Welcome to The Open University

Welcome to The Open University

Welcome to The Open University This publication is also available to you in electronic format on your StudentHome website at www.open.ac.uk/students While we do everything we can to make sure the information in this publication is accurate, it may change due to amended regulations or policy, or because of financial or other restrictions. The Open University Walton Hall Milton Keynes MK7 6AA www.open.ac.uk

Contents Welcome to The Open University 3 Studying with the OU 4 Getting ready for study 15 Getting the most from your studies 21 Planning your studies 25 Developing your career 26 Your OU community 28 Your online resources 30 Getting in touch 32 Getting more details our policies and statements of service 36

2 Welcome to The Open University

Welcome to The Open University 3 Welcome to The Open University We are delighted that you have chosen to study with us. You will be in good company as you join a lively and friendly community of students, tutors and other staff from many different backgrounds. Some you will meet in person at tutorials and other organised occasions, some you will meet if you join any of the various clubs and societies, others through our vibrant virtual community. Together, we make up The Open University, which is globally recognised for its historic role in the world of higher education. Alongside teaching, research plays a vital role in our work. This research helps to keep your courses at the cutting edge. Our research projects include programmes in space science, knowledge transfer, climate prediction, and education development in Africa - to name just a few. We are proud of all these achievements. This booklet aims to help you to find out more about the community you are joining and to understand your role within it. It explains our teaching methods, the preparations you can make for study, and about the tools you can use to get the most from your studies. You should also look forward to receiving a special welcome issue of Sesame, our student magazine. We hope that you will spend some time reading through the booklet now and refer to it during your studies. Will Swann Director, Students

4 Studying with the OU Studying with the OU You ll study with us using our proven teaching method called supported Open Learning. This uses a mixture of specially produced media, including course texts and online resources, along with guidance from your tutor (or study adviser on some courses) to help you learn. You ll also get advice and support from Learner Support teams based in our regional and national centres and at our headquarters in Milton Keynes. We use the Open Learning because forty years of experience and the three million people who ve studied with us tell us that our approach to learning works. Your course materials Course materials can include books and study guides, online resources, audio CDs, CD-ROMs, DVDs, computer software and home experiment kits. Your course description will tell you what materials you ll get and your course or study guide will explain how to use them. Your course materials will arrive shortly before your course begins. Your StudentHome website The StudentHome website is your main gateway to online information and facilities for study, resources for your course and to find out about the OU community. Here are some essential things for you to do on StudentHome before your course starts: check your personal contact details are up-to-date on your Profile page; access your email messages and if you have a personal email address you d prefer to use, let us know on your Profile page; find out the contact details for the Learner Support team for your course on the Course Website and Record page;

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6 Studying with the OU check when your course materials will arrive, details of your tutor (or study adviser) and dates for any tutorials on the Course Website and Record page*; access your course website, where you can look at your study planner and online materials on the Course Website and Record page*; look at the Study Support page for links to resources to help you get started with your studies. * Please note that information about your tutor (or study adviser), any tutorials and access to your course website is usually only available shortly before your course starts. StudentHome contains a wealth of online resources to help you to get ready for study and for you to use throughout your time studying with us. Take a few minutes to familiarise yourself with what is available and if you need any help to find specific resources please contact your Learner Support team. You ll also get your own OU email address which we ll use to keep in touch with you - or instead you can give us the email address you d prefer us to use. We ll be communicating essential information to you through email, so it is extremely important that you provide us with an email address that you check regularly. Logging on to StudentHome You will find your StudentHome website at www.open.ac.uk/students. To log on you ll need to use your OU computer username (made up of your initials followed by a number, such as abc1234) and your password. You will find these in the letter you received to confirm your course registration - normally posted with this booklet. If you lose these details just follow the instructions you see on the screen when you re asked to sign in. If you have any difficulties logging on to StudentHome contact our Computing Helpdesk by phoning +44 (0)1908 653972 or emailing OU-computing-helpdesk@open.ac.uk. If you don t have access to the internet contact the Learner Support team at the regional or national centre nearest you for advice. These are listed on pages 32 to 34. If you are new to computing, take a look at pages 17 to 18 to find ways to help yourself get off to a good start.

