Skip to content
Admission Mantra
Campus of The Open University
Flag of United KingdomThe Open University logo

The Open University

Milton Keynes, United Kingdom · Public · Est. 1969

Updated 28 Oct 2026

Established

1969

Type

Public

Location

Milton Keynes, United Kingdom

Ranking

Not ranked

Photo: Chmee2, CC BY-SA 3.0

About the university

The Open University (OU) was founded by Royal Charter in 1969 and has pioneered distance learning for over 50 years, helping more than 2 million students. Its headquarters and research campus are at Walton Hall in Milton Keynes, about 80 km north of central London.

For Indian students who want to move to the UK, the relevant route is a full-time research degree (PhD) on the Milton Keynes campus: the OU is licensed to sponsor non-EEA PhD students and issues a CAS with the offer letter, and full-time PhD students meet their supervisors regularly on campus. We could not find a published international tuition fee for these programmes on the pages we could open, so no courses or fees are listed here.

Founded
1969, by Royal Charter
Type
Public university and a pioneer of distance learning for over 50 years
Students
Has helped over 2 million students (university's About page)
Headquarters
Walton Hall, Milton Keynes, about 80 km north of central London
Student visas
Licensed by UK Visas and Immigration to recruit and register non-EEA PhD students

Rankings

    Popular courses with Indian students

    The Open University doesn't publish course-by-course fees for international students online. See the courses on the official website (opens in a new tab), or ask our counsellor for the current list and fees.

      Scholarships

        Admission requirements

        Undergraduate

        • The OU's taught courses are built around distance learning. This page does not cover them, because we found no Student-visa route for taught study.

        Postgraduate

        • Full-time PhD students are sponsored for a Student visa; the OU provides a Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS) with the offer letter.
        • Funded full-time studentships, where advertised, include a monthly stipend for up to 3 years and 3 months (KMi studentship FAQ).
        • Check each research area's studentship page for deadlines and requirements.

        Documents

        • Valid passport
        • Degree certificates and transcripts
        • Research proposal or studentship application, as the project asks
        • English test from a provider approved by UK Visas and Immigration

        Check if you are eligibleShare your marks and test scores and our counsellor will tell you which courses you can apply for.

        English language requirements

        English requirements
        Test or routeTypical requirement
        Research degreesOverseas applicants must have their English certified through a provider approved by UK Visas and Immigration

        Accommodation and living costs

        The pages we checked do not describe student accommodation for research students in Milton Keynes. Ask the OU research degrees team before you apply.

        Accommodation and living costs
        ItemIn GBPApprox. in rupees

        Campus and location

        The OU's main campus at Walton Hall in Milton Keynes is the base for its research community and full-time PhD students.

        • Full-time PhDs are taught face to face, not by distance learning, with regular supervision meetings on the Milton Keynes campus.
        • Research units such as the Knowledge Media Institute (KMi) run their own studentships and say most of their members are not from the UK.
        • Milton Keynes is about 80 km north of central London.

        Careers and graduate outcomes

        Research students build academic and industry research experience. After graduating you can apply for the UK Graduate visa; see our UK guide for the current rules.

        Graduate outcomes
        WhatFigureSource

        Studying in the UK

        Visa rules, work rights and living costs apply to every university in the UK. Our country guide covers them in detail:

        Other universities in the UK

        Compare all universities in the UK

        FAQs

        Can I study at the Open University on a Student visa?

        For full-time PhDs, yes: the OU is licensed to sponsor non-EEA PhD students and issues a CAS with the offer letter. We did not find a Student-visa route for its distance-learning taught courses.

        How much are the fees?

        We could not confirm a published international fee for full-time research degrees, so check with the OU. Funded studentships, where available, include a monthly stipend.

        Where would I live and study?

        Full-time PhD students meet their supervisors regularly at the Milton Keynes campus, about 80 km north of central London.

        Sources

        1. The Open University: About (opens in a new tab)
        2. The Open University: Being an OU research student FAQs (opens in a new tab)
        3. Knowledge Media Institute (OU): Studentship FAQ (opens in a new tab)

        Official website: www.open.ac.uk (opens in a new tab)

        Check the latest details

        We researched this page on 28 Oct 2026. Fees, entry requirements and scholarships change every year, so confirm them on the university's website before you apply. Listing a university doesn't mean Admission Mantra represents it.

        Talk to our counsellor

        Ask about courses, fees, scholarships and your eligibility for The Open University.

        IELTS / PTE status
        Best way to reach you

        #YouInspireUs

        Stories from our students and parents

        #StudyAbroadSample
        ft. Student nameMSc Data Science · United Kingdom

        #1 Student name

        MSc Data Science, United Kingdom · Study Abroad

        Sample text. A short story in the student's own words: how the counsellor helped them shortlist universities, understand the full cost and prepare their visa file.

        Design preview: sample cards show where real stories will appear. They are replaced by real students' stories (with written consent) before launch.

        All student stories