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OfS Transparency Information Return

The information published on these pages shows:

The number of students who attained a particular degree or other academic award, or a particular level of such an award, on completion of their course with us.

It shows these numbers by the reference to:

  • The gender of the individuals to which they relate
  • Their ethnicity
  • Their socioeconomic background.

Widening access to, and enhancing success in higher education is at the heart of the Open University’s mission. Please read the OU’s Access, Participation and Success Strategy and Access and Participation plan.

The number of Open University qualifications awarded reported is higher in 20/21 than in 19/20. Timetabling of June exams in 2020 resulted in a significant number of qualifications being awarded later than in previous years and were reported in the 20/21 academic year.

Table 1a: Percentage of classified first degrees at grade 2:1 or above by characteristic for 2020-21 qualifiers.

Characteristics Characteristic split Percentage
Ethnicity BAME 48.9%
White 68.8%
EIMD 2019 quintile 1 and 2 60.4%
3 and 5 69.7%
Sex Female 67.4%
Male 65.2%
Other N

EIMD stands for the ‘English Index of Multiple Deprivation’. It is a Government measure of the levels of deprivation in local areas. EIMD 1 or 2 areas are considered to be the most deprived. Students outside of England are recorded as N/A

Table 1b: Detailed information on attainment for 2020-21 qualifiers.

Mode of Study Characteristic Characteristic split Headcount of classified First Degrees awarded Percentage of classified First Degrees awarded as first class Percentage of classified First Degrees awarded as upper second class Percentage of classified First Degrees awarded as lower second class Percentage of classified First Degrees awarded as third class / pass Headcount of unclassified First Degrees awarded Headcount of other undergraduate awards
Full Time Ethnicity Asian N N N N N N/A N
Black N N N N N N/A N
Mixed N N N N N N/A N
Other N N N N N N/A N
White N N N N N N/A N
Unknown N N N N N N/A N
EIMD 2019 quintile 1 N N N N N N/A N
2 N N N N N N/A N
3 N N N N N N/A N
4 N N N N N N/A N
5 N N N N N N/A N
N/A N N N N N N/A N
Unknown N N N N N N/A N
Sex Female N N N N N N/A N
Male N N N N N N/A N
Other N N N N N N/A N
Part Time Ethnicity Asian 670 15% 38% 30% 17% N 230
Black 530 5% 27% 41% 26% N 190
Mixed 380 20% 39% 28% 13% N 160
Other 140 21% 36% 26% 16% N 50
White 14310 25% 43% 23% 8% 140 6220
Unknown 270 26% 43% 21% 10% N 100
EIMD 2019 quintile 1 2000 17.6% 38.3% 29.2% 14.9% N 1000
2 2580 21% 42.7% 26.1% 10.1% N 1020
3 2800 24.7% 42.1% 24.0% 9.2% N 1090
4 2790 25.8% 43.7% 22.6% 7.9% 30 950
5 2640 30.4% 42.2% 20.9% 6.5% N 810
N/A 3480 24.3% 43.6% 23.8% 8.3% 50 2070
Unknown N N N N N N N
Sex Female 10960 24.9% 42.5% 23.9% 8.7% 80 5030
Male 5330 23.0% 42.0% 24.8% 10.2% 90 1910
Other N N N N N N N
Apprenticeships Ethnicity Asian N N N N N N/A N
Black N N N N N N/A N
Mixed N N N N N N/A N
Other N N N N N N/A N
White 90 40% 11% 4% N N/A 70
Unknown N N N N N N/A N
EIMD 2019 quintile 1 N N N N N N/A N
2 N N N N N N/A N
3 N N N N N N/A N
4 N N N N N N/A N
5 30 65% 40% DP DP N/A N
N/A N N N N N N/A N
Unknown N N N N N N/A N
Sex Female 60 40% 45% 10% DP N/A 60
Male 40 40% 40% 15% DP N/A N
Other N N N N N N/A N

Transparency 2021 information: Rounding and suppression

The data contained in the tables in this page have been rounded and suppressed as follows:

Numerators and denominators have been rounded to the nearest 10. Where the numerator or denominator rounds to 20 or less, the data are suppressed with an “N”.

Percentages are rounded according to the smallest, unsuppressed denominator in a given mode and characteristic. If the denominator rounds to:

  • 50 or less: percentages are rounded to 5%
  • 1000 or less: percentages are rounded to 1%
  • More than 1000: percentages are rounded to 0.1%

"N/A" is displayed where there is no provision in a given mode or level

"DP" indicates suppression for data protection reasons. This is applied where the numerator is two or less, or differs from the denominator by no more than two students.