Masters with the Open University

[fearfultrill]

I'm just wondering how doing a Masters with the Open University would be structured. Is it entirely independent study, what sort of online materials do you get, how much contact with tutor/tutors?

I'm in the early stages of thinking about applying for one. I work full time - would doing one over 2 years be too big an undertaking? How often do you have to take time off for seminars?

Any information on the daily life of someone doing it would be helpful!

[fearfultrill]

Bump!

[Wellmeetontheledge]

Ooh no advice but I’m interested in this too!

[donniemurdo]

So far I've done 2 masters with the OU. I've worked full-time during both if them. I took longer than 2 years but I didn't do them continuously.

For both of them everything was online, including tutorials. For my last module, each tutorial was run about 4 times at different days and times so there was a chance you could make one of the slots. They were usually recorded so if you couldn't make any then you could watch afterwards.

For each week we had some stuff from the module team to read which were explaining concepts and giving examples then usually some readings e.g. journal articles or from our course textbook (which was provided) and some electronic resources such as websites and videos.

For most weeks there were discussion tasks on the online fora with your tutor group. Generally the module tutor didn't join in on those. Most of my contact with my module tutor was via email or the tutorials. Personally I didn't post much on the fora, only when I had to for assignments.

There tend to be quite a lot of assessments. In my last module I think I had 3 or 4 coursework assignments which counted for 50% of the mark, then and end of module assignment which was also worth 50%.

Hope that helps.

[DeltaG]

I think it depends on the subject - what are you thinking of?

I did an MBA with the OU and finished it in 2015. It took 3 years around my full time job and was very structured. Each module was on an interactive online learning platform with organised material that you worked through in sequence. This was complimented by textbooks and journal articles. There was also a lot of contact with other students and tutors, on the online platform, via videoconference and in person at workshops and residential schools.

All in all, it was very well executed and at least for the OU business school, I can certainly recommend it.

[fearfultrill]

Thanks everyone this is really helpful! I would be doing an MA in English Literature. Were there any times you needed to take time off work to go to a 'real-life' seminar, or is everything entirely online? I suppose it does depend on the course.

[Wishfulmakeupping]

I’m doing an MA online not OU they said 15 hours app per week I can normally do it in 5 or so but then have to make it up during assignment time! Getting decent marks so far. Pm if you want more info

[donniemurdo]

Mine were all online. Even the undergraduate modules I've done recently have been 100% online.

[NiceCardigan]

The real life seminars I had for mine were on a Saturday fearfultrill

[fearfultrill]

Thanks everyone. If they're on a Saturday that would be perfect.

Such a lot to consider but this has been helpful!

[FaFoutis]

I'm doing one. Mine is all online. You have a study planner that tells you what you should be doing each week, it's very structured. You get OU materials for the module supplemented by journal articles and books, which are online from the OU library usually.
Face to face tutorials do tend to be on Saturdays, usually at a local university.
I work FT and have 3 children, I'm finding it a bit of a struggle timewise, but possible. I'm a bit of a perfectionist so that doesn't help.

[Wishfulmakeupping]

Mine is entirely online we have some video seminars but mainly reading and online study groups, and sometimes Skype talks with lecturers- I’ve found it much more supportive and structured compared to my BA.