Does anyone have any experience of studying with the Open University?

unluckyone

Fred56 wrote: »

I've been studying with the OU for some time and have enough credits for a BSc but am continuing to get enough for honours. I have also studied at a traditional univeristy.
The OU works. It's not easy, but then getting a degree is not supposed to be. I find it far preferable than the traditional university. There are no lectures where the lecturer fails to turn up, no cancelled lectures because the university can't manage room bookings and that kind of stuff.
I would say there is more work in achieving credits with the OU than at the traditional univeristy so don't try to go too fast. Take one module at a time and choose 60 credit modules. The shorter modules, particularly the 30 credit ones have a disproportionate workload. You have to suffer group work but it's not as bad as the traditional university where the motivated student is used to carry the dossers.
It is imperative that you attend all the tutorials and engage with the course forums. Keep pace with the study calendar and don't be tempted into the sustitution trap. You must maintain a good relationship with your tutor and that's not always easy as they can be the sole conduit for your frustration.

It will take over your life. I'd like to see a study of the relationship failure rate of OU students.

It's cheap, especially if you qualify for the finanacial help. If you're a young person still living with mum and dad, it's more or less free which beats the traditional university lifetime debt by pure infinity.

Big thanks Fred56,

This is a good reply.
I have no problem with the commitment needed or keeping to a schedule part of the study, I feel comfortable with research etc.
I have attended college courses in recent years that I did find irritating, not everyone being as motivated as you, different learning speeds, you juggling everything at home and work to make the 4 hour class only to turn up, sign the register, be sent for a coffee and then sent home because the room is needed etc.
That's not me.
I like to study, I enjoy learning and when I do something I like to do it the best I can.
I'm looking at a Social Science course, I thought i could start with a level 1, as they suggested, Understanding Society, it's worth 60 points.
So, there is a real tutor on the other end, someone is there to mark your work and direct you??
Is it like a traditional tutor who has worked in the sector they are teaching, and you can learn from them.
As for the financial side of it, it certainly doesn't appear to be cheap, quite the opposite really. I know funding is available in regular colleges but then you have to wait until Sptember starts etc.
I just wanted to hear if you feel what you learned is of any less quality than you may have learned if you attended a regular college?

Oldernotwiser

AzimScot wrote: »

Also, I believe you don't get funding for open university or long distance courses if you go part time with college or uni you get funding.

Just like any other part time degree course, funding for the OU is available if you meet the financial criteria.

Oldernotwiser

unluckyone wrote: »

I just wanted to hear if you feel what you learned is of any less quality than you may have learned if you attended a regular college?

The OU is rated in the top 5 universities for teaching quality and is far and away better than the standard of degree teaching you would come across in a college, or many traditional universities, for that matter.

Don't be put off by the amount of independent study required as this would be the case in any university. At degree level it's about you learning rather than being taught.

Becles

unluckyone wrote: »

So, there is a real tutor on the other end, someone is there to mark your work and direct you??
Is it like a traditional tutor who has worked in the sector they are teaching, and you can learn from them.

I've had tutors from a variety of backgrounds but most enjoy the job and enjoy sharing their knowledge.

You'll get a phone number and email address for your tutor. If you have problems, you can ring or email and they will try to help. You'll also have access to your own tutor group forum, a course wide forum and a general faculty forum where you can chat with other people and learning from each other is encouraged.

There are assignments. Most of my courses have had e-submission, so you just upload it to the uni website before the cut off date (word of warning: don't leave it until the last minute as sometimes the server crashes with everyone trying to submit things five minutes before the deadline!). The tutor will download it, add comments and it will be sent back with a cover sheet. The cover sheet gives a general summary of what you did well and what could be improved upon, then comments on the actual essay highlight bits with relevant feedback. If you're unsure on marking, the tutor will go through it with you.

The tutor will also run revision activities and other set tasks in the tutor group forum, as well as hosting the tutorials where you can meet him/her in person.