Studying with the OU 7 Supporting you in your studies Your tutor Just before your course begins, details about your tutor (or study adviser on some courses) will be made available to you via StudentHome. Your tutor will be your first contact for help with any course-related or study issues. Depending on the arrangements for your course, your tutor will support you by: guiding you in your studies and helping you to understand the content of the course;

8 Studying with the OU providing constructive feedback on your assignments; giving tutorial support (see Your tutorial support below), which gives you the chance to improve your understanding of course materials and exchange ideas with other students; giving you advice on setting up a study group with other students; monitoring your progress on the course; and helping you to prepare for your exam or end-of-course assessment (if your course has one). Your tutor will contact you around the beginning of your course to let you know how and when they ll be available. If your course support is given by a study adviser or a team of study advisers, they will be your first contact for help about any course-related or study issues. For other issues such as careers information or financial support you should contact your Learner Support team. Your tutorial support The type of tutorial support you ll get depends on your course, how many other students there are in your group and where they all live. It can include face-to-face group meetings or tutorials by phone or the use of online forums. Online forums are electronic discussions where you, your tutor and other students exchange messages on specific topics. Many courses have a mix of all three. Some courses don t have tutorials, and in these cases you can contact your tutor for advice or post questions on the online forum (if your course has one). Tutorials, whether face to face or online, are usually based on current coursework and your tutor will guide the sessions to help you and other students get the most out of them. Face-to-face tutorials could include anything from pair or group activities, group discussions and small group projects to practical sessions, demonstrations and field visits, depending on the type of course. Take part in as many tutorials as you can they ll add so much to your learning experience. They re a great opportunity to exchange ideas with other people and improve your understanding of the course materials. If your course does include face-to-face group tutorials or day schools (or both) you will get details on your StudentHome website just before

Studying with the OU 9 your course starts. If you can t make it to any of your tutorials you ll be able to look for other tutorials via the Course Website and Record page of StudentHome, or check with your Learner Support team. You can also talk to your tutor about what sort of individual support they might be able to give you, or contact your Learner Support team to find out what can be offered. Some courses have tutorials using online forums. These could be scheduled for a set time (like a face-to-face tutorial) but more often they run over a longer period so you can join in whenever is best for you. Some courses use online audio-conferencing, where you can talk to your tutor and other students and take part in activities or discussions in a similar way to a face-to-face group. If your course has online tuition, your course materials will tell you how online forums work on your course. You can get access to your online forums through StudentHome and there will normally be a link on your course website. Your Learner Support team If you have any questions or concerns while you are studying with us, your Learner Support team will be happy to help you. Sometimes your tutor will refer you to your Learner Support team for specialist advice. Your Learner Support team is able to provide you with information and advice on a wide range of issues, including: developing your study skills; information about tutorial arrangements; support if you have a disability or additional requirement; financial support (if you find you re struggling to meet some of the costs associated with your OU study); what to do if you are getting behind with your studies; information and support for examinations; specialist advice about choosing your courses and planning a programme of study; educational and careers guidance.

10 Studying with the OU If you aren t sure who you need to speak to about something, contact your Learner Support team for guidance. Many staff in these teams will have first hand experience of studying with us. Support is delivered by specialist teams normally based in one of our national or regional centres. You can find out the contact details for the Learner Support team for your specific course on the Course Website and Record page of StudentHome. If you have any problem accessing this information, contact the regional or national centre closest to you for advice (see pages 32 to 34). Your library As an OU student you have access to a world-class online library. The OU Library website at www.open.ac.uk/library makes information available to you via the internet rather than you having to visit in person. This means you can access quality information 24 hours a day, seven days a week, whenever you need it and wherever you are. The website acts as a gateway to a wide range of online information resources to support your learning. These resources include thousands of ejournals for accessing up-to-date articles in your subject area, ebooks and databases of reference material and multimedia resources. The resources available through the OU Library website are specially selected and quality assured. They could be extremely useful for investigating subjects or in-depth research, providing information for your assignments or projects, background and further reading for your course or for keeping up to date with your subject. If you are taking a postgraduate course, or an undergraduate course that involves project work, you are likely to need to use library resources. If you are new to using the online library there is an online tour of the digital library service. The Library guide will give you an overview of the services and resources and some hints on getting started. The Library Services Helpdesk Team can also give you advice on how to use these materials either online, by phoning +44 (0)1908 659001 or by emailing library-help@open.ac.uk

