Our purpose is simple: to help people realize the life they imagine through learning. We believe that every learning opportunity is a chance for a personal breakthrough. That’s why our c. 20,000 Pearson employees are committed to creating vibrant and enriching learning experiences designed for real-life impact. We are the world’s leading learning company, serving customers in nearly 200 countries with digital content, assessments, qualifications, and data. For us, learning isn’t just what we do. It's who we are.
The University of Manchester is recognised globally for its pioneering research, outstanding teaching and learning, and commitment to social responsibility. Part of the Russell Group, we’re ranked 35th in the QS World University Rankings, 2025 (6th in the UK) and 46th in the Academic Ranking of World Universities, 2025.
The power of our social and environmental impact has been recognised on a global scale as the only university in the top ten in both the QS World University Sustainability Rankings and Times Higher Education Impact Rankings, for our contribution towards the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Our university is a powerhouse of research and discovery; 26 Nobel laureates are among our former staff and students, and we were ranked fifth for research power – the quality and scale of research and impact – in the Research Excellence Framework (REF), 2021.
Ranked 20th most international university in the world according to Times Higher Education (2025), our community includes more than 44,000 students, 12,800 staff and 550,000 alumni from 190 countries, working together to tackle the world’s biggest challenges.
We’re one of the most popular institutions in the UK for undergraduate applications, according to UCAS, and were the most targeted university by the UK’s leading employers in 2024 (The Graduate Market). Learn more at www.manchester.ac.uk.
The Open University is an expert in flexible higher education that fits around your working life.
We don’t make you choose between a degree and a salary – more than 76% of our students are in full or part time work, while 86% FTSE 100 companies have funded staff on OU courses.
Employers including IBM, The Metropolitan Police, Unilever and many more recognise the value for money we provide, while students appreciate the range of affordable routes we offer. As a result, we are the largest academic institution in the UK, with nearly 180,000 current undergraduates, postgraduates and students on validated programmes - plus almost 1.8 million who have studied with us since our foundation in 1969.
When you join the OU, you gain a vast international network of support from university staff, alumni and fellow students (including more than 15,000 overseas) with a truly global reach. Wherever you are based, we offer flexible study with structure and support and we have been rated in the top ten UK universities for student satisfaction in the National Student Survey since its foundation in 2005.
Our commitment to distance learning and access to education enables us to cater for the widest range of students - not only those who are in paid work but also the retired, those returning to education, registered carers, single parents and more disabled people than any other UK-based university.
Flexible, affordable, respected and connected. Don’t take our word for it: Listen to what our students say at www.youtube.com/user/OUlife or click on the ‘Recommendations’ tab at the top of this page.