What academic term is relevant at The Open University?

Autumn Seasonal Academic Year 2026 runs from September 1, 2026 through December 31, 2026.

How much campus context is included in the The Open University student guide?

The guide includes 11 approved campus terms and 10 local details from DormWay's campus reference library.

Does the The Open University guide include the complete campus glossary?

Yes. All 11 approved campus glossary entries are available in the searchable campus-language section.

Where does the The Open University student guide information come from?

Calendar dates, campus terms, and local details come from DormWay's approved campus reference library.

The Open UniversityStudent Guide

Academic dates, campus language, housing, and student-life references for The Open University. Free for students.

University in Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire. Operating on a semester system.

Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire

199K+ students

@open.ac.uk

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Student guide · Autumn Seasonal Academic Year 2026

The semester, explained for The Open University

Dates from the active academic calendar, plus the campus language and local details students actually need. Every entry comes from DormWay's approved campus reference library.

Relevant term: Autumn Seasonal Academic Year 2026
Campus terms: 11
Local details: 10

Academic calendar

Autumn Seasonal Academic Year 2026 runs Sep 1, 2026 – Dec 31, 2026. Calendar aliases that share a date range are grouped together, with every source term still shown.

4 entries

Sep 1Dec 31, 2026
Autumn Seasonal Academic Year 2026Relevant now
Jan 1Mar 31, 2027
Winter Seasonal Academic Year 2027
Apr 1Jun 30, 2027
Spring Seasonal Academic Year 2027
Jul 1Jul 31, 2027
Summer Seasonal Academic Year 2027

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Campus language

Search the full glossary. Nothing is sampled or hidden when the search field is empty.

11 terms

A

AL: Associate Lecturer; the specific tutor assigned to guide a student through a module.

B

Brick Uni: A term used by OU students to refer to traditional, physical campus-based universities.

E

EMA: End-of-Module Assessment; the final project or exam that concludes a course.

F

FASS: Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences; one of the largest academic departments.

I

iCMA: interactive Computer-Marked Assignment; online quizzes used for assessment.

M

Mulberry's: A popular cafe located within the Berrill Building.

O

OUSA: Open University Students Association; the official student union.

S

SST: Student Support Team; the primary contact for academic and administrative help.

T

The Cellar: The student bar and social space located in the Hub building.
The Hub: The main dining and social area located at the Walton Hall campus.
TMA: Tutor-Marked Assignment; the core essays or projects submitted for grading.

Places and practicalities

Buildings, logistics, and other local references drawn from the approved campus snapshot.

10 details

Berrill: The Berrill Building, which serves as the main administrative and reception hub.
berrill_building_caf: Berrill Building Café
Jennie Lee: The Jennie Lee Building, housing the Institute of Educational Technology and library services.
OUSBA: Open University Student Budget Accounts; a subsidiary that provides credit to pay for module fees.
Perry: The Perry Building, a major academic and office building on the Walton Hall site.
SCONUL: A scheme that allows OU students to borrow books from other university libraries across the UK and Ireland.
StudentHome: The personalized online portal where students manage their studies and access materials.
the_hub: The Hub
VLE: Virtual Learning Environment; the online platform (Moodle) where module content is hosted.
Walton Hall: The historic manor house and the name used for the main Milton Keynes campus.

Quick answers

Useful facts students can verify from the guide above.

What academic term is relevant now?: Autumn Seasonal Academic Year 2026 runs Sep 1, 2026 – Dec 31, 2026.
How much campus context is included?: 11 approved campus terms and 10 local details are included in full.
Are all approved campus terms included?: Yes. The complete approved glossary is available in the scrollable, searchable campus-language section.
Where does this guide come from?: Calendar dates, campus terms, and local details come from DormWay's approved campus reference library.

Get to know your university

Assisted

Find a few communities to try at The Open University

These are things we discovered from public campus sources. We are constantly looking for more.

