BA/BSc Open Degree

Course Code: QD Course Level: Undergraduate Subject Area: Combined Studies Course Qualification: Degree This course is available for study in: Aland Islands, Andorra, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Channel Islands, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Gibraltar, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Isle of Man, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Monaco, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Ireland, Romania, San Marino, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Vatican City State

What you will learn

The BA/BSc Open degree gives you the freedom and opportunity to achieve a uniquely tailored qualification. You can study any subjects you like, in any combination, enabling you to tailor your degree around your interests and career.

Over 40 per cent of OU students graduate with an Open degree.

Highly regarded by employers for its breadth and valued by students for its flexibility, an Open degree equips you with a wide range of expertise, skills and capabilities that are much sought after in today’s highly competitive job market.

Read more detailed information about the learning outcomes, and how they are acquired through teaching, learning and assessment methods.

Time required and cost

You require 360 credits to complete this course. Time to complete studies can range from 4 to 16 years depending on how many credits are studied each year. Typically 9 hours of study a week equates to 30 credits achieved in a year.

What you pay is based on the number of credits you study in a year and this depends on the modules you choose. Fees for study commencing in academic year 2013/2014:

• £5,124 if you study 120 credits in a year (full-time)
• £2,562 if you study 60 credits in a year
• £1,281 if you study 30 credits in a year.

NB: Costs and course content is subject to change.

Career impact

The flexibility of The Open University Open degree makes them relevant to a wide range of careers and industries. Many graduates choose to enter careers that are not directly related to the subject/s they studied and this is reflected in the fact that around 70 per cent of graduate jobs are open to graduates of any discipline. What makes Open degree students stand out is the broad range of transferable skills they develop as a result of their undergraduate studies.

Key dates

Please see the table shown on the Pathway page via the link shown at the bottom of this page.

Entry requirements

There are no formal entry requirements to study this degree. You will however need to be proficient in English, to an IELTS standard of 6.0. If you are unsure you will be able to take a free English test as part of the registration process.

Classification of course

On successful completion of 360 credits you will be awarded either a Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science honours degree. Whether you qualify for a BA (Honours) Open degree or a BSc (Honours) Open degree will be determined by the number of credits you have from modules suitable for a BA or for a BSc. Your honours degree will be classified either as first-class honours, upper second-class honours, lower second-class honours or third-class honours. The class of degree is determined by the best grades you achieve in a minimum of 120 and up to 240 credits from modules at Levels 2 and 3, 120 of which must come from modules at Level 3.

Credits

For information on Credits, click here.

Regulations

As a student of The Open University, you should be aware of the content of the following regulations :

• Student Regulations
• Module Regulations
• General Qualification Regulations
• BSc/ BA Open Degree
• Schedule A to the Qualification Regulations.