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12 Studying with the OU If you have a disability or additional requirements If you have a disability, health condition, mental health disability or specific learning difficulty (such as dyslexia), you may feel that you ll need extra support in your studies. You will find relevant advice and guidance on our Services for disabled students website at www.open.ac.uk/disability Our booklet Meeting Your Needs is also available on the Services for disabled students website, or you can get a copy from our Student Registration & Enquiry Service. It explains some of the ways we can help you and contains a form to tell us what you need. Your regional or national centre has a Disability and Additional Requirements Team who you can talk to about your needs. We will treat as confidential any sensitive information you give us. More information about the support we can offer is available on our Services for disabled students website. If you live in the UK, you may be able to get a public grant called the Disabled Students Allowance (DSA). This aims to cover the extra costs of studying in higher education (for example, for specialist equipment) that might arise because of your disability, medical condition or specific learning difficulty. If you d like more information and advice or an application form, contact the DSA Office (see page 35). If you re in Scotland, contact The OU in Scotland. If you are eligible for a DSA the OU will only provide study support that cannot be provided by a DSA. If you speak English as an additional language Most courses have large amounts of reading to do and regular assignments to submit. You may need to allow extra time for your studies if you speak English as an additional language or were educated in a language other than English. Once you start your course please let your tutor know if you have any difficulties in understanding or writing English. We can offer advice about resources and strategies that can help. Our English for learning area at www.open.ac.uk/skillsforstudy/englishfor-learning provides guidance and activities to help you improve your English skills and to find out how academic English is used in our courses.

Studying with the OU 13 Financial support If you find that you have higher than expected costs or you face serious financial problems while you are studying with us, contact the Financial Support Office (see page 35), The OU in Scotland (if you live in Scotland) or The OU in the North (if you live in continental Europe). We will be able to advise on any sources of financial support that may be available to you. You can see full details of the various sources of help on the Help with paying for study pages of our online prospectus, the Study at the OU website, at www.open.ac.uk/study Do you have caring responsibilities? If you have caring responsibilities our booklet Studying while you care provides information about the support available. If you would like a copy, please contact our Student Registration & Enquiry Service or visit www.open.ac.uk/studying-while-you-care

14 Getting ready for study

Getting ready for study 15 Getting ready for study This may be the first time you ve studied since leaving school or you may have already studied at undergraduate or postgraduate level, perhaps in a different subject area. Either way, it s important that you re ready for your first OU course. You ll find there s lots of useful information and advice on the Study Support page of StudentHome in the Where do I begin? section of Learning with the OU, also at www.open.ac.uk/learning Give yourself time Most of our students study part time, fitting it in around work and other commitments. As everyone studies at a different pace, it s difficult to say exactly how many hours you ll need to complete your course. For example, we recommend that you need to allow at least sixteen hours a week if you are studying a 60-point course over nine months. Be realistic, plan ahead and give yourself enough time. It s also a good idea to work out when you study best. Before your course starts, you could try setting yourself a task for example, reading a novel or learning a new skill. Plan time for this, and notice if you find it easier to study in the morning or evening and if you work better for longer or shorter periods. Try to use your best times for the most challenging things when you need the most concentration for example, reading complex texts or writing assignments. If you fall behind with your studies at some stage during the course it s very important to get in touch with your Learner Support team to find out what further support might be available. We can help you assess your progress and advise you on what you need to do to pass your course. Get organised Make sure you have somewhere to keep your OU paperwork (this can range from a number of books and other media to some printed sheets plus your own notes and assignments). If you re going to work mostly online, you ll need to plan how to store and back up your electronic files.

16 Getting ready for study It pays to think about this before your course starts so that you don t have to worry about it later, when you re in the middle of studying. Ideally, you ll need a desk or a table where you can spread out your papers and books and have room to write or use a computer, or possibly set up an experiment. You ll also need good lighting and, preferably, some peace and quiet. Think about where you will do your OU study - maybe you could use a corner of the kitchen or a bedroom. Sometimes, a quiet space in your local library can be a useful alternative to studying at home. Involve your friends and family Of course, your studying will affect the people around you, so it s a good idea to get family and friends involved right from the start they can be a great source of support. Show them our Friends and family website at www.open.ac.uk/family if you think it would help.

