Registering for YASS

Use this checklist to help decide if YASS is right for you:

1. I have read and understood all the key information on the YASS website homepage.
2. I understand that YASS modules require up to 14 hours of study per week.
3. I know that YASS modules are university-level and will be more challenging than school subjects.
4. I am prepared to study independently and manage my time effectively.
5. I am aware that I will need to study during school holidays, including October holidays.
6. I understand that my final assignment may be due after I leave school.
7. I am prepared to contact my tutor/study advisor and module team and support teams, if I need help.
   • You’ll have access to OU tutors/study advisors and resources, but you must ask for help from the OU yourself. Your school’s YASS Co-ordinator or your parent/guardian can’t do this for you, it’s your responsibility. This includes: contacting your tutor/study advisor if you’re struggling; posting questions on module forums to get support from the module team and other pupils; calling the OU Student Support Team if you need help with admin or technical issues  
8. I am comfortable using online learning platforms and digital tools.  
9. I have access to a PC or laptop and understand I may need to install software.
   • You can do some study on a mobile phone or Chromebook, but you’ll need access to a PC or laptop (with Windows 11 or latest supported macOS), broadband internet, a personal email address, and may need to download specific software for your module.
10. I understand the importance of academic integrity and proper referencing.
    • You must follow university rules for academic conduct, including proper referencing and avoiding plagiarism.
11. I will follow OU rules on the use of AI tools and avoid misuse.
    • Each module will have its own guidance. It’s your responsibility to check this and make sure you don’t break any university rules.
12. I understand that I am expected to participate in online forums, tutorials, and interactive activities, plus sit exams/submit assessments and receive feedback.  
13. I and my parent/guardian have read and understand the safety guidelines for under 18s:
    • Don’t share personal info in forums or meet other students without adult supervision. The OU has a Safeguarding Team that pupils can contact if required.  

Choose your module carefully, by referring to the List of Open University modules offered through YASS: 

• Consider the entry requirements, start and end dates, and weekly study hours required. Work through any quizzes relevant to the module.  
• Click on the module’s title link, for further module-specific information for your consideration. For example, more information on what the module will cover, as well as exam/assessment information, online activities and any group work involved, the type of academic support available (tutor or advisor), and IT/software needs (listed in the Entry Requirements section of the module information page).
• Click on the OpenLearn link or resources related the module, to get a taster of the content. You may need to open an OU account to view some of the content, like quizzes or sample resources.  
• If you need further help to choose the right module, talk to your guidance teacher or your school’s YASS Co-ordinator.  

Start the registration process as early as possible so that module choices can be accommodated. The registration process requires time and attention.

Registration opens on 30 April and the deadline for applications is 30 June 2026.

• Contact your school’s YASS Co-ordinator:  
  • If your school doesn’t already have a YASS Co-ordinator, but a member of staff can support your application, they can email [email protected] for more information and the Registration Form.  
  • Ask the YASS Co-ordinator to provide you with the Registration Form, provided by our team as a Word document. You will also need the school's Seed Code for the form; a unique identifier assigned to your school by the Scottish Government. The list of codes is available to download: School Seed Codes (DOC, 56KB).
• Complete the registration form:  

1. Use the desktop version of Microsoft Word (so on a laptop or PC, not a mobile phone, or Chromebook)
2. Save the file with a new title, to include your full name, school name, seed code, and the module code, i.e. Firstname_Surname_School_SeedCode_ModuleCode. This will make sure your registration is linked to the correct school and module.  
3. Fill in all required sections 1 to 6. All the questions need to be answered for the registration to be completed.  
   • When providing your contact details in the form, enter your personal email address (not your email address at school).  
4. Make sure you and your parent /guardian have read through all the required information then sign and date the form digitally (pupil and parent/guardian).
5. Ask your school’s YASS Co-ordinator to check the form. They will then send it to the Open University in Scotland’s YASS Team, using our secure file-sharing system. The OU cannot accept forms sent by email, as that method is not secure enough for forms which contain sensitive, protected pupil details. The OU is only permitted to receive forms sent by the school’s named YASS Co-ordinator, not from pupils, other teachers, or parents/guardians.
   • It's really important that your form is completed in full and that any details, such as your date of birth, contact details, and information about your chosen module, are correct. Take the time to ensure you’ve completed everything on the form. If anything is missing or incorrect, it will cause a delay for you, and will require a new version of your form to be sent to us by your YASS Co-ordinator.    
   • We will review your form, and if it contains all we need, we will pass it to the OU’s enrolment team. You don’t need to register online or arrange any funding. (If you are not a UK/Irish national, and/or haven’t lived in the UK for three years, our team will contact you, to ask you to also complete a fee assessment form online. The YASS Registration Form contains more information on fee assessments and explains the process in more detail. If you have any questions, please speak to your YASS Co-ordinator about what’s required).  

As soon as you’re registered, prepare before the module officially starts on Saturday 3 October 2026:  

• Once you are registered, our OU team will create an OU account for you.
• You will then receive an email with your login details and your unique Personal Identifier (PI). This is a unique combination of numbers and letters assigned to your StudentHome account with us. Take note of your PI and use it if you call or email our teams, to help them confirm your identity and find your account on our systems.
• The YASS Team will then complete your registration on your module for you. They will apply your funding for you, so you don’t need to take any steps to register for your module online or by phone or arrange funding for your modules.
• The YASS Team will send you an email confirming your registration for your module, along with instructions on what to do next.
• This will include details on how to access your StudentHome page, which is your personalised study portal. (Computing help is available).
• The login details will also enable you to access the short online induction resource OU Ready, created to prepare students you for OU study; it will help you to understand where things are, who will support you and what studying with the OU is all about.
• Everything you need for your studies will be provided through your module website, which you can access through your StudentHome account. This includes online materials, a study planner, support contacts and assessment information. The module websites open for early access on Saturday 12 September, so you can login then and start studying.  
• If your module is supported by a tutor, you will receive an email from your tutor before your module starts, to welcome you to your module. It’s beneficial to respond to your tutor to introduce yourself. Your tutor can only communicate with you about your studies, so you must not share their contact details with anyone else, including your YASS Co-ordinator.  
• Look out for details of online induction tutorials for your module that you can attend, or you can watch a recording of the tutorial later, if you can’t make it on the day.  
• Plan your study time, using OU time management skills help, which includes a Study Time Calculator. Set regular study times and stick to them to build a routine. Break tasks into smaller goals to stay motivated and track progress. Make time for rest and relaxation to avoid burnout.
• Check the OU in Scotland website’s events page for OU in Scotland Welcome Events; these online sessions are for all students, not just YASS students and are a great way to meet other new students, ask questions and get tips for successful study.

The Open University takes student data protection seriously and has a Student Data Protection Policy. Once you’re registered on a module, we can only discuss the details of your account and studies with you.

Your school's YASS Co-ordinator can access limited information to process your registration, support your module start, and receive updates on your engagement and final result.

You are the only person we can speak to about any other matters. This means you must contact us directly yourself if you need help, such as for computing or study support.

The exception is if you have set up an Advocacy Agreement as per the OU's Advocacy Policy. To do so, after you register, you and your chosen advocate must complete the forms provided in the final pages of the policy and send them to our OU Student Support team (0131 226 3851). The Student Support team is happy to help if you have any questions. They will confirm receipt and add the advocate’s details to your OU student account.