Applying under the age of 18
The Open University (OU) welcomes applications from students under the age of 18, known as Young Applicants. If you'll be under 18 when your module starts, there are additional steps you'll need to complete as part of your application.
Who is a Young Applicant
You're considered to be a Young Applicant if you:
- will be under 18 on the start date of your module, or
- will turn 18 within one week of your module start date.
You're not considered a Young Applicant if you're already 18 on the first day of your module. In this case, you'll be treated like any other student.
If you're a Young Applicant, we'll follow our policy for the admission of applicants under the age of 18. You can find the full policy in the Related links section of this page.
When to apply
As a Young Applicant, you'll need to register by an earlier date than other students. This gives us enough time to arrange a tutor who has completed the required safeguarding checks.
If you'll be under 16 when your module starts, make sure you register by the following deadlines:
- January or February module start: register 8 weeks before the advertised registration closing date.
- For all other module start dates: register 6 weeks before the advertised registration closing date.
If you'll be aged 16 or 17 when your module starts, the following deadlines apply:
- January or February module start: register 6 weeks before the advertised registration closing date.
- For all other module start dates: register 4 weeks before the advertised registration closing date.
How to apply
Students in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland
If you live in Scotland, are still at school and want to study at the OU while in S6 then the key information can be found at Young Applicants in Schools Scheme (YASS) | Open University in Scotland. Applications are managed via school-based YASS co-ordinators and applications should be submitted by the end of June each year.
Students in Wales and Northern Ireland will be supported by their nation office.
To apply as a Young Applicant you'll need to complete the following steps:
Choose what you’d like to study
Explore our website to find the qualification or module you're interested in studying.
Speak to an Information Adviser
Contact us and speak with one of our Information Advisers. They'll talk to you about why you'd like to study with the OU, whether you're currently in education, and answer any questions you may have.
Speak to an Educational Adviser
If you'd like to continue with your application, you'll be referred to one of our specialist Educational Advisers. They'll contact you to discuss your study plans in more detail.
Complete your registration
If your application is approved, your registration will be processed by our specialist Young Applicants team. They'll contact you to arrange a suitable time to complete your registration.
