Transform your career

With over 260,000 students, you have the opportunity to receive a globally respected UK degree from one of the world’s foremost distance education institutions. Studying with the OU is a great way to boost your career prospects. Many OU students study to develop themselves in their existing role, while others study with a complete change of career in mind. 

Click on the subject areas to see how The Open University can transform your career.

Career prospects

An Open University degree delivers outstanding career prospects. Whether you’re improving yourself for your current role or launching an exciting new career, with the OU, you’ll be the best you can be.

OU qualifications are highly valued by employers. 75% of the UK FTSE top 100 companies choose to train and educate their staff at the OU. 

A selection of our prestigious Business School sponsors:

                      

Case studies

Cognos, Lee Sterry - Business Manager

Why did you choose to study at The Open University?

When I joined Cognos I realised that whilst I knew the software very well, I didn’t know – that is, I didn’t speak – my customers’ language. I needed to understand the markets I was working in. So I decided to take an economics diploma with the OU. It was brilliant. Suddenly I knew what everyone was talking about, and it made me much more confident at work.

What did you study?

I’ve studied an economics diploma, the Professional Certificate in Management and then the Diploma in Management. All with The Open University.

How have your studies benefitted your career?

Partly as a result of my economics diploma, I was promoted to a managerial position at Cognos which meant leading a team. So I turned to the OU again, and signed up for the Professional Certificate in Management.

My studies at the OU have been invaluable to my job and my career. They’ve really helped me to develop particular skill sets which apply in my everyday work. What really pleases me is that the methodology taught in the Diploma – analysis, monitoring, a balanced scorecard, seeing how the organisation operates from the customer’s point of view – is exactly how Cognos works. That gave me confidence too, knowing that the methods taught are sanctioned by other organisations.

How has your employer responded to your studies?

My employer has been really supportive. Once they realised how my studies have developed me as a manager and the value it brings to my role, they paid for my courses!

What are you doing now?

I now lead a European team of Customer Success Managers - something I couldn’t have achieved without my success with the OU. Currently, I’m studying a business strategy course with the OU and looking at how Cognos operates as a whole, which can only help my career progression. 

What advice do you have for others thinking about OU study?

Signing up for the OU is one of the best things I’ve done as it’s opened up so many opportunities for me.

Irene Adler, General Manager of Global Marketing

Irene AdlerI come from Austria and hadn't studied economics nor technology and I am not in the banking sector either. So I guess I am not classic MBA material.

After A-levels I studied languages at a business academy in Vienna. Since 2001 I have been based in Germany and work in marketing and corporate communications for international mechanical engineering companies. After several years in management for Marketing Asia and Europe for Mori Seiki, a Japanese machine tool manufacturer, I was promoted to General Manager of Global Marketing in 2011.

I decided to do an MBA for two main reasons; I wanted to avoid “tunnel vision” in my day to day work whilst enhancing my ability to think outside the box. Plus I wished to broaden my general business knowledge and my leadership skills. In the end I chose The Open University Business School because I wanted to study in English and at a triple-accredited European business school. Despite being in a senior role, I managed to complete my MBA at The Open University in three years. Receiving the degree at London's Barbican Centre in March 2012 felt really great!

Because I’m on business trips most of the time, the flexibility of distance education is very handy, I did not need to lug heavy books around and often learned by downloading digital versions of the study materials onto my iPad or logging onto The Open University’s online study site. When I needed to talk to someone about my studies, I never felt alone. My tutors were there when I needed them, and I could exchange experiences with fellow students I met during tutorials in Munich and at several residential schooling sessions in Brussels. While travelling, I used e-mail, telephone or the OU’s online student platform to communicate. At home in Munich, I met fellow students several times to study together and also to occasionally socialise.

During my studies, Mori Seiki began a strategic partnership with a German machine tool manufacturer and I was appointed by our board to join the internal team that managed the merger and acquisition process. I was very proud to be charged with a task that goes beyond marketing. My MBA studies certainly played a major role in the appointment, in addition to my sound knowledge of the company, my language skills as well as my understanding of working between and with many different cultures.

The decision to study for an OU MBA was definitely the right choice; I have developed my knowledge beyond marketing which took my career to the next level and I have gained experience in an international global M&A process, being involved in corporate strategy first hand. After all, I was the first woman to be promoted to General Manager in the history of the company.

Nationwide Building Society, Matthew Groves - Senior Business Analyst

Why did you choose to study at The Open University?

I signed up with the OU because the structure of its learning programmes seemed to make sense. I’d been in financial services for a number of years and realised I’d need professional qualifications to further my career. I also needed to fit study round work, so the OU was really the best choice.

What did you study?

I’d started a degree at a campus-based university when I was younger and the OU awarded me 120 credits for that, so I only needed another 240 for a business studies degree. The courses I did were excellent. I’m a business analyst at Nationwide’s head office and the content of the courses was really relevant to my job. They tied in so well that I could apply what I’d learned to my work, while my job gave me great case studies to use in my assignments.

How have your studies benefitted your career?

My study at the OU has taught me how to analyse a business’ position and identify how to get to alternatives and solutions. My promotion to Senior Business Analyst was certainly helped by the knowledge and experience I gained with The OU and I’ve also received a company award because of my studies. 

How has your employer responded to your studies?

My OU study has certainly brought me benefits, but what I’ve learnt also brings value to my employers. They recognised this with my award.

What are you doing now?

I’m taking a break from my studies at the moment. I’ve recently become a father which gives me a new priority. But I remain a great believer in lifelong learning and the OU MBA is extremely suitable for my job, so I’ll be studying with the OU in the future.

