Open University degree's...
Discussion
I'm wanting a change of circumstances so i'm thinking about doing a degree via open university...
firstly how do you learn? or is it a case of they give u a list of reading materials and you follow it up with an online exam?
and obviously i'm hoping the degree will pay off in the job market - does it matter its an open university degree rather than a university degree???
anyone else on here currently in the middle of a open university degree?
firstly how do you learn? or is it a case of they give u a list of reading materials and you follow it up with an online exam?
and obviously i'm hoping the degree will pay off in the job market - does it matter its an open university degree rather than a university degree???
anyone else on here currently in the middle of a open university degree?
OK I have an original Uni degree, with conventional studying.
A few years later i developed an interest in another area, and studied with the OU, so i could continue to work. I enjoyed my studying time, but did not complete my second degree.
It is in no sense a short cut. If a degree takes 3 years of full time study, it will take 6 years of half time study, or 9 years of 1/3 time. It works because you can break it into such small chunks and build up your study that way, however long it takes.
A few years later i developed an interest in another area, and studied with the OU, so i could continue to work. I enjoyed my studying time, but did not complete my second degree.
It is in no sense a short cut. If a degree takes 3 years of full time study, it will take 6 years of half time study, or 9 years of 1/3 time. It works because you can break it into such small chunks and build up your study that way, however long it takes.
Zad said:
It shouldn't matter that it is an Open University Degree, but it does. In just the same way it shouldn't matter if you went to Lancaster or Oxford.
to anyone with any nous about them, an OU degree compares favourably against most other degrees. It's only stuck up arses who look down on them.An OU degree represents much more than a normal first degree as it is normally gained through self driven study, and at the same time as holding down a job and often supporting family. It stands to reason that someone who can do that's more likely to be driven to succeed than someone who rolled into university at 18 and pissed up for 3 years whilst surrounded by other people in the same situation with no cares or other demands on their time.
You need a lot of determination to do an OU degree. Back then, it was about 8 assignments (essays) and a 3-hour exam for each module. I got a 2.2 BSc and followed up with a Master's (psychology). I reckon it'd be easier now, with the improved web access and content, but you still need a lot of application.
Edited by davhill on Thursday 26th August 02:52
As others have said and alluded to, an OU subject in a decent subject demonstrates considerable commitment and drive to see something through to the end... very highly regarded by those who actually have any idea in what is involved in getting one..
(and no, I don't have an OU degree)
(and no, I don't have an OU degree)
A good way to start is via one of the "Openings" courses - it gives you an excellent introduction to not only the subject you are thinking of studying, but more importantly the methodology of the studying methods employed at the OU. I finished one in law a few months ago and was very impressed by the quality of the course materials and tutors.
I hire people, and I always view a degree taken later in life more highly than one taken as part of the academic production line at 18. Even more so for one that's taken while you're also in employment. It says to me that you've matured, sorted yourself out, thought properly about what you want to do, and shown some considerable discipline in approach.
The topic should be somewhat connected to the career you're following or want to follow, but that's less of a concern especially if you have a relevant work history. It should be from a recognised outfit, so OU or London or Cranfield or somewhere with a similar reputation for distance learning rather than Mrs Miggin's School of Internet Diplomas.
Good luck with it if you go ahead.
The topic should be somewhat connected to the career you're following or want to follow, but that's less of a concern especially if you have a relevant work history. It should be from a recognised outfit, so OU or London or Cranfield or somewhere with a similar reputation for distance learning rather than Mrs Miggin's School of Internet Diplomas.
Good luck with it if you go ahead.
I hire regularly graduate / masters level candidates, normally with 5-15 yrs experience. I do rate the Universities in part of the overall selection process, and would rate OU alongside any of the top 10 unis, and also recognise that if the degree had been done whilst working that it is damn hard.
It's a very good uni, you get local study groups / tutor groups and very good use of the web. First course materials.
It's a very good uni, you get local study groups / tutor groups and very good use of the web. First course materials.
If you are undertaking a degree in order to eventually qualify in a professional capacity it is worth checking that the validation of the OU course will be recognised by the membership body of your eventual career area.
Most employers rarely offer a job on paper qualifications alone anyway, it's important to gather experience and other personal skills and knowlege to enhance your credibility at the end.
Most employers rarely offer a job on paper qualifications alone anyway, it's important to gather experience and other personal skills and knowlege to enhance your credibility at the end.
Zad said:
It shouldn't matter that it is an Open University Degree, but it does. In just the same way it shouldn't matter if you went to Lancaster or Oxford.
