Open SU

Open Students Union (Open SU) is run by students, for students, and each student registered with the OU automatically becomes part of Open SU, including PGRs!

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Become a Central Committee Representative

Get involved

Shop at Open SU

Our mission is to be the community and voice for all Open University students, which currently totals around 170,000 students spread across the four nations of the UK, the Republic of Ireland and continental Europe.

Find out more about us on Open SU Home. This contains information about the individual representation service (which can support PGRs experiencing difficulties) and getting an TOTUM (formerly NUS Extra) Card.

Still have questions? Maybe we already have the answers in our FAQs.

Become a Central Committee Representative

We need more research students to get involved and share their experiences and knowledge with us by volunteering as a Central Committee Representative!

What does the role involve?

Open SU appoints Central Committee Representatives to sit as student members on:

• Senate
• Academic Governance Committees
• Faculty Teaching Committees
• Departmental Boards of Study
• Faculty Assemblies.

The Central Committee Representatives play an important part in Open University Governance structure and decision making. These representatives make positive contributions at committees to enhance the OU teaching and learning experience for all current and future students. This group of representatives act on behalf of the wider student body to prepare for and attend OU committee meetings appointed to.
This includes reading papers in advance of each meeting and raising items as and where appropriate, and speaking on matters affecting students.

“I see volunteering as a Central Representative as a two-way thing; it’s a great platform to gain and develop your interpersonal skills and it provides the opportunity to share your knowledge, as a student, and to make a positive contribution.”

Danson Kimani
Research Student

How do I apply?

If PGRs are interested in applying please visit the Representation page on our website.

Get involved

Getting involved in Open SU is a really rewarding experience, there are many ways to join in and we’d love you to play a part.

Whether you see yourself being able to influence how the University is run or you’d like to socialise or volunteer, there’s something for everyone.

We also have our very own online magazine, The Hoot. Here, we share news, features, quizzes and guides relevant to OU students. All students are welcome to submit articles, and we encourage PGR students to get involved too. Please see our guidelines for what we accept submissions on, and see our specific information for PGRS on Communication and engagement opportunities | Graduate School Network.

For all our opportunities visit the Get involved section of our website.

Shop at Open SU

Ever wondered where you can buy an OU hoody? Well wonder no more! We have an online web shop full of high quality merchandise including, clothing, graduation gifts, jewellery, china, books and stationery all carrying the University’s logo or coat of arms.

And all the profits from the sale of goods go directly to our charitable trust the Open University Educational Trust (OUSET), supporting students in financial difficulty. 

Take a look around the Shop and Discounts page on our website.