Open Universities Australia
An Australian online higher-education organisation that connects students with university and other tertiary qualifications through flexible distance study.
Last updated November 4, 2026
AI crawler reads
No AI crawler has read this profile since Oct 28, 2026.
Overview
Open Universities Australia (OUA) is an Australian online higher-education organisation that enables students to study university and other tertiary qualifications remotely. Rather than operating primarily as a conventional degree-granting university, OUA acts as a platform and education intermediary: it presents courses and qualifications from Australian universities and other education providers, supports student enrolment, and gives learners access to flexible online study pathways. The organisation was established in late 1993 as the Open Learning Agency of Australia Pty Ltd. The initial initiative was associated with Monash University and was designed to widen access to higher education, particularly for people in regional and remote parts of Australia. The project developed through collaboration involving the Australian Broadcasting Corporation and other universities, with federal government support. Its original distance-learning orientation reflected the constraints of geography and the desire to make tertiary study available to people who could not attend a campus in the conventional manner. In 2004, the organisation adopted the name Open Universities Australia. The change reflected the broadening of its role and the changing expectations of students, who increasingly sought flexible access to university units, complete qualifications, and online learning. The same year, OUA students became eligible to use the FEE-HELP deferred-payment scheme, subject to the applicable government requirements. This helped make eligible undergraduate and postgraduate study more accessible by allowing students to defer tuition costs rather than paying all fees upfront. OUA's model is based on partnerships. Seven Australian universities control the organisation, while a wider group of partner universities supplies additional courses and qualifications. The partner network has included institutions such as Australian Catholic University, the Australian National University, Bond University, Edith Cowan University, Federation University Australia, Flinders University, James Cook University, La Trobe University, Murdoch University, Queensland University of Technology, Southern Cross University, Torrens University Australia, the University of Canberra, the University of New England, the University of Newcastle, the University of Notre Dame Australia, the University of Queensland, the University of Southern Queensland, the University of Tasmania, and the University of the Sunshine Coast. The exact partner roster may change over time. A notable feature of OUA's offering has been the availability of many undergraduate subjects without first-year entry requirements and the absence of quotas for most courses. This creates an alternative entry route for students who do not have conventional school-leaving qualifications, who are returning to study, or who want to test a subject before committing to a full qualification. Students can generally study individual units or work toward qualifications delivered by participating universities, with the awarding institution remaining responsible for the relevant academic credential. OUA has also expanded beyond traditional university study. It launched Open2Study in 2013 as a free online learning, teaching, and assessment platform, allowing universities to offer open courses and placing the organisation in competition with emerging global online-learning platforms. Open2Study was closed in 2019. OUA also operated Open Training Institute, an online vocational education and training provider, from 2013 until its closure in 2017. In 2013, it acquired e3Learning, an online workplace training and compliance business, before that business was sold to the City & Guilds Group in 2017. The organisation's student base is predominantly Australian, although its online courses are available internationally. OUA has promoted flexible study to working adults, regional students, career changers, professional learners, and elite athletes. It has participated in the Elite Athlete Friendly University program and has maintained organisational partnerships involving employers and public-sector bodies, including National Australia Bank, Westpac Group, and the Australian Department of Defence. Governance is provided by a board whose members are nominated by the shareholder universities, with provision for independent directors. OUA remains an active Australian education-services brand focused on widening participation through online and distance learning.
History
Open Universities Australia began in late 1993 under the name Open Learning Agency of Australia Pty Ltd. The organisation emerged from an access-oriented distance-education initiative associated with Monash University. Its purpose was to help people study beyond the limits of a traditional campus system, particularly those living in regional areas or otherwise unable to attend university in person. The initiative involved cooperation with the Australian Broadcasting Corporation and eight other universities and received support from the Australian federal government. In its early form, the organisation was principally a mechanism for delivering and coordinating open learning. Its later development reflected the growth of online education and the increasing demand for flexible tertiary study. In 2004, it adopted the name Open Universities Australia. That rebranding signalled a broader university-access proposition rather than a narrower open-learning project. The same year was important for student financing: eligible OUA students gained access to FEE-HELP, allowing qualifying students to defer payment for undergraduate and postgraduate units and courses under the applicable government scheme. OUA's operating model developed around a university partnership structure. Seven Australian universities became the organisation's controlling shareholders, and a broader set of universities supplied courses and qualifications. Governance was assigned to a board consisting of nominees from the shareholder institutions, with the possibility of appointing independent directors. This structure allowed OUA to remain a shared access platform rather than becoming a conventional single-university provider. During the 2010s, OUA invested in technology and expanded its activities. In 2012, IBM used OUA's technology transformation as a case study after the organisation implemented a new information-technology strategy. The stated objectives included better support for student performance and retention and improved insight into marketing and sales activity. OUA also participated in the 2012 ICANN process for new generic top-level domains, submitting a bid for .courses. In March 2013, OUA launched Open2Study, a free online-learning and assessment platform through which universities could offer open courses. The service was part of the early expansion of massive and open online learning and competed for attention with international platforms such as Coursera and edX. Open2Study operated for several years before closing in 2019. OUA also entered corporate and vocational learning. In July 2013, it acquired Interact Learning Pty Ltd, trading as e3Learning. e3Learning was an Australian online training and compliance provider based in Adelaide, with corporate customers in Australia, the United Kingdom, and New Zealand. The acquisition broadened OUA's reach beyond university learners into employer-focused training. OUA subsequently sold e3Learning to the City & Guilds Group in 2017. Another expansion was Open Training Institute, a registered training organisation offering online vocational education and training. It was launched in 2013 and closed in 2017. These initiatives show that OUA experimented with several adjacent education markets, although its continuing core identity remained online higher education delivered through university partnerships. OUA's student proposition has typically emphasised flexibility and accessibility. Many undergraduate courses have no first-year entry requirements, and most courses do not impose quotas, creating alternative routes into study for people without conventional university-entry pathways. Students can select individual units or pursue larger qualifications supplied by participating institutions. The qualifications themselves are associated with the relevant education provider, while OUA functions as the access, information, and enrolment platform. Most enrolled students are based in Australia, but courses are available to students globally. OUA has also supported groups with distinctive scheduling needs, including professional athletes. Its participation in the Elite Athlete Friendly University program reflects an emphasis on balancing academic study with high-performance sport. Partnerships with organisations such as National Australia Bank, Westpac Group, and the Australian Department of Defence further illustrate the brand's connection to workforce and public-sector learning needs. As described in reference material, the organisation remains active and is chaired by Professor Bruce S. Dowton, with Catherine Reynolds serving as chief executive officer. Because leadership roles, partner institutions, and course availability can change, current operational details should be checked against OUA's official website.
