The British Goverment decided to no longer subsidise students which already have an equal or higher degree than they are aiming for a few months ago. And also the credit crunsh is showing its traces. So every part of the Open University has to save 17% or more. 

Now the Science faculty has decided to offer only one named degree (BSc (hons) Science is under consideration) and of course the open degree in the future. I understand that they have to do something, but to sum up all named science degrees is not good for German (and probably also for the other Continential European) students, because in Germany (Europe) the acceptance of the open degree is tending to zero and on the other hand I assume that personnel managers are used to meaningful titles, like BSc Molecular Science which shows that the student studied a special amount of chemistry and biology. Furthermore the OU has some kind of a monopoly on distance learning science courses in Germany, but the German goverment (the Kultusministerkonferenz) decided to open the university access more, because now students who were able to finish year one are able to study as "normal" students afterwards.

IMHO the Open University did not consider all possibilities and also they did not consider all effects their decission will have on further students registrations.