open university

dannyjebb

Have been reading up on the open University and have read lots of positive comments on there degree courses. People have said that future employers look on them favourably as you have to be very self motivated to complete them. Has anyone any experience of any of the science degrees they offer? in specific the biology courses!

Thanks for any feedback

quango77

I have studied through the OU, as I am working towards a BSc. The courses are great, there is good tutor support and a friendly on-line student community. A real bonus is the funding, I have had full funding throughout....I think the threshold for funding is a household income of £30,000!! I also received a £250 computer grant, help towards internet costs and a £250 study materials grant.
They provide you with all the learning material, you will only have to fork out for a couple of set text books.
A word of warning...the courses are intense, I have studied 30point modules at level 2, and you really have to put the hours in, which can be tricky if you are working, so you do have to be motivated!
Good luck!

dannyjebb

Well I definatly have good motivation and good at managing my time if I know I need get something done! I have looked on the Ou website at funding and it says 1250 and 250 topwards course costs. Is that per year? Or for the whole course? It says something about a course above 90 points. Is that the points per module or for the whole course? How many hours do you spend per week studying? I am quite lucky and work 3 long days so have 4 days off per week! Also how quickly is it possible to gain your qualification? Is it a matter of the more time you put in the quicker you qualify? Sorry about all the questions I have emailed OU but not heard back from them yet!

Danny

olly300

dannyjebb wrote: »

Well I definatly have good motivation and good at managing my time if I know I need get something done! I have looked on the Ou website at funding and it says 1250 and 250 topwards course costs. Is that per year? Or for the whole course? It says something about a course above 90 points. Is that the points per module or for the whole course? How many hours do you spend per week studying? I am quite lucky and work 3 long days so have 4 days off per week! Also how quickly is it possible to gain your qualification? Is it a matter of the more time you put in the quicker you qualify? Sorry about all the questions I have emailed OU but not heard back from them yet!

Danny

To answer some of your questions:
1. OU study is part-time
2. You are not advised to do more than 60 credits worth of study per year. (However even that can be a struggle depending on what courses you are doing. )
3. The amount of study per course depends on the particular course and your previous experience in that subject.
4. The average time for a degree is 6 years - obviously some people do it quicker and others take longer.

I would advise you to take one course then if you like it take on more course.

Oldernotwiser

dannyjebb wrote: »

Well I definatly have good motivation and good at managing my time if I know I need get something done! I have looked on the Ou website at funding and it says 1250 and 250 topwards course costs. Is that per year? Or for the whole course? It says something about a course above 90 points. Is that the points per module or for the whole course? How many hours do you spend per week studying? I am quite lucky and work 3 long days so have 4 days off per week! Also how quickly is it possible to gain your qualification? Is it a matter of the more time you put in the quicker you qualify? Sorry about all the questions I have emailed OU but not heard back from them yet!

Danny

That's per unit/module, not for the whole degree.It's true that the more time you put in the quicker you'll qualify but I would start with a 60 credit level 1 course and see how you go.

Don't forget the Science modules often have summer schools so you need to allow for saving some of your holiday entitlement to cover that.

PassedAtFailing

There were some words of warning of the quality of the science courses at the end of the last year. I know this has been discussed and some changes are being made. However, it may be that more of the residential schools are dropped to save money.

I don't know enough about the science courses to go into detail. All I know is the quality of them were being questioned internally. I should add this only applied to the science courses. You should investigate what is being changed and see if it has been changed sufficiently for you. It may be worth also looking on the OUSA site and reading some of the minutes of the recent meetings as they were involved in the discussion.

dannyjebb

PassedAtFailing wrote: »

There were some words of warning of the quality of the science courses at the end of the last year. I know this has been discussed and some changes are being made. However, it may be that more of the residential schools are dropped to save money.

Have been on the phone to the OU today and provisionally signed up for start in February. Have heard lots of good things about them off people who have done the course. I am very self motivated so dont think the lack of residential schools will affect me too much. I did the online assessment aswell and found it quite easy so should hopefully be ok with the course. I have booked onto the first level 1 module (exploring science) and so will give it a try in the first year and then decide what path to take. Am very excited to get back into some learning that will take me away from watching hours of telle on my day off and do something constructive

KSB235

Hi, just thought I'd let you know that I'm currently doing a Natural Sciences degree with the OU. I've done Exploring Science and its a great course so i think you will enjoy it, the trickier courses are the Level 2 ones, I'm just finishing Environmental Science now and its been a struggle to say the least. I didn't realise it would be such a step up between L1 and L2. Just something to bear in mind for the future. Good luck!

dannyjebb

Congrats on finishing your course How long did it take you overall? What do you plan to do now? I hope to work as an environmental biologist or something similar hopefully in the USA or Australia.

I am looking forward to getting started and am fully prepared for it to be a real test for myself, but am sure it will all be worthwhile

Danny

elaina79

I am planning on doing the life sciences degree with the OU. Does anyone have any exerpience of this one.