Description
This version of the Certificate of Higher Education Open is only available until 31 December 2019.
The version of this qualification (with a code of T09) introduced in 2012, continues to be offered by the OU for the foreseeable future.
For information on study choices go to our student Help Centre.
The Open University’s unique Open Programme is one of the most flexible undergraduate programmes in the UK. This nationally recognised Certificate of Higher Education Open (Open CertHE) - the first step of the programme - allows you to choose Level 1 modules from any of our undergraduate subjects. If you’re uncertain right now of where your future lies, the Open CertHE is perfect. You can keep an open mind throughout, follow your interests and maybe stretch your mind to study a module that’s completely different from anything you’ve ever considered before. You can focus your studies in just one subject or combine modules from more than one subject – the choice is yours. With an Open CertHE you will learn important study skills, get a thorough grounding in your chosen subject(s) and become a confident distance learner, while completing study equivalent to the first year of a full-time degree.
The Open CertHE also forms the Level 1 requirement of the Diploma of Higher Education (Open) (E60). These two qualifications provide a study route to a range of degrees including an Open degree (BD).
Planning your studies
There are no entry requirements for the Open CertHE but you must be suitably prepared for study at higher education level.
Whether or not you are new to study or to the OU, we recommend that you start with a Level 1 module. Level 1 modules provide core subject knowledge and study skills needed for both higher education and distance learning, to help you progress to modules at Level 2.
Please be aware of the University’s unique study rule which requires you gain one third of new credits for each new qualification claimed. For this Open CertHE you must include at least 40 credits from OU modules that have not been counted in any other OU qualification you have been awarded.
We expect most students to take at least two years to complete this qualification studying part-time.
Career relevance and employability
The flexibility of the Open Programme means that a range of careers and industries are open to you. Many graduates choose to enter careers that are not directly related to the subject(s) they studied and this is reflected in the fact that around 70 per cent of graduate jobs are open to graduates of any discipline. What makes Open programme students stand out is the rich view of the world they develop, the perspectives they encounter and the range of skills they develop from having studied a diverse range of subjects.
Regardless of what you choose to study, the Open CertHE will let you successfully develop a range of transferable skills including:
- adaptability and flexibility
- problem solving
- communication and literacy
- numeracy
- information technology (IT).
There is more information about how OU study can improve your employability in the OU’s Employability Statement from our Careers Advisory Service. You can also read or download our publication OU study and your career and look at our subject pages to find out about career opportunities.
Modules
For this 120-credit certificate we recommend that you study:
60 credits from the following optional modules:
Level 1 optional modules |
Credits |
Next start |
- An introduction to health and social care (K101)
|
60 |
|
- or
|
- An introduction to health and social care (KYN101)
|
60 |
|
- An introduction to law (W101)
|
60 |
|
- Andante: beginners’ Italian (L195)
|
30 |
|
- Beginners’ Chinese (L197)
|
30 |
|
- Bon départ: beginners’ French (L192)
|
30 |
|
- Career development and employability (T122)
|
30 |
|
- Childhood studies and child psychology (E102)
|
60 |
|
- Communication skills for business and managment (LB170)
|
30 |
|
- Design thinking: creativity for the 21st century (U101)
|
60 |
|
- Discovering mathematics (MU123)
|
30 |
|
- Environment: journeys through a changing world (U116)
|
60 |
|
- Essential mathematics 1 (MST124)
|
30 |
|
- Exploring languages and cultures (L161)
|
30 |
|
- Foundations for effective practice in youth justice (K115)
|
60 |
|
- Foundations for social work practice (K113) or versions KYJ113 or KZW113
|
60 |
|
- Introducing the social sciences (DD102)
|
60 |
|
- Introducing statistics (M140)
|
30 |
|
- Investigating psychology 1 (DE100)
|
60 |
|
- Managing practicein the workplace (B123) or version BXS121
|
30 |
|
- Portales: beginners’ Spanish (L194)
|
30 |
|
- Questions in science (S111)
|
60 |
|
- Rundblick: beginners’ German (L193)
|
30 |
|
- Science and health: an evidence-based approach (SDK100)
|
60 |
|
- Technologies in practice (TM129)
|
30 |
|
- The arts past and present (AA100)
|
60 |
|
- Essential mathematics 1 (MST124)
|
30 |
|
- Vivace: intermediate Italian (L150)
|
30 |
|
- Working and learning in sport and fitness (E113)
|
60 |
|
- Working with young people: an introduction (E108)
|
60 |
|
- You and your money: personal finance in context (DB123)
|
30 |
|
Or, subject to the rules about excluded combinations, the discontinued modules, A100, A101, A102, A103, AZS103, AZS120, AZX103, B120, B121, BU130, D100, D101, D103, DD100, DD101, DD121, DD122, DD131, DD132, DSE141, E100, E111, E112, E131, EYC660, EZL123, EZL124, EZL131, K100, KYN100, KZX100, L120, L130, L140, L196, LB160, LL120, LL130, LZX120, LZX130, LZX140, LZX192, LZX193, LZX194, M100, M101, M150, MST121, MU120, S100, S101, S102, S103, S104, SDK125, T100, T101, T102, T121, T171, T172, T173, T174, T175, TU100, W100
And 60 credits of free choice from OU modules at any level (including those listed above) but with no more than 30 credits from Openings modules or the discontinued Short module Science starts here (S154).
Learning outcomes
The learning outcomes of this qualification are described in four areas:
- Knowledge and understanding
- Cognitive skills
- Practical and professional skills
- Key skills
Read more detailed information about the learning outcomes, and how they are acquired through teaching, learning and assessment methods.
Credit for previous study elsewhere
For this qualification, we do not allow you to count credit for study you have already done elsewhere.
On completion
On successful completion of the required modules you will be awarded a Certificate of Higher Education Open and will be entitled to use the letters Cert HE Open after your name.
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 Student Policies and Regulations website.
How to register
If you want to study for this qualification, read the description and check you meet any specific requirements (for example, some of
our qualifications, require you to be working in a particular environment, or be sponsored by your employer). Then select the
module you wish to study first and ensure it is suitable for you before following the registration procedure for that module.
During the registration procedure you will be asked to declare which qualification you are studying towards.
See a full list of modules available for this qualification