Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Is an OU degree considered as good as a degree from a Russel group uni?

112 replies

toptramp · 18/03/2012 18:34

Not so much an AIBU but I am thinking of doing a masters and am wondering if anyone has had experience with an OU masters course or even an undergraduate course?
Do employers give OU graduates extra kudos for being self motivated or is it irrelevant?
I would like to do myy masters at Bristol but can imagine it's tough to get on course and expensive plus it would mean a commute.

OP posts:
BoffinMum · 18/03/2012 20:53

OU courses are excellent. I have an OU qualification and I have also taught for them. However I would say they are not very well respected, even though they are, in some cases, much much better than Russell Group ones.

Themumsnot · 18/03/2012 21:02

I would also like to know what Amateurish is basing his or her opinion on. I have an OU degree as well as one from a highly-regarded university. The content of the OU course was in every respect superior. Furthermore, my DH has just finished doing an MA at an RG group in a similar field to the one I did my OU degree in, an MA I had actually considered doing myself. I am so glad I didn't. The course was disappointing in every way and the level 3 courses OU courses I did were of at least the equivalent academic level.
I didn't post this information earlier in the thread because I felt it to be anecdotal, but it is, unlike some of the posts here, based on actual experience.
Oh yes, and my OU degree secured me a place on one of the most competitive PGCE courses in the country, so it has to be worth something.

aquashiv · 18/03/2012 21:10

Think the opposite it true. IME OU students are usually parenting or working as well as studying. Far more kudos there.

It does vary according to the course though and eventual career.

Amateurish · 18/03/2012 21:13

My experience is as a student studying at undergrad level in both ou and top uni. I'm a big fan of the ou, but found the work much more challenging at rg uni.

UnnamedFemaleProtagonist · 18/03/2012 21:18

I am studying full time at a non RG but non poly university. I have an average of 73 and an evening job, and I am studying maths GSCE at college on my only spare evening, I also have three children. I hope to do my masters next and PhD but there are so many variables and funding issues.

TheFallenMadonna · 18/03/2012 21:19

I was much better supported by the OU than my "top" Hmm university. There I was pretty much left or sink or swim for three years. As long as I handed in my lab reports and passed my exams, nobody bothered. Those who didn't, well, they were kicked out. I saw my "personal tutor" three times in three years, and each encounter lasted about 5 minutes. I do wonder whether the introduction of tuition fees has changed that...

Ponyofdoom · 18/03/2012 21:19

OU degrees are well respected for the reasons stated above. They are of the same standard as any HE institution's degrees.

webwiz · 18/03/2012 21:54

I have a degree from a RG university (although it has only just become one!) and have studied OU undergraduate courses. I found the OU material less difficult but that is because I was 18 first time round rather than anything to do with the actual courses. I certainly have better study skills as an adult and am a lot more organised than when I was at university first time round.

I have gone onto studying a masters with the OU and it is certainly intellectually challenging and is respected in the field that I work in.

jinsei · 18/03/2012 22:04

As a recruiter, I'm rarely that interested in where someone has done their degree - skills and experience are more relevant in my opinion. However, I would give an OU graduate extra kudos for being self-motivated, as I've seen people go through this and it's bloody hard work.

Having said that, I think the name of the university does still carry a lot of weight with certain people and in certain sectors. I have a degree from Cambridge and it certainly scores points with some people.

Heswall · 18/03/2012 22:24

I wouldn't even mention where it's from tbh as it's a masters but for a first degree people do consider some establishments degree's to be worth more than others.
I went to a good university and it's opened doors for me.

DamnBamboo · 18/03/2012 22:25

No it isn't I'm afraid.
Not because it shouldn't be, but it just isn't.

Divorcedand2teenDDs · 18/03/2012 22:53

I went to Oxbridge too, but as an employer I always give extra points to anyone who's had the determination to successfully complete an OU degree. Good luck whatever your decision.

prettystuffedreally · 18/03/2012 23:28

every degree at every university has to be passed by an external assessor (from another university) before being accepted as a degree. The OU is no different so all OU degrees aare validated by someone from outside the OU.

