Postgraduate Student Life

Milton Keynes

The working environment is excellent. Everyone in the research group is very supportive and always happy to help, providing great mentorship. The OU offers incredible facilities – the labs are dreamy

Rita Serra (EEES)

Milton Keynes (commonly referred to by everyone as “MK”) is a very calm and green city with more than 22 million trees and shrubs, 200 parks, 15 beautiful lakes and 11 miles of canals. MK is perfect when you want to unwind; you can simply pop outside and enjoy the beauty of the nature in every season of the year using the miles and miles of cycle tracks, bridleways and footpaths. If this is not enough, the Grand Union Canal passes through the centre of MK and canal boats are another way to relax!

However, city life is never too far from you. Thanks to the grid roads, the extensive bus network and cycle paths (known as “redways”) you can safely and efficiently reach the city centre where you can join to the many community events and experience many indoor activities, including:

• XScape contains a 170 m indoor ski slope with real snow, a 16-screen cinema, a trampoline park, an indoor swimming pool, bars and restaurants and many other activities.
• The Centre:MK : with over 220 shops and restaurants this shopping centre is arranged along two parallel arcades planted with temperate and sub-tropical trees.
• Milton Keynes Theatre has a varied year-round programme of plays, musicals, comedy and music.
• MK Gallery is a public gallery part of the Plus Tate network exhibiting constantly changing contemporary and visual exhibitions.
• Stadium:MK is a 30,000 seats stadium, home to MK Dons Football Club and hosts many high profile national and international sporting and music events.
• Other activities around the city include: indoor rock climbing and bouldering, mini golf, escape rooms, safari park and the world famous Bletchley Park, home of the Code Breakers.

Travel

Milton Keynes has a great network of smooth, traffic-free paths for walking and cycling. The Redways let you get around the city without having to deal with cars, so you can ride almost anywhere safely. If you need a bike or a repair, there are a few good options, like Crank Workshop Ltd, Blue Horse Bikes, and Trek Bicycle Milton Keynes, which all sell second-hand bikes and do repairs. Getting around by bike in MK is easy and convenient.

The bus network is a popular way to get around the city. The £3 government price cap on bus tickets applies for all single tickets. Also, discounted student weekly (£22) and monthly (£77) tickets are available for purchase on some bus routes. Full bus network information is available from GetAroundMK. You can get to the OU campus via the Loop Circular or the number 8 bus, which stops on campus and connects Bletchley or MK Central train station and the Open University. Bus stops for routes 5 and 6 are located within the 15 min walk from the campus. Popular taxi companies are Bolt, Skyline and Uber. MK Connect is a public transport option for residents that are not served by a bus route. It can be booked via the app. Getting around Milton Keynes by car is convenient and easy and car parks are available throughout the city. Milton Keynes is served by Junctions 13 and 14 on the M1, which makes is easy to travel from. National Express coaches leave from Milton Keynes coachway right next to the M1. There are direct fast and slow trains to London Euston are available every 10 mins from MK Central train station, and less frequent services from Wolverton and Bletchley stations. Direct trains to Birmingham, Manchester, Liverpool, Blackpool, Glasgow, Edinburgh and many more, are also available. Reduced ticket prices can be purchased with a railcard. Bus route X5 connects Bedford, Milton Keynes, Buckingham and Oxford for just £3 single ticket. The closest airport to Milton Keynes is Luton Airport which can be reached in 30 min by car, 30-40 min by National Express, or 1h 40 by Bus routes X2, X3, or MK1. Gatwick Airport can also be reached by bus (route 230). For more information on travel around Milton Keynes visit GetAroundMK.

Accommodation

Recommended neighbourhoods to look for accommodation include Walnut Tree (MK7), Bletchley (MK2), Walton (MK7), Browns Wood (MK7), Monkston Park (MK10), Oakgrove (MK10), and Simpson (MK6). Prices range from £600-750 for a rented room nearby campus or in the city centre, although cheaper offers can be found in nearby towns. The PGR Facebook group is a good place to ask other colleagues about recent vacancies. Spareroom is also a common website to search for rooms, but remember to try to book a viewing of the room before paying a deposit as well as to beware of potential scammers. RightMove is another tool to search for whole properties that can be shareable with other students in the presence of a House in Multiple Occupation (HMO) licence. PhD students are exempt from Council Tax.

Recommended Neighbourhoods

Walnut Tree

A quiet, green neighbourhood that’s popular with students and early-career researchers who prefer a calm living environment. It has excellent cycle paths, nearby parks and lakes, and easy access to the Redway network. While it’s more residential, it’s well connected to central Milton Keynes for shops, cafés, and restaurants. It’s a practical option for students wanting proximity to campus. Distance to OU: walking 20-30 mins cycle 5-10 mins or bus LOOP

The research group here is supportive and encouraging, with great facilities (including a dedicated Icy Worlds lab!), and opportunities to access external resources. The collaborative, team-focused vibe makes me feel able to contribute to the scientific community not only through my own research, but also as part of a team!

