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Certificate of Higher Education Open

The Certificate of Higher Education Open provides you with an opportunity to study modules from a wide range of subject areas, enabling you to build a qualification that’s unique to you. If you’re keen to try university study but want to keep your options open, this flexible certificate is the ideal starting point.

Key features of the course

Design your own qualification to suit your personal and professional needs, interests and aspirations
Enhance your employability
Easily change direction if your study interests change

A nationally recognised qualification in its own right, this certificate of higher education is also equivalent to the first stage of our BA/BSc (Honours) Open (QD) degree.

Course Summary

Certificate

Certificate

Widely-recognised qualification.
Equivalent to the first third of an honours degree.
Study for interest or career development.
Shows that you can study successfully at university level.
Count it towards further qualifications such as a foundation degree, DipHE or honours degree.

Course code: T09

Credits

Credits

Credits measure the student workload required for the successful completion of a module or qualification.
One credit represents about 10 hours of study over the duration of the course.
You are awarded credits after you have successfully completed a module.
For example, if you study a 60-credit module and successfully pass it, you will be awarded 60 credits.

120

How long it takes
Study method: Distance learning

Enquire about this course

Course details Am I ready? Fees & funding Careers

Course details

This certificate of higher education has one stage, comprising 120 credits of OU level 1 study.

Optional Access module – visit Am I ready? to find out about starting this course with a preparatory Access module.

Stage 1 (120 credits)

You’ll start Stage 1 with 60 credits from a wide and varied choice of introductory modules. Worth 30 or 60 credits, these modules have been specially selected to develop your subject knowledge and study skills in preparation for further OU study.

List of available introductory Stage 1 modules

To complete this stage, you’ll choose a further 60 credits from any of our other Stage 1 modules. Many students focus broadly on one discipline, such as science or the humanities – but there’s nothing to stop you studying modules from entirely different subject areas. Whatever your choice, it will stretch your mind, fire your imagination and enhance your employability.

Complete list of available Stage 1 modules

The modules quoted in this description are currently available for study. However, as we review the curriculum on a regular basis, the exact selection may change over time. Note also that some modules are required to be studied in sequence.

Accessibility

We make all our qualifications as accessible as possible and have a comprehensive range of services to support all our students. The Certificate of Higher Education Open uses a variety of study materials and may have the following elements, depending on the modules you choose to study:

studying a mixture of printed and online material Online learning resources may include websites, audio/video media clips, and interactive activities such as online quizzes
using mathematical and scientific expressions, notations and associated techniques
working with specialist reading material such as works of art and musical manuscripts
working in a group with other students
using and/or producing diagrams and/or screenshots
undertaking practical work
finding external/third party material online
using specialist software (for example the Sibelius music writing package)
using an online Laboratory or Design/Engineering Studio.

All qualifications require you to complete learning and assessment activities within a required timescale and according to pre-determined deadlines. You will therefore need to manage your time effectively during your studies and the University will help you to develop this skill throughout your degree. Information on assessment will be available to you at the start of each module.

If you feel you may need additional support with any of the elements above, visit our disability page to find more about what we offer. Please contact us as soon as possible to discuss your individual requirements, so we can put arrangements in place before you start.

Learning outcomes, teaching and assessment

This qualification develops your learning in four main areas:

Knowledge and understanding
Cognitive skills
Practical and professional skills
Key skills

The level and depth of your learning gradually increases as you work through the qualification. You’ll be supported throughout by the OU’s unique style of teaching and assessment – which includes a personal tutor to guide and comment on your work; top quality course texts; e-learning resources like podcasts, interactive media and online materials; tutorial groups and community forums.

Read the detailed learning outcomes here

On completion

On completion of this undergraduate course, we'll award you the Certificate of Higher Education Open.

Recognition in your country

If you intend to use your Open University qualifications to seek work or undertake further study outside the UK, we recommend checking whether your intended qualification will meet local requirements for your chosen career. Read recognition in my country.

Regulations

As a student of The Open University, you should be aware of the content of the qualification-specific regulations below and the academic regulations that are available on our Essential Documents website.

Certificate of Higher Education Open

Entry requirements

There are no formal entry requirements to study this qualification.

This certificate begins with one of a range of key introductory modules, which are all designed to build a solid foundation for further study. Although they’re introductory modules, having some basic skills before you begin can help you get the best from your studies. For example, if you choose one of our science, maths or engineering modules you might want to check if your IT and mathematical skills are up to scratch. For the following subject areas, we offer online diagnostic tools to help you to decide if you’re ready, or if you could do with some extra preparation:

Mathematics
Science
Health science
Languages

How much time do I need?

Most of our students study part time, completing 60 credits a year.
This will usually mean studying for 16–18 hours a week.

Counting previous study

You could save time and money by reducing the number of modules you need to study towards this qualification, if you have:

already studied at university level (even if you didn't finish your studies)
other professional or vocational qualifications such as HNCs and HNDs

Find out more about credit transfer

Your next step

Call us on +44 300 303 0266 or book a call back. Our friendly team of advisers will discuss your study options with you, and help you decide on the best starting point for you.

In this section:: How much will it cost?; Ways to pay for your qualification and other support

How much will it cost in England?

We believe cost shouldn’t be a barrier to achieving your potential. That’s why we work hard to keep the cost of study as low as possible and have a wide range of flexible ways to pay to help spread, or even reduce, the cost.

