The Open University in Scotland
OU - Scottish Prison Service Scheme
GUIDE FOR APPLICANTS
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WHAT STUDENTS SAY ABOUT OPEN UNIVERSITY STUDY
‘I hope my OU degree will demonstrate
to an employer that I am capable of learning.’
‘My OU study has been instrumental in helping
me to
understand myself and my offending behaviour.’
‘The pursuit of a degree inside prison is
liberating
– it frees the mind.’
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STUDYING OU MODULES IN SCOTTISH PRISONS
If you think you might be interested in studying with the Open University to gain higher
education qualifications whilst in prison, this leaflet is for you.
You can find out about Open University study and how to apply for a place on a module.
The OU Scottish Prison Service Scheme
This is a partnership between the Scottish
Prison Service and the Open University in
Scotland.
The Scheme is primarily for
longer-term prisoners to study university-level
courses. There are some restrictions on the
modules you can study, for example modules
that are taught on-line are not feasible.
You will be supported by learning centre staff
in prisons and by OU staff, including tutors,
and you will be able to speak to an OU
Educational Adviser for further support if you
have difficulties.
Open University Study
The Open University offers degree-level
modules for part-time students. The modules
cover many different subjects from Art History
to Environment Studies, from Mathematics to
the Social Sciences, from Economics to
Oceanography. There are over a hundred
modules to choose from.
Most modules have a value of either 30 or 60
credits and you can obtain a certificate,
diploma or degree by successfully completing
courses at the appropriate level and building
up the required number of credits (360 for a
degree) over a period of time.
Before you start working for your degree or
diploma, you will normally study a 10 credit
preparatory course.
Module Levels
Modules are designated Level 1, Level 2 or
Level 3. This generally indicates the level
of difficulty and the amount of study support
given. On Level 1 modules students get
more study skills support to ease them into
their study with the OU.
These levels correspond roughly to stages of
study at a conventional university, that is, a
Level 1 module in the OU undergraduate
programme is equivalent to the first year of
study elsewhere.
How You Study
The Open University is a distance learning
university and its modules are based on
correspondence and audio-visual materials.
Everything you need will be sent to you, c/o
the Learning Centre. For a 60 credit module
you will need to find time to study for about
15 hours a week for about 32 weeks of the
year.
You will be given detailed correspondence
tuition, based on the assignments that you
submit regularly to your OU module tutor.
Your tutor marks your work and offers
constructive teaching comments to help you.
You will have contact with your tutor through
telephone, and possibly face to face tutorials
on Level 1 modules. This gives you the
opportunity
to
discuss
the
module.
Sometimes there are one or two other
students taking your module in prison, but in
the main you will see your tutor on your own.
There are two main start dates each year:
modules run from February to October or
October to June and assessment is carried
out through a combination of the module
assignments and an end of module
examination in October or June, depending
on your start date. Module results come out
in
late
December
or
mid
June.
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WHAT TO DO NEXT
If you want to find out more about becoming an Open University student, this is what you
have to do:


To be eligible to study with the Open
University in prison, you will be required by
SPS to show some evidence of prior
learning and commitment.
If it’s a long time since you followed an
educational module, ask your Learning
Centre about how best to prepare.
Once you have decided on a module, you
need to discuss this with staff in the
Learning Centre who will advise you how
to apply. Applications go to the SPS
Higher Education Access Board, which
has members from the OU, the SPS and
the colleges providing education in
prisons. This takes place at the end of
June.
The application process begins around
April/May for modules that start in
September/October/November
or
the
following February. Some prisons have
information and advice sessions where
you can see module brochures and
examples of course materials.
Prison Learning Centre Staff will advise
you about your application.
Ask your Learning Centre for Open
University module brochures.


Most Open University modules are
planned on the assumption that you will
follow a route from one study level to
another, starting at Level 1. Level 1
modules are specially designed to
stimulate in students an interest in learning
as well as introducing them to the OU’s
teaching methods. You will develop good
academic learning and organisational
skills.


Funding the course: From academic year
2008/09, all undergraduate Scottish prison
students who have successfully applied to
the Higher Education Access Board – both
new and continuing – are able to apply for
financial assistance under the Scottish
Funding Council fee waiver scheme,
subject to the usual rules on eligibility.
Formal registration on a module will take
place when funding is in place. The
deadline for applications to the Higher
Education Access Board is normally 15
May each year.
New students are strongly advised to
begin with a Level 1 module.
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