Open University Open Degree?

cali_

I am thinking about studying on the Open University Open Degree.

Has anyone completed a OU Open Degree? Another option is to study on a named degree but it will be restricting.

Is the OU Open Degree considered as a 'good degree' as far as potential employers are concerned?

All advice is really appreciated.

KiKi

From an employer's perspective an OU degree is just as valid, esp when you know it's been done on top of work / family etc. TBH, most employers wouldn't know what an 'Open' degree is. I'm doing a BA Hons (Open) at the moment, but all my studies are in Classics. So I refer to it as "BA Hons (Open) in Classics" and that seems to satisfy most people - as they seem to think the 'Open' refers to OU, not open degree!

So yes, an employer will be happy with a degree, regardless of whether it's open or not. The only time specificity matters is when they want a specific subject.

In addition, FYI, the OU used to have loads of specific degrees (like one in Classics) but many arts ones have now been replaced with a degree in Humanities, and quite frankly I don't want a degree in Humanities, and I think that's just as vague. Plus I'd have to do AA100 which I'm not interested in.

Go for it!

KiKi

cali_

Thank you Kiki. That is very helpful.

Andy_L

What do you want the degree for?

If its to enter a "Profession" ie get some sort of professional registration (eg Engineering, Law, Medicine, Science) then you will have to do a fairly tightly defined set of courses to meet their requirements.

If its just to get a "graduate job" then, as Kiki says it depends on the content and the match to what the employer wants, although most employers want an Honours degree
IME if it has flitted about many, unrelated, subjects then it isn't as respected as a degree that shows concentration/depth in one area

heretolearn_2

I tend to agree. I'm an OU student and my gut feeling is that Open degrees are confusing to employers, unless you do what Kiki has done and pretty much put together your own version of a specific degree. Although part of doing a degree is sometimes studying something that you don't particularly enjoy, it's good mental and academic discipline, and as an employer I'd wonder about someone who only wants to do the 'fun' bits of a degree and not the slog courses. (Not getting at you Kiki, it's an achievement whatever courses you do).

OP, I do think that a random collection of different topics is going to be a bit hard to explain. If you are just doing it for personal satisfaction, go ahead, but otherwise are there really no named degrees you could bear to do? Also, you will struggle with the higher level courses if you haven't done the relevant lower ones, so you'll tend to specialise to some extent anyway, as Kiki has done. Don't imagine you'll be able to do 6 completely unrelated subjects, it won't work. And you still have to do the right combination of certain level courses unless you go for the Open non-honours degree but frankly most people won't see that as a proper degree.

I've also got the feeling that with the Open degrees you just get a pass or fail, you don't get a 'grade' like a 1st, 2:1, 2:2 etc. The website is not clear on this but I think it's the case - you should call them to check.This could make a big difference if you want to get on a graduate training scheme or into teaching or similar as they do ask for a minimum grade.

There is a lot of flexibility in the named degrees. I only picked a general area and then had to go for one degree on my fourth year course - and I still actually have the option of two or three different degrees depending on which last two courses I do. In each named degree there may be one or two compulsary courses, then you get a choice of options. And there is nearly always a 'free choice' where you can pop in something totally different. When I did the creative writing Level 2 we had loads of students who were doing a law degree picking this as a bit of light relief for one year.

Andy_L

heretolearn wrote: »

I've also got the feeling that with the Open degrees you just get a pass or fail, you don't get a 'grade' like a 1st, 2:1, 2:2 etc. The website is not clear on this but I think it's the case - you should call them to check.This could make a big difference if you want to get on a graduate training scheme or into teaching or similar as they do ask for a minimum grade.

If you go for the Honours degree then you do get 1st/2nd etc

cali_

Thank you for your replies.

Ok. Slightly confused. I was thinking about doing Business and Psychology - helpful in a wide range of profession.

But saying that, I really want to work towards becoming a Primary School Councillor. And having read this https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/3477529 , it seems it's going to be years and years of training, further education and development before you even get anywhere near actually becoming a Primary School Councillor (example).

I can't seem to find anything anywhere about what route I need to take as far as the relevant Degree, training and experience is concerned.

Does anyone know how long the whole process would take?

3-4 years Degree,
???? years Post Grad?
???? ????

mummyroysof3

i am currently studying towards an open degree.not sure what i am aiming for afterwards but it keeps my brain active while im home with the kids and hope it will help when i am looking to get back into work. So far ive done some social sciences, psychology, personal finance and atm health and social care.

heretolearn_2

This is a charity that places volunteers in primary schools in counselling roles - all the volunteers have to be part way through their professional training, so maybe they can advise you on the routes to this career?

http://www.theplace2be.org.uk/volunteer_counsellors.aspx?menuid=6

I think you'll waste your time if you put together some random degree yourself without checking out the exact requirements first. There may be specific 1st degrees you need to take.

OU does a foundation degree in counselling that can lead to further qualifications, don't know if this is appropriate for school counselling. http://www3.open.ac.uk/study/undergraduate/qualification/x09.htm. OU career service is very helpful with advice as well.

dizzyrascal

If you have a specific career path in mind then I would go for a named degree rather than an Open degree. Whilst you may have taken all the relevant modules it may still be confusing to relate your degree to particular areas of employment, especially if the requirement is for a specific degree or field of study.

KiKi

Hi OP (again)

If you want a specific career, then you need to look at the requirements for the role, and work backwards. A role in psychology is a LOT of work, and a degree is only the starting point. Not only that, you would need a degree that reflected that, not an open degree.

So look at the sort of jobs you're after, and make sure you do a qualification that will lead you to that role.

KiKi