The Open Futures Fund

The Open Futures Fund

The Open Futures Fund is truly at the heart of the OU’s mission to make education accessible to all and is only possible thanks to the continued generosity of our donors.

We believe that where you start in life shouldn’t limit where you go. The Open Futures Fund provides life-changing scholarships and sits at the heart of our mission to make higher education accessible to all and championing equity and inclusion.

Since 2018, 660 scholarships have been awarded thanks to the incredible generosity of the OU donor family, made up of thousands of supporters coming together and demonstrating the collective power of philanthropy.

This year we are committed to continuing to provide scholarships across five programmes, for the 2025/26 academic year. This commitment will ensure individuals who face many barriers to education can access truly life-changing education through our unique distance learning model.

The Open Futures Fund includes:

The Disabled Veterans’ Scholarships Fund

Offering veterans, disabled in or due to military service, access to free Open University education and disability and careers support. In 2025/26 we will be offering scholarships to help disabled veterans rewrite their futures.

Make a gift to the Disabled Veterans' Scholarships Fund Read Gregg's story

Carers Scholarships

For unpaid carers who face disadvantages that may prevent them from pursuing the education that they need. In 2025/26 we are offering scholarships to carers, including reserving places for young carers aged under 25. The Fund will ensure carers can build their sense of identity outside of their caring commitments and retrain towards seeking employment.

Make a gift to the Carers Scholarships Fund Read Rebecca's story

The Black Students' Support Fund

Offering the opportunity for students, from disadvantaged backgrounds and who identify as Black to study to undergraduate level for free. In 2025/26 we are offering further scholarships to help them overcome barriers and inequalities to achieve their ambitions.

Make a gift to the Black Students' Support fund Read Jaden's story

Sanctuary Scholarships

Open to those who are seeking asylum and/or are refugees in the UK helping them to rebuild their lives by gaining study and skills to find work. In 2025/26 we will continue to offer scholarships alongside access to careers and employability services. The programme will give them the opportunity to build a new life and a hopeful future.

Make a gift to Sanctuary Scholarships Read Mariia's story

The Care Experienced Scholarship

In collaboration with the John Lewis Partnership, will offer full undergraduate scholarships to young people who have spent time in care and have faced significant barriers to entering and succeeding in higher education. The programme is closely linked to the John Lewis Partnership’s existing ‘Building Happier Futures’ programme, which looks to support, harness the talent, and improve the lives of young people who have grown up in care.

Make a gift to the Care Experienced Scholarship Read Althea's story

Thanks to the incredible support of donors, every year OU students are being given the opportunity to access education that will take them to places they never thought possible. Please watch the video below to see some of our inspiring scholarship recipients share their messages of thanks and provide an insight on the impact that donors are having on their lives.

How to support the Open Futures Fund

If you would like to find out more ways to support then please contact: clare.davenport-johnson@open.ac.uk Head of Partnerships.

Get in touch

You can make a donation to support the Open Futures Fund or directly to one of the scholarship programmes within the Fund.

Make a donation

The Open University has numerous support programs addressing a wide variety of limitations or disadvantages that prospective students might face. For example, we offer financial support for carers, care experienced learners, Black students and disabled veterans and those who are seeking sanctuary in the UK. We also offer the study-related costs fund, which is open to anyone on a low income. Information on all our scholarships and assistance schemes can be found here: http://www.open.ac.uk/courses/fees-and-funding