If you had told a teenage Richard Branson—sitting in the back of a 1960s classroom, staring at a blackboard that looked like a jumble of dancing sticks—that he’d eventually launch a university, he probably would’ve laughed. Or just gone back to planning his next magazine.
Fast forward to late 2024 and 2025, and that’s exactly what happened. But it isn't a university with ivy-covered walls or stuffy lecture halls where you’re graded on your ability to spell "entrepreneurship" correctly.
It’s called DyslexicU, and honestly, it’s kind of a middle finger to the traditional education system that’s been failing neurodivergent kids for a century.
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What is the University of Dyslexic Thinking?
Basically, Richard Branson teamed up with the charity Made By Dyslexia and The Open University to create the world’s first "University of Dyslexic Thinking." It officially went live during the UN General Assembly in New York.
This isn't just a passion project. It’s a response to a massive shift in the global job market.
A major report titled Intelligence 5.0, produced with the recruitment giant Randstad Enterprise, found something wild: the skills the AI-driven world needs right now are exactly the skills dyslexics have in spades. We're talking about:
- Complex problem solving.
- Lateral thinking.
- Creative storytelling.
- Interpersonal empathy.
Because AI can handle the "linear" stuff—the data entry, the basic coding, the rote memorization—the value of "human" intelligence has skyrocketed.
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Why Richard Branson Dyslexia University is Different
Traditional schools often treat dyslexia like a bug in the system. They focus on what you can't do, like reading quickly or spelling. DyslexicU flips the script. It treats those differences as a feature.
Branson has famously said that his dyslexia is his "superpower." He credits it for the way Virgin operates—keeping things simple, focusing on the big picture, and delegating the details.
At this "university," you won't find exams. Instead, the courses are free, online, and on-demand. They’re taught by some of the most successful dyslexic minds on the planet. I'm talking about people like Princess Beatrice, shark-tank legend Barbara Corcoran, and space scientist Dame Maggie Aderin-Pocock.
The Course Breakdown
They didn't just throw some videos together. The modules are structured to be "dyslexic-friendly," meaning they're heavy on visuals and storytelling.
- Entrepreneurs & Start-Up Mentality: Created with Virgin StartUp, this focuses on how to use "big picture" thinking to disrupt industries.
- Changemakers & Activism: A collaboration with Virgin Unite that teaches how to use empathy to drive social change.
- Future Tracks: There are plans (and some already rolling out in 2026) for modules in fashion, culinary arts, sports, and even gaming.
The goal is to teach "Dyslexic Thinking" as a formal skill. In fact, if you finish a course, you can actually add it to your LinkedIn profile. It’s a recognized skill category now, thanks to a massive campaign Branson pushed back in 2022.
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The Reality of the "Dyslexic Premium"
You might be wondering if this is just good PR. It’s not.
There’s a real economic argument here. Research from Made By Dyslexia suggests that dyslexic entrepreneurs contribute over £4.6 billion to the UK GDP every year alone.
Yet, the gap is still huge. About 96% of dyslexics feel that standard recruitment processes don't recognize their strengths. They get filtered out by automated resume scanners or psychometric tests before they even get a chance to show how they think.
Branson’s "university" is trying to bridge that gap. It’s not just for dyslexic people; it’s also for HR leaders and non-dyslexics who want to learn how to think more laterally.
It’s About the "U"
There’s a bit of a joke Branson likes to tell about the name. The "U" in DyslexicU stands for University, sure. But for many dyslexics, "U" was also the grade they saw scribbled on their papers for "Unsatisfactory."
Reclaiming that letter is a big deal. It’s a signal that the world is finally catching up to a way of thinking that was once dismissed as a disability.
Honestly, the most impressive part isn't the celebrity cameos or the flashy launch in New York. It’s the reach. Within a short time of launching, the platform saw hundreds of thousands of enrollments across 100+ countries.
Actionable Steps for Using Your Dyslexic Thinking
If you’ve spent your life feeling like a "square peg in a round hole," here is how to actually leverage the resources Branson has put out:
- Audit Your Own Skills: Stop looking at your reading speed. Look at your pattern recognition. Are you the one who sees the solution before everyone else even realizes there’s a problem? That’s your value.
- Enrol in DyslexicU: It’s free. Go to the site, watch the modules from people like Erin Brockovich or Orlando Bloom, and see how they framed their "disadvantage" as a career engine.
- Update Your LinkedIn: If you have dyslexia, use the "Dyslexic Thinking" skill tag. More and more companies (especially in tech and creative industries) are specifically searching for this.
- For Employers: Stop using "perfect spelling" as a proxy for intelligence in job descriptions. You are literally filtering out the most innovative 20% of the population.
The "old school of thought" says you need to fit the mold. The Richard Branson Dyslexia University says the mold is broken, and it’s time to start valuing the people who see the world differently.