Got any questions for us? Read our helpful Frequently Asked Questions below. Whether it's about sessions or technical issues we'll try to help as much as possible. Alternatively, if you can't find an answer to your question below, you can email us at oustudents-community@open.ac.uk and the team will be happy to answer any queries you have.
You will not need to sign up in advance for sessions. Click on the session you would like to attend on the programme, then click the button below the session description and you will be taken to a forum where the direct link for the session will be posted. You will need to login with your OU login details to get into the forum. Please note the links to attend the sessions will be added just before Welcome Week begins. You may need to install the relevant programme (e.g. Adobe Connect, Microsoft Teams) to be able to attend the session – we've included some support pages below if you have any issues with accessing the sessions. We recommend downloading the Microsoft Teams app to attend sessions in order to ensure you have access to all features. Please note: you do not need an OU login for Microsoft Teams, as you do for Adobe Connect. You can attend Microsoft Teams sessions on a browser or the app without an account – just join as a guest.
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Each session is unique, and you will find a brief description of each session on the programme. Some sessions will be more informal social events, and other sessions will include presentations to share relevant information. You can attend as few or as many sessions you like, and you can drop-in and out from sessions – do not worry if you arrive late or need to leave early. You can choose how you’d like to take part, you do not need to have your camera/microphone on if you do not want to.
Of course! Our Welcome Week is for both new and continuing students. We hope our Freshers sessions will be beneficial to all students.
Everyone is welcome at Freshers, and we want to make sure Freshers is as accessible as possible. If you have any concerns about accessing any sessions or your accessibility requirements, please let the Community Team know at oustudents-community[at]open.ac.uk. You can also find out more about accessibility when using
Microsoft Teams and
Adobe Connect.
Most sessions are not being recorded, unless otherwise stated in the event description. Where available, we will upload the slides on the event pages after the sessions.
There are many ways to stay involved with the OU Students Association after Welcome Week. You could take a look at our Societies and Clubs, attend an online meet-up or online event, or even get involved by volunteering. To stay in the loop with what’s going on at your Association, you can sign up to our monthly Association newsletter, and check us out on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
Take a look at the guidance here for Microsoft Teams and Adobe Connect. If you are not able to solve the issue, email us at oustudents-community@open.ac.uk, and we can help.
Email us at oustudents-community@open.ac.uk to report an incident (please note this mailbox is monitored from 8am – 4.30pm, Monday – Friday). If you are concerned or upset by something that happens during Welcome Week, please let us know. Our online events are intended to be welcoming and friendly spaces. Attendees who are not willing to respect the spirit of our events will be asked to leave or removed by our hosts. Attendees are asked to read our Values and Behaviour policy before joining Freshers sessions and keep this in mind when taking part. Please use the
Report + Support tool for any Open University related issues.
If you have a question that hasn't been answered here, you can email us using the button below.
Useful Information
In this section, we share some some tips and information to help you wherever you are on your OU student journey.
Welcome to your Association
The OU Students Association has been supporting and empowering OU students since 1972. Our mission is to make a positive difference to all OU students and this is the underlying principle of everything we do.
An association is a lot like a student union - we aim to help you make the most of your time studying. Depending on what you’re interested in, we can help you get in touch with other students, get involved, find information and news, get help, attend events and access services to support your learning.
The Association is run by students, for students, and supported by a staff team. You can find out about our fantastic elected student leadership team.
When you enrol on an Open University (OU) course, you automatically become a member of the Association. So welcome to the community!
Find out more about the Association
Study tips and advice
The Hoot is our online magazine for OU Students. You can read news, interviews and features, take part in polls and quizzes, and even submit your own content. Check out The Hoot guidelines to see how you can get involved.
On The Hoot, we already have lots of articles that may be useful to you. Have a search around, or make a start with one of the links below.
Being an OU Students: Tips and Tricks
Seasoned students give their TMA top tips
Essay and Exam Tips
Good Academic Practices and Study Skills
10 fun classical playlists to listen to while studying!
Managing our worries in worrying times
Understanding yourself with self coaching
From exams to starting your module, watch our helpful videos below for advice and tips for all OU students! Why not check out our YouTube channel for more too?
The student community
Even outside of Welcome Week, we have a brilliant student community ready to welcome you. Student volunteers run regular online events, so if you want a break from studying or just to see a friendly face, why not check out what’s on this week?
We have a range of Clubs and Societies that provide a space for OU students to meet others with similar interests. There is lots of choice – from academic societies to clubs based on common interests.
Join our clubs and societies.
Getting support
Studying can be hard and sometimes you need that extra bit of support to help you on your way.
To ensure you get the correct support, we have listed a variety of resources for you to browse through on our support and advice page.
These include Peer Support, study skills support from other OU Students; Shout, a listening ear for when you are feeling distressed and just need someone to talk to if you are feeling alone; and The Open University Students Educational Trust (Students Charity) in case you require financial support and all other options have been exhausted.
Our ‘Wellbeing’ section also features tips on how to overcome stress and resources on maintaining a positive mental wellbeing.
We also have support groups ready to welcome you to their community – Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic Students Group, Disabled Students Group, and OU Pride (for LGBTQI+ students).
Keep in touch
Keep up to date on a daily basis by following our social media accounts. You can find us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
You might also want to Sign up for news.
The Hoot, our magazine for OU students, is also on Facebook and Twitter.