I have a degree from Open University and it led to me being accepted for a master's degree at aberdeen university. I didn't take that up in the end but I have now been accepted onto a PGDE History course at Edinburgh uni, where there were only 10 places available. So overall, my Open Uni degree has served me well.
That is so awesome and good to know!! I hope (I'm not trying to brag, but) ill be accepted into an Ivy League University for Graduate School!! Thank you Jesus!!
I have been accepted into the master's program of my university here. I wouldn't have been able to even study a BA degree in Germany, because there I didn't fit into the narrow boxes that would have allowed me to study without the 'Abitur'.
I had bad results in my high schools but thanks to the OU, I have been able to be admitted into Maastricht, Erasmus and Tilburg universities in Netherlands. Thats a big step up!
Hey felix do you mind if I can ask you some questions because I am going through a similar phase and I just want to have more information on this predicament
zou u mij meer kunnen vertellen over jouw toelating tot deze uni's? welke bachelor je had gekozen en of de OU al bekend was bij deze universiteiten, of dat ze eerst een onderzoek moesten doen.
So Open univerisity is good for people like me that got bad grades in high school? I got really bad grades and with tutoring i was able to catch up and now i wanna pursue a math degree
@@gamera7206 I mean if you care about the University ranking, then no. But if you have bad grade like me then I would do it because it is very good for math. They begin to teach you from the basic to higher Mathematics with excellent teaching.
I just started an OU degree this year. I’m 40 and I’ve been unable to work for three years due to chronic illness. I was getting so scared my brain was wasting away, but this has given me hope for my future. I love that I can study from my bed, I could never cope with attending a traditional university.
@@LydiaMorsman How's it going for you now, buddy? I'm thinking about doing a languages degree but I'm a little apprehensive about being overwhelmed by the course itself. I have no formal education because I took school for granted, but now seeing the errors of my way. How hard are the assessments? I hope you're doing well with everything!
@@themisanthropichumanist7050 I’m now half way through my 2nd module. I planned to do a full time course but health wise I have realised part time is the only way for me. I was disappointed about that but now see it as more time to work on other personal projects alongside. I’ve really enjoyed it so far, some bits are tougher than others but my tutors have been really supportive. I’m also in a Facebook group for people doing the same module as me and its one of the most helpful things I’ve found. You should go for it! Just pick something you love and it won’t feel like too much of a chore. I’ve only done assignments so far, and I’ve found them fine, but they do help you with academic writing as you go along, you’re not expected to be an amazing academic writer from day one it’s part of the learning journey.
@@LydiaMorsman Oh nice! Thank you for your encouragement. Oh and one more question! Do you ever have to attend a place physically to do an exam or to attend a meeting or something like that? And is it mandatory to have face-to-faces with your assigned tutor? Or can you do the whole course remotely and by yourself?
I graduated from the OU last year and I am so proud of my degree. It was tough at times, just being thrown into distance learning and having to teach yourself how to write at university level and reference without being taught but I am SO glad I chose the OU! It taught me how to work hard, motivate myself and top organisation skills and I did it full time for 3 years with a weekend job every single weekend for 3 years. Super proud of my degree on my wall however!
Gemma congratulations! I'm doing an English Language and Literature degree at the OU, so for me I'm new to academic study, on my 2nd year, enjoying it. So well done, you should feel proud of yourself! To everyone else it is a real degree, hard to fail it I think!
@@nizarkhaled finance is based on household income. They paid all my fees for 6 years while I studied as I was earning below 20k and living alone. Full time work and part time study is an amazing achievement
It's great to hear you're having a good experience! I did my physics degree part time with the OU, and after I completed it I went to the campus in Milton Keynes to do a PhD. I'm currently doing post-doctoral research for Nasa at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory in California. I wouldn't be where I am today without being able to do a part-time distance-learning degree with the OU. I owe them so much! I don't know what it's like in the business world, but in academia everyone I speak to holds the OU in high regard.
This is very satisfying to read. I’m going into my 2nd year maths and physics degree with the OU in October. I always get asked “but what can you do with a physics degree” I believe many many things. Even none physics related
Can you attend Milton Keynes after completing your Bsc, just to make up for the lack of lab component alone? Like getting six-twelve months of laboratory experience in your Bsc.
I just enrolled on the Engineering degree course. My first degree and I'm 43. So excited! But also terrified of the maths element. But as a mum of 3 and working full time in endless admin roles I finally got a chance at sponsorship. So I'll work my butt off to do this and most of all I want to enjoy it.
@@Gooders478You clearly haven’t worked in engineering then. I know *PLENTY* that have never lifted a tool in their life. It’s more technical comprehension.
@@DanBx98 Unless they're 'diverse', then they get a free degree with lower standards and go on to contribute to the catastrophic DEI global competence crisis.
As a homeschooling mother in her 20s (from the U.S) the Open University will be life changing for me! I want to get a degree in Classics and Mathematics but the U.S Universities are out of reach for me. They are so expensive and aren’t nearly as flexible! I’m so excited about Open University! An amazing concept! I love learning this way! I think this will be the future of learning in an increasingly busy world and increased priced tags on higher education. I’m also super excited about all the free classes for people who simply love to learn! So grateful for Open University!
I have done a open uni degree full time whilst also working 6days a week. I’m graduating in a couple of months and I can honestly say this was the best risk I have taken. If you don’t mind missing the student life this route is so good, cheaper too. I highly recommend. You can do anything you set your mind too. Also, thank you for your video. I wish there was something like this when I started OU. & good luck on the degree!
@@muhammadarsalan1119 Hello, you can if you are able to organise your time well. I will not say it is easy because it is not, but it can be done. You just have to make sure you plan ahead for assignment deadlines and get 2-4 hours of study in a day to cover all the material.
I’ve started studying with the open university and it suits me so much better than a “normal” university. I dropped out of college because my mental health wasn’t taken seriously and the social aspect just terrified me. With open u I can study when I want and work at the same time, it’s honestly perfect for me! I never thought I’d be able to achieve a degree because I can’t handle academic settings but I love learning! If anyone is considering I’d 100% recommend 🥰
I dropped out of college at 17, and I hated being in public and speaking in public, I can't forget the first time I found out about OU but it's like a switch went off. However, I still haven't applied and I'm 20 now. I have two weeks until the October start closes. I feel so stupid for wasting three years already but I still hesitate because I don't want to quit, or fail, or embarrass myself.
@@griffinreader6207you're such a stong human being, i hope you remember that and give yourself all the love and care that you deserve 🫶 i'm rooting for you and hope you can find peace and happiness :) take care
It’s actually a very respected University and the degree is genuine and real. As is the work you put it to get one. I know... I’ve got a degree from the OU.
in the United Kingdom the right to award degrees is protected by Law. The Open University has a Royal Charter which grants it the right ot award degrees.
Great stuff... I started my OU degree back in 1990 when all they offered was a BA no matter what course combination you put together. I remember staying up late to watch TV broadcasts or listening to the radio... then came audio cassettes and VHS loan tapes and choice of BSc or BA. The OU evolved to what it is now with a plethora of named degrees, internet based teaching and multimedia to go with the high-quality printed matter. I ended up with a BEng (hons) 2.1 and am incredibly proud of the achievement. The value of the degree lies in the sheer amount of work one has to do get the qualification - all this while holding down a full-time job. For me, learning one or two courses at a time allowed time to assimilate the information more deeply than getting through all the material in just 3-years. I left school with a handful of very average O-levels - destined to work at a machine-tool in a factory aspiring to the dizzy height of becoming an engineering draughtsman..! The OU saved my life and I now work as a senior mechanical engineer, doing failure investigation and design amongst other things. Other ‘conventional’ graduates have been very complimentary about my depth of knowledge and understanding - to me this is, in large part, down to the quality of OU teaching. I cannot thank the OU enough and would wholeheartedly recommend it as a route to graduation. Is it a ‘real’ degree..? Absolutely - a gold plated one..! Employers love them..!
I got my OU degree in classics last year, if I could give any advice it is: 1. unless you have a particular direction or goal, choose something you enjoy. Studying something your passionate about makes the slog of study more bearable, particularly if you work part/ full time and have a family or other commitments. 2. Treat it as a marathon not a sprint, it’s part time distance learning for a reason and as much as some people might say it is an excuse, life happens! And some times you can’t just work around it. See the big picture of where you want to be in 6yrs or 10yrs, coz you don’t want to power through one year of hell and it affect your overall classification. 3. Enjoy it, every year is more work experience, more life experience and more academic experience by the time you get your degree, that most people won’t have after doing a degree normally. Thats a whole lot of experience anyone would want on their team, whether it be an employer or someone else.
I’m really hoping to study classics next year! I’ve always had a huge interest in it but never took the plunge; I went down the healthcare route and now I’d love to get out of it! Lol
I have just completed my degree bsc in hospitality & tourism studies from OU 2020 & I scored A grade, I learnt lots of things. I'm become disciplined, I did part time job, I'm became a hard working & i proud to have a OU degree
I enjoyed every minute of my OU degree. I was lucky enough to complete it when they still ran the summer schools. It was hard work fitting it in around full time work, but it taught me time management skills, how to write at an academic level, research skills as well as much more. Sadly the fees have increased dramatically since I graduated. My graduation was one of the proudest days of my life and it was wonderful having my family cheering me on as I walked across the stage.
I start my OU degree in October. I can’t wait!! Education for me when I was younger was so negative and going back there wouldn’t have been good for my mental health: and so OU is perfect for what I want
Important to note! You don't always need prior education in a subject before studying with the OU! I screwed up A levels entirely, but I'm still doing a psychology degree with the OU (doing pretty well if I do say so myself) so if you fail your a levels kids, it's not the end of the world!
I dropped out of college at 17, and I planned to start OU then (not liking being in social areas distance learning seemed like heaven...) I'm 20 now and still haven't applied. Think I'm just scared I'll do the same thing.
@@unknownboo8738 I think I'd really enjoy it; learning something I'm actually interested in for once. It's something I practically do already. But I'm not in the position to do that at the moment, maybe in the future. But I have finished my debut, its going through the rounds of editing and changing stuff at the minute, so hopefully by next year it'll be fully done and published Are you planning to apply?
@@griffinreader6207 definitely, be patient with yourself and hopefully everything will work out for you, I am hoping to apply for Feb! I just really need to keep my brain active and just believe in myself! Haha! 🙂
I live in Korea most of the time but am Scottish and work. So I can study part time around my full time job which is busy but manageable. Then when I finish my degree I can apply to do a masters at a Korean University. I already have a graduate diploma for Korean Language. So yeah very useful and helpful path to higher education and better jobs. Especially if you're Scottish because it's free.
a master of procrastination here, doing a masters with the OU in space science and technology, a field I know absolutely nothing about. It's my second year, and for someone who swore never to study again more than 11 years ago, it is going surprisingly well. Your comments about self-learning hit too close to home.
@@davidaloysparrow219 Hello! :) It is going well; I am currently in the second elective course. Unfortunately the elective courses are a huge diversion from the space science stuff (see here www.open.ac.uk/postgraduate/qualifications/f77) and are not my favourite part of the degree. That said, the first course (space science) was the best course I ever had - at least for someone who was not seriously familiar with space, such as myself -, and is definitely worth it on its own (more info here www.reddit.com/r/OpenUniversity/comments/e2f0sk/s818_space_science_any_experiences/)
this genuinely sounds like my degree currently 💀 i’m doing psychology at hull university and because it’s all been online, our degrees sound like they run pretty similarly lol
The OU have actually helped a lot of unis to provide online content during the last year with it being their specialty and so many having to adapt so quickly. So you never know, you might have done a bit of OU work with your uni 😊
Also an OU student, in the last tutorial I attended before lockdown, we were discussing what the OU's "product" was and what it's unique selling point is. The tutor actually pointed out that offering distance learning is a unique selling point because while other UK Universities do offer distance learning, it's as a secondary product. The OU designs their courses to be studied independently, while a lot of other Universities design their courses to be studied in person and then adapt them (where possible) to work for people who have to study remotely. I really feel for the students who've signed up for in-person studies and had to study from home. Aside from the fact they didn't sign up for it and might not be suited to studying in that way, it's not an OU degree - it's a similar experience, but the coursework and assessments have not been put together with this experience in mind.
Many other universities specifically offer distance learning. These modules are not hastily put together. Rather, they're specifically made for distance learning. I've done both the OU, and distance learning from brick. I liked the OU, but brick uni was much more academically challenging.
I did my degree with the OU, I transferred some first year credits and did my level 2 modules full time, I finished in 5 years :) I did my level 3 modules as 'collaborative' courses with ofher unis, which meant I also got an advanced diploma from Oxford as part of my degree 🥳🥳 I just managed to start before the tuition fee rises in 2012 so each module was around £750, except the Oxford one which was £2k. Best thing I ever did as I could work and volunteer alongside, and like you my brain works better this way!
Thank you so much for talking about this! I had to drop out of high school many years ago due to severe depression, and have been thinking a lot lately about trying to do online study. Thank you!
I'm a bricklayer in construction. The open university has allowed me to explore my intellectual capability and I'm now in my second year of a psychology and counselling degree. I absolutely love it but it's a big challenge.
Hey mate, nice to see your inspiring comment. I live in Cambridge and doing security job. I also want to pursue my 1st degree, im a bit confuse that should i go in OU or any college in cambridge. I do not know how OU works, or is it beneficial to be graduated from OU.... I have so many Qs.... Could you help me? Thanks!
Unsure, but I’m thinking possibly an open degree in french and marketing!? I’m living in france at the moment and I’d love to boost my language skills.
I've done three degrees with them now - including a Master's. Don't underestimate the amount of effort you need to put in. You have to be really self motivating when you get home from work and want to put your feet up with a glass of wine, that TMA isn't going to go away.
I'm finishing up my second year of three years full-time study for a degree with the OU in England on top of working a full time job in the USA. It's not only a real university, a degree from the OU comes with the caché of future employers knowing you're capable of doing what you say you can do, and doing it without needing to be micro-managed. Highly recommend.
I've done 2 of the free courses on the Open University (they are GREAT) for those wanting to bulk out their personal statement or learning something new, or even enhance their knowledge in an area). They're really insightful and so easy to partake in. Even if you don't want to do a full degree the courses, as Luke mentions, are really good! I would highly recommend!
I am just coming to the end of my degree - I just need to get my dissertation written and submitted and then I am done! I think that there are a few things that you missed but that may be because you are at the beginning of your OU journey. Firstly, it is self-study to a certain extent, but for your £3000+, you get all the module materials you need which explain all the concepts and arguments. For many of the courses, you don't need to buy any additional books. Some have set books but these can be accessed for free through the extensive digital library. You can also access all the journals and primary source databases you need for research at level 3 for free through the library. You will be allocated a tutor who you can phone or email whenever you like and they are often disappointed if no one contacts them. On top of this, there are online tutorials, face to face tutorials - my tutorials were hosted at the local university - and day schools usually held on a Saturday. If you do enrol on a course and wish to buy the set books then they are usually fairly cheap. the most expensive I bought was £28.50, all the others were less than £10.00 but as I said you can get digital versions of them for free from the OU library. Oh! also if you can't find what you are looking for the librarians are really helpful in pointing you in the right direction. There is a 24/7 chat function too - just in case you need to study in the middle of the night.
Best thing about the OU is that they have been distance teaching since 1969. It is a well respected degree as any employer knows you’ve worked twice as hard and you are dedicated.
I started mine this year and am really enjoying it so far. I could never take in in-person lessons/lectures in school and everything goes in so much more when it's just on a page in front of me and I can take notes without having to keep up with the pace of the tutor. It's a lot of work on top of having a full time computer-based job but it's going to be worth it! I'm also not a fan of the online lectures but at least they're recorded and you have the option to skip through them :)
I’m currently studying full time, going into my final year after being direct entry into 3rd during the pandemic 🥴 but over the summer have been doing many of those free courses you mentioned to supplement my degree! I wish I’d known more about the OU leaving school but as someone who believes in lifelong learning, it’s something I’d absolutely do in the future, good to hear someone’s perspective!
Don't be fooled by Luke's positivity. Studying with the OU is HARD! Self-study is tough, unless you are well organised and disciplined you can fall behind very quickly and if I'm honest, there is a huge lack of community and help from tutors. On a number of occasions, I have contacted my tutors for some help with my course and have received the same response each time... "review your study material". You are basically paying the OU to just teach yourself. However, I can't say it hasn't opened doors for me and has opened my eyes to new possibilities.
Sounds pretty much the same as a regular university. Between research, lecturing and attending other students, getting tutors to respond or find time for you is almost impossible.
I'm studying French and Spanish with the OU and really love it. I can't wait until lockdown lifts a little and I can meet up with my on-line language buddies for a chat in real life. The language tutors are a friendly, supportive bunch and always try to make the tutorials as interactive as possible. On-line tutorials were a little strange at first, but ti's amazing how quickly you get used to them. I can fit my studying around working full time. So many of my work colleagues have asked me about it and 2 of them have signed up to study languages this year. I'd highly recommend it!
Hi, I'm currently debating which degree to choose with the OU and French and Spanish is my current top choice. I was just wondering what level of fluency you had before you started? I earned a GCSE A in French (many many many years ago) but nothing in Spanish. Do you think it's possible to start this degree as an actual beginner?
@@Ally-wt1sx Genuinely you do not need any prior knowledge. The course is designed to start you assuming you know nothing. You might find that some folk are returning to languages, like me, having done GCSE French many years ago. It makes the tutorials fun, as you have folk with a bit of experience who can help you. Just go for it, you'll love it.
I did an OU degree, it took me 7 1/2 years and I worked full time alongside the whole thing, apart from the final year where I only worked part time. I'm now studying medicine and the skills I developed studying with OU are INVALUABLE! It was a tough degree, I won't lie, and I believe the grade boundaries sit higher, i.e. you need a higher score to get a 1st etc., but I did enjoy it overall, and it's been so helpful in the long run. Another great thing about OU (if they still do it) is you can study an "open degree" where you choose any modules you like from any subject and build the degree yourself. This is what I did and it was so helpful because I had no idea what my long term goals were so I could simply adapt my studies as I went along. I still use their free platform OpenLearn to look into different topics that interest me.
I started my English literature and creative writing degree last October and I’m enjoying it so much! And that’s coming from someone who absolutely hated school and college. I’m so excited to start my second year in October💪🏽
Got so excited seeing the title of this vid! I also study with the Open University and I'm doing English Literature and Creative Writing.I also love the freedom that comes with setting your own schedule and it actually makes me feel like a responsible adult lol. Like you, I also hate the reflective pieces!!!
I came across this video out of the blue and really enjoyed your info! I am currently doing my an OU degree BA (hons) Law and Criminology and everything you have said is so accurate.....all the best in your course and you now have yourself a new Scottish subscriber haha 👍
Hi. So I am just completing my 6 year Open University degree and I have loved it. I live in a none English speaking country and for me it was the best option. I love the flexibility of learning by myself and it does teach you to be self disciplined. I would recommend it highly 😃😃😃😃😃😃😃
@@freya683 I'm a first year so it might be different in Stage 2 and 3 but for now I'm using OpenLab feature which is an online lab experience, plus you are doing assignment practicals and experiments from home for hands-on study. The degree is accredited by the Institute of Physics, so OU makes sure you are covered on all you need to accomplish.
@@freya683 Thanks! I'm averaging 2h per day on part time. I might switch to full time for second year. The best part is how enjoyable studying is. It's well set up and feels effortless.
i’m in kind of a unique position that because of my awful time at school and a chronic illness, the ou has been the best choice for me to pursue a degree at 18! without it there would have been no chance of me being able to finish a degree, and distance learning really suits me - not to mention the fact that the ou have been doing this for so long that their resources are definitely at the top for distance learning. i really feel for everyone my age who is currently doing a degree that was meant to be in person and instead paying £9k for a badly put together online version, it’s not what you were expecting and it’s not what you deserve either
I'm so excited to do this next year. I had a really bad experience on my IRL degrees and didn't end up finishing. Next January will be the first time I qualify for home student fees (woo immigration red tape), and I really think a part time degree will be so beneficial. Seeing people I grew up with and respect like yourself being so excited for this when you have other options makes me think this is going to be a good thing for me!
