Otto, so profound
I did my MSc at the OU and I did my poster presentation and oral at MK. I liked the open-ness of the city, they have an active tree planting program and the OU is situated out of town in a nice area. It doesn't have character but would be a nice place to run (flat). The buildings of the OU are quite modern and new and really neat and tidy. There are buses that run from the campus to town regularly. I was invited for an interview for my PhD there but I was offered a place at my first interview with free fMRI facilities (worth £30000) in research money, so I grabbed with both hands. I cannot fault the OU, I have done a BSc Hons and an MSc through them and they are extremely supportive, helpful and most of all, they want you to do well and pass. I cannot speak as a PhD student but this has been my experience so far.