Signing up for the Open University

[raspberryraindrops]

I'm 38, married and with 2 young children. Kids are early primary and FT nursery.

I've had a difficult few years with one thing and another but I got through it. There's still difficulties ahead but I've made peace with that and feel more resilient.

DH is a stay at home dad and carer for a family member and I work part time, 3 days a week. I have been applying for FT jobs but there is nothing I truly yearn to do that I have the skills for and it wouldn't make us much more better of financially anyway as my PT wage is pretty good.

I completed 2 years of FE in my early 20s and dropped out of the degree in my final year due to stress.

I was talking to my counsellor about another job I was thinking of applying for but was in 2 minds about it. We discussed it and I came to the realisation that I didn't actually want it and was just applying for it because I thought I should (i.e. FT). My counsellor said I should think about getting some qualifications while I had the chance whilst working PT.

It got me thinking and researching and I have come across a degree course I would like to do with the OU. However, instead of commiting to the degree, I am planning on doing the certificate then diploma then degree.

I don't like the thought of the it taking me 6 years though! I was thinking of maybe doing the certificate over 1 year and seeing how I get on? Does anyone have experience of doing the OU courses and if they're estimations of how much time it takes to do is accurate?

Also, am I mad for doing this?? I feel old...

Apologies for typos!!

Speak to the OU and see if you can credit for the study you’ve already done. If you have completed two years at university level you might only need two more years at OU to finish the degree you started.

I love the OU, it’s hard worn but very flexible and manageable. You’ll need the support of your DH though to manage the kids while you work on assignments, but these are not all the time.

Well done you. I’ve done a Business Degree through the OU and it was tough going! I was working full time though and also had land and 2 horses so time was something I lacked. If you work PT you may be able to do it on a full time level but it is tough. I once did two modules together (equivalent of FT and it almost killed me off!)

What degree are you considering?

I completed a degree with the OU almost 10 years ago now when I was in my early 20s. I did the 6 modules in 3 years i.e. "full time" and managed to work a full time job at the same time, but I won't lie it was tough going. I had no other commitments at the time, was living alone and could dedicate all my weekends and evenings to study, which I absolutely needed to do. Maybe as you're part time you can use the two weekdays when you're not working to make up some of the time, but it'll be tough going. You have to be really motivated with the OU, but I absolutely loved my degree and would do it again in a heartbeat

I'm halfway through a degree with the ou. It takes dedication, there's no-one reminding you to do the work or assignments, and it can be difficult to find the time.
I've done a few 30 credit modules, and a 60 credit. They all needed less time than the ou suggests, the 60 credit suggested 16 hours a week, and I was doing it in 8-10 hours a week most weeks.
There's support available on the student forums, and there's generally a WhatsApp group or Facebook group for each course, which is good for moral support.
You'll need support at home, to give you time to get stuff done, I do it once the kids are in bed, but occasionally have to stick the kids on front of the TV for a couple of hours while i finish an assignment or whatever.

I've done a few OU courses though not a degree as such, and found the timings were reasonably accurate over the piece. I'm quite a fast reader and learner, so I could maybe shave a couple of hours off here and there, but it's not like you could do it in half the time or anything like that.

You don't have to sign up for a whole degree, you can say you want to sign up for an Open degree and take it from there.

A pp said your existing study might count - it might, but think very carefully about that, depending on what you want to do. I did the intro to Humanities which is a first year course and I totally loved it, it led to me changing my mind about what I wanted to study though because I was exposed to eight different subjects, all really interesting. If you're doing it for interest rather than having a specific subject in mind, the first year 'taster' courses are really worthwhile.

If you already finished 1 or 2 years of higher ed. (and passed one or two) you should get some exemption, but obv. would need to get the institution to verify this. I know that this has happened in the past,, credit given for 120 level 1 points, given that the person had passed their first year of university.

I did an OU degree in assorted arts subjects, just things I was interested in. Some courses were rather more demanding than others, but I found the materials excellent and except for one, really enjoyed them despite hard work.
The estimate of hours required per course was usually about right - never underestimate the time needed, esp. at level 3 - I def. found my level 3 courses considerably more demanding than earlier ones.
Good luck.

I also had an aborted attempt at HE. I managed 3 days!! So. A couple of years later I signed up to OU. Taking it one module at a time never admitting even to myself I was doing a degree until I'd say I was halfway through. Until then I just told myself and others I'm doing a bit of OU. See how far I can get. So. Never overfacing myself. Towards end of my first Level 3 I realised I think I really can do this. I graduated last year with a First. And felt so so proud of myself. And I loved it. All of it. Including the pressure of the assignments I was so sad when it ended!! Thought I'd be relieved but no!! I've met some amazing people. Some I'm still in touch with. And it had so opened my eyes to so much. I am a different person to the one who started. Do it. I'd tell anyone.

Just to add, obviously any credit given will depend on the relevance of previous study.