Graduated this year with a Masters - did it whilst working full time with pandemic getting in the way. Totally doable and worth it for anyone who wants a digree rather than a student experience.
If you need shame or fear to keep you motivated you are doing the wrong degree, or perhaps you shouldn't consider a degree. Surely if you are doing something that truly interests you then that is all the motivation you need? Besides, it isn't free so there is the fear of having to pay money for something you couldn't be bothered to do.
@@mezbrookscarter8289 its just a joke. I'm currently an A Level student looking at which universities to apply to. Plus fear of not completing something to the best standard can be useful even if it is in something that you enjoy 👍🏻.
I started OU this year studying english lit part-time and it has been so good so far!! I was really happy to find how diverse the study material is and how helpful my tutor is - even if the self reflection part of the essays are rly awkward lmao. I’m doing another full time translation degree in-person (or well, used to be in-person, thank u pandemic) as well, and it’s very manageable! it’s really cool that you’re sharing your experience with the ou since so many people aren’t aware that it is a very viable and flexible option! I hope you enjoy the rest of your degree :)
i didn’t do so well in my a levels but it’s great knowing that the OU accept people regardless of meeting a certain criteria, and I’m studying psychology next year in february i can’t wait 🙂
Excellent. I am actually sharing on my FB as I am a student at the OU and am tired of a lot of these questions/perceptions about studying with the OU. Thanks for doing the work for me! 😉❤
@@mrufohunteruk It’s 360 credits for a bachelor’s degree with honours. In England, Europe and the rest of the world, it costs just over 3k for 60 credits. All 60-credit models cost the same. 30-credit modules cost half as much as 60-credit modules. That’s a total of just over 19k for a full degree.
@@jeremylloyd710 oh right well i am doing 120 credits this year with both modules being 60 credits each for the BA Hons Law with Criminology and each module is £1032 and they started Jan/Feb 2021
I'm so excited to start my OU Law degree! This video helped me lots, thank you. I was quite nervous, but it's going to be worth it after all. :) I wish everyone the best in their educational careers
I want to study LLB at Open U too. Would you mind telling me how it is please? Is it very difficult (even more difficult than other law degrees at other university)?
My dad studied mathematics with the OU in the 1970s. I completed two OU degrees in the 1990s and 2000s. My daughter has just started her degree in criminal psychology with the OU. One sure way to wind an OU student up is to ask them, 'Why didn't you study at a proper university?'
@@swarajnaman4114 I've got three degrees with the Open University I'm kinda now thinking to go for another. Mathematics, Computer Science with Artificial Intelligence and a Master's in Information Security. The bachelors ones I can rattle through, but the Master's wow, it's a whole two or three gears higher. Oh, I've also been to a "proper" university and did engineering and a master's in engineering. The OU is much harder because you have to be very self-motivating. Get home after a days working and you STILL have three or four more hours to go before you can relax. Don't underestimate the workload. It's a shame they don't have summer schools hardly at all now - what happens on Summer School, stays at Summer School
Start my Bsc hons next month after leaving my last university due to epilepsy getting worse. OU let me transfer my creds to them, so all the work i did wasn't for nothing. The OU really has been a lifeline.
Oh wow he uploads again! I think once my degree is over, i might try a part time open university degree (depends how stressed i am teaching). It sounds quite nice, very independent.
"THE OU GIVE OUT FREE FISH POSTERS!" This has made my day! Love it! I'm looking into OU and this has certainly helped me in my decision to go for it. Love the comments below and can't wait to start this journey.
I have a mate who did an OU degree in mathematics and then went onto doing an MSc in quantum mechanics at Imperial College - so yep its a real degree, real university
It’s so nice to see this. I watched your content a while ago and an currently at the OU (started in October). On the off chance your on the psychology course would be great to hear more about it! Either way so glad you’re sharing again !
I almost did psychology! I was signed up for it and was accepted but opted for PPE in the end. I'd LOVE to do psychology one day. I'm thinking of doing a degree in it after this one, but that's 5 years away so I wont get ahead of myself :P
I am 19 , work in my dad's business , currently in the regional bjj and boxing team and i go to the Open University of Mauritius .. yeah , you have to learn everything yourself and its fun !
I'm currently in year 3 of a 4 year degree at the Open University (it's an apprenticeship degree so it's 4 years not 6 because I can evidence skills using work I have completed at my job). It's tough, it's lonely, it's tiring, I'm exhausted, I want it to be over. It's not a "fake" degree. I have to do uni work every evening after I finish my day job when I am exhausted. My weekends are full of it. The Open University doesn't break for the summer like a traditional university, I have modules year round. When I hopefully graduate next year I will be so happy to gain my life back, to be able to enjoy my days off instead of frantically writing assignments. Not a real degree my arse
I was in your shoes for 6 years, it's so tough but come graduation day, and hopefully see lots of other folks in the same boat, it creates a great togetherness. I took a break for a while but am back doing a master's
This is not strictly true. The OU does have breaks for most of their degrees - I'm guessing that yours isn't because it is an apprenticeship degree and to fit it in four years you need to work all through the year. Usually, the modules run from October to June - unless you enrol on a second module in the February enrollment, then that that would run until September. There is usually a break over the Christmas and Easter period too. I find that it is a commitment of between 10 and 20 hours of study on a 60 credit module depending on at what level you are studying.
So glad that i've watched this video because I'm starting a course with OU I love that you can teach yourself. I will do part time a course which suits me a lot better
I’ve a question. I'm from Brazil, now I'm a Software Engineering student at a Brazilian university, but I really like the Computing and IT course at OU and I'm going to leave my current course. Is the UO a university considered good and well regarded in Europe/UK?
Sadly It almost certainly will be in many areas because OU have been doing this for decades. Hopefully your uni experience can go back to normal soon! ☺️
I feel like the OU just encourage learning no matter where you're at in life which I love. For most courses all they ask for is a basic understanding of english and maths, and an interest in the chosen subject. Aaaand you can do an Open Degree where you basically pick which ever courses you like the look of which is just amazing I think.
About to graduate with my BA in History and Politics this year. The OU gave me the opportunity to still get my degree when my mental health was at an all time low whilst still living at home, working and working on my mental health. And I’ve saved myself a lot of debt!
Take note.. to score a 1st class pass you need 85% with OU, not the standard 70% that a 'physical' university requires.. the bar is very very high. x Good luck to all fellow students.
I learned this just a year ago or so, I’ve nearly finished my maths and physics degree and i won’t score better than a 2:1 which is fine but if I only manage a 2:2 do you think certain employers who want a 2:1 will consider my application given that it’s a OU one with a higher standard?
It’s just a different grading scale so there is more nuance in the middle, work that is 70% at another uni, should be equivalent to 85% at OU. I find it easier to get higher marks at the OU generally, because the rubrics are much more standardised than when you have modules and classes with different lecturers at a brick uni. Sometimes this means it can be a bit formulaic, but it really depends.
@@therehn Actually that nots true, the higher boundaries were set initially due to the concerns that OU degrees would not be seen as credible. I undertook the OU LLB Law programme, one of their most popular degrees that was done in partnership with the University of Law. Many of the students were Russel Group graduates taking modular study through the OU's long established employer sponsorship programme (common on the Contract and Equity modules in particular). The majority complained about the harsh marking system compared to what they were used to at a RG uni. Equity had a 60% failure rate and many RG graduates failed these modules and had to take resits with marks capped at 40%. There is absolutely no question that the OU marking system is the toughest of any UK university.
It's just a different marking scale as Ruth has said. I will graduate my BA in Language Studies (English and Spanish) next month. I've even managed to scrape a 100% on one of my TMA's. Only once though. At another University this would be unheard of as the highest marks are in the 70s normally.
I did the last part of my (honours) degree at the OU, now following a master's at a brick university which is being taught online because of the pandemic. The OU wins hands down on the online delivery, definitely a high quality of teaching (unless you're horrendously unlucky with your tutor), and I feel I'm better equipped than most on my current programme to cope with the challenges of distance learning. At the same time, I'm really enjoying the contact with my fellow students, which is on a whole different level here than it was at the OU, even with everything online.
Fellow OU student here👋 I'm on my third year of 6 doing maths and I love it!! I also prefer to learn from books (maths students and a few others get books), the tutorials (lectures) are really good in maths and really help to solidify your learning.
I have noticed that the OU usually do a much better job at explaining a maths concept than other textbooks, don’t you think? They fully have the student in mind as they type them up. Not many skipped steps or “proof is left as an exercise”
@@Mikebigmike94 Even at the higher levels, they're well done, giving you a little less hand holding, so you can work out things for yourself. I'm still with the OU, doing maths. I'm about to start my fifth year (starting level 3). The level 2 modules were as expected. Hard in places but mostly well written. I did MST210 and M208. One is applied and the other pure. By the end of year 4 you will know which side of maths you favour.
@@RuthieOnTheMobile there’s so many modules to choose from. I am on the theoretical physics degree named “mathematics and physics”. I start mst210 shortly, it looks very interesting. Do you do any pre studies during summer months etc? I always try make sure that my first encounter with a topic isn’t through university. Last thing you want is being caught out and left behind
@@Mikebigmike94 It is an interesting module! It is very fast paced, not many 'breaks', and there's a lot to learn in the 31 weeks. If you did MST125, it starts there and progresses quite quickly. There's 6 books and they link together quite well. Dynamics and statics runs through the module, and lots of calculus. In prep, I worked through the "discover MST210" on student home. I wish I'd refreshed on statics and dynamics and since MST224 is a "sister" module, you could look at that discover page too. I strongly suggest to get ahead! There's two units available on Discover, and when the module opens in September, get started then. I did this, I was 6 weeks ahead by October but by Christmas I was 4 weeks ahead, 2 weeks by Easter and soon was working to the planner and barely holding on. Unless you have no commitments (I have children with additional needs, so studying in school holidays is impossible) it's very hard to catch up during the Christmas and Easter breaks! I did enjoy this module, even though I've found my love of maths is more on the pure side, I still got a Pass 2. I know what you mean by choice! I knew I wanted to take MT365, and I'm lucky to take that in it's last presentation, but the other 90 credits have been hard to choose from. I'm considering a second degree (probably open STEM) just for the chance to take some of the others. I decided on M343. Both these modules cover my favourite subjects when I did A level maths just before OU.
