Open Uni. Clever enough?

hcb42

Guitar wrote: »

I'm about to start my 3rd year of OU (If I can find the money), one thing you should be aware of is your final grade is almost entirely down to the end exam. Most courses have four assignments. The average of these assignments sets the highest mark you can get in the exam. So no matter how well you did in the assignments, how much work you've done over the year, if you don't do well in those final three hours you will feel like you've just wasted hundreds of pounds and hundreds of hours study.

I am about to complete my second degree with OU - so that is over 10 years worth of study since 2000 under my belt (it gets under your skin, the OU!). I have found that the exam and the course work are generally both weighted, so you have to pass both to get a pass, or get over 70% for Grade 2 pass, over 85% in both for Distinction..(difficult!)


If you pass the coursework, and fail the exam, you can get another chance, so it is not completely wasted - although most people who stick all the way, and do all assignments, have normally done enough to pass the exam, short of a disaster on the way there or something. You can of course apply for Special Circumstances to be brought to the attention of the exam board e.g. recent close bereavement etc. I find it is difficult to achieve the high marks all year and in exam, that elusive distinction in both still eludes me with a FT job as well, but I think the OU are a fantastic organisation, would go for it!

heretolearn_2

Go for it! You certainly are NOT thick, with the sort of jobs you've been doing. Lots of people do OU a long time after school and how you did there isn't relevant. Everyone feels a bit nervous before they start, don't wimp out! The Level 1 courses aren't that hard, you get lots of support, and they are used to getting people back into studying for the first time in years. You can do it.

Looking at the PPE degree, you could start in May 2011. You could squeeze in one of their short return to study skills courses first if you like.

Uncertain

For science subjects at least the OU has some excellent online self assessment tests. These coupled with their questionnaire about your available study time give you a good idea about what level of course you can reasonably consider.

I assume they have something similar for arts and humanities.

KrazyKeeper

i will echo the words of other posters and say go for it, i am currently doing a degree with them and just about to start my level 2 module, the tutors are great/understanding to people who haven't studied for awhile, its all down to determination really if your organised then you will be ok (as part of one of my level one module i had to make a study timetable) the level one modules are quite gentle i found anyway!

Make sure you apply for financial support too you might get something off its free if earning under 14.5K, and above that it is a sliding scale(it changes if you have dependants too)

good luck.

El_Rey

How many years does it take to earn a degree with honours?

heretolearn_2

It depends how many courses you do at a time and how many 'points' those courses are worth.

You have to gain 360 points. Most courses are 60 points and most people do one a year, so 6 years usually. But you can do more than one course, and there are also 30 and 15 point courses. So you can do it in 3 years if you have enough spare time.

El_Rey

Roughly how many hours per week are needed to complete a 60 point course? I understand it is difficult to give a definitive answer as everyone works at different speeds etc.

Errata

I think it's 15, but some people need less and some more just like a bricks and mortar uni.

Sammyantha

Unless you have the spare cash and are doing it purely out of interest, I wouldn't recommend a degree. Just a waste of money. Nothing to do with your level of intelligence though - a degree does not constitute IQ

bristol_pilot

By all means go for it for your own satisfaction, but don't expect PPE from the Open University to be useful in the job market.