open university

kayandy_2

Hi, I have been wanting to go to uni for a while however I am in a flat on my own and need to work 30+ hours a week to be able to afford it and have money to live so don't have the time or finance to be able to do it however I have heard of the open university a few times and have got a book about the course they do etc I just want to know if anybody jas ever studied with them and if they would recommend studying them and if they have any advice about studying with them?

kafkathecat

Hi,
I am most of the way through a law degree with them. I think they are brilliant. They start reasonably easy and get harder as you go on, taking more and more of your time. You can stop if it gets too much and can get a certificate after a couple of modules and a diploma after a couple more.

ViolaLass

I've only ever heard good things about the OU.

PlutoinCapricorn

Unlike many of the organisations offering courses, they are very reputable.

You do need to be able to spend a lot of time working on the material though: the only complaints come from people who signed up without realising what would be involved and could or would not put the necessary effort in. You do also need to be someone who can work under their own steam a lot of the time, as opposed to being in a classroom with others. This may mean sacrificing some social life.

I did a lot of courses many years ago and the material was very good.

engineer_amy

PlutoinCapricorn wrote: »

You do need to be able to spend a lot of time working on the material though: the only complaints come from people who signed up without realising what would be involved and could or would not put the necessary effort in. You do also need to be someone who can work under their own steam a lot of the time, as opposed to being in a classroom with others. This may mean sacrificing some social life.

.

While I haven't studied with the OU, I have done a part time degree while working 50+ hours per week. I completely agree with PlutoinCapricorn above, if you aren't the sort of person who can get motivated to read a long textbook or journal article or write an essay after doing a long shift at work, or be able to do the work without a lecturer breathing down your neck, then it is a waste of time. Put the effort in and you will get the reward.
See if it is possible to contact the lecturers running the course you are interested in, speak to them about the assessment methods, the amount of coursework required, the amount of independent study needed. From that you may be able to judge the time commitment you have to give.


working and studying, especially in the final stages of the degree definitely means social sacrifice. I didn't see my friends or family for about a month before I did my final exams

PlutoinCapricorn

Many, many people start something then drop out. It is such a waste of resources. One factor that helps people to persist is actually enjoying learning about a particular subject and/or taking courses that will help them get a better job.

I would say that home studies need to be given equal priority with work, which may not leave much time and energy for other things. Take it seriously, and work on it constantly as opposed to cramming.

I would try to do some first thing in the morning, some while travelling, use lunch breaks etc. and perhaps work on assignments at weekends.

GothicStirling

If you don't already hold a degree, and want to study part-time, you can now apply for a tuition fee loan from Student Finance.


I studied English for four years with them and I have nothing but praise for them. Although, I would also recommend doing a bit of research as brick-and-mortar universities such as Leicester and Birkbeck do distance learning degrees now (I'm studying ancient history and archaeology at Leicester).


You can also go to a website called Student Room, which has a whole forum devoted to the OU and Distance Learning.

pmduk

Why not try one of their short courses first? It'll help you decide whether distance-learning is right for you. The OU's courses are great, but require dedication and organisation - as indeed, does all distance-learning.

TBagpuss

The OU has a good reputation, but as others have said, you will need to be able to motivate yourself, and manage your time.
My brother took an OU degree in order to get into the line of work he wanted - (he got a first, and was then offered the job he wanted)
Be clear about what you wnat to study, and why, and look into the entry requirements for the types of job you want to make sure that the course you pick will be appropriate both to your interests and to your ultimate goals.

Doing a short course first may help you to work out whether this type of study works for you, if not, you may be able to study part time at a bricks-and-morter university if you find that works better for you.

Hezzawithkids

kayandy wrote: »

Hi, I have been wanting to go to uni for a while however I am in a flat on my own and need to work 30+ hours a week to be able to afford it and have money to live so don't have the time or finance to be able to do it however I have heard of the open university a few times and have got a book about the course they do etc I just want to know if anybody jas ever studied with them and if they would recommend studying them and if they have any advice about studying with them?

Yes. They will teach you to write properly constructed sentences with appropriate punctuation.

In all seriousness, I completed an Honours degree with them last year. It took me 6 years completing one module per year, with a couple of months off in between each one. I work full time and couldn't have done it any quicker, though I did meet people who were studying two or more modules at the same time.

Echoing what other have said you do need a lot of self discipline to work on your own and get assignments & essays completed to strict deadlines. Depending on the course or degree you choose you may also get the opportunity to attend tutorials and meet other students. I also agree that you should try one of their short courses first (I think they're called "Openings") to see if it's right for you before committing yourself.

But it's not cheap. Expect to pay in the region of £2.5k per module. Finance options are available but they have really clamped down on the criteria. Still a lot cheaper than the fees charged by red brick unis.

That being said, my degree ceremony at the Barbican was one of the best days of my life and made it all worthwhile.

TonyMMM

When I used to do a lot of selection/interviewing I (and many others) would always regard an OU degree very highly - much better than most other qualifications actually.

We felt it was a good indicator of a high level of self motivation and self discipline that wasn't often apparent in many other graduates.