Got a question?

Contact an adviser in our Student Registration & Enquiry Service. Email or call +44(0)845 300 60 90

How much time does it take?

Our undergraduate degrees are designed to be flexible. So if you want to vary the amount of time you spend studying from year to year, or even take a break for a while, you can.

However, bear in mind that it’s easy to underestimate the time and commitment needed for part-time study by supported 'Open Learning' methods. It’s a good idea not to take on too much at first. As you become more experienced and confident you can always study more at a time.

How much of my time will it take to study a course?

We strongly recommend that new students take only one course at a time. Most of our courses are worth either 30 or 60 points. A 30-point course will take about seven to eight hours of study a week; a 60-point course, around sixteen hours a week.

Average time to complete different sorts of courses

OU courses	Number of credit points	Average time to complete a course.
Openings course	10	Approximately 6 hours a week for up to 5 months
Short course	10–15	5–7 hours a week for up to 5 months or 10–15 hours a week for approximately 10 weeks
Residential-school course	10–15	1 week at residential school (plus some study before and after)
30-point course	30	7–8 hours a week for 9 months
60-point course	60	16 hours a week for 9 months

How long will it take me to get a degree?

There is no time limit for completion of many OU undergraduate degrees.

In some subjects, however, such as computing and information technology, and health and social care, the subject matter of the courses has to be up to date for your qualification to be worthwhile. This is why you will find that some degrees require you to finish within specified time limits, usually 8–10 years. This allows you to take a study break but still complete on time.

In other subjects, such as law, there is a professional requirement to complete the degree within a specific timescale. If you are planning to obtain professional recognition then make sure you carefully check the rules for your particular qualification.

Average time to complete different qualifications

OU qualifications	Number of credit points	Average time to complete. The timings assume full-time study is similar to that of full-time education (120 points per year), with part-time study at half this rate.
Certificate	60**	typically 9 months (some differ: check the particular qualification description in the online prospectus)
Diploma	120**	typically 2 years of part-time study or 1 year of full-time study (some differ: check the particular qualification description in the online prospectus)
Foundation degree or Diploma of Higher Education	240	4 years (part-time study) or 2–3 years (full-time study)
Degree without honours	300	5 years (part-time study) or 3 years (full-time study)
Degree with honours	360	6 years (part-time study) or 3–4 years (full-time study)
Postgraduate certificate	60	1 year part-time study
Postgraduate diploma	120	2 years (part-time study) or 1 year (full-time study)
Masters degree	180	3 years (part-time study) or 1½ years (full-time study)