The UOC is a global university belonging to the European Higher Education Area (EHEA). Its model is based on online (distance) learning. The UOC’s mission is to deliver lifelong learning. Its range of online programmes include both officially endorsed degrees and UOC-specific courses.
The UOC focuses its research on areas where technology and social & human sciences converge. It has three research institutes: the IN3 and the eHealth Center, and one learning innovation centre (the eLearn Center). It also has its own doctoral school.

The UOC has a unique approach, with a learning model based on completing activities, and continual guidance and support. The way of studying and the range of programmes are conducive to learning for people at all stages of their lives and careers.

UOC students have a distinctive profile: they have other responsibilities as well as their studies, and by the time they graduate they are highly competent in organizational, collaboration and digital skills.
Launched by the Government of Catalonia to provide a public service while being run privately, the UOC’s raison d’être is to serve society both locally and globally. With this charter and mission, the UOC is a university that facilitates equitable and inclusive access to higher education, with a commitment to open access and knowledge.

Created 25 years ago, in 1995, it was the world’s first ever online university.

The Universidad Oberta de Catalunya through the national contract between CRUE and IEEE, has an open access agreement with IEEE. The agreement enables researchers to publish articles as open access with a 20% discount on eligible APCs for publishing in IEEE Gold journals and a predetermined number of covered open access fees in all IEEE hybrid open access journals. To see eligible titles, please refer to the IEEE open access title list. The agreement applies to all original research articles accepted for publication between now and December 31, 2025. To benefit from this agreement, the corresponding author has to be affiliated with Universidad Oberta de Catalunya and use the correct institution name and institutional email address during submission. It is recommended for authors to select the CC BY 4.0 license. The open access funding request will be approved by an administrator in the library. Overlength page charges or color fees are not covered by the agreement and will be charged to authors.