home study degree in UK - any experience?

hottdang1

morning folks

I'm looking to studying for a psychology degree & want to do this part time & home based as I have a full time job which includes travel plus have a family
- In addition to not living anywhere near a university

Research shows me there are distance learning centres & student loans available etc so just asking if anyone else has gone down this route - how did it work out, are any institutions are better than others, anything else to have on the radar

obviously the subject material of the degree isn't so important - I just want to understand the overall process better and anything to watch for


thanks

kickingk50

Hi,

I'm currently studying for a Psychology degree with the Open University.It is very flexible and I would recommend it for anyone who works as well.You study 1 or 2 modules each year(Oct to May/June).but they only recommend you take 1 per year as it can be quite intense.(I did 2 last year,at level 1 but I wasn't working),I'm only doing 1 this year.(level 2)
If you study part time(i.e 1 module per year) it will take you 6 years to complete the degree.
Go on their website,it gives all the information you need.

Good luck!!

happyandcontented

I second the OU it is a very professional and respected organisation and their degrees are well accepted by employers,

BrassicWoman

I did an online masters with Edinburgh and now doing a doctorate at Lancaster. I've also studied at the OU, and at bricks and mortar. Not a lot of difference between them for distance learning. Go with the course that sounds most interesting as you're on your own a good deal!

\Have you had a look at psychology careers? not as exciting as you would hope....

Sncjw

With any uni it will be a lot of self study anyways so if ou is right for you it probably wouldn!!!8217;t be much difference.

You do have to be more self motivated as your doing it part time and you could say to yourself oh il so it another day

GothicStirling

What's the motivation for studying psychology? If you have thoughts of becoming a practioner, make sure its BPS Accredited. I've just discounted the OU's MSc in Psychology because it wasn't accredited.

Manxman_in_exile

hottdang1 wrote: »

morning folks

I'm looking to studying for a psychology degree & want to do this part time & home based as I have a full time job which includes travel plus have a family
- In addition to not living anywhere near a university

Research shows me there are distance learning centres & student loans available etc so just asking if anyone else has gone down this route - how did it work out, are any institutions are better than others, anything else to have on the radar

obviously the subject material of the degree isn't so important - I just want to understand the overall process better and anything to watch for


thanks

Eh? surely the subject is all important! What do you want to achieve?


I worked in a mental health trust and the clinical psychologists were the best paid staff after consultant psychiatrists. but you had to have a doctorate after your first degree. you can also go into educational psychology and what I think is called "Industrial" psychology. All well rewarded jobs if you can get them.


But I wonder if psychology is seen by many as a bit of a "soft" option and not a good career choice?


If you know you want psychology as a career choice then go with it. But if you want to "improve" yourself intellectually, think about other subjects to make you "think" better. Philosophy, law, even something like theology - but learn to think for yourself and to understand arguments and evidence - that's the important thing! (And we miss it all too often in this country...)


Even studying economics might be a good choice - but you'd have to remember there are no properly controlled experiments, it's not science, and mostly value judgements!

hottdang1

Thanks for the replies

Just on the comment re subject material - I didn!!!8217;t mean not important to me (it is of course !!!55357;!!!56842;)
I meant in the context of feedback into the matter home study

For the poster about psychology jobs not being some interesting - could you elaborate please? Is that from personal experience? Are you in such a role?

Manxman_in_exile

I would repeat from my post #7 what are you trying to achieve from a psychology degree?


It's a popular subject and there's a large supply of psychology graduates. (To get a good career out of it you probably need a doctorate).


What are you looking for?

BorisThomson

Do you already have a degree OP?

This, along with Manxman's questions about what you are looking to achieve, are important in determining what your best options might be.

Manxman_in_exile

BorisThomson wrote: »

Do you already have a degree OP?

This, along with Manxman's questions about what you are looking to achieve, are important in determining what your best options might be.

Boris - I turned 60 in January (retired a few years ago) and I still don't know what I want to do when I grow up! (And my wife would confirm I am not a grown up...)


When I was 18 I started a law degree at a poly. It was a really good education (as I've posted elsewhere we had good lecturers who knew their subject) but I've never "used" the degree. But it did teach me to follow, understand and construct arguments. And that has always helped me in my work.


I also remember discussing this with a NHS HR manager and we both wondered if we should have done psychology degrees and doctorates. They were very well paid at that time- but not so much now. They've almost all been downgraded at my old trust.