Self Study Degree

Suarez

Is it possible to just buy the required books for a degree, study at home and just pay for the exams?

fishybusiness

IMO a degree is much more than a set of textbooks.

Lectures consist of pertinent material, structured in a specific way to cover a learning outcome. Each lecture throughout each module of the course is structured in a similar way.

Lecture material comes from many sources, books, articles, journals, research and more I can't think of right now.

Also, the whole idea of a degree is to be challenged, to be pushed, and introduced to other peoples ideas.

I don't think a set of books is the way to go............

TonyMMM

Only if you can find an accrediting body that offers a degree in that way - I don't know of any.

zagubov

This may be possible by study using correspondence colleges in other countries, most likely the USA. Don't know how acceptable such degrees would be here. The OU does Open Degrees which are well accepted.
Have you looked into MOOCS
http://www.theguardian.com/education/2012/nov/11/online-free-learning-end-of-university

HollyBuns

Zagubov makes a good point about the Open University. Their degrees are widely accepted and done mainly online and through text books although support is available through a dedicated tutor. The pricing structure has recently changed but is still lower in cost overall then going to a physical university (I think). Their courses can also be studied full or part time, depending on how long you want to study for/time you have available. Good luck.

Voyager2002

Suarez wrote: »

Is it possible to just buy the required books for a degree, study at home and just pay for the exams?

No, because assessment for a degree is much more than just written exams.

SeduLOUs

I'm on my second year with the Open University studying Mathematics and would highly recommend it. You can choose a set pathway and end up with a subject named degree or you can pick your own modules and get an Open Degree.

The materials (books/DVDs etc) are excellent, and there is an app to access materials on the move.

There are online resources, forums and facebook groups to connect with other students, and you are allocated a dedicated tutor who normally does tutorials fornightly somewhere local to you (usually at a high school or brick uni campus). If you are unable to attend, there are many tutors who offer web tutorials, and you can attend those.

You are required to complete regular assignments, some written, some online, and these are spread throughout the year. The marks on these assignments do count towards your final grade along with an exam if relevant, or a final End of Module assignment.

The planner on the OU site is excellent for telling you exactly where you 'should' be up to in the books so you always have a really good sense of whether you are on schedule or falling behind.

My OU fees are approx £1500 per 30 credit module. So an equivalent to a full time year of study at a brick uni would cost ~£6000. It isn't cheap, but I am financing my part time studies (60 credits per year, meaning my degree will take 6 years to complete) with a student loan so at least I don't have to fork out eye watering amounts of money as I go along.

I have tried studying solo in the past, but just being handed a load of books without any real deadlines really didn't work for me.

agrinnall

I don't really think OU is what the OP is looking for, as they seem to only want to pay for books and exams, which isn't the way the OU works as far as I'm aware. I doubt if there is any legitimate means of doing this in the UK.

gayleygoo

Part of doing a degree is building of skills, which you learn by doing the course. Having a degree shows that you are able to learn a higher level than you did at A-level, that you can keep to deadlines, write different styles, think in different ways etc. It would be difficult to do this just by passing exams. A tutor is invaluable for helping you improve your work and assessing your learning over time, which is part of the price you pay for a degree.

I'm in my second year of Open University, and it's brilliant. The cost varies depending on where you are in the UK, and some students are entitled to help with the fees. Most students probably do 60 credits a year (equivalent of 18-20 hours study a week), so an honours degree (360 credits) takes 6 years. You can take on more than 60 credits a year if you think you'll have the time.

I don't know of any UK accredited way of getting a degree through just buying textbooks and entering for exams yourself. There may be U.S. sites that provide that service, but you'd have to research whether their degrees would be worth anymore than a certificate you could make up and print yourself!

winalot

I did an OU degree and found them absolutely dreadful - quality of tuition, materials, non-existent complaints process. I think what you suggest (self study) would be better but don't think it's possible.

pjread

I can't think of any, but if you do find anything accredited let me know. The OU is far too expensive for us "doing it for personal interest" lot these days IMHO, and MOOC's are absolutely awesome but it seems to fall slightly short not "getting anything" at the end, even if there is little practical usefulness on the horizon.