Open University

cuddlymarm

Hi
I've got an OU degree (BSc Hons in Social Sciences)
It took me 8 years in all ( I had one year off in the middle and one of my choices was a disaster) You need to be able to discipline yourself into working even if you can't be bothered. There is support from your tutor and other students but at the end of the day it is up to you to do it.
I don't know if you can get finance for it but I paid monthly for mine and the course ran Feb to Oct each year with an exam at the end and you had essays to do at the end of each unit (each usually took approx 6 weeks)

I found it ever so rewarding (also OH started with OU and finished his degree at a local uni because the units were transferable)

Good luck

Cuddlymarm:rotfl:

millwalll

See the problem I got is not sure if to do it with the ou or go to uni

Seraphim

Hi millwalll. I've been to a brick Uni and I've got a degree from the OU. I much preferred the OU, but that's entirely down to the individual

I did my OU degree (in IT and computing) in 4 years and I thought it was fantastic. You get excellent support and the materials you are given are normally top-class. I worked full-time and studied full-time for most the time, and it's not a combination I'd recommend unless you really are seriously focused!

What course are you thinking of doing?

millwalll

I am looking at doing a computer science See I done a course online before with the homelearningcollege and got a diploma in web deign but its not really got me anywhere. My parents think I be better off going to uni as I Will met people and make contacts so on. So I am not really sure What to do.

Seraphim

The OU is good because you can work while you study and it's pretty flexible - it's good because you can end up with a degree plus experience. There are tutorials and revisions days and things you can go to, so you still can meet people and gain contacts through studying with the OU. However, if you want the 'student lifestyle', you probably won't get this with the OU per se.

Also, the OU takes a lot of willpower to actually sit down, not go out, and study. You need to ask yourself whether you are someone who will be able to do this every week. You can always try one of their taster short-courses if you aren't too sure.

The computing degrees are pretty good and give you a good spread of knowledge (although I wish they did a comp sci degree ). There's a good choice of modules available so you get a nice choice of what you want to study.

It really does depend on what you want to get out of University and your motivations for the subject. If you didn't study with the OU, did you have a University you'd like to go to? If yes, have you been around the campus to try and get a feel for it?

kittiwoz

As others have said the advantage of the OU is that you can work whilst you study but it requires a lot of discipline and focus so you have to ask yourself whether you have that work ethic or whether you need the structure of a timetable to prompt you to work. A lot of people who do OU courses would find it very difficult to attend a traditional uni due to other commitments such as jobs and children so in a sense you are lucky to have that opportunity.

Do you already have the appropriate qualifications to do a degree in computer science? I think you'll need A-levels including maths.

millwalll

Basically I want to be a software developer and I want work for a big company like Google E-bay Microsoft so on. I had look on Google website and all job on there that was to do with software you need a BSc/MSc in Computer Science so that why I want go uni to get a BSc then maybe go on to get a MSc.

looby-loo_2

TESCO points can be exhanged for OU courses

millwalll

Cool thanks at the moment I ain't at the stage where I need to choose modules yet still looking where to study so on and fees.But when I am I will ask about.