There have been some remarkable success stories to come from The Open University and many of them have involved people well into Third Age.

The flexibility and choice available for people of all ages and abilities has made the OU one of the success stories of modern education and opened new doors to many who thought their time for learning success had passed.

There has never been a more “open” way for people of all ages to develop their career, make a change of direction or just indulge in a subject which has always interested them.

Most of us will have some regrets about missing out on a particular are or subject at school and the OU is just the place to remedy that, particularly in later life.

It is impossible to list the number of subjects available, many leading on to Masters and Bachelors degrees by accruing points for different passes. The arts, sciences, business and management, computing and ICT, education, engineering and technology, languages, law, the list is endless. The most difficult part of the whole experience may be choosing what you want to do.

There is something for everyone and there is an enormous amount of help available from advisory and teaching staff.

Your course may have a tutor to whom you submit work and tutor marked assignments, the results of which go towards an end of course assessment and, hopefully, pass mark.

The pressures we remember from schooldays have gone. This is a gentle learning process and there is always someone there to answer a question.

Many courses have occasional class get togethers which are usually within your own area. This gives an invaluable chance to discuss how you are getting on with others and pick up a few tips along the way.

There is financial support available for the less well off, or, if you are still working, an employer may well contribute towards something which would benefit your career or advancement.

The distance learning methods employed mean you are learning by yourself but you are never on your own. A tutor or fellow student is always contactable by phone or e-mail. Many people have found it a much easier learning medium because they can go at their own pace without peer pressure which can easily cause failure.

So why not take up the challenge of doing something you have always wanted to? You too could become one of the Third Age success stories of the Open University, and, if you do, tell us all about it!

Full information of all courses available is at www.open.ac.uk/.

Graham Smith for Third Age.