Accessibility statement for The Open University Student Budget Accounts (OUSBA) Student Portal

The Open University is committed to making its websites and mobile applications accessible, in accordance with the Public Sector Bodies (Websites and Mobile Applications) (No. 2) Accessibility Regulations 2018.

This accessibility statement applies to The Open University Student Budget Accounts (OUSBA) Student Portal.

We want as many people as possible to be able to use our websites and mobile apps, and accessibility is an essential part of our mission. On our Accessibility hub, you'll find everything you need to answer any questions you have about accessibility, whether you're a student or a member of staff.

To adapt the content to your needs or preferences you should be able to:

  • Change colours, contrast levels and fonts.
  • Resize text up to 200% without impact on the functionality of the website.
  • Zoom in up to 400% without loss of information or functionality. 
  • Navigate the website using just a keyboard.
    • tab to ‘Skip to content’ links at the top of the page to jump over repetitive information to the main content.
    • tab through the content; the current location will be indicated by a clear visual change.
    • control the embedded media player to play audio and video materials.
  • Use a screen reader (e.g. JAWs, NVDA) to:
    • listen to the content of web pages and use any functionality on the page.
    • list the headings and subheadings in the page and then jump to their location on the page.
    • bring up a list of meaningful links on the page.
  • Use transcripts or closed captions with most audio and video materials.
  • Download learning materials in alternative formats (e.g. Word document, PDF, ePub
  • If you have a print disability we provide SensusAccess to students, which is an automated service that converts files from one format to another, for example, PDF to text, audio, Word or Braille.
  • AbilityNet also provides advice on making your device easier to use if you have a disability.

Compliance status

This website is partially compliant with the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines version 2.2 AA standard, due to the non-compliance and exemptions listed below.

Non-accessible content

The content listed below is non-accessible for the following reasons:

Non-compliance with the accessibility regulations

Instructions not associated with form fields

Instructions are not programmatically associated with certain form fields, resulting in screen readers not being able to convey this information to visually impaired users when completing the form. This fails WCAG 2.2 Success Criterion 1.3.1: Info and Relationships (Level A) and will be resolved by June 2027 following the website's redesign.

Unable to save the form midway

It is not possible to save the loan application form midway when completing it. This impacts all users, particularly users with motor impairments. They may need more time to complete the form or may have to leave the form unattended if they do not have the relevant information to hand, resulting in a timeout and loss of data. This fails WCAG 2.2 Success Criterion 2.2.1 Timing Adjustable (Level A) and will be resolved by June 2027 following the website's redesign.

The text ‘Help Icon’ is announced by screen readers along with some form field labels

The text ‘help icon’ is announced along with some form field labels when tabbing through the form, which can be confusing. This impacts screen reader users. This fails WCAG 2.2 Success Criterion 1.3.1: Info and Relationships (Level A) and will be resolved by June 2027 following the website's redesign.

Missing landmarks across all pages

The site pages do not have defined landmark regions such as main content, navigation, or complementary areas. This prevents screen reader users from efficiently navigating and understanding the structure of the page. This fails WCAG 2.2 Success Criterion 2.4.1: Bypass Blocks (Level A) and will be resolved by June 2027 following the website's redesign.

The ‘Skip to Content’ link does not work as expected

The ‘Skip to Content’ link does not take the user to the main content area. This impedes efficient navigation for keyboard and screen reader users. This fails WCAG 2.2 Success Criterion 2.4.1: Bypass Blocks (Level A) and will be resolved by June 2027 following the website's redesign.

Missing or unclear group labels

Form fields that appear visually grouped do not have programmatic labels, making it unclear how they relate to one another when using a screen reader. This can confuse users and reduce form usability. This fails WCAG 2.2 Success Criterion 1.3.1: Info and Relationships (Level A) and will be resolved by June 2027 following the website's redesign.

Form error identification issues

Form error messages are not consistently presented with clear, accessible warnings, this means screen reader users are not Informed of what went wrong when filling the forms. This fails WCAG 2.2 Success Criterion 3.3.1: Error Identification (Level A) and will be resolved by June 2027 following the website's redesign.

Form fields become disabled after entry

Some form fields become disabled after a user enters data, preventing any corrections or edits. This limits usability and can lead to errors that users cannot fix. This fails WCAG 2.2 Success Criterion 3.2.2: On Input (Level A) and will be resolved by June 2027 following the website's redesign.

Tab navigation on FAQ and active loan pages is not correctly implemented

The tab interfaces on the FAQ and loan management pages do not conform to expected keyboard navigation or ARIA labelling techniques, which prevents screen reader users from navigating between tabs reliably. This fails WCAG 2.2 Success Criterion 4.1.2: Name, Role, Value (Level A) and will be resolved by June 2027 following the website's redesign.

Content truncation on small screens

On smaller screens such as mobile devices, some content and form inputs become truncated and unusable, making them inaccessible to all users. This fails WCAG 2.2 Success Criterion 1.4.10: Reflow (Level AA) and will be resolved by June 2027 following the website's redesign.

Preparation of this accessibility statement

This statement was prepared on 4 September 2025.

This statement was last reviewed on 4 September 2025.

This website was tested on 1 July 2025.

An accessibility audit was conducted to ensure compliance with the WCAG 2.2 Success Criteria. The audit was carried out by the Accessibility and Usability Evaluation team at The Open University. Sample pages were carefully chosen to cover all components used on the website. The audit was performed using a combination of manual and automated testing. Testing tools used include the NVDA screen reader, keyboard, magnifier, Axe Dev Tools and Siteimprove extensions among others.

Feedback and contact information

If you find that a certain section of our website is not accessible and you can’t get access to the information that you need please use the Open University Accessibility Feedback Form to request support and we will ensure that you are provided with the information you require. You will need to provide your contact details and Personal Identifier if you are a student so we can get back to you. You should expect to hear back from us within 5 working days.  

The OU is very experienced in meeting accessibility needs for our students. In many cases we are able to provide module and other study support materials in alternative formats for students who indicate a need for this when completing a Disability Support Form.

In addition, some module materials are available in different formats and can be downloaded from module websites. Students can contact their Student Support Team for advice.

If you are a student, or someone who has had contact with the University before, and have a complaint about the accessibility of our websites, you should raise a complaint via the complaints and appeals process.

Enforcement procedure

The Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) is responsible for enforcing the Public Sector Bodies (Websites and Mobile Applications) (No. 2) Accessibility Regulations 2018 (the ‘accessibility regulations’).

If you are based in the UK, and you’re not happy with how we respond to your complaint, contact the Equality Advisory and Support Service (EASS).