Tell us what we missed

Major-aligned clubs, pre-professional groups, and research communities.
Performing arts, visual arts, student publications, film, and music.
Cultural orgs, identity communities, and faith-based groups.
Volunteer groups, civic engagement, mutual aid, and student government.
Outdoor clubs, intramural sports, club sports, and rec center programs.
Entrepreneurship, hackathon teams, makerspaces, and engineering project teams.
Casual hangouts, interest groups, and open events without applications.

DormWay is still mapping student communities at this campus.

We only show recommendations once we have enough public sources for The Open University.

These are things we discovered. We are constantly looking for more.

Tell us what we missed

Recommendations are based on public campus sources. We do not endorse student organizations.

Using DormWay at The Open University

What the product handles for students.

Syllabus to schedule

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Workload planning

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Free student access

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The Open University on DormWay

Current DormWay activity for this campus

Active Students

DormWay integrates with The Open University's LMS

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Moodle

Supported

Connect your Moodle account to automatically sync course materials and deadlines.

Life in Milton Keynes for The Open University Students

Everything you need to know about living and studying in Milton Keynes.

Timezone

Europe/London

Campus Operations Snapshot

Parking and Transit

South West Car Park

surface_lot • Limited during peak workshop hours

Nearest car park to the Michael Young Building.

Visitors Car Park

surface_lot

Located near the Berrill Building Reception; includes EV charging for pre-booked visitors.

Library Parking

surface_lot

Located behind the Betty Boothroyd Library; includes disabled parking bays.

Campus News

Latest updates from The Open University

The Open University extends enrolment deadline for first time as record numbers of young people choose flexible study

The OU has extended its undergraduate enrolment deadline to September 17, 2026, following unprecedented demand from students under 25 seeking flexible higher education options.

Sep 12, 2026

The Open University launches new strategy to widen opportunity and help more students succeed

The OU launched 'Opening Up', its new strategy for 2026–2031, focusing on widening opportunity and improving student success through innovation and partnership.

Sep 3, 2026

Teenage boom at The Open University as young people choose to earn while they learn

A record 3,398 new undergraduate students aged 18 or 19 joined the OU in the most recent academic year, reflecting a shift toward flexible and affordable degree paths.

Aug 24, 2026

Staff Emergency Information Line (01908 655666) provides updates on site closures due to weather or safety reasons.

Upcoming Events

What's happening at The Open University

Employer webinar: Co-producing the social work education curriculum

September 23, 2026

Online

A webinar where lived experience partners share their experiences in co-producing the social work education curriculum at The Open University.

OU Club Quiz Night

September 23, 2026

Online via Microsoft Teams

A quarterly online pub quiz hosted by Cath Brown, providing a chance for colleagues to network and socialize.

Exploring creative methods for SW IPA research

September 25, 2026

Online

A shared learning session for those interested in using arts, visual, or other creative methods for Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) in social work studies.

Welcome Fair: Open University Campus

September 26, 2026

Milton Keynes Campus, MK7 6AA

An in-person event at the Milton Keynes campus to welcome new students and showcase the OU community.

Elevate Equity 2026: Increasing women's career expectancy

September 29, 2026

Hub Theatre, Milton Keynes, MK7 6AA

A conference focused on addressing the underrepresentation of women in corporate roles and increasing career expectancy.

OU Geological Society Fresher's Lecture 2026

September 29, 2026

Online via Microsoft Teams

An introductory lecture for new members of the OU Geological Society.

OU Pride Games Night

September 29, 2026

Online via Microsoft Teams

A social games night hosted by OU Pride as part of Welcome Week.

OU Trips - Weekend break in Liverpool

October 9, 2026

Liverpool, UK

A weekend trip for OU staff and students to explore Liverpool's attractions, including Albert Dock and the Cavern Quarter.

Campus Details

Academic System

Semester

Email Domain

@open.ac.uk

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