Getting ready for study 17 Develop your computer skills Using a computer and the internet to enhance your study is an integral part of our study programmes, and we expect to be able to communicate online with all our students. For many courses you ll need regular access to a computer and the internet. Even if this isn t essential for your current course, you ll benefit from being able to take full advantage of our online services and communicate with others in OU community. You will normally receive information about the computer specification and online requirements for your particular course with your course registration details. For further information, advice and support please contact the Student Registration & Enquiry Service, your Learner Support team or go to www.open.ac.uk/personal-computing If you haven t used a computer before, any spare time you have before your course starts is an ideal time to learn - there s lots of information and support available. If you don t have access to a suitable computer, your local library or learning centre may be able to help. You can ask the regional or national centre closest to you about learning centres that provide computer access. You can use a computer to: word process your assignments and course notes; submit your assignments online, where this is appropriate; send and receive email; take part in online forums both for your course and also on topics such as managing your time, choosing your next course or developing your career; access your personal record and online course material; and visit online forums run by the Open University Students Association (OUSA). If you have some computer experience but are new to the internet, there are many excellent online resources available free of charge. For example, the BBC s online tutorial at www.bbc.co.uk/webwise will help you to become a confident internet user. For help in using a computer for OU study a good starting point is our Computing Guide at www.open.ac.uk/computingguide. Our websites

18 Getting ready for study PC4Study at www.open.ac.uk/pc4study and Web Guide at www.open.ac.uk/webguide will also help you get the most out of your computer during your studies. Prepare yourself for study To give yourself the best possible start with your studies and to develop your study skills look on the Study Support page of StudentHome at the Skills for OU Study website, also at www.open.ac.uk/skillsforstudy (and see page 22). Our Skills for OU Study website provides a range of resources and activities to help you with your studies

Getting ready for study 19 Find out about your course There are other things you can do to get ready for your course. Do any recommended preparatory reading before your course starts (the course description on the Study at the OU website at www.open.ac.uk/study will give information on this, if applicable). Get hold of any set books or recommended texts (you will have received details of any set books that aren t supplied with your course materials). If you haven t already visited the Course tasters section of our Study at the OU website at www.open.ac.uk/courses/tasters look here to see if there are any sample materials for your course available online. Find out from your Learner Support team if they re holding any activities or events that would help you prepare. And shortly before your course starts Look through the course materials as they arrive. They contain lots of useful items that you can look at before your course starts. Your course or study guide will give you an overview of the course, its ideas and themes. It will also tell you about the learning materials you will use, and provide advice and guidance on how to approach each section of the material. View your course calendar or study planner this will give you an idea of the amount of study time required. It is important that you are able to allocate enough time to your study. The time you take will also depend on why you are studying and what you want to get out of it as well as your familiarity with the subject and the activities required of you. Complete any preparatory work and, if possible, make an early start on your course work. Look at your course website on StudentHome.

20 Getting the most from your studies

Getting the most from your studies 21 Getting the most from your studies Here are some ideas on how you can make the best of your study time and get the most out of your studies. Active learning The more involved you are with your course, the more you ll get out of it. That means thinking about and questioning what you learn as you go along and testing out new information and ideas. It may mean: highlighting passages and making notes in your set texts; doing exercises or experiments; answering questions; working on figures and formulas; listening to audio material; and watching visual materials on DVD. The more involved you are, the more useful information you ll have to go back to when you re doing your assignments or revising for your exam. Learning from assignments For most courses you ll need to complete a number of assignments that you send in by specific dates. Some are marked by your tutor ( tutormarked assignments or TMAs) and others are marked by computer (CMAs). On many courses you can send your assignments to us using the internet (these are known as etmas and ecmas). Although these will be graded and usually count towards your final continuous assessment score, there s much more to them than that. They re also a very important part of your learning. They test how far you understand and can use the information, skills and ideas covered in the course materials.

