Diploma of Higher Education Open

This Diploma of Higher Education is part of our unique Open qualifications programme – one of the most flexible in the UK – which enables you to mix and match any subjects you like, building a study profile to suit your particular needs and interests.

Key features of the course

• An excellent choice if you’re uncertain where your future lies
• Mix and match modules as you like, or combine one main subject with a few modules from other areas
• Follow your interests, try something new, or study for career development
• Gain specialist understanding of your chosen subject; critical and analytical skills; and a qualification valued by employers
• Count credit from university-level studies you’ve already completed elsewhere.

This qualification has two stages, each comprising 120 credits. Stage 1 provides the underpinning knowledge and skills needed for more advanced study at Stage 2.

Recommended starting points (60 credits) A full list of over 40 key introductory modules is available when you register, but we recommend that you start your course with one of the following:

Arts and Humanities

• The arts past and present (AA100)

  Study a broad range of arts subject areas (from history to philosophy, music to English) across multiple cultures and historical periods in this university-level introduction.

Business and Management

• An introduction to business studies (B120)

  This module introduces internal and external elements of a business, explains the context in which a business operates, and explores common aims and characteristics.

Computing and IT

• My digital life (TU100)

  My digital life takes you on a journey from the origins of information technology through to the familiar computers of today, and on to tomorrow’s radical technologies. 

Design

• Design thinking: creativity for the 21st century (U101)

  Explore the common principles of design, acquire new designing skills and develop an understanding of ways of thinking that lead to innovation and creative solutions. 

Education, Childhood and Youth

• Introduction to childhood studies and child psychology (E102)

  This introductory module offers a fascinating insight into topics central to the lives of children and young people, exploring their emotional, physical, intellectual, social and cultural development.

• Supporting learning in primary schools (E111)

  Develop your skills as a teaching assistant, widening your knowledge of primary education, and extending your ability to work productively with both children and teachers.

Engineering

• Engineering the future (T174)

  This module offers an introduction to what engineering is and how it is practised in modern society, and looks at developments that will shape the future.

Environment and Development

• Environment: journeys through a changing world (U116)

  Introduces studying the environment and explores the issues arising from environmental change and the ways in which these challenges are being addressed.

Health and Social Care

• An introduction to health and social care (K101)

  Explore through real-life case studies how we give or receive health and social care services in residential and community settings, hospitals, clinics or GP surgeries.

Health and Wellbeing

• Introduction to sport, fitness and management (E112)

  Whether your interest in sport and fitness is general or professional, this module covers key issues from health and nutrition to safety and customer care.

Languages

• Bon départ: beginners' French (L192)

  Learn to speak and understand French in a wide range of practical situations, and explore French life and culture with this carefully structured beginners’ module.

• Rundblick: beginners' German (L193)

  Learn to speak and understand German in a wide range of practical situations, and explore life in German-speaking communities with this carefully structured beginners’ module.

• Portales: beginners' Spanish (L194)

  Learn to speak and understand Spanish in various practical situations, and get a real feel for Hispanic cultures with this carefully structured beginners’ module.

Law

• An introduction to law (W101)

  This module examines the role and function of a legal system by considering why laws develop, how laws are created, interpreted and applied, and what role law plays in regulating and administering justice within a society. 

Mathematics and Statistics

• Discovering mathematics (MU123)

  Introduces and helps integrate key ideas from statistics, algebra, geometry and trigonometry into your everyday thinking to build your confidence in learning and using mathematics.

• Essential mathematics 1 (MST124)

  This introductory university-level mathematics module covers key topics including calculus, vectors, matrices, sequences and functions, and assumes you are confident with the underpinning algebraic ideas.

• Introducing statistics (M140)

  Learn statistical tools and quantitative methods, covering topics such as summarising data; examining relationships; randomness and sampling distributions; probability; testing hypotheses; and estimation.

Psychology and Counselling

• Introducing the social sciences (DD102)

  This module is an ideal introduction to the social sciences – psychology, social policy and criminology, geography and environment, politics and international studies, economics and sociology.

• Introduction to childhood studies and child psychology (E102)

  This introductory module offers a fascinating insight into topics central to the lives of children and young people, exploring their emotional, physical, intellectual, social and cultural development.

Science

• Exploring science (S104)

  Develop key scientific skills and explore a range of fascinating concepts and topics, including genetics, drugs, global warming, atoms, and the origin of the Universe.

• Introducing health sciences: a case study approach (SDK125)

  Explore scientific and social aspects of disease and disability through issues like water and health; pain; alcohol; cancer screening; lung disease; trauma; and visual impairment.

Social Sciences

• Introducing the social sciences (DD102)

  This module is an ideal introduction to the social sciences – psychology, social policy and criminology, geography and environment, politics and international studies, economics and sociology.

Completing Stage 1 (60 credits)

Choose another 60 credits from the list above or from any of our OU level 1 modules. A full list of over 60 OU level 1 modules is available when you register

This qualification develops your learning in four main areas:

• Knowledge and understanding
• Cognitive skills
• Practical and professional skills
• Key skills