Qualifications

Degrees

Undergraduate or bachelors degrees are nationally recognised qualifications consisting of academic study designed to help you gain a thorough understanding of a subject.

For a degree in a named subject, such as business studies or humanities, you'll study mainly in your chosen subject, although you may be able to include some modules from other subjects.

With The Open University you could also study an Open degree where you can combine a range of modules from similar or different subjects to suit either your particular career or personal interests.

You can use a degree to:

• change careers or progress your current career
• gain an in-depth knowledge and understanding of a subject you are interested in
• gain professional recognition
• go onto postgraduate study, such as a diploma or masters degree.

Foundation degrees

Foundation degrees are nationally recognised qualifications focusing either on a particular job or profession; they combine work place learning with academic study. Designed and developed with external partners, you must be working either as a paid employee or as a volunteer in a related work setting.

A foundation degree is equivalent to two thirds of an honours degree. They aim to enhance the professional and technical skills of staff within a profession or those intending to go into that profession.

You can use a foundation degree to:

• change careers or progress your current career
• gain technical and professional skills
• gain professional recognition
• achieve a full honours degree through further study.

Most of our foundation degrees are also offered as diplomas of higher education for those living and working in Scotland.

Diplomas of Higher Education

A Diploma of Higher Education (DipHE) is equivalent to two thirds of an honours degree. They are nationally recognised qualifications focusing either on a particular job or profession, or academic study.

DipHEs are designed to increase the professional and technical skills of staff within a profession or extend your knowledge and understanding of a particular subject. A DipHE shows that you are capable of extended study at university level.

You can use a DipHE to:

• change careers or progress your current career
• gain technical and professional skills
• gain a greater knowledge and understanding of a subject you are interested in
• gain professional recognition
• achieve a full honours degree through additional study.

The Diploma of Higher Education might be of particular interest to those living and working in Scotland.

OU Diplomas

OU Diplomas are specially designed Open University qualifications focusing either on a particular job or profession, or academic study. For example The Open University's Professional Graduate Diploma in Education (PGDE) is the most popular route into a career in teaching at secondary level in Scotland.

You can use an OU Diploma to:

• enhance or progress your current career
• to gain professional recognition.

Certificates of Higher Education

A Certificate of Higher Education (CertHE) is a nationally recognised qualification focusing on either a particular job or profession, or academic study. Equivalent to the first year of a full honours degree, they are the most basic level of qualification that can be gained in higher education and show that you are capable of studying successfully at university level.

You can use a CertHE to:

• gain confidence to study successfully at university level
• change careers or progress your current career
• build on your existing experience and gain new skills
• gain a broad introduction to a subject you are interested in
• achieve a foundation degree, DipHE or full honours degree through additional study.

OU Certificates

OU Certificates are specially designed Open University qualifications focusing either on a particular job or profession, or academic study. For example The Open University's Certificate in Supporting Learning in Primary Schools is designed for teaching assistants and other kinds of classroom support staff, including volunteers. Not all OU Certificates are entry level qualifications.

You can use an OU Certificate to:

• enhance or progress your current career
• gain a greater knowledge and understanding of a subject you are interested in.

Getting started with an Access module

There are two ways to start a qualification. If you haven’t studied for a long time or are unsure about what studying at the OU will be like, beginning your studies with an access module may be the right choice for you.

Choose a qualification to find out more.