22 Getting the most from your studies Help is available on the Study Support page of StudentHome the Skills for OU Study website, also at www.open.ac.uk/skillsforstudy has tips on preparing and writing assignments. Your course materials will also include guidance about what s expected for each assignment, and your tutor can give you guidance and advice about preparing and completing your assignments. Your tutor will also give you detailed feedback on your assignments. It s a good idea to pay close attention to this as you can learn a lot from their comments. Working on an assignment is a valuable part of your learning. Skills for OU study Everyone studies differently, so try a few strategies to find out what works best for you. Our Skills for OU Study website provides guidance and a range of resources with activities and video clips. You ll find advice on areas such as: Assignments how to prepare for them and how you can improve your writing skills. Develop effective study strategies this provides tips on how to review and develop your learning strategies, how to reflect on what you have learnt and what you need to work on, and how to manage your time whilst studying. Thinking, reading and taking notes tips on how to develop your critical thinking skills, active techniques that will enable you to be more focused when undertaking your reading and how to make well organised notes. Working with others you ll have regular contact with your tutor and many opportunities to work with other students through face-to-face tutorials, online forums and with some courses, at residential schools. Revising, exams and assessment this includes information on how to prepare yourself for different types of exam and assessment, how to go about revision and different revision techniques that you may find useful.

Getting the most from your studies 23 We can also recommend some very good books to help you to develop your study skills. A. Northedge (2005), The Good Study Guide, Open University. For arts and humanities students E. Chambers and A. Northedge (2008), The Arts Good Study Guide, Open University. For language students S. Hurd and L. Murphy (2005), Success with Languages, RoutledgeFalmer. For management students S. Tyler (2007), The Manager s Good Study Guide, Open University. For mathematics students H. Cooke (2002), Success with Mathematics, RoutledgeFalmer. For science, technology and engineering students A. Northedge, J. Thomas, A. Lane and A. Peasgood (1997), The Sciences Good Study Guide, Open University. These are available in libraries or from bookshops. You can buy the Good Study Guides online from the Open University Learning Resources website at www.ouw.co.uk. On some courses these books may be part of the course materials so please check your course description first. Self-help study groups We know from experience that working with your fellow students in selfhelp study groups can be a great boost to your learning. You could either meet face to face or communicate by email or phone. Many students like to keep in touch with other students on the same course by contributing to online forums run by the Open University Students Association (OUSA). You can get access to these via the OU Study Rooms link on on the OU Life page of your StudentHome website.

24 Planning your studies

Planning your studies 25 Planning your studies Whether you re studying simply for interest and enjoyment or aiming for a qualification to get ahead in your career, we can help you make the right choices. It s never too early to be thinking about what course you might like to study next or to plan a qualification. During your first course, we ll send you information to help you think about what you might like to study next. You can also find more information by looking at our online prospectus, Study at the OU website at www.open.ac.uk/study. And you re always welcome to contact our Student Registration & Enquiry Service (see page 35) to discuss your options and longer term study plans. If you are in Ireland, contact The OU in Ireland. If you are in Scotland, contact The OU in Scotland. If you are in continental Europe, contact The OU in the North. The contact details for these centres are given on page 34. The regional or national centre nearest to you may hold advice sessions so that you can meet and talk to staff and other students face to face. You can also look at samples of course materials to give you an idea of what s on offer. We ll send you information about what s going on in your area, or you can look for details of local events at www.open.ac.uk/events Transferring credit If you ve already successfully completed some study at higher-education level (that is, above GCE A level, Scottish Highers, Advanced Highers, ONC, Abitur, Baccalaureate, NVQ 3 or the equivalent), you may be able to count this towards your OU qualification. For more information, look at our Credit Transfer website at www.open.ac.uk/credit-transfer or contact our Credit Transfer Centre (see page 35). It s a good idea to check this as early as possible, as it could affect your choice of courses towards certain qualifications.

