• Staff benefits at the Open University

    You’re the reason we can do such great work, so what’s in it for you?

    At The Open University, we offer a range of benefits to recognise and reward great work, alongside policies and flexible working that contribute towards a great work life balance.

    Get all the details of what benefits we offer in our benefits brochure.

Competitive salary

We offer competitive salaries, alongside a range of other benefits that make the OU an attractive place to work.

All our roles are evaluated according to the Higher Education Role Analysis (HERA) framework before they are advertised ensuring an appropriate grade and salary band is assigned that fairly rewards the role and its responsibilities.

Annual leave entitlement

Everyone at the OU enjoys generous annual leave – which varies by role.

We offer an exceptional 30 days’ annual leave for support staff, and 33 days off for academic, academic-related and research colleagues. That’s on top of bank holidays and a Christmas closure.

Embrace balance

We strongly believe in the benefits of agile working, so there are options to apply to work in a way that works for both you and the OU.

For us, family comes first. That’s why we offer family-friendly leave – including Maternity, Adoption and Shared Parental Leave.

Pension scheme

The Open University participates in the principal pension scheme for the UK's higher education sector – the Universities Superannuation Scheme (USS) - and makes generous employer contributions alongside employee contributions.

Spend and save

Enjoy everyday discounts with Vivup Lifestyle Savings. Take advantage of our OU Club discounts (with money off theatre trips, dinner dates and more). Cash-in on our Open Saver scheme, offering Credit Union membership options just for you. Give As You Earn and make use of our tax-effective charity initiative.

Look after you

Alongside private healthcare, you can also opt in to our BHSF health cash plan to claim back on everyday health needs, like dental and optical care.

Enjoy the benefits of our partnership with Simplyhealth, giving you access to a range of health insurance plans. Our Employee Assistance Programme is a free 24/7 service providing help and support for you and your family in many areas, including bereavement, emotional wellbeing and financial worries.

Boost your commute

Use our electric vehicle scheme and get deposit-free access to an electric car for a fixed monthly fee.

With our Cyclescheme, you can buy a bike without forking out the full funds – just pay us back month-by-month (interest free).

If you’re a train or tube commuter, we even offer a season ticket loan to keep daily costs down.

Grow with us

Enjoy our Staff Fee Waiver which offers OU colleagues the opportunity to study a range of OU courses at all levels for free. We give Associate Lecturers time to study and to progress. Our Apprenticeships help put our people in good stead for the future, leading the way with confidence.

No matter your level or path, we want you to reach your full potential, and offer all kinds of opportunities and routes to help you do just that. Our My Learning Centre platform offers you access to materials, eLearning, courses and more. If you’re one of our Central or Regional Academic Staff, you can take advantage of our Study Leave options.

Childcare

The Acorn at Mulberry Bear Nursery at our Milton Keynes campus has 52 places for staff children to play and prosper.

Eligible parents can also join the Government ‘Tax-Free Childcare Scheme’ (TFC). For staff considering the Tax-Free Childcare scheme further details are available on the HMRC website, including the ’Childcare Choices’ site as well as an online calculator.