Advertising feature: Find out about the Open University in Scotland

Are you looking to retrain or take the next step in your career?

The Open University in Scotland helps ordinary people achieve extraordinary things through part-time study - whether that's gaining accreditation for your IT skills (we are now a Microsoft IT Academy), developing a management skill to help you in the workplace or simply topping up your existing qualifications, there is a course for you.

The Open University pioneered flexible learning and it's still voted top for overall student satisfaction in Scotland*. Studying part-time lets you fit learning around your work or family commitments, and offers you the opportunity to complete a course or qualification at a time and pace that suits your life.

There are more than 570 individual courses available to help you reach your goal, from introductory level courses to get you started through to degree level and post-graduate qualifications so you'll find plenty to stimulate your imagination. Explore the digital revolution, try your hand at creative writing or maybe art history, psychology or languages are more your thing.

Not everyone has a great experience with learning first time around - that's why the Open University is open to all, any age, background or qualification. Our compelling and innovative courses are delivered to you by email, post, DVD or online and you'll benefit from support by phone, email or face to face. All of the study materials are provided - and you can dip in and out of the OU's lively online community whenever you like.

There are now more than 16,000 OU students in Scotland - and over 70% of them are studying while they are working. Many employers highly value the skills that OU students develop - self-motivation, time management and problem solving skills being just a few.

Even if you don't qualify for full financial support to pay for all or part of your course fee, you may be eligible for an ILA Scotland learner account or part-time fee grant instead so there's no excuse not to give it a go. For further information on how you can make 2011 your year with The Open University call 0845 300 60 90 or visit www.openuniversity.co.uk/scotland

* According to the National Student Survey 2010