Do check out the funding pages on the OU website. There's a calculator where you can put in your household income and dependants and it will tell you how much financial help you are entitled to.

eamon

I graduated from the OU in 2005 with a BSc, social science based. You need to be certain that you will have the self discipline to self study. Not easy when there are so many other distractions. But the OU has loads of help in those dark moments.
Level 1 courses usually have weekly tutorials, level 2 & 3 monthly. The OU has excellent forums etc. The recommended study time (including all assignments) is 12-14 hours per week and this is achievable. The OU provide all the study materials except pens, stationary, computers, media players (though in the past and may still offer a PC rental scheme) and time.
As for the costs I think the OU is very affordable and you can pay monthly via the OUSBA scheme and social courses are far from being the most expensive. The OU website shows the costs. Over the last number of years there has been a move by the OU to have the tutors (mainly Level 1) to be at least qualified in that discipline. Level 2 & 3 tutors will have degrees etc and probably teach/lecture full/part time in a traditional university. The tutor at one of my courses was an Economics Professor in Manchester.
Before you make a decision you must try and visit one of the regional centres and pick their brains they will be pleased to offer assistance & advice. Some centres also arrange open days where potential students etc can browse study materials, talk to tutors, current students, finance advisors, careers advisors.
I enjoyed my time with the OU and met a huge and diverse range of people both in person and via the forums. For example a Greek student, a Kyrgyzstani student who had both travelled to Bath for a summer school and e-mail correspondence with a lady who lived in the Falklands.
I would say go for it and to paraphrase a Franklin D Roosevelt "You have nothing to fear but fear itself"
Eamon

olly300

AzimScot wrote: »

I done this many a year ago. I say don't do it. It does depend on how active you are although having a class is 100 times better in my opinion. It does depend on where you study at home or library, but I found studying at home impossible as they are too many distractions e.g. kids, phone, someone at the door, Maw need help etc etc.

Even if you go to a traditional university you will need to do a lot of self-study.

The difference with OU is that it's virtually all self-study. Therefore the teaching materials are much better.

AzimScot wrote: »

Also, I believe you don't get funding for open university or long distance courses if you go part time with college or uni you get funding.

You can get funding if you don't have a first degree.

I have gone to both a traditional university and am doing some OU courses.

Both take up your life and if you have children you will need to plan your
life around your studying regardless.

Also if you live near a university with a library as an OU student you can use that university library.

biv

I had mixed feelings about the OU at first. It was a little difficult to get my head around how it all works, and I wasn't sure how credible it really was. However, I'm now on my forth course towards a degree, and I'm very happy with the OU.

Total_Chunk

I struggled with the OU, I think that you need to be a certain type of person as it can be very lonely. I felt I was very proactive but with no lectures to attend, you can't corner other people into discussions through email! I found it stressful and I intend to take my credits to another institution. Personally, I need a face-to-face relationship with my fellow students and tutor and i'm glad I realised this before i signed up to the full MA!

Fred56

unluckyone wrote: »

Big thanks Fred56,


I just wanted to hear if you feel what you learned is of any less quality than you may have learned if you attended a regular college?

On balance I think the OU provided a higher quality. Their teaching materials are far better which makes up for the lack of having someone skilled at transfering knowledge there in front of you to provide alternative explanations of tricky points. There were times when I wished I had the benefit of a traditional tutorial session becasue you can't alawys get the OU tutor when you would like to and I always found it hard to explain what I did not understand in an email.

saippuakauppias

Thought I might stick my beak in too...
I have been an OU student since 2006 and haven't looked back since.
Two thirds of my degree under the belt now and hoping to finish in June 2011.
Unfortunately I don't know about financial support other than, that I don't qualify. However the OU staff either at Milton Keynes or at your regional centre are well informed and helpful, so giving them a call should clarify things.
Tutors vary hugely from course to course. Some are excellent and professional, unfortunately some are not. I have had both. Overall they've been OK and done what they are supposed to do, ie. mark the written work and return it in timely manner and run face to face tutorials (some better than others).
It can be lonely at times, just you and the course material and it may feel as if you are the only person 'doing OU' in the world. The others are out there, on on-line course forums, attending tutorials and your tutor is only an e-mail or phone call away (admittedly, some of them can be a bit elusive).
The key to success is perseverence, dicipline and good time keeping. If you have really busy private life and cannot/will not sacrifice anything, then the OU may not be for you. You really need to be self-motivated, no one is going to check up on you or coax into doing things.
That said, give it a go and you'll be hooked!