Open University
Discussion
I've just signed up for an Open University "Openings" course, a 5 month taster worth 10 points called "Introduction to Law". It's really for my own interest as opposed to career-related.
Anyone else done a course, or completed a degree? Did you do one that was for your job or one for your own time?
Anyone else done a course, or completed a degree? Did you do one that was for your job or one for your own time?
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.
evenflow said:
I've just signed up for an Open University "Openings" course, a 5 month taster worth 10 points called "Introduction to Law". It's really for my own interest as opposed to career-related.
Anyone else done a course, or completed a degree? Did you do one that was for your job or one for your own time?
I will be doing this course too when do you start? I will be doing it alongside introduction to business studies. Anyone else done a course, or completed a degree? Did you do one that was for your job or one for your own time?
I am a big fan of the OU and completed a degree with them 7 years ago. here a few thoughts of my experience, I hope they are useful.
It is the toughest way to get a degree. The reason being you it is all down to you. Yes you have tutors but at the end of the day you're the one who has to find the time to fit the studying around the rest of your life. To be motitivated enough to put in a full day at work, sort the family out, help with homework etc etc and then sit down and starting studying late into the night. sometimes you have to be very selfish about it, if you need to finish an assigment evrything else has to wait. You need an understanding family, but they will whinge! Think how much your life has changed in the last 7 years and now think forward but imagine trying to study through all those changes.
The OU tends to achieve higher grades in its degrees than most univeristies. The reason for this is that to keep going for 6 or 7 or more years, takes a lot of personal drive and determination. But a lot of people drop out along the way. If you're not a self motivated person at the start you will be by the end.
You will meet some great people, and building that group helps support everyone through the bad bits. But the feeling of acheivement at the end is immense and worth all the work. go for it, and good luck
BSc(Hons 1st class, and bloody proud of it!)
It is the toughest way to get a degree. The reason being you it is all down to you. Yes you have tutors but at the end of the day you're the one who has to find the time to fit the studying around the rest of your life. To be motitivated enough to put in a full day at work, sort the family out, help with homework etc etc and then sit down and starting studying late into the night. sometimes you have to be very selfish about it, if you need to finish an assigment evrything else has to wait. You need an understanding family, but they will whinge! Think how much your life has changed in the last 7 years and now think forward but imagine trying to study through all those changes.
The OU tends to achieve higher grades in its degrees than most univeristies. The reason for this is that to keep going for 6 or 7 or more years, takes a lot of personal drive and determination. But a lot of people drop out along the way. If you're not a self motivated person at the start you will be by the end.
You will meet some great people, and building that group helps support everyone through the bad bits. But the feeling of acheivement at the end is immense and worth all the work. go for it, and good luck
BSc(Hons 1st class, and bloody proud of it!)Edited by R39S1 on Wednesday 14th October 21:56
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).
I am loving the course though as its a really good challenge for me to push myself.
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). I am loving the course though as its a really good challenge for me to push myself.
evenflow said:
I've just signed up for an Open University "Openings" course, a 5 month taster worth 10 points called "Introduction to Law". It's really for my own interest as opposed to career-related.
Anyone else done a course, or completed a degree? Did you do one that was for your job or one for your own time?
How are you getting on with this? I've just signed up to do Understanding the Weather, again for my own interest rather than anything career related, would be good to hear more experiences of these short courses...Anyone else done a course, or completed a degree? Did you do one that was for your job or one for your own time?
I'm doing a degree in computer programming through the OU. It has its advantages and disadvantages.
It's pretty much perfect for me. I work full time and have too many commitments to just stop working and go to full time uni.
The course material I have been sent is top notch, very well printed and informative and available in PDF format - perfect if your always at a comp.
The tutors I have had have always tried to be helpful. I've had a few problems over the last years with things happening which takes up my time. Tutors have always been understanding and have always given me extra time on TMA's (marked assisngments).
The problem I have found is although the tutors are great you do feel like you're left alone. I found help in forums better than OU help. You can't go into uni one day and verbally explain what you're having trouble with. You have to try and explain through email or by over the phone. A lot harder than physically chatting to someone.
Overall it's a fantastic service and I recommend it to anyone who can't commit to full time uni.
It's pretty much perfect for me. I work full time and have too many commitments to just stop working and go to full time uni.
The course material I have been sent is top notch, very well printed and informative and available in PDF format - perfect if your always at a comp.
The tutors I have had have always tried to be helpful. I've had a few problems over the last years with things happening which takes up my time. Tutors have always been understanding and have always given me extra time on TMA's (marked assisngments).
The problem I have found is although the tutors are great you do feel like you're left alone. I found help in forums better than OU help. You can't go into uni one day and verbally explain what you're having trouble with. You have to try and explain through email or by over the phone. A lot harder than physically chatting to someone.
Overall it's a fantastic service and I recommend it to anyone who can't commit to full time uni.
I'm currently doing the French / German degree course and in my first year. I am already fluent in French so it's a doddle at the moment, however I have found the course very well structured and taught in a much better manner than your "normal" University.
I did attempt a French degree at Birmingham Uni a few years back and the teaching was awful, Open Uni is a million times better but still the same level
Plus you're not surrounded by spotty grease ridden students!
I did attempt a French degree at Birmingham Uni a few years back and the teaching was awful, Open Uni is a million times better but still the same level
Plus you're not surrounded by spotty grease ridden students! 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.
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.
I did my degree at the OU; 6 years, one divorce, loads of fun. I went on to do a Masters and a PhD but still regard it as the toughest course I have done, and the best quality material I have ever seen. I still fall back on things I learned on the courses on an almost daily basis.
I would go as far as to say that if I had similar 2 job applicants in front of me, one with an OU degree and one from the traditional 3 years of student life, it would go to the OU graduate every time, because it says something about them that they can hold down a full time job (in many cases) and stick at that kind of study for 6 years.
Well done.
PS Don't expect your marriage or liver to survive a week at summer school.
I would go as far as to say that if I had similar 2 job applicants in front of me, one with an OU degree and one from the traditional 3 years of student life, it would go to the OU graduate every time, because it says something about them that they can hold down a full time job (in many cases) and stick at that kind of study for 6 years.
Well done.
PS Don't expect your marriage or liver to survive a week at summer school.
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