Study materials and teaching methods
Our interactive teaching and multimedia materials and workbooks bring a new dimension to learning. The materials we provide are yours to keep and to refer to whenever you wish.
When your course starts, you'll receive course materials by post.
The materials we provide are internationally renowned, and of the highest quality, and they may include:
- specially written textbooks or workbooks
- online teaching materials
- audio CDs, DVDs and computer software
- equipment loaned for practical work – particularly for science and technology courses
These materials are yours to keep (except for equipment on loan). You will also get access to a course website where additional resources will be available. Sometimes there will be books you have to buy yourself or borrow from a local library, but we’re careful to limit the cost as far as we can.
You’ll get a study timetable that will help you plan your reading, activities and assignments, and you’ll get information about how and when your tutorials will take place, and when your examination will occur (assuming your course has one).
You'll get the most benefit if you study actively, so it is good practice to treat printed course materials as workbooks: write notes on them, highlight sections, underline key points, make notes on the pages, add comments, stick bits in.
As part of your study, you may need to spend time at a residential school. Most students say that this is one of the highlights of their learning experience.
Will I need a computer?
Undergraduate students
Using computers and the internet to enhance your study is an essential part of our undergraduate programmes. With the exception of some of our Openings courses, you’ll need regular and reliable access to the internet and a computer so that you can take full advantage of our online services, including online forums and our vast library, and get access to support from your tutor and fellow students.
All our courses have a course website that will help you to plan and organise your study and allow you to get involved with the University’s learning community – the largest in the world!
For most courses you will be expected to spend at least a couple of sessions a week working on computer-based activities and some of this work may be assessed. We’ll also ask you to provide an email address so that we can send you important information relevant to your studies. If you don’t have an email account of your own we can provide one for you.
Postgraduate students
Information and communication technology (ICT) plays a big part in our postgraduate programmes so you’ll need regular and reliable access to the internet and a computer to study with us.
You’ll find that collaboration with students and tutors via online workshops both supports and builds on your course materials. You’ll also be able to take full advantage of our online services, including an OU email account and the vast online OU Library.
See the Computing requirements section of your course description for further information, advice and support.
OpenLearn
You can also benefit from our exciting OpenLearn concept, which makes learning materials freely available on the internet and, through interaction, encourages an online community where materials and ideas are shared.
- You can find more information on our OpenLearn website.