What advice do you have for others thinking about OU study?

I’ve really enjoyed my OU experience. The quality of the materials and the positive impact on my career completely justified my decision to study with The OU. I’d recommend it to anyone.

Cognos, Lee Sterry - Business Manager

Why did you choose to study at The Open University?

When I joined Cognos I realised that whilst I knew the software very well, I didn’t know – that is, I didn’t speak – my customers’ language. I needed to understand the markets I was working in. So I decided to take an economics diploma with the OU. It was brilliant. Suddenly I knew what everyone was talking about, and it made me much more confident at work.

What did you study?

I’ve studied an economics diploma, the Professional Certificate in Management and then the Diploma in Management. All with The Open University.

How have your studies benefitted your career?

Partly as a result of my economics diploma, I was promoted to a managerial position at Cognos which meant leading a team. So I turned to the OU again, and signed up for the Professional Certificate in Management.

My studies at the OU have been invaluable to my job and my career. They’ve really helped me to develop particular skill sets which apply in my everyday work. What really pleases me is that the methodology taught in the Diploma – analysis, monitoring, a balanced scorecard, seeing how the organisation operates from the customer’s point of view – is exactly how Cognos works. That gave me confidence too, knowing that the methods taught are sanctioned by other organisations.

How has your employer responded to your studies?

My employer has been really supportive. Once they realised how my studies have developed me as a manager and the value it brings to my role, they paid for my courses!

What are you doing now?

I now lead a European team of Customer Success Managers - something I couldn’t have achieved without my success with the OU. Currently, I’m studying a business strategy course with the OU and looking at how Cognos operates as a whole, which can only help my career progression. 

What advice do you have for others thinking about OU study?

Signing up for the OU is one of the best things I’ve done as it’s opened up so many opportunities for me.

Irene Adler, General Manager of Global Marketing

Irene AdlerI come from Austria and hadn't studied economics nor technology and I am not in the banking sector either. So I guess I am not classic MBA material.

After A-levels I studied languages at a business academy in Vienna. Since 2001 I have been based in Germany and work in marketing and corporate communications for international mechanical engineering companies. After several years in management for Marketing Asia and Europe for Mori Seiki, a Japanese machine tool manufacturer, I was promoted to General Manager of Global Marketing in 2011.

I decided to do an MBA for two main reasons; I wanted to avoid “tunnel vision” in my day to day work whilst enhancing my ability to think outside the box. Plus I wished to broaden my general business knowledge and my leadership skills. In the end I chose The Open University Business School because I wanted to study in English and at a triple-accredited European business school. Despite being in a senior role, I managed to complete my MBA at The Open University in three years. Receiving the degree at London's Barbican Centre in March 2012 felt really great!

Because I’m on business trips most of the time, the flexibility of distance education is very handy, I did not need to lug heavy books around and often learned by downloading digital versions of the study materials onto my iPad or logging onto The Open University’s online study site. When I needed to talk to someone about my studies, I never felt alone. My tutors were there when I needed them, and I could exchange experiences with fellow students I met during tutorials in Munich and at several residential schooling sessions in Brussels. While travelling, I used e-mail, telephone or the OU’s online student platform to communicate. At home in Munich, I met fellow students several times to study together and also to occasionally socialise.

During my studies, Mori Seiki began a strategic partnership with a German machine tool manufacturer and I was appointed by our board to join the internal team that managed the merger and acquisition process. I was very proud to be charged with a task that goes beyond marketing. My MBA studies certainly played a major role in the appointment, in addition to my sound knowledge of the company, my language skills as well as my understanding of working between and with many different cultures.

The decision to study for an OU MBA was definitely the right choice; I have developed my knowledge beyond marketing which took my career to the next level and I have gained experience in an international global M&A process, being involved in corporate strategy first hand. After all, I was the first woman to be promoted to General Manager in the history of the company.

Nationwide Building Society, Matthew Groves - Senior Business Analyst

Why did you choose to study at The Open University?

I signed up with the OU because the structure of its learning programmes seemed to make sense. I’d been in financial services for a number of years and realised I’d need professional qualifications to further my career. I also needed to fit study round work, so the OU was really the best choice.

What did you study?

I’d started a degree at a campus-based university when I was younger and the OU awarded me 120 credits for that, so I only needed another 240 for a business studies degree. The courses I did were excellent. I’m a business analyst at Nationwide’s head office and the content of the courses was really relevant to my job. They tied in so well that I could apply what I’d learned to my work, while my job gave me great case studies to use in my assignments.

How have your studies benefitted your career?

My study at the OU has taught me how to analyse a business’ position and identify how to get to alternatives and solutions. My promotion to Senior Business Analyst was certainly helped by the knowledge and experience I gained with The OU and I’ve also received a company award because of my studies. 

How has your employer responded to your studies?

My OU study has certainly brought me benefits, but what I’ve learnt also brings value to my employers. They recognised this with my award.

What are you doing now?

I’m taking a break from my studies at the moment. I’ve recently become a father which gives me a new priority. But I remain a great believer in lifelong learning and the OU MBA is extremely suitable for my job, so I’ll be studying with the OU in the future.

What advice do you have for others thinking about OU study?

I’ve really enjoyed my OU experience. The quality of the materials and the positive impact on my career completely justified my decision to study with The OU. I’d recommend it to anyone.

What you will learn

The Open University offers a wide range of courses for undergraduate and postgraduate students, at a range of course levels (Degrees, Diplomas, Certificates and Short Courses).

The Open University will provide you with a degree respected everywhere – and an inspiring, challenging, rewarding experience you won't find anywhere else.

Visit the Courses section to look through the courses on offer.