OU Students Past, Present and Future

mum2one

shrekkiegirl wrote: »

hi i have been looking into starting courses with ou but am unsure which i should do or how many. i am a single parent to 4 kids, i am a carer for my eldest who is registered disabled. i do not work at present but want to get back into work when my youngest starts school next year so thought i would take the oppertunity to start studying. i am interested in bookkeeping/accountance. just wondered if i should just start with the basic intro to bookkeeping/accounting on its own or do a few course at the same time. i am 43 and nearly brain dead due to age:D. also will i get funding as i am unsure, can't really afford to pay out the prices. any help is much appreciated

Hi
I would def start wioth the basic course, as book keeping and accountancy are hard going, and by starting with the intro course, your be able to gauge the time frame, level of work, and fitting it into home life.
The OU are really helpful when you apply for funding, I maybe going off on a tangent, but worth looking into is mention your situation - that your a carer, as for exams, they can offer alternative arrangements, such as a local venue, take the exam at home.
I'm a disabled student, and I'm on my 6th year of study, I know I would not have been able to study in normal situ at a college.

Apply early for funding, just to allow everything to go through. Good luck, xx

Natti_A

I am about to start my first OU course; BUX130 Working and Learning in Practice, and then onto B120 in May next year if all goes to plan. In 4 years I want to have completed a Business degree. Unfortunately I've had to bring my OU plans ahead by just over a year due to the cost increases that will occur next year. I can just about manage the costs now with help from the OUSBA scheme, I wouldnt be able to do any further study at £5000 per 120 credits. My whole course will cost me just more than that if I started this year (if my maths is correct!)

I hope these courses I've chosen in year 1 are relatively straightforward, as I'm a bit mad and am technically on 3 Uni-based courses this year; Open Uni, Work are sending me to Uni to get my teaching qualification to train other people in healthcare (30 credits), and I'm finishing the 3rd year of my distance learning masters. Gonna be a busy year!!!

welshlovebiscuit

Hello!

Past studies with OU - ED209 - Child Development (1996), then BA Hons Human Geography (graduated 2003). Studied DD101 Intro to Social Sciences for fun 2009 .
I worked full time and had to travel extensively all the time I was completing my degree - spent many a late night in my hotel room after having to entertain/be entertained...bloody nightmare! but I have since completely changed my career and love it.

mum2one

Natti_A wrote: »

I am about to start my first OU course; BUX130 Working and Learning in Practice, and then onto B120 in May next year if all goes to plan. In 4 years I want to have completed a Business degree. Unfortunately I've had to bring my OU plans ahead by just over a year due to the cost increases that will occur next year. I can just about manage the costs now with help from the OUSBA scheme, I wouldnt be able to do any further study at £5000 per 120 credits. My whole course will cost me just more than that if I started this year (if my maths is correct!)

I hope these courses I've chosen in year 1 are relatively straightforward, as I'm a bit mad and am technically on 3 Uni-based courses this year; Open Uni, Work are sending me to Uni to get my teaching qualification to train other people in healthcare (30 credits), and I'm finishing the 3rd year of my distance learning masters. Gonna be a busy year!!!

Your be fine, is the BUX130 the online version, as I start BU130 in Nov, I've done B120, brilliant course, a really good introduction into all aspects of business.
You just make sure you get some down time with everything your doing. xx

The_mangler

Hi, Im just waiting to complete my Spanish oral exam at 6pm so Im trying anything to keep my mind busy!
I am a mom to 3 and a full time carer for my husband, I used to work in Accounts but fancied a change to keep my brain ticking over so have completed Y163 Intro to Psychology, D171 Intro to Counselling, K101 Health & Social Care, SDK228 Science of the Mind and will be finishing L194 Spanish in a weeks time! Im working towards an Open Degree and hope to become a counsellor.

nrsql

Don't know if it's been mentioned yet but people need to be aware of the fee increases and transitional arrangements at the OU.
The fees are going up by about 3 times from September next year but those studying for a qualification will retain the current fees as long as the qualifications are live until 2017.

You need to complete a module linked to the qualification(s) and complete ar least one a year. Means that you should run an open degree along with any named degrees so that you can study anything you want.
Also if you are thinking of studying in the next few years you should complete a module in the next year - pick an easy 10 point module if necessary.

Gemmzie

I think it has to be more than 10 points to qualify for continuing fees. Can you run two degrees at once still? Won't funding finish when you complete one?

Bagpuss741

The_mangler wrote: »

Hi, Im just waiting to complete my Spanish oral exam at 6pm so Im trying anything to keep my mind busy!
I am a mom to 3 and a full time carer for my husband, I used to work in Accounts but fancied a change to keep my brain ticking over so have completed Y163 Intro to Psychology, D171 Intro to Counselling, K101 Health & Social Care, SDK228 Science of the Mind and will be finishing L194 Spanish in a weeks time! Im working towards an Open Degree and hope to become a counsellor.

How did it go?? I was due to do my Welsh oral exam at that time but I suddenly got Java problems and elluminate wouldn't work:eek: I'm now waiting to find out if thay will grant me another date.

mum2one

Got my materials for BU130 today, so 2 out of 3 courses arrived, haven't been brave enuf to start yet...
BU130 Nov - Apr
B122 Nov - Apr
B204 Oct - June..
At least none are exams x

kittiej

Hello can I join the thread please?

T123 Sustainable Scotland just been able to log on to this course from today and it's looking really interesting. I might even become an ecofeminist :rotfl: