OU degree

[Rainyrain]

I am due to start a degree with Open University in Oct.
I’ve chosen part time study because I was scared by their warnings of full time not being recommend to most. But part time means it will take six years to complete. As a 40 something year old I would really rather get it done in three years!
What is the work load really like? Is full time absolutely unmanageable with 4 children - all school age or older - , work (15 hours per week), Husband, house to run, pets to look after and other general life things?
What have your experiences been?

I went to uni 3yr undergraduate at a brick uni I couldn't bear the thought of 6 years OU. There's a lot of reading. There's particular ways you have to write essays and referencing. But if you do these as you go along it'll mean less stress at the end when you have to submit your work. It's not easy. But it's definitely do able. Try not to get behind to much. You'll soon realise you don't need to read every word of a text. It's learning how you learn.

the OU has 50 years of experience in supporting students just like you, Rainyrain. (I used to be a tutor). You will need to be organised but there is lots of support out there and your fellow students will all be in the same situation.
Tips:
Have a dedicated work area in your house
Keep on your desk pens, pencils etc and let no one touch them
When you finish a study session, write on a post it note what you plan to do at the beginning of the next one.

I did my MA with the OU when I had two children at Primary School and I was working full time. We would all have tea and then go to our rooms to do our ‘homework’.

Make sure the children start taking responsibility for themselves eg packing their bags for school. Put a list on the front door of what they should have with them each day.

You may have to lower standards as regards housekeeping at certain times. The hectic times will be just before an assignment is due.

Good luck with your studies and make sure that when you complete your degree you attend a graduation ceremony. OU degree ceremonies are unique and quite special.

Hi op, I'm entering my sixth and final year with the OU in October. It does go quickly believe me. I decided for part time because I still needed to work full time to pay my mortgage. Since studying I have got married and had a baby, I do not think I could of coped with full time studying alongside all of that.
I will be 34 when I'm finished, my friend completed teacher training and a few ladies were in their fifties so please don't worry about age, you're have life experience which is worth plenty.
I also agree with the advice given above, best of luck.

I'm doing my OU degree atm, I work full time, have kids etc and have done 90 credits in year one, 60 credits ( 2 x 30 credit modules finishing off year one and starting year 2). Im doing 90 credits this year again to finish year 2....
I didn't want to take 6 years either im hoping 4 but tbh it will probably be 5.
I think it depends.the degree and on how much your OH steps up. I could easily have done 120 credits in a year if I only worked 2 days a week, but it would be spending the other non working days studying.

Can you do that? My husband picked up a lot when I had big deadlines due.... he was very supportive.

I did a 3 year full time degree at age 40.
I chose to actually go to uni as opposed to the open university as I wanted the structure and support of face to face teaching.
The course was classed as full time but I only physically attend uni one day a week. I studied after work in the evenings for an hour or so, and at weekends.
Imo, full time is manageable if you are very organised and determined and are prepared that you will not have a lot of free time to do much else in the way of leisure during term time.
The good thing is that term starts in mid September- you get the half terms and other holidays off in line with the school holidays - and then it typically finishes in early May. So May to September life goes back to normal and I actually got to relax and spend quality time with my family.

The workload varies considerably between subjects, as does the support available. Also your existing knowledge and study skills might make things more or less time consuming. I've had some excellent tutors and some not so good.

You should receive your course materials in the next few weeks, so you've got time to get a little ahead. Also if you register for several modules and then decide to defer or withdraw from one, that won't be a problem (unless you do it repeatedly!).

I finished my ou degree a few years ago. I did it in 5 years. First year I did 2 modules so full time work load but after that I stuck to just one per year. The work load varies massively depending on the module you are studying in my experience.