From dry land to sailing around the world – Open University alumna Valerie Murton proved that studying can take place anywhere and everywhere.

“In 1985, long before the invention of the internet, I decided to upgrade my teaching certificate and enrol with The Open University,” Valerie told us.

She enrolled for an Art History degree and completed her foundation year in Leicester. However, after embarking on a flotilla holiday with her husband, the pair fell in love with sailing. They bought a 31-foot boat and made plans to live on it for a year while sailing the Mediterranean Sea.

Rather than interrupt her studies, Valerie enlisted the help of her parents, who provided her with a UK postal address, and she was able to continue her course while cruising through the canals of France.

“My parents kindly took on the job of photocopying my essays, keeping the returned marked original and sending the copy on to where I thought, or hoped I might be in say two or three weeks!”

Valerie’s story is a perfect of example of how studying with The Open University can be as versatile as it needs to be. Although she completed her essays while sailing, Valerie returned to the UK to sit her end of year exam.


Long distance learning

The next adventure Valerie and her husband decided to take on was crossing the Atlantic in their small boat – all while Valerie continued to study.

“We finally arrived in Barbados to find OU mail waiting for me!”

After a few years of leisurely sailing around the Caribbean and Venezuela, Valerie took her final exam in Road Town Tortola in the British Virgin Islands in a room above a dress shop.

“It was just me and an invigilator who, I think, was from Hull University and happened to be there to upgrade teaching qualifications.”

Valerie returned to the UK for her degree ceremony attended by her husband and, of course, her parents, whom she acknowledges as pillars of support.

Some years later, with encouragement from her husband, Valerie decided to continue with her studies and enrolled to do her OU degree with Honours, a feat she achieved in her late seventies.

“I always felt like a late developer and lacked confidence in my opinions. Now I feel confident discussing all kinds of topics and asking relevant questions.”