@@RuthieOnTheMobile we have the same logic! I’ve always made sure I’m ahead of uni in terms of the topics they offer, to give an example I have already completed intro university physics using a different textbook before I start the course “classical to quantum” in October also I’m just coming up to the end of calculus 3 and differential equations, again using different textbooks, So when these are taught via OU they won’t be new to me. It might be difficult to do this further into the degree as they teach so many different topics per module. It’s not just like your standard “multivariable calculus” module or “differential equations” module. But the system they have in place is good, as you know, you can complete your tmas as you go while the material is fresh in your head. And when it comes to end exams you get a solid 4 weeks to use their practise review quizzes daily. A little “whinge” I have is that in mst124 we wasn’t allocated the time nor have been tested in Taylor series, they had it in the book and I’ve done a little bit of it beforehand but as a physics student that topic is quite important. It was a little bit strange not to fully include it. Can always read it during the summer though. How does getting a second degree work? Would you have to pay that yourself without student loan?
I struggle with severe mental health issues and, even though I'm planning on starting this October, I'm unsure on how successful I'll be at uni. It's really nice to know that studying at the OU is a viable option, I didn't even know it existed before this video so thank you!
Forewarning, most of my tutors stopped replying after the initial email. This is not a uni to go to if you need actual, proper support with your studies.
o shit that my name on the patreon list But on a serious note yes this is a great video!! I've been studying an Access to Higher Education course with the OU since October and am planning on starting BSc Forensic Psychology in September, and this really solidified that I do want to do that! I find it so helpful that I can just like... take a week off if I need to, or study at 4am etc. Thanks for making this video!
I have worked all my life, having come from a family that never earned enough to send me to uni, but just enough to not get help with it, I fell into the bracket of never being able to risk my future going. I'm now 39. And an engineer. But I have become an engineer through vocational qualifications and not academic ones. The only way for me to progress further in my line of work is a degree. And the only option for me, with a house and a wife and child to look after, was the OU. So I begin my OU degree in April. And hopefully I can get my employer to sponsor me .
I'm currently on an Open university, yes it's completely different from attending a physical college/uni but you have the initiative to do things YOURSELF. I'm doing Mathematics and computer science and yes it can be a struggle but you do have help available if needed be! Although I did enjoy the social presence of friends that were only a head turn away from asking for a little help!
I'm doing a "normal" degree, and I actually think the open university sounds cool! I'm not sure I'd have the motivation to be as self-taught/independent as it needs you to be, but it's cool that they do offer you lectures if you want to go to them. With COVID it's all gone online for my degree anyway so lectures have just become videos to watch (which I'm not really a fan of). A degree is a really cool achievement no matter how you get it!
Yeah it absolutely does need that self-drive which might be difficult for many! It’s such a shame how covid has affected normal degrees :( Sadly it was the only option.
@@luke Yeah there definitely wasn't much else they could do about it, but it is a shame. I really admire OU people who motivate themselves to study while doing other stuff (my entire life is my degree at the moment haha)
Totally this! Having dropped out of a brick uni, where tutors couldn’t be bothered to turn up, returning to work, and currently in my 4th year of primary education with the ou, it is 100% worth it. From an employer perspective it shows that you can be disciplined enough to work hard along working, and to study yourself. I have taken so much more away from this so far compared to the short stint at a brick uni 🤷🏼♀️ There is enough motivation to make you do it, but enough freedom to manage your schedule. Would recommend to anyone!
I'm an OU graduate, same degree PPE, and would totally recommend it. I left school with very little education, but was always interested in learning. I'm now working for the university, and studying for a accredited HR master's.. depending on household income some folks may also be open to a grant for fees. In total my degree cost me £0 as I was earning below the threshold for household Income.
I did a BSc in Mathematics in London and we were pretty much teaching ourselves. I don't see a massive difference at all! Currently considering pursuing another BSc in Physics at the OU!
I did the same degree, graduated last year. I did it in 3 years. To be honest, to get the equivalent of a 'normal' degree level of education then you have to put in a lot of extra work. For example, I bought the Oxford PPE recommended course textbooks (and did the readings online through the library) and taught myself logic etc. I also used Edx to do a Harvard bioethics course and a few others, and I signed up for summer courses with Oxford further learning (which were very very good). And I watch thousands of UA-cam lectures. Anyway, I graduated with a first (over 85%) and I'm now doing an MA in a RG 'bricks and mortar' uni, and I can move on to a PhD in philosophy this year, so the course fulfilled its function for me, but I would say that if I had done the bare minimum coursework to get a first, then I would have had a pretty weak education.
Currently studying psychology at the open university, people seem to forget OU is harder to get a distinction you need 85% compared to brick unis (which is the other unis) it’s only 70%.
That's a common misconception. A grade one pass at the OU requires students to meet the same or very similar learning outcomes as a brick/campus-based university. Your lecturer/Tutor assigns a percentage score according to the grade, not the other way around. The OU grade thresholds just make it easier to know if you have a good, middle or low grade 1. Ask your Tutor to explain it to you
My partner did a degree at brick uni and finished with a first, took one look at the percentage to get a distinction with OU and was like "I would not have managed that" 😂
I'm about to finish my first year with the OU doing an Art History and History degree and it's honestly the best decision I've ever made. I'm doing it full time which is about 40 hours of studying a week but it's so flexible that I can do it around work and volunteering.
this is what i want to do! i have a bachelors in nursing. seems totally unrelated. fid u have a degree prior to this? i am wondering if any of my credits would transfer or if id just be looking at starting a totally new BA? know thats kind of a specific question but any insights u may have are appreciated!
currently doing the first module the MA Philosophy degree with the OU whilst working full time. I can attest that this is no walk in the park. Time management is so key. After working 8 hours a day and having to face lectures, tutorial, reading, forums etc it can be exhausting. I would still recommend though due the flexibility and skills it provides. Definitely would not turn my nose up at it
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I have a degree from Open University and it led to me being accepted for a master's degree at aberdeen university. I didn't take that up in the end but I have now been accepted onto a PGDE History course at Edinburgh uni, where there were only 10 places available. So overall, my Open Uni degree has served me well.
Thank you so much for the information. I want to apply for law degree and the do my masters at the normal university, but want sure.
@@luisafrance1635 I haev a degree from the OU and I now have a masters from Strathclyde University :)
That is so awesome and good to know!! I hope (I'm not trying to brag, but) ill be accepted into an Ivy League University for Graduate School!! Thank you Jesus!!
I have been accepted into the master's program of my university here. I wouldn't have been able to even study a BA degree in Germany, because there I didn't fit into the narrow boxes that would have allowed me to study without the 'Abitur'.
I am doing a degree in maths with the OU. It’s been the single best self improvement thing I have done.
I had bad results in my high schools but thanks to the OU, I have been able to be admitted into Maastricht, Erasmus and Tilburg universities in Netherlands. Thats a big step up!
Congrats mate
Hey felix do you mind if I can ask you some questions because I am going through a similar phase and I just want to have more information on this predicament
zou u mij meer kunnen vertellen over jouw toelating tot deze uni's?
welke bachelor je had gekozen en of de OU al bekend was bij deze universiteiten, of dat ze eerst een onderzoek moesten doen.
So Open univerisity is good for people like me that got bad grades in high school? I got really bad grades and with tutoring i was able to catch up and now i wanna pursue a math degree
@@gamera7206 I mean if you care about the University ranking, then no. But if you have bad grade like me then I would do it because it is very good for math. They begin to teach you from the basic to higher Mathematics with excellent teaching.
I just started an OU degree this year. I’m 40 and I’ve been unable to work for three years due to chronic illness. I was getting so scared my brain was wasting away, but this has given me hope for my future. I love that I can study from my bed, I could never cope with attending a traditional university.
I hope you do well💓
@@luisafrance1635 thank you! So far so good 😊
@@LydiaMorsman How's it going for you now, buddy? I'm thinking about doing a languages degree but I'm a little apprehensive about being overwhelmed by the course itself. I have no formal education because I took school for granted, but now seeing the errors of my way. How hard are the assessments? I hope you're doing well with everything!
@@themisanthropichumanist7050 I’m now half way through my 2nd module. I planned to do a full time course but health wise I have realised part time is the only way for me. I was disappointed about that but now see it as more time to work on other personal projects alongside.
I’ve really enjoyed it so far, some bits are tougher than others but my tutors have been really supportive. I’m also in a Facebook group for people doing the same module as me and its one of the most helpful things I’ve found.
You should go for it! Just pick something you love and it won’t feel like too much of a chore. I’ve only done assignments so far, and I’ve found them fine, but they do help you with academic writing as you go along, you’re not expected to be an amazing academic writer from day one it’s part of the learning journey.
@@LydiaMorsman Oh nice! Thank you for your encouragement. Oh and one more question! Do you ever have to attend a place physically to do an exam or to attend a meeting or something like that? And is it mandatory to have face-to-faces with your assigned tutor? Or can you do the whole course remotely and by yourself?
I graduated from the OU last year and I am so proud of my degree. It was tough at times, just being thrown into distance learning and having to teach yourself how to write at university level and reference without being taught but I am SO glad I chose the OU! It taught me how to work hard, motivate myself and top organisation skills and I did it full time for 3 years with a weekend job every single weekend for 3 years. Super proud of my degree on my wall however!
