News: Nottingham College joins forces with The Open University in a new era for university level training at College

Nottingham College has a long-standing reputation as a provider of degree-level education and training opportunities to those choosing to study within a college environment.

With small class sizes, one-to-one support and an established high quality package of support to those with additional learning needs Nottingham College offers an alternative pathway to higher education, with more than 600 students on a higher level programme at the College in any given year.

With more than 80 higher level study options, ranging from level 4 HNCs, Level 5 Foundation Degrees and full level 6 BA Honours degree qualifications, the College caters for a diverse range of students looking to improve their qualifications, gain a professional accreditation or re-train for a new career.

This year the College launches two Open University validated degree programmes – BA (Hons) Business and Management and BA (Hons) Applied Education Studies. Both programmes will be delivered at one of Nottingham College’s city centre campuses and offer fantastic stepping stones to rewarding careers in business and management or teaching/​education.

With this new partnership, Nottingham College students who successfully complete the above programmes (and any future OU validated programmes) are able to gain awards validated by one of the largest universities in Europe. 

Nottingham College intends to put forward additional programmes, in a range of creative and vocational areas, for OU validation, with an estimated start in September 2023. 

Janet Smith, Chief Executive and Principal of Nottingham College said:

The Open University was created over 50 years ago and is UK’s largest university with students of all ages and backgrounds. The University has pioneered distance learning and helped over 2 million people worldwide make their ambition a reality. The OU offers over 200 qualifications across a wide range of subjects, including postgraduate degrees, undergraduate honours degrees, certificates and diplomas, many accredited by leading professional bodies.

The Head of OU Validation Partnerships, Paul Beeby, said:

“We are delighted to welcome Nottingham College as an approved partner of The Open University (OU), to offer higher education programmes leading to OU validated awards. Partnerships like this, in their potential to extend our values of inclusiveness through widening access and participation, support the OU’s vision to provide life-changing learning that enriches society.”