- 2019
Open2Study closed
[1]The free online-learning platform was discontinued.
- 2017
e3Learning sold to City & Guilds Group
[1]The City & Guilds Group acquired e3Learning from OUA.
- 2017
Open Training Institute closed
[1]OUA discontinued its online vocational education and training institute.
- 2013
Launched Open2Study
[1]OUA introduced a free online-learning platform through which universities could provide open courses.
- 2013
Acquired e3Learning
[1]OUA acquired the online training and compliance provider e3Learning, expanding into corporate learning.
- 2013
Launched Open Training Institute
[1]OUA launched an online registered training organisation for vocational education and training.
- 2012
Implemented a new information-technology strategy
[1]IBM documented OUA's technology implementation as a case study focused on student performance, retention, and marketing insight.
- 2012
Bid for the .courses domain
[1]OUA participated in the ICANN new generic top-level-domain process with a bid for .courses.
- 2004
Adopted the Open Universities Australia name
[1]The organisation rebranded as Open Universities Australia and its eligible students gained access to FEE-HELP.
- 1993
Open Learning Agency of Australia established
[1]The organisation was formed as Open Learning Agency of Australia Pty Ltd, initially associated with Monash University and a wider distance-education collaboration.
Products and positioning
Flexible, accessible online tertiary education for students seeking university and vocational study without the geographic and scheduling constraints of campus-based education.
Higher education
University online units and qualifications
OUA's core offering is access to hundreds of online units, subjects, and qualifications delivered by Australian universities and other education providers. Students can often begin with individual units, use study as a pathway into a qualification, or complete a larger undergraduate or postgraduate program. Many undergraduate offerings have no first-year entry requirements, and most courses do not have quotas, making the platform useful for alternative-entry and flexible-study students. The awarding institution remains responsible for the relevant academic qualification.
Open online learning · 2013
Open2Study
Open2Study was a free online teaching, learning, and assessment platform launched by OUA in 2013. It enabled universities to publish open courses for learners who wanted accessible online study without immediately enrolling in a conventional degree. The platform formed part of the early open-online-learning market and was positioned alongside international services such as Coursera and edX. Open2Study closed in 2019.
Vocational education and training · 2013
Open Training Institute
Open Training Institute was an online registered training organisation launched by OUA in 2013. It extended the organisation's activities from university study into vocational education and training. The institute was intended to provide qualifications through an online model, but it was later closed in 2017.
Corporate training and compliance
e3Learning
e3Learning was an online training and compliance business acquired by OUA in 2013. Based in Adelaide, it served corporate customers in Australia, the United Kingdom, and New Zealand. The business broadened OUA's portfolio into employer-oriented learning and compliance services. OUA sold e3Learning to the City & Guilds Group in 2017.
Marketing campaigns
- 2013Open2Study launch
Australia · Online international market
OUA launched Open2Study as a free online-learning platform that allowed universities to offer open courses and reach learners outside conventional degree enrolment.
Outcome. The platform operated for several years and closed in 2019.
- Elite Athlete Friendly University participation
Australia
OUA participates in the Elite Athlete Friendly University program, supporting athletes who need to combine tertiary study with high-performance sporting commitments.
Outcome. The program reflects OUA's broader flexible-study positioning; a specific campaign outcome is not reported in the reference material.
Brand decisions
2013
Launch of Open2StudyProduct launchBackground
Free and open online learning was becoming an important adjacent model to conventional university enrolment.
Action taken
OUA created a platform for universities to deliver free online courses and assessments.
Aftermath
Open2Study operated until its closure in 2019.
2013
Acquisition of e3LearningM&ABackground
OUA sought to expand beyond higher education into online workplace training and compliance.
Action taken
OUA acquired 100 percent of Interact Learning Pty Ltd, trading as e3Learning.
Aftermath
The business remained part of OUA until its sale to the City & Guilds Group in 2017.
2013
Launch of Open Training InstituteProduct launchBackground
OUA expanded its online education model into the vocational education and training market.
Action taken
It launched Open Training Institute as an online registered training organisation.
Aftermath
The institute closed in 2017.
2004
Rebrand from Open Learning Agency of Australia to Open Universities AustraliaStrategyBackground
The organisation's student proposition and education partnerships had expanded beyond its earlier open-learning identity.
Action taken
It adopted the Open Universities Australia name.
Aftermath
The new name became the organisation's continuing public identity and emphasised broad access to university study.
Sources2 sources
Cite this profile: Cite the canonical profile. /brand-wiki/open-universities-australia · Editorial policy · How profiles are compiled