Out of 132 universities and colleges , the OU was ranked 43rd ( second quartile ) in the Times Higher Education Table of Excellence in 2008 , between the University of Reading and University of the Arts London ; it was rated highly in Design , Art History , English , Earth and Environmental Sciences , Computer Science , Development Studies , Social Policy and Social Work and Sociology .
It was rated highly in Design , Art History , English , Earth and Environmental Sciences , Computer Science , Development Studies , Social Policy and Social Work , and Sociology .