There is an Open University Facebook group. I suggest you pop over there. There's many a great discussion on there about the benefits of OU study. So many positive stories. I read this last night and thought it sums some of it up. I've tracked it down for you:

"Doing my degree (now in history at OU and University of Oxford) had changed my life, it’s made me a much more critical thinker, a better listener, it’s made me unabashedly confident in my opinion and my ability to give and receive constructive criticism.. it’s almost like my eyes are open to context now where my world view was more narrow before."

(Sorry I've not referenced this!!)

I'm currently doing an OU degree and it's perfect for me. Best decision I've made.

Like you I left further education after 2 years when I was younger. Being able to study when I want is ideal.

it can be hard work and I would say don't over stretch yourself. I did 120 credits this year with staggered start dates whilst working full time and it has been very hard even with the staggered starts. Next year I will do 60 and that should be manageable for me.

It is all very dependent on your personal circumstances and how motivated you are. If you go to the OU website there is a planner that shows you how many hours per week you'd be expected to do for your chosen modules.

I know 6 years is a long time and it initial put me off when I considered it several years ago. Now I wish I had started back then!!

As someone else said, you may be able to use some credits from your previous study towards your new degree.

(Sorry I've not referenced this!!)

That's marks deducted for you

@ttim985y
I know! Have I learned nothing!!

I've completed my first year with OU, studying full time and working part time. I have signed up to do my second year full time but do feel apprehensive about it.

My children are older than yours but do have various activities that eat into our free time.

I took a job working 5am-10am three to five days a week, so that I have my days free for studying.

I think with determination and support, most would be able to complete it part time. Full time presents challenges, mainly having the hours available to complete assignments.

It might be worth completing one of the free courses they offer to see how you find the material and the accuracy of time allocated.

I've done two degrees with the OU and a couple of courses out of interest. It's a bit addictive. I was on my own with two children and working full time. I was trapped in the house at night/weekends so I needed something to do that I could do at home. I found it much more difficult once the DCS got to teen years - so much more emotionally demanding!

I wouldn't focus on the six years. It's not that long really. I started off on the certificate/diploma/degree route because I hadn't studied for 25+ years. I did have a degree already so might have qualified for credits but wanted to break in gently. I had a couple of breaks (couldn't afford next module/ill parents/life getting in way).

Career wise it's been great. Very much helped with self discipline, report writing, structured thinking. (The skills and learning gained are way more valuable than the certificates).

It can be tough going - assignments always seemed to coincide with some sort of family drama. I'm still in touch with a lot of the people on my courses.

I have a psychology degree from The OU and it only took me 3.5 years but that’s because I doubled up all my modules to get it done faster.
It hasn’t helped me to get a job In that field but that’s more because I haven’t been proactive since I graduated and I also didn’t want to fork out for a Masters. I would still recommend it as a way to get a degree though.

You can do a credit transfer from another institution.

I did this in 2008 and finished my degree in 2012. I was in my 20's and single. It is hard work but really rewarding and interviewers and recruiters do like to see it. It's the thing that recruiters ask me most about.

It's a lot of juggling and work but it's completely do able if you are committed.

Study what you are interested in, makes it all easier.

www.open.ac.uk/study/credit-transfer/

Wow guys. Thanks for all the replies. And all so positive and encouraging.

I had read about the credit transfer but I actually think I'm just out with the timescales of 16 years for it. Need to check my certificates To be honest, I think I'd prefer to start afresh. It's a completely different subject and it was so long ago. I'm also completely out of studying practice.

Hmm, you've all made me rethink my full time thoughts for the first year. I really really don't want to overstretch myself and get put off or find it unmanageable.

Luckily DH is very supportive. The timing is perfect for me with our current situation the way it is and with DH being around so much.

6 years is daunting but that won't put me off as I can see me wondering why the hell I didn't do it in 6 years time.

I will definitely check out that Facebook page.

If you're part time and the DC are in school/ nursery you might find full time study ok. You can defer if it gets too much.

Also some first year modules start at different times of the year so you can stagger your starts. It's been a bit too much for me but I work full time.

It's really up to you. I would just say don't be afraid to defer 1 or 2 if it becomes too much rather than struggle on and jeopardize all of your modules

I honestly think the OU is one of the best things ever, glad you're doing it. It's a wonderful institution.

If full time seems too much and 6 years too long, you could start out by doing 90 credits a year. Would get the degree done in 4 years. Doesn’t work for all degrees (some have too many required modules which are 60 credits) but it might be worth considering if it works for the subject you are interested in.

You can always defer a module if two is too much. So you could start the two, then defer and bank your assignment grades for one then pick it up later on.

I did a degree whilst being a carer at home, it was much better than my previous red brick uni experience. The Six years flew in, Is definitely for it OP. One thing though to think about is the fees; in my day it was free as I earned less than £19k but I believe it is all student loans now. Choose your degree widely otherwise it will become a very expensive CPD exercise!