Open University Course ! What one to pick ? 6 years to complete

[jasonsony735]

Hi Guys I really want to Start open University Course but have no clue on what I should be selecting ,

No entry requirements

I didn't go College and haven't studies for years so should I be selecting a Foundation course ( 4 years to complete ) or just jump in the deep end and Start a BA / BS Honours ( 6 Years to complete part time )



I want to do something on the lines of Art / Photography or even Geography as these are the subject I enjoy most.

what course do you think I should go for ?



I mainly want to do this to one get better educated and also treat it as a new hobby , and the fact after 6 years Ill have a Degree & maybe get myself a better paid Job ! as my current job on minimum wage sucks.

Many Thanks .

 

[porushinobu]

Hi Guys I really want to Start open University Course but have no clue on what I should be selecting ,

No entry requirements

I didn't go College and haven't studies for years so should I be selecting a Foundation course ( 4 years to complete ) or just jump in the deep end and Start a BA / BS Honours ( 6 Years to complete part time )



I want to do something on the lines of Art / Photography or even Geography as these are the subject I enjoy most.

what course do you think I should go for ?



I mainly want to do this to one get better educated and also treat it as a new hobby , and the fact after 6 years Ill have a Degree & maybe get myself a better paid Job ! as my current job on minimum wage sucks.

Many Thanks .

if you like geography you can also consider environmental courses

 

[john_s]

I don't think you can do Photography with the OU (you didn't used to be able to at least - they only used to offer a single 10 point photography module).

Have a look at Open College of Arts for a similar style photography degree (http://www.oca-uk.com).

I've not studied with them, so can't comment on it. I have done OU study though and really enjoy it, though you do need to make sure you keep motivated, especially when you have to fit the study around work.

 

[hanmer]

Just had a quick look on the OU website. There are no degrees for photography currently. Part of an Art degree may contain a module on photography but you'll have to look at the specific degree. In relation to Geography there are degrees for environmental studies/combined sciences which will get you a BA in Geography. Please note the current fees for a part time (60 credit) year is £2632. So your 6 years of study will according to the OU cost £15792 in fees!!

Bri

 

[Deiwos]

Just had a quick look on the OU website. There are no degrees for photography currently. Part of an Art degree may contain a module on photography but you'll have to look at the specific degree. In relation to Geography there are degrees for environmental studies/combined sciences which will get you a BA in Geography. Please note the current fees for a part time (60 credit) year is £2632. So your 6 years of study will according to the OU cost £15792 in fees!!

Bri

Please don't feed the OP misinformation.

OP: I work for the OU as a Student Adviser so it's my job to help with this sort of thing. The OU doesn't offer Photography at all, so as someone else said, OCA might be a better shout if you want to do that. We don't offer 'Art' either, although we have Art History which might be of interest to you.

For Geography, we have Environmental Science courses and Social Science courses that fit within this field http://www.open.ac.uk/courses/find/geography

Doing a degree in Combined Social Sciences for example does not award a 'BA in Geography' like hanmer thinks. It awards a BA (Hons) Combined Social Sciences! The clue is in the degree name!

Yes the fees are ~£2600 per 60 credits but compared to going to a campus university this is on the low end of prices. You can also apply for a Student Loan for it, which you don't start paying back for 4 years and only when you meet the threshold salary for starting payments (not sure what exactly this is).

 

[Tom0]

I signed up with the OU this year!

Can't fault the enrollment process so far. Go for it OP, have a look through the courses and speak to an adviser to register on the phone rather than the website, I found it easier.

Take the jump, I did, I haven't looked back and I've not even excitedly started learning yet.

 

[McGray]

When I did my Geography degree it was packed will field work in a number of different countries.

I'm not sure how this works with the OU but might be something to consider.

 

[Col_M]

Hi Guys I really want to Start open University Course...
I mainly want to do this to one get better educated and also treat it as a new hobby , and the fact after 6 years Ill have a Degree & maybe get myself a better paid Job ! as my current job on minimum wage sucks.

Good stuff and a commendable attitude

...but have no clue on what I should be selecting...
...what course do you think I should go for ?...

However I think you may be going about it the wrong way, if you want to study but don't know what you want to study there's always the chance you'll pick something you only have a passing interest in, then a couple years down the line you could grow sick of it.

Try to pick something you really know you want to study, six years is a long time to devote to something and you don't want to feel like it's a chore or not want to use the qualification after you have it.

Take some time to think and settle on something you really enjoy or want to do.

Just my advice

 

[AJK]

6 years is an incredible amount of time to commit to something part-time, especially if your intention is to use the resulting degree to enhance your career! So that means you'll be stuck in your current minimum wage job for 6 years while studying, and then looking to enter a graduate-level job (or gain apprenticeship of some kind) in your new chosen field?

I haven't used the OU so can't offer any advice about it specifically, but I think you need to seriously consider why you want to do this. You don't need a degree to take up a hobby, and if your goal is to become better educated, you can probably explore ways of doing that without spending thousands of pounds a year...

I work for the OU as a Student Adviser
...
You can also apply for a Student Loan for it, which you don't start paying back for 4 years and only when you meet the threshold salary for starting payments (not sure what exactly this is).

You're a student adviser and you don't know what the loan repayment thresholds are? How can you give proper advice to students about their finances then? Seems pretty important.

 

[Sheff]

The threshold is £21k. OP have you looked at the open degree? If you're not entirely sure as to what you want to study then it might be a good idea as you can pick and choose as you go along.

 

[beachBOYken]

If you do an open degree you can always changed it to a named degree further into your studies if you decide on a particular subject. Providing you do it fairly early say after or before you second module and that the modules all count towards the named degree.

 

[Deiwos]

You're a student adviser and you don't know what the loan repayment thresholds are? How can you give proper advice to students about their finances then? Seems pretty important.

I work in Scotland. Different system to the English one for funding but my advice is still correct.

 

[TrojanWhore]

The threshold is £21k. OP have you looked at the open degree? If you're not entirely sure as to what you want to study then it might be a good idea as you can pick and choose as you go along.

21k?!

I'm gonna have to do some maths....I'm on 19 a year and they are taking money out of my paycheck! I get the odd bit of overtime, but pretty sure I'm still under 21 total

 

[philstanbridge]

The OU is a fantastic way to improve your self-belief. I've learnt so much since starting my History BA. I finished my last module in June, and it has really been a challenge. But a challenge that has been so worth it. It took me 6 years and in one of those years I doubled up so that I had two 60-pointers running consecutively. My modules were £600-£700 each.

 

[AJK]

21k?!

I'm gonna have to do some maths....I'm on 19 a year and they are taking money out of my paycheck! I get the odd bit of overtime, but pretty sure I'm still under 21 total

When did you take out your loan? If your course started prior to 1st September 2012, then you have a Plan 1 loan (as opposed to the newer Plan 2), for which the repayment threshold is 16,900 not 21,000.