Open University
Discussion
Watching that unfold every summer was one of the more comic memories of my post-graduate years!I've just started my fourth and final year of a BEng with them, I've been able to fit it around work without too many problems although I take a couple of weeks leave each year to prepare for exams. I find the textbooks are brilliant, well structured with a logical progression in difficulty as you go through a course. My tutors have been very good on the whole, although I have had the odd tutor who takes a week to respond to emails which is frustrating when you are stuck on something and it's holding you up. The online forums are pretty useful as well to supplement the advice you get from your tutors.
The key thing is that you choose to study something you are interested in, because you will not be able to come home from 8+hours of work and then hit the books otherwise!
The key thing is that you choose to study something you are interested in, because you will not be able to come home from 8+hours of work and then hit the books otherwise!
2 sMoKiN bArReLs said:
Speaking as an employer.....
We tend to ignore degrees received via universities, on the basis that as long as you turn up most of the time, and are not a complete dork you'll end up with a 2:1.
If,however, the candidate has persevered through OU, on top of all life's other commitments that shows a special something.
Go for it & good luck.
Agree with the sentiment but some universities offer their degrees by online/distance learning like the OU. Their degree certificates are the same as the campus student so it's worth checking before dismissing a potential employee.We tend to ignore degrees received via universities, on the basis that as long as you turn up most of the time, and are not a complete dork you'll end up with a 2:1.
If,however, the candidate has persevered through OU, on top of all life's other commitments that shows a special something.
Go for it & good luck.
Phil. said:
2 sMoKiN bArReLs said:
Speaking as an employer.....
We tend to ignore degrees received via universities, on the basis that as long as you turn up most of the time, and are not a complete dork you'll end up with a 2:1.
If,however, the candidate has persevered through OU, on top of all life's other commitments that shows a special something.
Go for it & good luck.
Agree with the sentiment but some universities offer their degrees by online/distance learning like the OU. Their degree certificates are the same as the campus student so it's worth checking before dismissing a potential employee.We tend to ignore degrees received via universities, on the basis that as long as you turn up most of the time, and are not a complete dork you'll end up with a 2:1.
If,however, the candidate has persevered through OU, on top of all life's other commitments that shows a special something.
Go for it & good luck.
Well, got all me stuff... Even have an OU email dj3448@student.open.ac.uk
...and might I say, EVERYONE should register for the OU. Why? Because then you can join the NUS. For an outlay of £150 for my course, and then £10 for a NUS card - and there's no hassle there, I took a photo with my webcam while lying naked in bed - I get 5% off Amazon, 20% off Pizza Hut, and millions of other offers... See http://www.nus.org.uk/en/NUS-Extra/Discounts/ - and I'm an overpaid
!
This course is going to be profitable even if I don't actually do anything!
Now, regarding the course, it doesn't officially start until the 12th so I've just been skimming the books... to be perfectly frank it doesn't seem much harder than GCSE level, but what I will say is that it is to a very high standard. And I'm looking very forward to arguing with s2art and turbobloke as they peddle their denier nonsense. Or, I suppose, being converted around to their way of thinking. After all, they could be right
...and might I say, EVERYONE should register for the OU. Why? Because then you can join the NUS. For an outlay of £150 for my course, and then £10 for a NUS card - and there's no hassle there, I took a photo with my webcam while lying naked in bed - I get 5% off Amazon, 20% off Pizza Hut, and millions of other offers... See http://www.nus.org.uk/en/NUS-Extra/Discounts/ - and I'm an overpaid
!This course is going to be profitable even if I don't actually do anything!
Now, regarding the course, it doesn't officially start until the 12th so I've just been skimming the books... to be perfectly frank it doesn't seem much harder than GCSE level, but what I will say is that it is to a very high standard. And I'm looking very forward to arguing with s2art and turbobloke as they peddle their denier nonsense. Or, I suppose, being converted around to their way of thinking. After all, they could be right
I have just finished a Planetary-science degree, it took me six years and was very good but also very hard work.
I did it because I was interested in subjects such as geology and cosmology, as well as wanting to find out more about global warming after discussing it on here.
I learned a huge amount from it and heartily recommend it to anybody who has the interest and drive to get through it.
I did it because I was interested in subjects such as geology and cosmology, as well as wanting to find out more about global warming after discussing it on here.