Fees are paid on a module-by-module basis – you won't have to pay for the whole of your qualification up front.
A qualification comprises a series of modules, each with an individual fee. Added together, they give you the total cost.
If, like most OU students, you study part time at a rate of 60 credits a year, you'll take six years to complete an honours degree.
Our current fee for 60 credits is £2,864*.
Our current fee for 120 credits – which is equivalent to a year's full-time study – is £5,728*.
At current prices, the total cost of your qualification would be £5,728*.

*The fee information provided here is valid for modules starting before 31 July 2018. Fees normally increase annually in line with inflation and the University's strategic approach to fees.

Ways to pay for your qualification and other support

We know there’s a lot to think about when choosing to study, not least how you can pay. That’s why we offer a wide range of flexible payment and funding options to help make study more affordable. Options include Part-Time Tuition Fee Loans (also known as student loans), monthly payment plans and employer sponsorship.

We’re confident we can help you find an option that’s right for you.

Just answer these simple questions to find out more about the options available to you for courses starting before 31 July 2018.

To find out what funding options are available you need to tell us:

how many credits you want to study

if you already hold a degree

if your household is in receipt of benefits

about your household income

if you are employed

if you are a member of the British forces overseas

How many credits are you planning to study per year?

Credits

You will need [xxx] credits to complete this qualification.

30 credits per year means you will study 8 - 9 hours per week

60 credits per year means you will study 16 - 18 hours per week

Do you already hold a degree?

Yes, I already hold a degree

No, I do not hold a degree

Was your previous degree in the same subject you wish to study now?

Yes, it is in the same subject

No, it is in a different subject

Was it achieved in the last 5 years?

Yes, it was

No, it wasn't

Are you employed?

Yes, I'm employed

No, I'm not employed

Are you a member of British Forces Posted Overseas?

British Forces

If you have a BFPO address, you are only eligible for UK course fees if you are a currently serving member of the British armed forces, and you're temporarily and unavoidably working abroad. Other students using BFPO addresses should contact us on +44 (0)300 303 5303 for UK fee eligibility to be assessed.

Yes, I am a member of British Forces Posted Overseas

No, I am not a member of British Forces Posted Overseas

* The fee and funding information provided here is valid for courses starting before 31 July 2018. Fees normally increase in line with inflation and the University’s strategic approach to fees.

An OU qualification will always help you stand out from the crowd, now and in the future – whether you’re just starting out, developing your career, or changing direction entirely.

Skills for career development

A Certificate of Higher Education Open equips you with a wide range of expertise, skills and capabilities that are much sought after in today’s highly competitive job market. Whatever your choice of modules, this certificate will help you develop key transferable skills, which may include:

self management
team working
problem solving
communication and literacy
numeracy
application of information technology (IT).

Career relevance

The flexibility of our Certificate of Higher Education Open makes it relevant to a wide range of careers and industries – many of which do not require qualifications to be subject-specific. This certificate can help you to develop in your existing employment, or be the first step towards a whole new career. Its flexibility particularly suits people with multi-faceted work roles; and anyone needing to develop their skills, knowledge and understanding in their current job or future career path.

Exploring your options

Once you register with us (and for up to three years after you finish your studies), you’ll have full access to our careers service for a wide range of information and advice – including online forums, website, interview simulation, vacancy service as well as the option to email or speak to a careers adviser. Some areas of the careers service website are available for you to see now, including help with looking for and applying for jobs. You can also read more general information about how OU study enhances your career.

In the meantime if you want to do some research around this qualification and where it might take you, visit the graduate careers website Prospects for hundreds of job ideas.

Register for this course

Start dates

Feb 2018 - Registration closes 11/01/2018
Apr 2018 - Registration closes 15/03/2018

Download a brochure

Our brochures are your essential guide to studying with us, covering courses, fees and funding, career prospects and more.

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Overview

Certificate of Higher Education Open

Course Summary

Certificate

Course details

Stage 1 (120 credits)

Accessibility

Learning outcomes, teaching and assessment

On completion

Recognition in your country

Regulations

Entry requirements

How much time do I need?

Counting previous study

How much will it cost in England?

Ways to pay for your qualification and other support

How many credits are you planning to study per year?

Do you already hold a degree?

Was your previous degree in the same subject you wish to study now?

Was it achieved in the last 5 years?

Are you employed?

Are you a member of British Forces Posted Overseas?

Skills for career development

Career relevance

Exploring your options

Register for this course

Download a brochure

Bachelor degrees

Masters degrees

Degree subjects

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The Open University

Course details

Stage 1 (120 credits)

Accessibility

Learning outcomes, teaching and assessment

On completion

Recognition in your country

Regulations

Entry requirements

How much time do I need?

Counting previous study

Your next step

How much will it cost in England?

Ways to pay for your qualification and other support

How many credits are you planning to study per year?

Do you already hold a degree?

Was your previous degree in the same subject you wish to study now?

Was it achieved in the last 5 years?

Are you employed?

Are you a member of British Forces Posted Overseas?

Skills for career development

Career relevance

Exploring your options

Register for this course

Download a brochure

Bachelor degrees

Masters degrees

Degree subjects

Change language

Connect with us

Grundständige Studiengänge

Masterstudiengange

Grad

Sprache ändern

Connect with us

Where do you live?