provided in school. You’ll experience teaching in two different schools in Wales (at least 120 days over the two years). Students endorsed by a school participating in the scheme may be fully funded (salaried route); or, you can self-fund and could be eligible for a student loan and/or a maintenance grant (part-time route).


a line of children led by an adult walking hand in hand

Postgraduate Diploma in Professional Studies in Education (E88)

This professional postgraduate qualification explores deeper the field of education within your chosen specialism. You’ll choose from a selection of modules that encourage you to draw on your own experiences and undertake enquiry in your own context. You’ll have the flexibility to change your specialism at Stage 2 if you want to diversify your study area. This diploma is also the second stage of a study programme that progresses to a masters degree; this gives you a choice to step off with a Postgraduate Diploma in Professional Studies in Education or continue studying towards the MA or MEd in Education.

Postgraduate Diploma in Childhood and Youth Studies (E93)

This diploma will be attractive to anyone with a personal or professional interest in deepening their understanding and practice of children and young people’s worlds and who wish to develop critical analysis skills. It is relevant if you’re a graduate working with children or young people and want to advance academically and professionally. It would also be suitable if you have a background in childhood and youth studies; youth work; youth justice; sociology; health and social care; social work; nursing; anthropology; psychology; education and the voluntary sector including charities and NGOs. If you are not currently working with children and young people, this diploma may allow you to move into the profession or move between occupations.


Classroom with two teachers and children

MA in Childhood and Youth (F55)

This postgraduate degree offers an interdisciplinary approach to the study of childhood and youth – covering aspects of theory, policy and practice. It is ideal if you are a graduate professional working with children and young people and seek to advance academically and professionally. It’s also suitable if you’re not currently working with children and young people but are looking to move into the profession. The degree deepens understanding and develops practice through a wide range of case studies within a global context that link theory to practice. These include education, the family, the law, children’s rights, politicised childhoods, participation and voice, consumerist childhoods, ethnicity, religion, child criminology, child sexuality, and multi-cultural childhoods. It also offers you flexibility within the final dissertation module, where you’ll choose between a small-scale inquiry or an extended literature review and research proposal. It will be of particular interest if you have completed an undergraduate degree in Childhood and Youth Studies, Early Years or Early Childhood, Education Studies (Primary) or Health and Social Care.

Masters degree in Education (F70)

This flexible masters degree is suitable for education professionals who wish to acquire qualities and transferable skills that are highly prized by employers. You’ll have the choice of four specialist routes – learning and teaching; leadership and management; inclusive practice; and applied linguistics. You’ll also have the option to change your specialism after Stage 1, giving you the opportunity to study two specialisms within one qualification. Your final dissertation module (with the exception of the applied linguistics route) gives you the choice of a small-scale inquiry on a topic of your choice, or you can opt to complete an extended literature review and research proposal relevant to your own educational professional interests and practice.

 

Access a range of resources that work best for you

Our flexible, supported distance learning model enables you to study alongside your other commitments. You will have access to a range of resources, including published books, online text and audio-visual resources, forums and interactive activities. Plus, you will have support and guidance from your own tutor and regular tutorials where you will meet other students.

Hear from a couple of our students and some of the team about their learning community in the video below.