I learned a huge amount from it and heartily recommend it to anybody who has the interest and drive to get through it.
Somewhatfoolish said:
Now, regarding the course, it doesn't officially start until the 12th so I've just been skimming the books... to be perfectly frank it doesn't seem much harder than GCSE level, but what I will say is that it is to a very high standard. And I'm looking very forward to arguing with s2art and turbobloke as they peddle their denier nonsense. Or, I suppose, being converted around to their way of thinking. After all, they could be right
I also did a 10 point level one course as a taster it was called "Openings: another breakthrough to mathematics, science and technology" and was a nice easy introduction to the OU way of doing things. If you enjoy your short course and want to continue in the same area I would recommend doing http://www3.open.ac.uk/study/undergraduate/course/...I did an earlier version of it and it was the most enjoyable of all the courses I did, it is a lot of work and the difficulty ramps up fast but it covers a wide range of interesting topics. Try and do the associated Summer School the same year if you can because it is great fun and a total pissup.
Good luck with your course.
Arese said:
So how is everyone getting on with this? I'm hoping to start a BSc this year with the OU, probably a Computing with Business degree the same as 'spurs-442'.
Have actually changed mine to an Open Degree BSc Hons as couldn't get on with the programming side of it. All I had to do was transfer what my previous courses counted for and the points were shifted. I have now completed 2 courses and plan to start my 3rd in November. In the mean time I am doing a Prince2 foundation course which is progressing nicely.
spurs-442 said:
Arese said:
So how is everyone getting on with this? I'm hoping to start a BSc this year with the OU, probably a Computing with Business degree the same as 'spurs-442'.
Have actually changed mine to an Open Degree BSc Hons as couldn't get on with the programming side of it. All I had to do was transfer what my previous courses counted for and the points were shifted. I have now completed 2 courses and plan to start my 3rd in November. In the mean time I am doing a Prince2 foundation course which is progressing nicely.
How much time are you spending each week? I, like you, would also like to sit other courses at some point.
Arese said:
spurs-442 said:
Arese said:
So how is everyone getting on with this? I'm hoping to start a BSc this year with the OU, probably a Computing with Business degree the same as 'spurs-442'.
Have actually changed mine to an Open Degree BSc Hons as couldn't get on with the programming side of it. All I had to do was transfer what my previous courses counted for and the points were shifted. I have now completed 2 courses and plan to start my 3rd in November. In the mean time I am doing a Prince2 foundation course which is progressing nicely.
How much time are you spending each week? I, like you, would also like to sit other courses at some point.
The reason for doing the Prince2 is that I have a 5-month gap between my courses. Normally it's 1-2 months.
spurs-442 said:
i'm currently studying a BSc Computing with Business and have just completed my first couse. i'm in a very lucky position that my employer is sponsering me 
its a lot of work at times (especially the tutor marked assignments) which are coursework pieces which i've found can be 3,000 words each (i had to do 4 of them).
Out of interest which four words did you write? its a lot of work at times (especially the tutor marked assignments) which are coursework pieces which i've found can be 3,000 words each (i had to do 4 of them). spurs-442 said:
Arese said:
spurs-442 said:
Arese said:
So how is everyone getting on with this? I'm hoping to start a BSc this year with the OU, probably a Computing with Business degree the same as 'spurs-442'.
Have actually changed mine to an Open Degree BSc Hons as couldn't get on with the programming side of it. All I had to do was transfer what my previous courses counted for and the points were shifted. I have now completed 2 courses and plan to start my 3rd in November. In the mean time I am doing a Prince2 foundation course which is progressing nicely.
How much time are you spending each week? I, like you, would also like to sit other courses at some point.
The reason for doing the Prince2 is that I have a 5-month gap between my courses. Normally it's 1-2 months.
Murray993 said:
spurs-442 said:
i'm currently studying a BSc Computing with Business and have just completed my first couse. i'm in a very lucky position that my employer is sponsering me its a lot of work at times (especially the tutor marked assignments) which are coursework pieces which i've found can be 3,000 words each (i had to do 4 of them).