Gemma congratulations! I'm doing an English Language and Literature degree at the OU, so for me I'm new to academic study, on my 2nd year, enjoying it. So well done, you should feel proud of yourself! To everyone else it is a real degree, hard to fail it I think!
@@tasnimriasat8186 Thankyou! It is definitely a real degree. It takes hard work and dedication. I wish you well on your studies!
Thanks Gemma!
As far as I know, the Open University degree is not free unless you are doing an access module.
@@nizarkhaled finance is based on household income. They paid all my fees for 6 years while I studied as I was earning below 20k and living alone. Full time work and part time study is an amazing achievement
It's great to hear you're having a good experience! I did my physics degree part time with the OU, and after I completed it I went to the campus in Milton Keynes to do a PhD. I'm currently doing post-doctoral research for Nasa at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory in California. I wouldn't be where I am today without being able to do a part-time distance-learning degree with the OU. I owe them so much! I don't know what it's like in the business world, but in academia everyone I speak to holds the OU in high regard.
This is very satisfying to read. I’m going into my 2nd year maths and physics degree with the OU in October. I always get asked “but what can you do with a physics degree”
I believe many many things. Even none physics related
@mike N1234 that's ludicrous. Physics is a quality degree. You would be welcomed into the Tech world for sure.
God, it's that true? Im searching to do a math and physics degree, what degree did you made?
That's amazing. It's actually what I adream about ❤
Can you attend Milton Keynes after completing your Bsc, just to make up for the lack of lab component alone? Like getting six-twelve months of laboratory experience in your Bsc.
I just enrolled on the Engineering degree course. My first degree and I'm 43. So excited! But also terrified of the maths element. But as a mum of 3 and working full time in endless admin roles I finally got a chance at sponsorship. So I'll work my butt off to do this and most of all I want to enjoy it.
Good luck with that useless degree. Engineering is a hands on degree course, Einstein.
@@Gooders478You clearly haven’t worked in engineering then. I know *PLENTY* that have never lifted a tool in their life. It’s more technical comprehension.
@@DanBx98 DEI hires you mean?
@@Gooders478 considering that they’re all white British, no. They’re not. Many go straight from university to an office job. 👍
@@DanBx98 Unless they're 'diverse', then they get a free degree with lower standards and go on to contribute to the catastrophic DEI global competence crisis.
As a homeschooling mother in her 20s (from the U.S) the Open University will be life changing for me! I want to get a degree in Classics and Mathematics but the U.S Universities are out of reach for me. They are so expensive and aren’t nearly as flexible! I’m so excited about Open University! An amazing concept! I love learning this way! I think this will be the future of learning in an increasingly busy world and increased priced tags on higher education. I’m also super excited about all the free classes for people who simply love to learn! So grateful for Open University!
I have done a open uni degree full time whilst also working 6days a week. I’m graduating in a couple of months and I can honestly say this was the best risk I have taken. If you don’t mind missing the student life this route is so good, cheaper too. I highly recommend. You can do anything you set your mind too.
Also, thank you for your video. I wish there was something like this when I started OU. & good luck on the degree!
Congrats! I started my degree in February! Can’t wait to graduate long way to go but it will be worth it!
I'm starting in October. Business management and French >.
Can we do work 6 days a week with full time degree?
@@muhammadarsalan1119 Hello, you can if you are able to organise your time well. I will not say it is easy because it is not, but it can be done. You just have to make sure you plan ahead for assignment deadlines and get 2-4 hours of study in a day to cover all the material.
The 'Student Life' of physical universities are seriously over-rated. Especially if you're not a chronic drinker.
I’ve started studying with the open university and it suits me so much better than a “normal” university. I dropped out of college because my mental health wasn’t taken seriously and the social aspect just terrified me. With open u I can study when I want and work at the same time, it’s honestly perfect for me! I never thought I’d be able to achieve a degree because I can’t handle academic settings but I love learning! If anyone is considering I’d 100% recommend 🥰
I dropped out of college at 17, and I hated being in public and speaking in public, I can't forget the first time I found out about OU but it's like a switch went off. However, I still haven't applied and I'm 20 now. I have two weeks until the October start closes. I feel so stupid for wasting three years already but I still hesitate because I don't want to quit, or fail, or embarrass myself.
@@griffinreader6207you're such a stong human being, i hope you remember that and give yourself all the love and care that you deserve 🫶 i'm rooting for you and hope you can find peace and happiness :) take care
So long as Open University is accredited, it's a real degree
It’s actually a very respected University and the degree is genuine and real.
As is the work you put it to get one.
I know... I’ve got a degree from the OU.
The OU has been one of the top ranking UK universities for decades,.
It is regulated in exactly the same way as every other UK university.
in the United Kingdom the right to award degrees is protected by Law. The Open University has a Royal Charter which grants it the right ot award degrees.
OU is 100% fit for introverts who like to educate themselves and actually enjoy.
Great stuff...
I started my OU degree back in 1990 when all they offered was a BA no matter what course combination you put together. I remember staying up late to watch TV broadcasts or listening to the radio... then came audio cassettes and VHS loan tapes and choice of BSc or BA. The OU evolved to what it is now with a plethora of named degrees, internet based teaching and multimedia to go with the high-quality printed matter. I ended up with a BEng (hons) 2.1 and am incredibly proud of the achievement. The value of the degree lies in the sheer amount of work one has to do get the qualification - all this while holding down a full-time job. For me, learning one or two courses at a time allowed time to assimilate the information more deeply than getting through all the material in just 3-years. I left school with a handful of very average O-levels - destined to work at a machine-tool in a factory aspiring to the dizzy height of becoming an engineering draughtsman..! The OU saved my life and I now work as a senior mechanical engineer, doing failure investigation and design amongst other things. Other ‘conventional’ graduates have been very complimentary about my depth of knowledge and understanding - to me this is, in large part, down to the quality of OU teaching. I cannot thank the OU enough and would wholeheartedly recommend it as a route to graduation.
Is it a ‘real’ degree..? Absolutely - a gold plated one..!
Employers love them..!
I got my OU degree in classics last year, if I could give any advice it is:
1. unless you have a particular direction or goal, choose something you enjoy. Studying something your passionate about makes the slog of study more bearable, particularly if you work part/ full time and have a family or other commitments.
2. Treat it as a marathon not a sprint, it’s part time distance learning for a reason and as much as some people might say it is an excuse, life happens! And some times you can’t just work around it. See the big picture of where you want to be in 6yrs or 10yrs, coz you don’t want to power through one year of hell and it affect your overall classification.
3. Enjoy it, every year is more work experience, more life experience and more academic experience by the time you get your degree, that most people won’t have after doing a degree normally. Thats a whole lot of experience anyone would want on their team, whether it be an employer or someone else.
I’m really hoping to study classics next year! I’ve always had a huge interest in it but never took the plunge; I went down the healthcare route and now I’d love to get out of it! Lol
I have just completed my degree bsc in hospitality & tourism studies from OU 2020 & I scored A grade, I learnt lots of things. I'm become disciplined, I did part time job, I'm became a hard working & i proud to have a OU degree
Well done hun .... GOD BLESS. I start in September
@@brediamond5660 Good luck x
I enjoyed every minute of my OU degree. I was lucky enough to complete it when they still ran the summer schools. It was hard work fitting it in around full time work, but it taught me time management skills, how to write at an academic level, research skills as well as much more. Sadly the fees have increased dramatically since I graduated. My graduation was one of the proudest days of my life and it was wonderful having my family cheering me on as I walked across the stage.
I start my OU degree in October. I can’t wait!! Education for me when I was younger was so negative and going back there wouldn’t have been good for my mental health: and so OU is perfect for what I want
I am really proud of you! never too late for studying :) xx
Same here good luck !
As a second-level Open University student, I cannot agree more! I love teaching myself and learning at my own pace! Great video!
Your enthusiasm is so refreshing. A wonderful video, well done! I'm on my 2nd OU degree...the OU is a fabulous, helpful and caring institution.
Important to note! You don't always need prior education in a subject before studying with the OU! I screwed up A levels entirely, but I'm still doing a psychology degree with the OU (doing pretty well if I do say so myself) so if you fail your a levels kids, it's not the end of the world!
I'm thinking of doing a psychology degree, do you believe it's worth it? Also sorry I know its been a year since you were here
I dropped out of college at 17, and I planned to start OU then (not liking being in social areas distance learning seemed like heaven...) I'm 20 now and still haven't applied. Think I'm just scared I'll do the same thing.
@@griffinreader6207 have you applied? Go for it!
@@unknownboo8738 I think I'd really enjoy it; learning something I'm actually interested in for once. It's something I practically do already.
But I'm not in the position to do that at the moment, maybe in the future. But I have finished my debut, its going through the rounds of editing and changing stuff at the minute, so hopefully by next year it'll be fully done and published
Are you planning to apply?
@@griffinreader6207 definitely, be patient with yourself and hopefully everything will work out for you, I am hoping to apply for Feb! I just really need to keep my brain active and just believe in myself! Haha! 🙂
I live in Korea most of the time but am Scottish and work.
So I can study part time around my full time job which is busy but manageable. Then when I finish my degree I can apply to do a masters at a Korean University. I already have a graduate diploma for Korean Language. So yeah very useful and helpful path to higher education and better jobs. Especially if you're Scottish because it's free.
Good luck! South Korea is such a wonderful country. I'm planning to move there next year while I study at Open University.
At the age of 55, I am about to start an OU degree.....omg!
I'm 35. Looking forward to your advice
How did you get on/ how are you getting on , would love to hear! :)
a master of procrastination here, doing a masters with the OU in space science and technology, a field I know absolutely nothing about. It's my second year, and for someone who swore never to study again more than 11 years ago, it is going surprisingly well.
Your comments about self-learning hit too close to home.
Salam brother . Is it going well with the studies there? I am planning on studying in the same field . Would you recommend?
