Want to study, but no money!

Fiver29

Fridge2 wrote: »

Just curious, but how could such a course be described as full time then?

No idea, but it was. You could either do the 3 components needed for stage II in the first 3 months, and then the 2 components needed for stage III in the next 6 months. Or you could do 2 + 1 and it was classed as part time, but took 2 years.

I couldn't decide which to drop in the 2nd half so ended up doing 3+3. I'm not the brightest person in the world, but I found it really easy, too dumbed down in many respects. Moving on for there to the OU was a bit of a shock.

Jowo_2

Fridge2 wrote: »

Just curious, but how could such a course be described as full time then?

I didn't need to do a foundation course but at my Uni, it wasn't unusual for an arts degree course to have somewhere in the region of 15-20 hours per week or so in terms of lectures and seminars.

The reason why it is full time is that the student is expected to prepare for them, do research and write papers when not in class.

Recently, I attended an open day for a full time college course where the lecturers made clear that scheduled classes and supervised workshops would be in the region of 3 to 3.5 days per week. They made it clear that a student could find time for part-time work and other commitments for the rest of it.

natdjay

Thanks again for the advice, on the course and other subjects. I'm currently doing the Access course via distance learning but it's £50 a month! If i could do it free and still manage money wise then i think i will go the college route. Thanks again.

P.S I had always intended to have two children so felt it made sense to have them first rather than later. Made sense to me, but hey ho.

Jowo_2

Yes, it's £50 per month to do it via distance learning but what are you comparing it with when you say you are looking to do it for 'free' at a local college?

Factor in child care costs, travel fees, any extra costs of materials versus those supplied when you compare a modest sum with what you think is 'free'.

£50 per month can be covered by a very, very part-time job...

creased-leach

According to the manager of my access course, tutor contact hours were deliberately set at 15 to fit under benefits thresholds, whilst the rest of the time needed didn't count.

viktory

Have to agree, I found the Access course I did laughably easy.

Oldernotwiser

Some Access courses can be too easy and then students suffer when they start their degree. It also depends where students started from academically how hard they find it - someone who dropped out of A levels 5 years ago will find it much easier than someone who left school with CSEs 30 years ago.

Fiver29

Oldernotwiser wrote: »

Some Access courses can be too easy and then students suffer when they start their degree. It also depends where students started from academically how hard they find it - someone who dropped out of A levels 5 years ago will find it much easier than someone who left school with CSEs 30 years ago.

That was me Well GCEs and 24 years ago