The Open University in Northern Ireland has officially opened applications for its latest round of fully funded postgraduate courses as part of the Department for the Economy’s Skill Up.
The Skill Up programme aims to provide reskilling and upskilling opportunities to people across the north, improving skills, benefitting employment opportunities and enhancing Northern Ireland’s continuously growing and diversifying economy.
A total of 14 flexible, part-time postgraduate modules are available to eligible learners, with studies beginning on 1 November 2025. Applications close at 12 noon on 11 August 2025, and with limited places available, early application is strongly encouraged.
The funded courses, delivered entirely online, include options in Leadership and Management, STEM, and Sustainability. Each programme takes around six months to complete, with learners expected to commit approximately 16–18 hours of study per week.
Among the Leadership and Management options are:
- Managing in a Changing World
- Finance for Strategic Decision-Making
- Entrepreneurship in Context
- MBA Project: Leaders of Change
STEM and environment-focused options include:
- Data Management
- Strategic Capabilities for Technological Innovation
- Environmental Monitoring and Protection
- Information Security
To be eligible, applicants must be aged 18 or over and have a right to work and undertake training in the UK. Full criteria can be found on the website.
Patrick, from Ballykelly, had always been comfortable in the world of engineering but when he realised that to move forward in his career, he needed to broaden his skill set beyond just technical knowledge, he turned to The Open University and the Skill Up funding that was on offer. Studying the Managing in a Changing World course, Patrick said;
“The qualification has had a monumental impact on my career. Without the funding, I probably wouldn’t have studied again. It gave me the chance to shift my career and pursue something I was passionate about.”
To apply or learn more, visit: https://www.open.ac.uk/courses/choose/skill-up
Watch Charis’s story: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JkjPbtSLxfM