@@davidaloysparrow219 Hello! :) It is going well; I am currently in the second elective course. Unfortunately the elective courses are a huge diversion from the space science stuff (see here www.open.ac.uk/postgraduate/qualifications/f77) and are not my favourite part of the degree. That said, the first course (space science) was the best course I ever had - at least for someone who was not seriously familiar with space, such as myself -, and is definitely worth it on its own (more info here www.reddit.com/r/OpenUniversity/comments/e2f0sk/s818_space_science_any_experiences/)
How has this gone for you? Would you recommend this to someone?
I got my Master of Applied Linguistics from the Open University UK in Dec 2016 and I am so proud of that!
Congratulations. My MSc from them was the hardest studying I've ever done in my life, it took my life for three years. Worth it though
this genuinely sounds like my degree currently 💀 i’m doing psychology at hull university and because it’s all been online, our degrees sound like they run pretty similarly lol
Haha yeah it really is the same experience for everyone right now! I just love that Open Uni have 50 years experience in it aha. 😎
The OU have actually helped a lot of unis to provide online content during the last year with it being their specialty and so many having to adapt so quickly. So you never know, you might have done a bit of OU work with your uni 😊
This is actually me with my MSc in Biomedical Sciences, also at Hull uni haha
@@luke oh of course !! my mum has done a few OU courses herself, it seems like a good way if it works for you :)
@@luke Thoughts on Arden university?
Also an OU student, in the last tutorial I attended before lockdown, we were discussing what the OU's "product" was and what it's unique selling point is. The tutor actually pointed out that offering distance learning is a unique selling point because while other UK Universities do offer distance learning, it's as a secondary product. The OU designs their courses to be studied independently, while a lot of other Universities design their courses to be studied in person and then adapt them (where possible) to work for people who have to study remotely.
I really feel for the students who've signed up for in-person studies and had to study from home. Aside from the fact they didn't sign up for it and might not be suited to studying in that way, it's not an OU degree - it's a similar experience, but the coursework and assessments have not been put together with this experience in mind.
Totally agree! I hope you're having a good time on your OU study ☺️
Many other universities specifically offer distance learning. These modules are not hastily put together. Rather, they're specifically made for distance learning. I've done both the OU, and distance learning from brick. I liked the OU, but brick uni was much more academically challenging.
I'm studying Crimonology and Psychology in the OU at the moment 🙋🏻 loving it!
My dad did a masters degree at Open University after his Doctorate at Imperial College London, and he really liked it.
May I know which Master degree is it?
@@nilesc9184 It would have been something like Biomedical Engineering
I did my degree with the OU, I transferred some first year credits and did my level 2 modules full time, I finished in 5 years :) I did my level 3 modules as 'collaborative' courses with ofher unis, which meant I also got an advanced diploma from Oxford as part of my degree 🥳🥳 I just managed to start before the tuition fee rises in 2012 so each module was around £750, except the Oxford one which was £2k. Best thing I ever did as I could work and volunteer alongside, and like you my brain works better this way!
Cheers for this, ain't seen you for years but I'm quite interested in this
So glad it was of interest, Jake! Welcome back 😁
@@luke happy to see ya mate 👍
THE FREE COURSES ARE EVERYTHING
WHATTTTTTT
THANK YOU SO MUCH IM GONNA LEARN SO MUCH THIS SUMMER
Thank you so much for talking about this! I had to drop out of high school many years ago due to severe depression, and have been thinking a lot lately about trying to do online study. Thank you!
I'm a bricklayer in construction. The open university has allowed me to explore my intellectual capability and I'm now in my second year of a psychology and counselling degree. I absolutely love it but it's a big challenge.
Hey mate, nice to see your inspiring comment. I live in Cambridge and doing security job. I also want to pursue my 1st degree, im a bit confuse that should i go in OU or any college in cambridge. I do not know how OU works, or is it beneficial to be graduated from OU.... I have so many Qs.... Could you help me? Thanks!
I've just signed up to start in October. I want to become a teacher and I'm working as a TA so I'm so excited!!
I was just googling Open University today and this pops up in my sub box, just the reassurance I needed
SO COOL!! What are you thinking of studying?
Unsure, but I’m thinking possibly an open degree in french and marketing!? I’m living in france at the moment and I’d love to boost my language skills.
I've done three degrees with them now - including a Master's. Don't underestimate the amount of effort you need to put in. You have to be really self motivating when you get home from work and want to put your feet up with a glass of wine, that TMA isn't going to go away.
I was struggling for motivation and prepared to give up. However, somehow, this video has brought me back to earth. Thank you.
I'm finishing up my second year of three years full-time study for a degree with the OU in England on top of working a full time job in the USA. It's not only a real university, a degree from the OU comes with the caché of future employers knowing you're capable of doing what you say you can do, and doing it without needing to be micro-managed. Highly recommend.
highly appreciate you boosting my optimism!
I've done 2 of the free courses on the Open University (they are GREAT) for those wanting to bulk out their personal statement or learning something new, or even enhance their knowledge in an area). They're really insightful and so easy to partake in. Even if you don't want to do a full degree the courses, as Luke mentions, are really good! I would highly recommend!
Thank you!!!
I am just coming to the end of my degree - I just need to get my dissertation written and submitted and then I am done! I think that there are a few things that you missed but that may be because you are at the beginning of your OU journey. Firstly, it is self-study to a certain extent, but for your £3000+, you get all the module materials you need which explain all the concepts and arguments. For many of the courses, you don't need to buy any additional books. Some have set books but these can be accessed for free through the extensive digital library. You can also access all the journals and primary source databases you need for research at level 3 for free through the library. You will be allocated a tutor who you can phone or email whenever you like and they are often disappointed if no one contacts them. On top of this, there are online tutorials, face to face tutorials - my tutorials were hosted at the local university - and day schools usually held on a Saturday. If you do enrol on a course and wish to buy the set books then they are usually fairly cheap. the most expensive I bought was £28.50, all the others were less than £10.00 but as I said you can get digital versions of them for free from the OU library. Oh! also if you can't find what you are looking for the librarians are really helpful in pointing you in the right direction. There is a 24/7 chat function too - just in case you need to study in the middle of the night.
Best thing about the OU is that they have been distance teaching since 1969.
It is a well respected degree as any employer knows you’ve worked twice as hard and you are dedicated.
By Harold's Wilson
I started mine this year and am really enjoying it so far. I could never take in in-person lessons/lectures in school and everything goes in so much more when it's just on a page in front of me and I can take notes without having to keep up with the pace of the tutor. It's a lot of work on top of having a full time computer-based job but it's going to be worth it! I'm also not a fan of the online lectures but at least they're recorded and you have the option to skip through them :)
Or watch them at 1.5x speed lol I tend to do this in my uni
This is really interesting, thanks for making a video about it!!
Of course! Thanks Ash ☺️
I’m currently studying full time, going into my final year after being direct entry into 3rd during the pandemic 🥴 but over the summer have been doing many of those free courses you mentioned to supplement my degree! I wish I’d known more about the OU leaving school but as someone who believes in lifelong learning, it’s something I’d absolutely do in the future, good to hear someone’s perspective!
Nearly at the end of my first module myself and it's been really tough around my work but I feel so good about doing it x
Just joined open university myself and I am looking forward to this and gaining the skills of teaching myself more! Thanks so much for this video
Currently doing a physics degree (R51) with the OU and am loving my REAL degree, and hope they give me a fish poster when I'm done.
Yooo! That’s cool mate! I’m seriously considering doing a physics degree as well. How has your experience been so far?
Don't be fooled by Luke's positivity. Studying with the OU is HARD! Self-study is tough, unless you are well organised and disciplined you can fall behind very quickly and if I'm honest, there is a huge lack of community and help from tutors. On a number of occasions, I have contacted my tutors for some help with my course and have received the same response each time... "review your study material". You are basically paying the OU to just teach yourself.
However, I can't say it hasn't opened doors for me and has opened my eyes to new possibilities.
Tbf fair regular university is pretty much the same.
Sounds pretty much the same as a regular university. Between research, lecturing and attending other students, getting tutors to respond or find time for you is almost impossible.
Where are you at with this now and has it been positive overall?
I'm studying French and Spanish with the OU and really love it. I can't wait until lockdown lifts a little and I can meet up with my on-line language buddies for a chat in real life. The language tutors are a friendly, supportive bunch and always try to make the tutorials as interactive as possible. On-line tutorials were a little strange at first, but ti's amazing how quickly you get used to them. I can fit my studying around working full time. So many of my work colleagues have asked me about it and 2 of them have signed up to study languages this year. I'd highly recommend it!
Hi, I'm currently debating which degree to choose with the OU and French and Spanish is my current top choice. I was just wondering what level of fluency you had before you started? I earned a GCSE A in French (many many many years ago) but nothing in Spanish. Do you think it's possible to start this degree as an actual beginner?
@@Ally-wt1sx Genuinely you do not need any prior knowledge. The course is designed to start you assuming you know nothing. You might find that some folk are returning to languages, like me, having done GCSE French many years ago. It makes the tutorials fun, as you have folk with a bit of experience who can help you. Just go for it, you'll love it.
@@orlahayes6943 Thank you! That’s great to hear 😊
I did an OU degree, it took me 7 1/2 years and I worked full time alongside the whole thing, apart from the final year where I only worked part time. I'm now studying medicine and the skills I developed studying with OU are INVALUABLE! It was a tough degree, I won't lie, and I believe the grade boundaries sit higher, i.e. you need a higher score to get a 1st etc., but I did enjoy it overall, and it's been so helpful in the long run. Another great thing about OU (if they still do it) is you can study an "open degree" where you choose any modules you like from any subject and build the degree yourself. This is what I did and it was so helpful because I had no idea what my long term goals were so I could simply adapt my studies as I went along. I still use their free platform OpenLearn to look into different topics that interest me.
How did you start studying medicine?
I started my English literature and creative writing degree last October and I’m enjoying it so much! And that’s coming from someone who absolutely hated school and college. I’m so excited to start my second year in October💪🏽
Me too!
And me! TMA 5 is currently ruining my life 😂
I'm looking at starting that degree in October this year, what's it like?
Got so excited seeing the title of this vid! I also study with the Open University and I'm doing English Literature and Creative Writing.I also love the freedom that comes with setting your own schedule and it actually makes me feel like a responsible adult lol. Like you, I also hate the reflective pieces!!!
