The Open University (OU) is celebrating the 50th anniversary of its first graduation ceremony and pioneering of long-distance studying.
The institution allowed people who had not had the chance to go to a traditional campus to pursue degrees alongside other commitments.
The Milton Keynes-based university has released images and footage of the ceremony at Alexandra Palace, London.
Its vice chancellor said the university helped enable "social mobility".
The university teamed up with the BBC to produce course programmes, famously shown late at night for many years and during the day when regular programmes were not being broadcast.
The OU has said it has taught more than 2.3 million students across 171 countries since it was granted a royal charter in 1969.