26 Developing your career Developing your career If you re studying to get ahead in your career or to change to a new one, you ve come to the right place. You ll be pleased to know that employers think very highly of our qualifications and they value the personal qualities such as energy and commitment demonstrated by OU students. But more than that, we can help you make the choices that will take you in the right direction. Good advice You can get a wide range of careers information from our award winning Careers Advisory Service website at www.open.ac.uk/careers (voted Higher Education Careers Service Website of the Year in 2008). It covers all aspects of planning your career, from analysing your potential and choosing courses appropriate to your career goals to finding and applying for jobs. It will tell you about the value of OU study in the world of work including video clips of employers talking about the skills they value in OU students and a section showcasing employers with a particular interest in recruiting from the OU. You can also access our online vacancy service and practise your interview skills with an interview simulation exercise. Our specialist careers advisers can advise you on all issues related to planning your career, including job hunting, producing a CV or going for interviews. You can contact them by email from the careers website or by phoning your Learner Support team. We also run online forums. These are interactive discussions on popular topics such as teaching, psychology and science, where you can ask careers advisers a question and receive replies from them and support from other students. There is more information about this on our Careers Advisory Service website. Our publication OU study and your career outlines the career benefits of OU study and issues to consider when choosing your courses with career goals in mind. Our Career planning & job seeking workbook takes you in depth through the whole process of career planning and applying for jobs. Both publications are accessible from our careers website or on request from your Learner Support team.

Developing your career 27 Recognising success Many professional organisations recognise OU courses and qualifications and allow you to count them towards membership. Our information leaflets about professional recognition are available at www.open.ac.uk/recognition or from our Student Registration & Enquiry Service.

28 Your OU community Your OU community Our magazine Sesame Each issue of our student magazine Sesame has news, views and articles about all aspects of OU life. There is also a special edition for new students which is usually mailed with this booklet. Your daily news service Another way to keep up to date is to install our OU Life screensaver on your computer. It only takes a couple of minutes through the Sesame screensaver website at www.open.ac.uk/oulifescreensaver Your social media websites Platform is an OU website featuring content ranging from blogs and forums to OU academic comment on current news. And it won t just be articles you can enjoy there are also videos and podcasts. You re also given the chance to contribute to the site through commenting on content, voting in polls, posting messages in forums and lots more. Get on board by registering at www.open.ac.uk/platform (please note that you ll need to set up a new account as you can t use your OU computer username and password to sign in). If you are a user of the social networking website Facebook you might also like to join the Open University network to meet fellow students. You can access Facebook via the OU Life page of StudentHome. The Open University Students Association (OUSA) As a new student, you automatically become a member of OUSA there s no subscription charge. You can opt out of being a member if you want. OUSA is there to represent your views both inside and outside the OU. It campaigns for a fair deal for all OU students by working through a democratic structure of elected officers and representatives who are also students. There s an annual conference and a network of local branches, both in

Your OU community 29 the UK and abroad, many of which run social events that you re welcome to join. OUSA also runs its own limited company selling OU-styled products, study aids and past examination papers. And it has set up a separate charity, the Open University Student Educational Trust (OUSET), to help students in financial need. If you need informal help on any aspect of being an OU student, you can contact OUSA: online through its website at www.ousa.org.uk through its confidential online Peer Support service; by joining one of its online discussion forums; or by phoning, writing to or emailing the OUSA Office at Walton Hall, Milton Keynes (see page 35).

30 Your online resources Your online resources For quick reference, the list below includes all the OU websites mentioned in this booklet. Most of these websites are also accessible via your StudentHome website at www.open.ac.uk/students Your course Mailing dates for course materials Course assessment Student and tutor course reviews Study at the OU our online prospectus Tasters of course material www.open.ac.uk/despatch www.open.ac.uk/assessment www.open.ac.uk/coursereviews www.open.ac.uk/study www.open.ac.uk/courses/tasters Study support resources and services English as an additional language Study skills Learning with the OU tools and resources to help you develop your learning skills OU Library Services for disabled students Studying while you care Financial support www.open.ac.uk/skillsforstudy/ english-for-learning www.open.ac.uk/skillsforstudy www.open.ac.uk/learning www.open.ac.uk/library www.open.ac.uk/disability www.open.ac.uk/ studying-while-you-care www.open.ac.uk/financialsupport

Your online resources 31 Credit transfer (from previous study) Professional recognition of OU courses and qualifications Careers Advisory Service Events to help you choose your next course Policy documents for students Information for friends and family www.open.ac.uk/credit-transfer www.open.ac.uk/recognition www.open.ac.uk/careers www.open.ac.uk/events www.open.ac.uk/our-student-policies www.open.ac.uk/family Computing Computing Helpdesk Computing specification for your course Computing Guide Using your PC for study Web guide tips and advice for using the web effectively www.open.ac.uk/students/helpdesk www.open.ac.uk/personal-computing www.open.ac.uk/computingguide www.open.ac.uk/pc4study www.open.ac.uk/webguide OU community Academic faculties and schools OU Students Association Sesame magazine online Platform social networking site OU life screensaver www.open.ac.uk/our-faculties www.ousa.org.uk www.open.ac.uk/sesame www.open.ac.uk/platform www.open.ac.uk/oulifescreensaver

