Buying and Selling Open University Books: Module…

Buying and Selling Open University Books: Module and Edition Checklist

Check an OU book’s module code, presentation, publication year, ISBN and included volumes before buying or selling. What the OU supplies, what set books you buy yourself, and how to list completed-module materials.

UniBookTrade.co.uk

Updated 17 October 2026Published 2 October 20264 min read

Quick answer: before buying OU books second-hand, check what your module already supplies and which set books you have to buy yourself. Match the module code, the presentation or year and the ISBN of each volume. When selling, list every volume and say what's missing.

The OU doesn't sell set books. Your module description says whether you need any, and you buy them from bookshops or online booksellers. The OU's study-materials guidance points students to StudentHome for information about supplied materials and buying set books. Treat your current module information as the authority. UniBookTrade is an independent marketplace, not an OU supplier, and doesn't endorse any edition.

Supplied materials vs set books

	Module materials	Set books
Who provides them	The OU, as part of your module	You buy them yourself
Format	Printed books, online materials or both	Usually a commercial textbook with an ISBN
Do you need a second-hand copy?	Normally not, as you receive them when you study	Yes, if you want to save money
Second-hand value	Lower; mainly for people studying ahead or revising	Higher, if the module still uses that edition
Key check	Module code and presentation	ISBN and edition

Check the module before the cover

Record the module code and the presentation (start date) you're studying. Search OU books on UBT by module code or exact ISBN. If a code gives no relevant results, try the full title and ISBN before deciding the book isn't listed.

Detail	What to check
Module code	The code on the book matches your current module
Presentation or publication year	That version matches your module's requirements
Volume or block	The specific parts you need, not just a similar-looking set
ISBN	The number on each volume, where there is one
Extra components	Workbooks, audio or other items listed as required
Condition	Completed exercises, heavy annotations and missing pages
Online access	Whether access comes with enrolment rather than with the book

Modules are revised and occasionally replaced by a new code. A box from a few years ago may not match the current presentation even if the code is the same, so compare it with your module information.

A physical book doesn't transfer enrolment

Buying a printed volume gives you no right to another student's online module access. Don't buy shared logins or assume a disc, code or download can be transferred. Check the current OU or publisher terms for anything beyond the physical book.

For background reading, a selection of OU study materials is free on OpenLearn. It's useful for exploring a subject, but it doesn't replace your module's required materials.

Compare a set with individual volumes

List the volumes you need and compare their combined delivered price with a complete set. If the photos show a pile of books but the description names only one, ask what's included. A cheaper incomplete set can cost more once you add the missing volumes.

Use the Reading List Checker for several ISBNs at once. Older OU materials may not all have an ISBN, so record the module code, printed title and year rather than making a number up.

Selling completed-module materials

Photograph the cover, the publication information and every volume. List what's missing and say whether there are annotations or completed exercises. Compare current copies of the same materials before choosing a price. Set books still used on the module sell best. Used copies on UBT typically sell for 40–60% below RRP. Sale timing and price aren't guaranteed.

The shelf checker can identify books with ISBNs. For other materials, use the selling process and describe the physical items accurately. There are no seller fees, and postage is prepaid and tracked. For books that aren't worth selling, see the donation directory.

Browse OU materials or use the general ISBN and edition checklist before buying.

Frequently asked questions

Does the Open University provide textbooks?

The OU supplies module materials as part of your module, in print and online, but it does not sell set books. Your module description says whether you need any set books, which you buy from bookshops or online booksellers, including second-hand.

Can I buy Open University module materials second-hand?

Yes, but check the module code and the presentation they were printed for. Materials can be revised between presentations, and a printed book never transfers someone else's online module access.

Can I sell my OU books after finishing a module?

Yes. Photograph the covers, publication details and every volume, list anything missing, and describe annotations and completed exercises. Set books with an ISBN are the easiest to sell.

Do I keep access to my OU module website after I finish?

The OU library says previously studied modules keep read-only access to the module website for three years after you finish, through your study record on StudentHome.