That's a somewhat strange thing to say - why should a degree in a subject at which a particular Uni is recognised as on of the best be valued the same as a a degree in the same subject from another Uni?In my experience, employers know which Unis do the best courses in the subjects they are interested in and will rank candidates from those Unis ahead of others. The OU, as others have said, is often seen as a well-respected degree, not just because of the teaching but also the time management and determination it exhibits.
My wife has been doing some study with the OU. She was looking to move out of development and into project management, but although at the time she was acting up in that role, her employer would not allow people who were not currently project managers to do the in-house PM courses. She had a look round and deciding that the OU project management course looked like good value for money compared to commercially run courses, funded it herself. She really enjoyed studying again and was impressed with the materials and tuition arrangements, her employers were pleased that she had put her money where her mouth was and she got the next PM role she applied for.
She then started looking at other courses. At school, she was talked out of pursuing a music degree (and into an English degree, bizarrely), so she's now most of the way through Understanding music: elements, techniques and styles. I did plan to follow the course informally with her, but I didn't really have the time, she already had a much better grasp of music theory, and while she reads music fluently enough to play a piece while she reads it for the first time, I can work it out a note at a time in "C-A-T spells CAT" fashion. So I got left behind and gave up. The teaching materials I saw, however, were excellent, and she speaks very highly of the tutorials and the summer school.
She has another music-related course lined up which will give her enough points for a diploma in music, and another non-music course which appears to be part of the route to a BA in humanities, but I don't think she is really doing it for certificates - she seems to be really enjoying studying again.
She then started looking at other courses. At school, she was talked out of pursuing a music degree (and into an English degree, bizarrely), so she's now most of the way through Understanding music: elements, techniques and styles. I did plan to follow the course informally with her, but I didn't really have the time, she already had a much better grasp of music theory, and while she reads music fluently enough to play a piece while she reads it for the first time, I can work it out a note at a time in "C-A-T spells CAT" fashion. So I got left behind and gave up. The teaching materials I saw, however, were excellent, and she speaks very highly of the tutorials and the summer school.
She has another music-related course lined up which will give her enough points for a diploma in music, and another non-music course which appears to be part of the route to a BA in humanities, but I don't think she is really doing it for certificates - she seems to be really enjoying studying again.
Edited by otolith on Thursday 26th August 10:47
Edited by otolith on Thursday 26th August 11:15
I'm approaching the end on a single 60 point course. I think it has only given me a little taste of the hard work that would be involved in a full degree.
Being an IT subject all my course material is online. I believe other subjects will include paper, online, and audio visual material.
As an example of the type of work involved (my course being the equivalent of a single module of a degree I guess), my course is split into 4 sections, in turn split into chapters (11 chapters, 11 chapters, 7 chapters, 8 chapters). Every chapter has an online exam, every section has a final online exam, every section has a written assessment. Overall the whole lot has a final written exam.
May not be the same format at all for other courses or subject areas.
It can take a lot of time commitment at evenings and weekends to get through the material, but if you're interested in you're chosen subject it should not be problem to remain motivated.
I'd argue that anybody who completes a full OU degree in their own time should be highly respected. Especially if they're also dealing with existing employment and other life commitments.
Being an IT subject all my course material is online. I believe other subjects will include paper, online, and audio visual material.
As an example of the type of work involved (my course being the equivalent of a single module of a degree I guess), my course is split into 4 sections, in turn split into chapters (11 chapters, 11 chapters, 7 chapters, 8 chapters). Every chapter has an online exam, every section has a final online exam, every section has a written assessment. Overall the whole lot has a final written exam.
May not be the same format at all for other courses or subject areas.
It can take a lot of time commitment at evenings and weekends to get through the material, but if you're interested in you're chosen subject it should not be problem to remain motivated.
I'd argue that anybody who completes a full OU degree in their own time should be highly respected. Especially if they're also dealing with existing employment and other life commitments.
The Lukas said:
I've looked (briefy I admit) and it looks hard work, especially around a current career. What are your general circumstances? What are interests? What are your long term ambitions?
tbh i feel at the moment i'm just stuck in dead end jobs with little progression - as much as i appriciate the £13K a year wage i feel its not doing me justice and i want something to make my kids feel proud. I've got 3 kids to look after too. but financially i'm sound. we've got a family business which my missus and mum run. no mortgage or anything. my work circumstances are very flexible thankfully - work in a call centre and friday saturday nights a lil doorwork too at a local club.
i've been thinking of something alongside social sciences and criminology as they interest me the most - along with psychology too.
since the first year for the social sciences is all the same if i do feel like changing it i guess i could. with the current job market i dont think it would be ideal to aim for a particular job at this moment in time... but u never know...
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