I came across this video out of the blue and really enjoyed your info! I am currently doing my an OU degree BA (hons) Law and Criminology and everything you have said is so accurate.....all the best in your course and you now have yourself a new Scottish subscriber haha 👍
Hi. So I am just completing my 6 year Open University degree and I have loved it. I live in a none English speaking country and for me it was the best option. I love the flexibility of learning by myself and it does teach you to be self disciplined. I would recommend it highly 😃😃😃😃😃😃😃
I'm studying physics at OU and loving every minute of it!
How physics without labs?
@@freya683 I'm a first year so it might be different in Stage 2 and 3 but for now I'm using OpenLab feature which is an online lab experience, plus you are doing assignment practicals and experiments from home for hands-on study. The degree is accredited by the Institute of Physics, so OU makes sure you are covered on all you need to accomplish.
@@Cosmonautitsa Thanks! Good luck with your studies
How much time do you study a week?
@@freya683 Thanks!
I'm averaging 2h per day on part time. I might switch to full time for second year. The best part is how enjoyable studying is. It's well set up and feels effortless.
i’m in kind of a unique position that because of my awful time at school and a chronic illness, the ou has been the best choice for me to pursue a degree at 18! without it there would have been no chance of me being able to finish a degree, and distance learning really suits me - not to mention the fact that the ou have been doing this for so long that their resources are definitely at the top for distance learning. i really feel for everyone my age who is currently doing a degree that was meant to be in person and instead paying £9k for a badly put together online version, it’s not what you were expecting and it’s not what you deserve either
I'm so excited to do this next year. I had a really bad experience on my IRL degrees and didn't end up finishing. Next January will be the first time I qualify for home student fees (woo immigration red tape), and I really think a part time degree will be so beneficial. Seeing people I grew up with and respect like yourself being so excited for this when you have other options makes me think this is going to be a good thing for me!
Did you go ahead with this and how has it been?
Graduated this year with a Masters - did it whilst working full time with pandemic getting in the way. Totally doable and worth it for anyone who wants a digree rather than a student experience.
"You can just... fall behind" not me completing my degree in this exact way
Biggest question is whether there would be enough shame and fear of failure to keep me motivated?
Hahahah! So far there has been for me 💪
@@luke oh nice!!
There definitely is 😂
If you need shame or fear to keep you motivated you are doing the wrong degree, or perhaps you shouldn't consider a degree. Surely if you are doing something that truly interests you then that is all the motivation you need? Besides, it isn't free so there is the fear of having to pay money for something you couldn't be bothered to do.
@@mezbrookscarter8289 its just a joke. I'm currently an A Level student looking at which universities to apply to. Plus fear of not completing something to the best standard can be useful even if it is in something that you enjoy 👍🏻.
I started OU this year studying english lit part-time and it has been so good so far!! I was really happy to find how diverse the study material is and how helpful my tutor is - even if the self reflection part of the essays are rly awkward lmao. I’m doing another full time translation degree in-person (or well, used to be in-person, thank u pandemic) as well, and it’s very manageable! it’s really cool that you’re sharing your experience with the ou since so many people aren’t aware that it is a very viable and flexible option! I hope you enjoy the rest of your degree :)
Can't wait to start my physics degree in October with OU
Christ how are you going to do that all alone
i didn’t do so well in my a levels but it’s great knowing that the OU accept people regardless of meeting a certain criteria, and I’m studying psychology next year in february i can’t wait 🙂
Excellent. I am actually sharing on my FB as I am a student at the OU and am tired of a lot of these questions/perceptions about studying with the OU. Thanks for doing the work for me! 😉❤
“BUT HOW MUCH DOES IT COST!”
1.500 pounds for each module
@@isisfreitas i was £1032 for my Law module and £1032 for my criminology module
@@mrufohunteruk It’s 360 credits for a bachelor’s degree with honours. In England, Europe and the rest of the world, it costs just over 3k for 60 credits. All 60-credit models cost the same. 30-credit modules cost half as much as 60-credit modules. That’s a total of just over 19k for a full degree.
@@jeremylloyd710 oh right well i am doing 120 credits this year with both modules being 60 credits each for the BA Hons Law with Criminology and each module is £1032 and they started Jan/Feb 2021
@@Hodgeyp3 Hey Mark, in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, fees are much less than in England, Europe and rest of world.
I'm so excited to start my OU Law degree! This video helped me lots, thank you. I was quite nervous, but it's going to be worth it after all. :) I wish everyone the best in their educational careers
I want to study LLB at Open U too. Would you mind telling me how it is please? Is it very difficult (even more difficult than other law degrees at other university)?
I heard about open university for the first time from your stories and Ive been waiting for this video explaining what it is ever since
That's so cool! Glad to have introduced you to the idea 😄
My dad studied mathematics with the OU in the 1970s. I completed two OU degrees in the 1990s and 2000s. My daughter has just started her degree in criminal psychology with the OU. One sure way to wind an OU student up is to ask them, 'Why didn't you study at a proper university?'
lol aye
What would be your answer mate
@@swarajnaman4114 I've got three degrees with the Open University I'm kinda now thinking to go for another. Mathematics, Computer Science with Artificial Intelligence and a Master's in Information Security. The bachelors ones I can rattle through, but the Master's wow, it's a whole two or three gears higher. Oh, I've also been to a "proper" university and did engineering and a master's in engineering. The OU is much harder because you have to be very self-motivating. Get home after a days working and you STILL have three or four more hours to go before you can relax. Don't underestimate the workload.
It's a shame they don't have summer schools hardly at all now - what happens on Summer School, stays at Summer School
Start my Bsc hons next month after leaving my last university due to epilepsy getting worse. OU let me transfer my creds to them, so all the work i did wasn't for nothing. The OU really has been a lifeline.
Oh wow he uploads again! I think once my degree is over, i might try a part time open university degree (depends how stressed i am teaching). It sounds quite nice, very independent.
That’s awesome! Yeah I’m really keen to potentially do a second degree after this one, but that’s 6 years away so not getting too ahead of myself 🤣
"THE OU GIVE OUT FREE FISH POSTERS!" This has made my day! Love it! I'm looking into OU and this has certainly helped me in my decision to go for it. Love the comments below and can't wait to start this journey.
OMG IM DOING AN OU DEGREE RIGHT NOW IN MUSIC YAY! :D Wooooo for OU and I'm doing full time, intense but love it!
I’m with open University and I’m about to do my next year. It’s absolutely amazing and pretty laid back
I have a mate who did an OU degree in mathematics and then went onto doing an MSc in quantum mechanics at Imperial College - so yep its a real degree, real university
This is brilliant! Thanks, Luke!! As someone who is studying with the Open University, I highly recommend it!
It’s so nice to see this. I watched your content a while ago and an currently at the OU (started in October). On the off chance your on the psychology course would be great to hear more about it! Either way so glad you’re sharing again !
I almost did psychology! I was signed up for it and was accepted but opted for PPE in the end. I'd LOVE to do psychology one day. I'm thinking of doing a degree in it after this one, but that's 5 years away so I wont get ahead of myself :P
@@luke haha yeah there are so many interesting options! Hope it’s going well :)
I am 19 , work in my dad's business , currently in the regional bjj and boxing team and i go to the Open University of Mauritius .. yeah , you have to learn everything yourself and its fun !
I'm currently in year 3 of a 4 year degree at the Open University (it's an apprenticeship degree so it's 4 years not 6 because I can evidence skills using work I have completed at my job).
It's tough, it's lonely, it's tiring, I'm exhausted, I want it to be over.
It's not a "fake" degree. I have to do uni work every evening after I finish my day job when I am exhausted. My weekends are full of it. The Open University doesn't break for the summer like a traditional university, I have modules year round.
When I hopefully graduate next year I will be so happy to gain my life back, to be able to enjoy my days off instead of frantically writing assignments.
Not a real degree my arse
I was in your shoes for 6 years, it's so tough but come graduation day, and hopefully see lots of other folks in the same boat, it creates a great togetherness. I took a break for a while but am back doing a master's
Well done.
This is not strictly true. The OU does have breaks for most of their degrees - I'm guessing that yours isn't because it is an apprenticeship degree and to fit it in four years you need to work all through the year. Usually, the modules run from October to June - unless you enrol on a second module in the February enrollment, then that that would run until September. There is usually a break over the Christmas and Easter period too. I find that it is a commitment of between 10 and 20 hours of study on a 60 credit module depending on at what level you are studying.
So glad that i've watched this video because I'm starting a course with OU I love that you can teach yourself. I will do part time a course which suits me a lot better
I’ve a question. I'm from Brazil, now I'm a Software Engineering student at a Brazilian university, but I really like the Computing and IT course at OU and I'm going to leave my current course. Is the UO a university considered good and well regarded in Europe/UK?
The free courses on this website are so good excellent to put on a cv
this sound better than my remote university experience tbh
Sadly It almost certainly will be in many areas because OU have been doing this for decades. Hopefully your uni experience can go back to normal soon! ☺️
I feel like the OU just encourage learning no matter where you're at in life which I love. For most courses all they ask for is a basic understanding of english and maths, and an interest in the chosen subject. Aaaand you can do an Open Degree where you basically pick which ever courses you like the look of which is just amazing I think.
About to graduate with my BA in History and Politics this year. The OU gave me the opportunity to still get my degree when my mental health was at an all time low whilst still living at home, working and working on my mental health. And I’ve saved myself a lot of debt!
Hello,
I am going to start studying BA in History and Politics. My question is; How many hours on avarage did you spend per day for this department?
Congratulations! I’m in my first year of History and Politics! 😊
Take note.. to score a 1st class pass you need 85% with OU, not the standard 70% that a 'physical' university requires.. the bar is very very high. x Good luck to all fellow students.
I learned this just a year ago or so, I’ve nearly finished my maths and physics degree and i won’t score better than a 2:1 which is fine but if I only manage a 2:2 do you think certain employers who want a 2:1 will consider my application given that it’s a OU one with a higher standard?