Out of interest which four words did you write? its a lot of work at times (especially the tutor marked assignments) which are coursework pieces which i've found can be 3,000 words each (i had to do 4 of them). spurs-442 said:
Murray993 said:
spurs-442 said:
i'm currently studying a BSc Computing with Business and have just completed my first couse. i'm in a very lucky position that my employer is sponsering me its a lot of work at times (especially the tutor marked assignments) which are coursework pieces which i've found can be 3,000 words each (i had to do 4 of them).
Out of interest which four words did you write? its a lot of work at times (especially the tutor marked assignments) which are coursework pieces which i've found can be 3,000 words each (i had to do 4 of them). t"Arese said:
spurs-442 said:
Arese said:
spurs-442 said:
Arese said:
So how is everyone getting on with this? I'm hoping to start a BSc this year with the OU, probably a Computing with Business degree the same as 'spurs-442'.
Have actually changed mine to an Open Degree BSc Hons as couldn't get on with the programming side of it. All I had to do was transfer what my previous courses counted for and the points were shifted. I have now completed 2 courses and plan to start my 3rd in November. In the mean time I am doing a Prince2 foundation course which is progressing nicely.
How much time are you spending each week? I, like you, would also like to sit other courses at some point.
The reason for doing the Prince2 is that I have a 5-month gap between my courses. Normally it's 1-2 months.
As mentioned above, bricks and mortar Universities also offer distance learning courses, I'm doing a Foundation Degree in Risk and Security Management with Leicester Uni which is vocation related. I submit my last bit of work in September. Whoopee-doo. You can be flexible about what time frame you do it in - 2/3/4 years, and support is quite good and the course material is all IT based.
They offer the full range and I may continue to BSc or do a more focussed PGDip in Terrorism Studies as St Andrews, again, by distance learning.
All the above comments regarding motivation are true, I've done a lot of things that people conceive as difficult, but this is a real bugger to keep going, but the further along you get, the more motivated you are not to chuck it all away - the middle third was hardest for me in that respect.
My wife started an OU introductory course but at the same time we hit a few problems and illnesses so she felt she was putting herself under too much pressure - she has to spend half the year on her own, and with two kids it just got a bit much. She is now considering going straight into her degree next time; she's a stickler and will do things by the book (i.e. follow a rec'd reading schedule etc) whereas I'm driven by the power of panic and leave it all untill the last moment, which makes for stupidly late nights. I'm a fool in a trap of my own design - but I'm getting there...
They offer the full range and I may continue to BSc or do a more focussed PGDip in Terrorism Studies as St Andrews, again, by distance learning.
All the above comments regarding motivation are true, I've done a lot of things that people conceive as difficult, but this is a real bugger to keep going, but the further along you get, the more motivated you are not to chuck it all away - the middle third was hardest for me in that respect.
My wife started an OU introductory course but at the same time we hit a few problems and illnesses so she felt she was putting herself under too much pressure - she has to spend half the year on her own, and with two kids it just got a bit much. She is now considering going straight into her degree next time; she's a stickler and will do things by the book (i.e. follow a rec'd reading schedule etc) whereas I'm driven by the power of panic and leave it all untill the last moment, which makes for stupidly late nights. I'm a fool in a trap of my own design - but I'm getting there...
Phil. said:
2 sMoKiN bArReLs said:
Speaking as an employer.....
We tend to ignore degrees received via universities, on the basis that as long as you turn up most of the time, and are not a complete dork you'll end up with a 2:1.
If,however, the candidate has persevered through OU, on top of all life's other commitments that shows a special something.
Go for it & good luck.
Agree with the sentiment but some universities offer their degrees by online/distance learning like the OU. Their degree certificates are the same as the campus student so it's worth checking before dismissing a potential employee.We tend to ignore degrees received via universities, on the basis that as long as you turn up most of the time, and are not a complete dork you'll end up with a 2:1.
If,however, the candidate has persevered through OU, on top of all life's other commitments that shows a special something.
Go for it & good luck.
Project 644 said:
I will be doing a part-time course next year. #i will be doing Level 4 and 5 in Mechanical engineering for 2 years, then I can do a top up course to get the degree.
After that I might do a PGCE to teach or try and get on a graduate training scheme.
I need to do this otherwise I will be stuck driving trucks for ever more.
After that I might do a PGCE to teach or try and get on a graduate training scheme.
I need to do this otherwise I will be stuck driving trucks for ever more.
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