Liam Durrant (SPS)

Bletchley

One of the most well-connected and affordable areas, making it attractive for students. Bletchley has its own train station with direct links to London and Oxford, a variety of local cafés, takeaways, and supermarkets, and good bus connections. It also offers access to green spaces and the historic Bletchley Park. Distance to OU: bus LOOP or routes 4, 5, and 6

Walton

A small, pleasant neighbourhood close to The Open University and central Milton Keynes. Walton benefits from nearby local shops and cafés, good bus routes, and easy access to green spaces and walking paths. It’s a practical option for students wanting proximity to campus and the city centre. Distance to OU: bus LOOP, walking 25-40 mins, cycle 5-10 mins

Browns Wood

A peaceful, leafy area well suited for students who enjoy outdoor spaces and a residential feel. Browns Wood is surrounded by parks and woodland paths and has good cycling access to neighbouring areas, including Kingston and central Milton Keynes for shopping and dining. Distance to OU: bus LOOP or route 8, walking 25-40 mins, cycle 10-15 mins

Monkston Park

A newer development with modern housing and good access to green corridors and lakes. It’s close to Kingston Centre, which offers restaurants, cafés, supermarkets, and gyms. Public transport links and cycling routes make it convenient for students commuting to central MK. Distance to OU: bus LOOP, walking 18-25 mins, cycle 8-12 mins

Oakgrove

A vibrant and modern neighbourhood popular with students and young professionals. Oakgrove is close to local cafés, restaurants, and shops, and offers excellent bus connections and cycle paths. The area is well integrated with green spaces and is within easy reach of the city centre. Distance to OU: bus LOOP or C1, walking 18-25 mins, cycle 8-12 mins

Simpson

A historic village area with a strong community feel, ideal for students who prefer a quieter setting while still being close to campus and city amenities. It has access to river and lakeside walks, parks, and cycling routes, with nearby cafés and pubs, and good transport links. Distance to OU: bus LOOP, walking 18-25 mins, cycle 8-12 mins

OU Campus

The OU campus is located next to the Ouzel Valley Park, and it is surrounded by green spaces ideal for walking, bird watching, running, cycling and general exercise.

Taught courses at the OU are online (distance learning) and therefore we have no undergraduates or taught postgraduate students on campus. We do, however, still have a dynamic and busy campus full of academic staff, researchers, PhD students and professional services staff.

The Exchange Cafe, within the Hub, offers a wide range of pastries and hot beverages.
Coffee, cakes, snacks and home-cooked lunches are available daily at the Hub.
A large sitting area and comfy sofas make the Hub the heart of the campus.
 

Quiet study spaces and meeting rooms for staff and students can be found at the OU Library. A Postgraduate Researchers Common Room is also located at the OU Library, and it is ideal for socialising, playing board games and relaxing. PGRs also have dedicated office spaces equipped with stationery, monitors, keyboard, and mouse, making working on campus seamless.

A wide range of clubs, societies, events and activities are open to staff and students. A full list can be found on the OU Club website. Examples include sports clubs (e.g., football, squash, badminton), art/creative clubs (e.g., theatre group, salsa, orchestra), yoga and Pilates classes in the decommissioned church, and postgraduate student societies (RocSoc, HookeSoc). OUTrips offer trips and social events for current staff members and PhD students.

RocSoc is a student group that organises social activities such as movie nights, ice skating outings, Winter Balls, and much more. Students typically meet every week on a Friday at 5pm on campus. Joining the club is a good way to have good fun and get to know PGRs!

Life in AstrobiologyOU

I have never been part of such a kind and welcoming environment before. AstrobiologyOU does not have the usual chaos of academic life. Instead, they genuinely support you as you develop into an early-career researcher. They provide an amazing, collaborative research environment that encourages growth and confidence

Esma Bozlak (EEES)

Staff are very aware of the need for a work-life balance and also put a lot of effort into cultivating a welcoming and positive working environment for everyone. The group thrives in its diversity of disciplines, having members from the School of Environment, Earth and Ecosystem Sciences (EEES), the School of Physical Sciences (SPS), the Faculty of Business and Law, the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, and the Faculty of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics. This allows us to get a comprehensive view of our field.

Our team also benefits from biweekly group meetings including seminars where external researchers are invited to talk about their expertise from a wide range of subjects. Every fortnight there is also a Mars meeting where new research about the Red Planet is discussed among members of the group. Similarly, Icy moons meetings take place fortnightly to dive deeper into the icy satellites of our Solar System. These are great opportunities to keep up to date with recent discoveries and make the most of the knowledge of AstrobiologyOU. Workshops also take place regularly where complementary research skills are taught, including advice on how to apply for grants, how to make a good CV, and many more themes. Additionally, there are plenty of opportunities to be involved in science communication, including talks and activities with local schools, participation at science festivals and more!