From 4,225 registered students in Northern Ireland the 2019/20 academic year, the Open University saw their numbers go to 7,430 in 2022/23. Undated handout photo issued by The Open University of graduate 90-year-old Maryette McFarland from Derry (PA)Mr D’Arcy joined The Open University in 2010 from a background in education, including as chief executive of Colleges Northern Ireland. “Although we’re the smallest university in Northern Ireland, we’re probably the biggest university in Europe,” he said. “So we’ve about 175,000 students in England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland, Ireland, and also continental Europe, with lots of partnerships in different parts of the world, such as the the Arab Open University. “Many people may think The Open University is social sciences, creative writing, but we have got a nursing programme.

Source: The Herald January 18, 2026 14:23 UTC