Opening Doors to Opportunity with The Open University – Pride Magazine

For thousands of people balancing careers, family life and ambition, university can feel out of reach. But for over 50 years, The Open University (OU) has broken down those barriers – making it possible for students to earn a respected degree on their terms. For graduates like Sade Quintyne, studying flexibly online with the OU has allowed her to achieve a Law degree while working in the NHS and raising two children.

The Voice’s Vic Motune spoke to Sade about her experience with The Open University and how it’s allowed her to fulfil a long-held childhood dream.

Vic Motune (VM): What inspired you to study with The Open University, and how did your early school and university experiences shape that decision?

Sade Quintyne (SQ):“I went through primary school, secondary school and college, where the expectation was that university was the natural next step. I really enjoyed sociology at A-level, so I decided to study it at a face-to-face university. But after a year there, I realised degree-level sociology was nothing like I expected, and I just wasn’t enjoying it, so I came back home.

I knew I wanted to continue studying, but I wasn’t sure which direction to take. I was torn between law and healthcare because I was thinking practically about job opportunities and long-term career prospects. I started looking for online courses because I already knew traditional university life and lectures weren’t really for me. That’s when I discovered The Open University.

What appealed to me was the flexibility. I liked that I could study at my own pace and fit learning around my life and work commitments.

I enrolled on a Healthcare and Health Science degree, but after two years I realised my heart still wasn’t in it. Deep down, Law was what I’d wanted to study all along, so I made the decision to switch degrees…