At our Milton Keynes campus, we have state-of-the-art laboratories and equipment for design, music, ecosystems and geobiology, atomic, molecular and plasma research, biomedical, cognitive psychological and environmental research. You also benefit from our on-campus library, and 24/7 access to our online library catalogue.
Laboratories and equipment
The laboratories and facilities you’ll have access to will depend on the research area you undertake. You can find specific equipment details on each of our Research areas.
Library facilities
Our library in Milton Keynes
Our library building on the Walton Hall campus provides a modern, quiet and spacious environment for study and research. It is wheelchair accessible, and staff are available from 9am to 5pm to assist with queries.
Common Room
The Postgraduate Researcher (PGR) Common Room is based on the ground floor of the Library building and is for the exclusive use of 快猫视频 research students, open 24 hours a day. There are regular get-togethers (currently on Tuesday evenings and Thursday mornings) where you can meet research students from across the University and share advice, support and encouragement.
Library collections: finding research materials
As an 快猫视频 research student, you will have access to our world-class online library service with 24-hour access to full-text journal articles, ebooks, statistics, newspapers, images, theses, conference proceedings and more. We also have a print book collection.
For items that are not available in either our online or print collections, the Document Delivery and Inter-Library Loans service is available to university staff and research students (MPhil/PhD).
The OU is a member of the SCONUL Access scheme, which allows SCONUL card holders to use and borrow books from other participating university libraries. Most of the university libraries in the UK (and some in Ireland) are participants.
Training
The Library Research Support team offers a programme of online training including literature searching, open access publishing, research data management and using third party materials in your thesis.
The Library Live Engagement team offer online training including an introduction to the OU Library, smarter searching with library databases and an introduction to reference management tools.
Open Research Online (ORO)
Open Research Online is our freely accessible, open-access database of research outputs shows the range and depth of published 快猫视频 research. ORO also provides access to a range of full-text OU theses.
Open Research Data Online (ORDO)
Open Research Data Online is the OU’s research data repository. ORDO can be used to archive and publish research data supporting a publication or thesis.
Checklists for new researchers
The Library Research Support team provides checklists for new researchers. These library checklists highlight advice, information and all the resources available to help you succeed as a postgraduate researcher at the OU.
Library support for students with disabilities
The OU library provides support with converting inaccessible resources, supported literature searching, and SensusAccess which gives research students the ability to convert resources into an accessible format they prefer.
Computers
Different research will require different computing facilities and equipment. For students based on campus, you’ll have access to a networked computer. In some research areas, specialist computing hardware and software is provided.
Support for students with disabilities
We’ll always work with students to support them with their disabilities and additional needs. We encourage you to let us know as early as possible about any additional requirements you may have, so we can support you fully.
Some students may be eligible to apply for a Disabled Students’ Allowance (DSA), which can help contribute to the cost of additional study costs. We’ll tell you how to apply when we send you your offer of registration.