32 Getting in touch Getting in touch You ll have access to a specialist Learner Support team normally based in one of our national or regional centres (but not necessarily in the centre geographically closest to you). To find out which centre is supporting you, log on to StudentHome and the contact details for your Learner Support team are given on the Course Website and Record page. If you have any problem accessing this information contact the regional or national centre closest to you for advice. Learner Support teams are available Monday to Friday 08:30 to 17:00 (UK time). Outside our normal office hours, you can phone our advice line on 0870 333 1444 (Monday to Friday 17:00 to 20:00, and Saturdays 09:00 to 17:00). (Calls to this line from the UK are charged at the national rate.) If you are in the UK armed forces with a British Forces Post Office (BFPO) address, your either Learner Support team is located at the following centre: The OU in Yorkshire (for Cyprus), The OU in the West Midlands (for the rest of the world), or The OU in the North if you are studying any of the business and management courses. Regional and national centres The Open University in London 1 11 Hawley Crescent Camden Town London NW1 8NP Phone: +44 (0)20 7485 6596 Fax: +44 (0)20 7556 6196 Email: london@open.ac.uk Area covered Greater London The Open University in the South Foxcombe Hall Boars Hill Oxford OX1 5HR Phone: +44 (0)1865 736032 Textphone: +44 (0)1865 486202 Fax: +44 (0)1865 736288 Email: south@open.ac.uk Area covered Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, Channel Islands, Dorset, Hampshire, Isle of Wight, Oxfordshire, part of Wiltshire (including Salisbury)

Getting in touch 33 The Open University in the South West 4 Portwall Lane Bristol BS1 6ND Phone: +44 (0)117 925 9336 Fax: +44 (0)117 988 8067 Email: south-west@open.ac.uk Area covered Bristol, Cornwall, Devon, Gloucestershire, Somerset, Isles of Scilly, most of Wiltshire (except Salisbury) The Open University in the West Midlands 66 High Street Harborne Birmingham B17 9NB Phone: +44 (0)121 426 3539 Textphone: +44 (0)121 428 3513 Fax: +44 (0)121 427 9484 Email: west-midlands@open.ac.uk Area covered Herefordshire, Worcestershire, Shropshire, most of Staffordshire, Warwickshire, West Midlands, BFPO (except Cyprus) The Open University in the East Midlands Clarendon Park Clumber Avenue Sherwood Rise Nottingham NG5 1AH Phone: +44 (0)115 962 5451 Textphone: +44 (0)115 971 5507 Fax: +44 (0)115 971 5575 Email: east-midlands@open.ac.uk Area covered Leicestershire, Lincolnshire, most of Derbyshire, Northamptonshire, Nottinghamshire, Rutland, part of Staffordshire (Burton-on-Trent area) The Open University in the East of England Cintra House 12 Hills Road Cambridge CB2 1PF Phone: +44 (0)1223 361851 Fax: +44 (0)1223 355207 Email: east-of-england@open.ac.uk Area covered Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire, Essex, Hertfordshire, Norfolk, Suffolk The Open University in Yorkshire 2 Trevelyan Square Boar Lane Leeds LS1 6ED Phone: +44 (0)113 234 1225 Fax: +44 (0)113 234 1862 Email: yorkshire@open.ac.uk Area covered North, South and West Yorkshire, Hull and the East Riding of Yorkshire, BFPO Cyprus The Open University in the North West 351 Altrincham Road Sharston Manchester M22 4UN Phone: +44 (0)161 998 7272 Fax: +44 (0)161 945 3356 Email: north-west@open.ac.uk Area covered Cheshire, part of Derbyshire, Isle of Man, Lancashire, Greater Manchester, Merseyside

