Anyone studying OU?

I'd do one if I wanted to study an extension to a hobby I found interesting.

Don't know if that makes sense, but I couldn't see myself putting my eggs in that basket incase circumstances changed and I couldn't complete it.
 
philstanbridge said:
After a LOT of thought and consideration over the last 6 months I have decided to apply for a BA in History which will start in October. I'm doing the full-time course which will take me 3 years (give or take), but I also intend to work part-time where I can to fund it. It's going to be interesting! At the end of it I will probably get into teacher training and become a teacher. Unless something else crops up of course.

As others have said, the OU gives you a "proper" degree or qualification, and to many employers they are actually worth their weight in gold because you have to be self desciplined and motivated to get through it!
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That's brave, though if you're working part-time you'll be okay provided you're disciplined. Good luck - it's going to be a busy three years :)
 
[FnG]magnolia;11295712 said:
Without meaning to be rude, does it give you a proper (for want of a better word) degree at the end or is it equivalent to a degree?
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Yes they are proper BA/BSc (Hons) degrees. They've got a Virtual Employer Fair going on listing a number of employers who are supposedly "particularly keen to recruit OU students and alumni" onto their graduate schemes. The current list is: Bank of America, Co-operative Group, Credit Suisse, Enterprise, Financial Services Authority, GlaxoSmithKline, Heinz, Hyperknowledge, KPMG, LogicaCMG, Lovells, Metropolitan Police Service, Royal Bank of Scotland Group, Royal Mail Group, SGL Group, Steer Davies Gleeve, Tesco, Unilever, Waitrose. Not a mindblowing selection but there are a few big names there.

The main "recognition" problem the OU currently has is with engineering. In their own words:

The Open University’s engineering degrees (BEng
(Hons), MEng, etc.) are not currently accredited
by any of the engineering institutions. Negotiations
are progressing with a number of institutions to
accredit both our BEng (Hons) and our integrated
MEng. Successful outcomes to these negotiations
will mean that future Open University BEng
(Hons) and MEng graduates will have obtained
appropriate exempliiying qualiications for CEng
registration as outlined above.
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There's more detail in this pdf: http://www3.open.ac.uk/courses/recognition/3_03.pdf

philstanbridge said:
After a LOT of thought and consideration over the last 6 months I have decided to apply for a BA in History which will start in October. I'm doing the full-time course which will take me 3 years (give or take), but I also intend to work part-time where I can to fund it. It's going to be interesting! At the end of it I will probably get into teacher training and become a teacher. Unless something else crops up of course.

As others have said, the OU gives you a "proper" degree or qualification, and to many employers they are actually worth their weight in gold because you have to be self desciplined and motivated to get through it!
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Good luck sir! Studying the maximum 120 points each year is indeed a brave move as Masterdog says. :)
 
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iBot said:
is it free to do a course?
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No. Prices vary depending on what you are studying. From about £50 for a module, rising to £1800 for a module.

I'm currently doing a Psychology degree with them. Find it much better then when I was at a 'physical' uni. Granted you have to manage your own time etc. but tutors are a lot more flexible with hand in dates etc.

Age groups tend to be a lot older - I'm 24 and everyone in my groups are 30+. Oh, and they are all female.

And I wouldnt be doing it if it wasnt a credible degree.
 
Hi Blobson - I'm doing my first level 3 course this year and if I successfully completed I can pick up a diploma in pollution control. I work as a technician for consulting engineers so they are helping with course costs and on long term would prefer me to do the engineering degree. But extra work is involved that if I just went for the technology degree and as has been mentioned its not accredited. The best thing about the engineering degree is the ability to mix science and technology. Could do this with Bsc open but not the same ring to it as Beng. :p

MST121 was the first course I did - is this the maths one your doing?

I've found 60 points a year with full time job to be manageable and still have a life. There are times when you just can't be bothered or very busy at work and if I was doing more than 60 I would struggle. But with 60 points there is leeway for some 'can't be bothered' weeks - it's still a big commitment at weekends and evenings.
 
What annoys me is the stupid tutorials. I have to travel to Bristol for something I could have just been told in an e-mail. I have to submit the work electronically, why do I have to travel to them for tutorial?
 
Longbow said:
What annoys me is the stupid tutorials. I have to travel to Bristol for something I could have just been told in an e-mail. I have to submit the work electronically, why do I have to travel to them for tutorial?
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You dont have to go to them - Your tutor should email anything if you dont attend.

I've got one in Leicester and one in Nottingham. I dont go to the Notts ones as its too much effort to get a train on Saturday mornings. My tutors happy to send me anything I miss.
 
I'm doing T224 at the moment, quite time stricken so I've barely had any time to study but the tutor's are quite understanding considering the circumstances.
 
Slinwagh said:
I am, S194 Introduction to Astronomy.
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If that's a 10 pointer I've done it \o/

Quite enjoyed it :D

I've also done the Intro to Humanities and am now doing Level 2 - A200 Medieval History 1400-1900. Sent my first TMA in yesterday, just got to wait and see how I did now.

As for tutorials, I've not been to any and I've been fine so far - I think everything you need is in the material provided, you only need to go to tutorials as an add on or if you need help. At least that's the case with the history ones. :D
 
kitten_caboodle said:
If that's a 10 pointer I've done it \o/

Quite enjoyed it :D

I've also done the Intro to Humanities and am now doing Level 2 - A200 Medieval History 1400-1900. Sent my first TMA in yesterday, just got to wait and see how I did now. :D
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What course are you studying there if you don't mind me asking? I realise some of the modules double up with courses - I'm going to study A200 in 2009 once I've completed my Level 1. I was going to do the Intro to Humanities but it appears to have been stopped.
 
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