Full time job, full time Degree

[Fubsy]

I crumbled in second year with part-time OU and a full-time job with a commute. I couldn't make the time for that, keeping a relationship healthy, running a home and being happy.

I walked away from it and just hope I don't regret it.

I worked full time and studied full time with the OU for two years. It was very hard. I barely saw my friends, I had almost no free evenings or weekends. It was a significant factor in the end of my relationship with my then girlfriend.

It can be done, but it takes a lot of sacrifice. I don't think I'd do it again with hindsight.

This is what I saw happening with me even doing it part-time. Those sacrifices have to be made, and I wasn't happy to make them. I just hope you got something worthwhile out of it.

 

[Dr Jack]

This is what I saw happening with me even doing it part-time. Those sacrifices have to be made, and I wasn't happy to make them. I just hope you got something worthwhile out of it.

Yeah, I changed career to one I'm happier with. Did an MSc, and PhD afterwards and now I'm doing a Postdoc in Germany. I'm glad I did it. But taking an extra year to lighten the load would have made a big difference and not really delayed things much.

 

[Sheff]

Out of interest, what are the level structures for OU? Brick and mortar universities structure it as levels 4, 5 and 6 with level 3 as a foundation year equivalent to A levels. I think these are NC levels. Is OU not the same?

OU follows the same regulations; OU level 1 is equivalent to FHEQ level 4, level 2 with 5 etc.

 

[iamdjdz]

I'm in my 6th year on the same course, I went part time from 2nd year and essentially skipped part of 5th. You will struggle at the third year stuff but before that it's feasible if hard I imagine. 2nd year was easy split though.

 

[PaulCa]

OU follows the same regulations; OU level 1 is equivalent to FHEQ level 4, level 2 with 5 etc.

Yes. An honours degree is usually made up of 120 CAT points per level. 120 level 1, 120 level 2, 120 level 3. But It's more a matter of "at least" 120 at level 2 and 3. I think I did 90 level 1, 150 level 2, 120 level 3.

You pick courses, you can do any courses you want. Courses are most often 30 or 60 points. Each course can be applied to 2 qualifications. So usually you will pick a degree as one of those, obviously. Only certain courses are acceptable for each degree, but there is a fair selection. Some courses are mandatory or things like "You must have one of the following courses". Honours are calculated mostly on your level 3, a little on your level 2 and very little/none on level 1. 60 points at level 1 can be "free", as you can account any course towards the degree. I did natural sciences foundation (S103 Discovering Science) which gives me a University Higher certificate in natural sciences. I also picked up a diploma in computing and a certificate in technology in addition to my degree, so technically 4 qualifications.

They also offer an "unnamed degree" for which you can apply any course to it. You only need 240 points (IIRC) and it will not have honours. If you do a second degree you can reapply your level 1 courses, so you only need to do level 2 and 3.

(CAT = Certificate of academic transfer). All universities will transfer your points at level 1. If you want to transfer points at level 2 and level 3 you have to negotiate with them.

 

[Diddums]

Sweet! Well, if you don't mind me asking, what kind of role are you hoping to get into when you finish?

I'm thinking of reading through a textbook before I take the plunge, could you link me any texts they recommend you buying/ reading for the course?

The degree is just general engineering, but I'd like to specialize in either civil or aviation, haven't decided yet. The first bits I've done were extremely heavily maths based but at a GCSE level, so if you're good at crunching numbers you'll be fine. I can't speak for the rest but I do know it's going to be hard. I have a second copy of the textbooks here somewhere if you want them, I'll have to dig them out.

 

[agnes]

I'm really sorry to **** on your fire, but why IT? Self teach, it's faster, free and quicker to get you into the profession?? Studying IT for three years at the cost of OU will give you nothing in my opinion.

What do you wish to do? If it's anything other than basic IT support, you're going to struggle moving into the career.

 

[dowie]

What do you wish to do? If it's anything other than basic IT support, you're going to struggle moving into the career.

Why would he want to do basic IT support - that doesn't even require a degree.

Perhaps he wants to do a masters, perhaps he wants to become a business analyst, developer or project manager.

I was employed in a Business Analyst role at one point without even having a IT or CS degree.... you can get graduate roles with mathematics, physics, engineering degrees etc.. too!