It’s just a different grading scale so there is more nuance in the middle, work that is 70% at another uni, should be equivalent to 85% at OU. I find it easier to get higher marks at the OU generally, because the rubrics are much more standardised than when you have modules and classes with different lecturers at a brick uni. Sometimes this means it can be a bit formulaic, but it really depends.
@@therehn Actually that nots true, the higher boundaries were set initially due to the concerns that OU degrees would not be seen as credible. I undertook the OU LLB Law programme, one of their most popular degrees that was done in partnership with the University of Law. Many of the students were Russel Group graduates taking modular study through the OU's long established employer sponsorship programme (common on the Contract and Equity modules in particular). The majority complained about the harsh marking system compared to what they were used to at a RG uni. Equity had a 60% failure rate and many RG graduates failed these modules and had to take resits with marks capped at 40%. There is absolutely no question that the OU marking system is the toughest of any UK university.
It's just a different marking scale as Ruth has said. I will graduate my BA in Language Studies (English and Spanish) next month. I've even managed to scrape a 100% on one of my TMA's. Only once though. At another University this would be unheard of as the highest marks are in the 70s normally.
Thanks so much for this video! Starting my Biology OU degree in just under a month and I'm mega excited for it :D
I did the last part of my (honours) degree at the OU, now following a master's at a brick university which is being taught online because of the pandemic. The OU wins hands down on the online delivery, definitely a high quality of teaching (unless you're horrendously unlucky with your tutor), and I feel I'm better equipped than most on my current programme to cope with the challenges of distance learning. At the same time, I'm really enjoying the contact with my fellow students, which is on a whole different level here than it was at the OU, even with everything online.
Fellow OU student here👋
I'm on my third year of 6 doing maths and I love it!!
I also prefer to learn from books (maths students and a few others get books), the tutorials (lectures) are really good in maths and really help to solidify your learning.
I have noticed that the OU usually do a much better job at explaining a maths concept than other textbooks, don’t you think?
They fully have the student in mind as they type them up. Not many skipped steps or “proof is left as an exercise”
@@Mikebigmike94 Even at the higher levels, they're well done, giving you a little less hand holding, so you can work out things for yourself.
I'm still with the OU, doing maths. I'm about to start my fifth year (starting level 3). The level 2 modules were as expected. Hard in places but mostly well written. I did MST210 and M208. One is applied and the other pure. By the end of year 4 you will know which side of maths you favour.
@@RuthieOnTheMobile there’s so many modules to choose from. I am on the theoretical physics degree named “mathematics and physics”.
I start mst210 shortly, it looks very interesting.
Do you do any pre studies during summer months etc? I always try make sure that my first encounter with a topic isn’t through university. Last thing you want is being caught out and left behind
@@Mikebigmike94 It is an interesting module!
It is very fast paced, not many 'breaks', and there's a lot to learn in the 31 weeks.
If you did MST125, it starts there and progresses quite quickly. There's 6 books and they link together quite well.
Dynamics and statics runs through the module, and lots of calculus.
In prep, I worked through the "discover MST210" on student home. I wish I'd refreshed on statics and dynamics and since MST224 is a "sister" module, you could look at that discover page too.
I strongly suggest to get ahead! There's two units available on Discover, and when the module opens in September, get started then.
I did this, I was 6 weeks ahead by October but by Christmas I was 4 weeks ahead, 2 weeks by Easter and soon was working to the planner and barely holding on.
Unless you have no commitments (I have children with additional needs, so studying in school holidays is impossible) it's very hard to catch up during the Christmas and Easter breaks!
I did enjoy this module, even though I've found my love of maths is more on the pure side, I still got a Pass 2.
I know what you mean by choice! I knew I wanted to take MT365, and I'm lucky to take that in it's last presentation, but the other 90 credits have been hard to choose from. I'm considering a second degree (probably open STEM) just for the chance to take some of the others. I decided on M343.
Both these modules cover my favourite subjects when I did A level maths just before OU.
@@RuthieOnTheMobile we have the same logic! I’ve always made sure I’m ahead of uni in terms of the topics they offer, to give an example I have already completed intro university physics using a different textbook before I start the course “classical to quantum” in October also I’m just coming up to the end of calculus 3 and differential equations, again using different textbooks, So when these are taught via OU they won’t be new to me.
It might be difficult to do this further into the degree as they teach so many different topics per module. It’s not just like your standard “multivariable calculus” module or “differential equations” module.
But the system they have in place is good, as you know, you can complete your tmas as you go while the material is fresh in your head. And when it comes to end exams you get a solid 4 weeks to use their practise review quizzes daily.
A little “whinge” I have is that in mst124 we wasn’t allocated the time nor have been tested in Taylor series, they had it in the book and I’ve done a little bit of it beforehand but as a physics student that topic is quite important. It was a little bit strange not to fully include it. Can always read it during the summer though.
How does getting a second degree work? Would you have to pay that yourself without student loan?
I struggle with severe mental health issues and, even though I'm planning on starting this October, I'm unsure on how successful I'll be at uni. It's really nice to know that studying at the OU is a viable option, I didn't even know it existed before this video so thank you!
Just letting you know some tutors can be really bad but don't let it get to you
Forewarning, most of my tutors stopped replying after the initial email. This is not a uni to go to if you need actual, proper support with your studies.
o shit that my name on the patreon list
But on a serious note yes this is a great video!! I've been studying an Access to Higher Education course with the OU since October and am planning on starting BSc Forensic Psychology in September, and this really solidified that I do want to do that! I find it so helpful that I can just like... take a week off if I need to, or study at 4am etc. Thanks for making this video!
I have worked all my life, having come from a family that never earned enough to send me to uni, but just enough to not get help with it, I fell into the bracket of never being able to risk my future going.
I'm now 39. And an engineer. But I have become an engineer through vocational qualifications and not academic ones.
The only way for me to progress further in my line of work is a degree.
And the only option for me, with a house and a wife and child to look after, was the OU.
So I begin my OU degree in April. And hopefully I can get my employer to sponsor me .
I'm currently on an Open university, yes it's completely different from attending a physical college/uni but you have the initiative to do things YOURSELF. I'm doing Mathematics and computer science and yes it can be a struggle but you do have help available if needed be! Although I did enjoy the social presence of friends that were only a head turn away from asking for a little help!
I'm doing a "normal" degree, and I actually think the open university sounds cool! I'm not sure I'd have the motivation to be as self-taught/independent as it needs you to be, but it's cool that they do offer you lectures if you want to go to them. With COVID it's all gone online for my degree anyway so lectures have just become videos to watch (which I'm not really a fan of). A degree is a really cool achievement no matter how you get it!
Yeah it absolutely does need that self-drive which might be difficult for many! It’s such a shame how covid has affected normal degrees :( Sadly it was the only option.
@@luke Yeah there definitely wasn't much else they could do about it, but it is a shame. I really admire OU people who motivate themselves to study while doing other stuff (my entire life is my degree at the moment haha)
Totally this! Having dropped out of a brick uni, where tutors couldn’t be bothered to turn up, returning to work, and currently in my 4th year of primary education with the ou, it is 100% worth it. From an employer perspective it shows that you can be disciplined enough to work hard along working, and to study yourself. I have taken so much more away from this so far compared to the short stint at a brick uni 🤷🏼♀️
There is enough motivation to make you do it, but enough freedom to manage your schedule. Would recommend to anyone!
I'm an OU graduate, same degree PPE, and would totally recommend it. I left school with very little education, but was always interested in learning. I'm now working for the university, and studying for a accredited HR master's.. depending on household income some folks may also be open to a grant for fees. In total my degree cost me £0 as I was earning below the threshold for household Income.
I did a BSc in Mathematics in London and we were pretty much teaching ourselves. I don't see a massive difference at all!
Currently considering pursuing another BSc in Physics at the OU!
I did the same degree, graduated last year. I did it in 3 years. To be honest, to get the equivalent of a 'normal' degree level of education then you have to put in a lot of extra work. For example, I bought the Oxford PPE recommended course textbooks (and did the readings online through the library) and taught myself logic etc. I also used Edx to do a Harvard bioethics course and a few others, and I signed up for summer courses with Oxford further learning (which were very very good). And I watch thousands of UA-cam lectures. Anyway, I graduated with a first (over 85%) and I'm now doing an MA in a RG 'bricks and mortar' uni, and I can move on to a PhD in philosophy this year, so the course fulfilled its function for me, but I would say that if I had done the bare minimum coursework to get a first, then I would have had a pretty weak education.
Currently studying psychology at the open university, people seem to forget OU is harder to get a distinction you need 85% compared to brick unis (which is the other unis) it’s only 70%.
That's a common misconception. A grade one pass at the OU requires students to meet the same or very similar learning outcomes as a brick/campus-based university. Your lecturer/Tutor assigns a percentage score according to the grade, not the other way around. The OU grade thresholds just make it easier to know if you have a good, middle or low grade 1. Ask your Tutor to explain it to you
I am a student at the OU 85% is a distinction
My partner did a degree at brick uni and finished with a first, took one look at the percentage to get a distinction with OU and was like "I would not have managed that" 😂
Cheers for the info about OpenLearn 👍 I'm checking out the free courses
I'm about to finish my first year with the OU doing an Art History and History degree and it's honestly the best decision I've ever made. I'm doing it full time which is about 40 hours of studying a week but it's so flexible that I can do it around work and volunteering.
this is what i want to do! i have a bachelors in nursing. seems totally unrelated. fid u have a degree prior to this? i am wondering if any of my credits would transfer or if id just be looking at starting a totally new BA? know thats kind of a specific question but any insights u may have are appreciated!
I'm studying an Economic and Personal finance degree at the OU, and I love it, second year right now.
currently doing the first module the MA Philosophy degree with the OU whilst working full time. I can attest that this is no walk in the park. Time management is so key. After working 8 hours a day and having to face lectures, tutorial, reading, forums etc it can be exhausting. I would still recommend though due the flexibility and skills it provides. Definitely would not turn my nose up at it