34 Getting in touch The Open University in the North Baltic Business Quarter Abbots Hill Gateshead NE8 3DF Phone: +44 (0)191 477 6100 Fax: +44 (0)191 202 6968 Textphone: +44 (0)191 284 8449 Email: north@open.ac.uk (if you live in the UK) Email: europe@open.ac.uk (if you live in continental Europe) Area covered Cumbria, Durham, Northumberland, Teesside, Tyne and Wear, continental Europe (except the Republic of Ireland) The Open University in Wales 18 Custom House Street Cardiff CF10 1AP Phone: +44 (0)29 2047 1170 Fax: +44 (0)29 2038 8132 Email: wales@open.ac.uk Area covered Wales <RXFDQFRQWDFWWKLVRI FHLQHLWKHU English or Welsh. Gallwch gysylltu â r swyddfa hon yn Gymraeg neu Saesneg. The Open University in Scotland 10 Drumsheugh Gardens Edinburgh EH3 7QJ Phone: +44 (0)131 226 3851 Fax: +44 (0)131 220 6730 Email: scotland@open.ac.uk Area covered Scotland The Open University in Ireland 40 University Road Belfast BT7 1SU Phone: +44 (0)28 90 323718 Fax: +44 (0)28 9023 0565 Email: ireland@open.ac.uk Dublin Enquiry and Advice Centre Holbrook House Holles Street Dublin 2 Phone: +353 (0)1 678 5399 Fax: +353 (0)1 678 5442 Email: ireland@open.ac.uk Area covered Ireland The Open University in the South East St James s House 150 London Road East Grinstead RH19 1HG Phone: +44 (0)1342 322642 Fax: +44 (0)1342 317411 Email: south-east@open.ac.uk Area covered Kent, Surrey, East Sussex, West Sussex

Other useful addresses 35 Other useful addresses Credit Transfer Centre The Open University PO Box 80 Walton Hall Milton Keynes MK7 6AS Phone: +44 (0)1908 653077 Fax: +44 (0)1908 654918 Email: credit-transfer@open.ac.uk Disabled Students Allowance '6$2I FH The Open University Walton Hall Milton Keynes MK7 6AA Phone: +44 (0)1908 654136 Textphone: +44 (0)1908 659955 Fax: +44 (0)1908 659956 Email: DSA-queries@open.ac.uk )LQDQFLDO6XSSRUW2I FH The Open University PO Box 6055 Walton Hall Milton Keynes MK10 1NH Phone: +44 (0)1908 653411 Fax: +44 (0)1908 654914 Email: general-enquiries@open.ac.uk OU Computing Helpdesk The Open University Walton Hall Milton Keynes MK7 6AA Phone: +44 (0)1908 653972 Fax: +44 (0)1908 652193 Email: OU-computing-helpdesk@ open.ac.uk Student Registration & Enquiry Service The Open University PO Box 197 Milton Keynes MK7 6BJ Phone: +44 (0)845 300 60 90 Fax: +44 (0)1908 654914 Email: general-enquiries@open.ac.uk The Open University Library and Learning Resources Centre Walton Hall Milton Keynes MK7 6AA Phone: +44 (0)1908 659001 Fax: +44 (0)1908 653571 Email: library-help@open.ac.uk Open University Students Association (OUSA) The Open University PO Box 397 Walton Hall Milton Keynes MK7 6BE Phone: +44 (0)1908 652026 Fax: +44 (0)1908 654326 Email: ousa@student.open.ac.uk

36 Getting more details - our policies and statements of service Getting more details our policies and statements of service We are committed to developing and improving how we support our students, and welcome any comments or ideas you may have. You can look at our regulations, policies and statements of service on your StudentHome website or ask your Learner Support team for copies. Our statements of service cover: careers advice; complaints; questions and appeals against our decisions; support for disabled students; general student support and guidance; and equal opportunities. If you have a problem with any of our services, please let us know as soon as possible so that we can put things right quickly. As a first step you should get in touch with the area that provided the service. But if you are not sure who to contact, your Learner Support team will help.

Welcome to The Open University The Open University Walton Hall Milton Keynes MK7 6AA www.open.ac.uk The Open University is incorporated by Royal Charter (RC 000391), an exempt charity in England and Wales and a charity registered in Scotland (SC 038302). The Open University Student Services The Open University Student Services is accredited against the matrix quality standard for information, advice and guidance services. Copyright The Open University SUP 003696