Also I think you're missing that he's already in the armed forces, I'm assuming he's got some sort of leadership experience or will have by the time he's left....

so when he's in an interview and the HR monkey/hiring manager says "tell me about a time where you had to:" [perform under pressure], [handle stress], [exercise leadership skills], [use initiative] etc..

then his accounts could be along the lines of:

"Well when I was commanding a boarding party off the coast of Somalia we had an issue during an interception of a skiff and I had to..." etc..etc..

employers absolutely love stuff like that - its great in comparison with the typical, fresh out of uni, grad-job candidate can give: "Oh well one time in a group project at university we had an argument", "I got lost once when doing the Duke of Edinburgh award", "In my summer placement I had to work late a few times and it felt a bit stressful"... pffft.

If he's a SNCO or Officer then entry level project management roles could be a good fit right away and hopefully he can progress a bit quicker than usual too given maturity/age etc.., he's already got some relevant transferable management and organisational skills and frankly senior ranks and officers essentially do project management all the time albeit in another form... rather than the combat estimate/7 questions and the orders process he'll have to learn some PM process and development methodology but the transferable skills should be there.

Security related roles are another obvious one - he could perhaps use his resettlement to fund an MSc course in this area (bit harder to get onto such a course without either a degree or several years of relevant experience) - that could potentially open up way more doors than available to the people starting in IT support and following certificates etc.. some universities do offer relevant industry projects too and if he's already got some form of security clearance (I'm pretty sure everyone in the Navy is at least SC) then that could come in handy when applying for jobs too.

 

[Deleted member 66701]

Depends what classification you want. Having recently completing a computing degree full time, I was putting in 40+ hrs in year two and 50+ hrs in year 3 but I was aiming for (and achieved) a first class.

If you're only gunning (pun intended) for a Desmond then I'm sure your could do a full time degree with a full time job.

 

[Deleted member 66701]

I'm really sorry to **** on your fire, but why IT? Self teach, it's faster, free and quicker to get you into the profession?? Studying IT for three years at the cost of OU will give you nothing in my opinion.

What do you wish to do? If it's anything other than basic IT support, you're going to struggle moving into the career.

That's a pair of dogs testicles.

I've just started as a management information systems developer - I wouldn't have even got through the paper sift without my degree (in fact, the pre-application questionnaire wouldn't even progress to application stage if you answered no to having a computing related degree). There are still many, many computing related jobs that require a degree.

For example, how exactly would you get on a graduate scheme with the likes of IBM, BAE, CSC etc without a degree?

 

[dowie]

I've just started as a management information systems developer - I wouldn't have even got through the paper sift without my degree (in fact, the pre-application questionnaire wouldn't even progress to application stage if you answered no to having a computing related degree). There are still many, many computing related jobs that require a degree.

Sorry to diverge slightly but did you decide not to go for the PhD then or is this a part time role? If full time then does this mean you will be making student loan repayments after all?

 

[Deleted member 66701]

Sorry to diverge slightly but did you decide not to go for the PhD then or is this a part time role? If full time then does this mean you will be making student loan repayments after all?

PhD starts in October (full time). Job is full time. I got the job before I got accepted for the PhD. Thought I might as well pocket the pay in prep for the PhD.

Yeah, I will be making 4 months worth of student loan repayments. I don't think it will significantly reduce the 65k balance though!

 

[danielanthony]

I did an MSc part time whilst holding down a full time job with lots of overtime and young kids, was difficult but got a first.

Started another part time MSc at Oxford, totally different level of workload so had to quit after a couple of modules.

 

[datalol-jack]

How many hours of uninterrupted alone time do you get per week? Can you study, with short breaks, for that long? Remember, you have to eat, sleep and take care of yourself; plus being in the Navy has its own on and off duty expectations. If, as mentioned above by others, you have a partner in your life, can they accept the sacrifice of time together for study, especially when you're meant to be off?

I'd answer the above honestly and speak to study support (which you would have to do anyway to register for 120+ credits, as they're always suspect of candidates taking on too much course load). Yes, there are some heartwarming success stories about people pulling this off, but statistically, considering the total number of undergrads OU has, I wouldn't bet on being an exception to the rule that it's probably too much of a push for most people with jobs. You can however do 90 credit stretches some years, which would cut down the total length of time to get an OU degree; Level 1 can also be gunned through at a reasonable pace (you can take a hit on some optional choice modules, too).