The fees are going up at all universities but the OU will be one of the cheapest (if not the cheapest) at about £1200 per 30point module.

I have a first degree, a masters and a Phd from a RG university and am now doing an OU degree (and finding it blo*dy hard Grin)

As others have said the teaching is second to none and a lot better than traditional universities offer.

Jenstar21 · 18/03/2012 23:38

I work at an RG university, and my first degree is from a different RG institution. Rightly or wrongly, I know that my academic colleagues rank RG qualifications much higher than OU degrees. I wouldn't agree, but in terms of academic integrity, they would say they rank OU degrees as being of a lower standard. I probably wouldn't, but I'm just saying what they do.....

jinsei · 19/03/2012 00:02

Yes jenstar, there is a huge amount of academic snobbery in the HE sector. Some of it may be fair, but I am sure an awful lot isn't!

DodieSmith · 19/03/2012 00:06

No.

Although from what some people say they might actually be better in some instances.

WilsonFrickett · 19/03/2012 00:38

I think the teaching in OU is second to none. I imagine that's grown out of the sense that distance learning must in some ways be lesser than face-to-face, so the course content feels extremely solid, something that you can absolutely work through on your own. I think it's fantastic, however can't speak to how employers view it as I'm only half way through. And I'm in Scotland so don't really get the RG chat.

rhondajean · 19/03/2012 00:46

I came on to not read but to give you a subjective view to your original question as a recruiter.
I'd employ an ou over a Russell because I know what you did to get there.

I'm sure I am not alone.

dreamingbohemian · 19/03/2012 00:49

I think it absolutely depends on the field. In mine, which is somewhat of an old boys' network, OU degrees are not really valued at all. And, because it's very much 'who you know' in terms of getting a job, an OU degree would not allow you to do the kind of networking that you really need.

I think it's a shame, but that's the reality.

dreamingbohemian · 19/03/2012 00:54

It's interesting that recruiters here are assuming if you're doing an OU degree you must be juggling a lot and working harder and therefore would be preferred over an RG student.

The only people I know doing OU are single, no kids, not working.

I'm finishing a degree at an RG uni while working and raising a son.

Is this really so unusual?

NorkyPies · 19/03/2012 00:57

OU courses and teaching are excellent, and the students get lots more support than at RG universities. My interpretation of the 'status' difference that sometimes crops up is that some employers prefer it if students have gone through the socialisation process that the traditional full-time degree course requires. In other words, they like their recruits to be malleable and conformist in certain predictable ways. For the same reason (IMO) some employers rate mature graduates less highly - they are thought to be less compliant.

Mumsyblouse · 19/03/2012 02:55

Depends what you want to do afterwards, I would look favourably at a very good (First) OU degree, not as favourably as Oxbridge or the top London places, but pretty highly when considering who to give offers to for further degrees (PhD). I would be swayed by really excellent refs from credible referees and great grades across all the units. And a coherent proposal. I do not always see these from Russell Group students, sadly.

anonymosity · 19/03/2012 04:03

It isn't as respected, and that's unfortunate. A lot of people taking an OU degree (Bachelors, Masters, PhD) are completely dedicated and often holding down a job and / or family at the same time. But for some reason, its not considered as highly as a straight-forward university degree from say the red bricks. Just the way it is. A cultural bigotry, of sorts.

GothAnneGeddes · 19/03/2012 04:29

Hmmm. It's all been a bit reasonable so far, I'm waiting for the "If you haven't been to an RG - Slit your throat now!!!!" crew to turn up.

I would say this, the Masters you have got, is better then the one you have haven't. If You've got a lot going on and you're going to find the OU course more easily attainable, then do that. People do manage to make a success of themselves, regardless of what uni they went to.

MainlyMaynie · 19/03/2012 09:10

I have degrees and postgrad qualifications from both a Russell group Uni and the OU. I've also studied at a high-ranking US Uni. The OU is just as challenging as the other places.

Whether it's as respected depends on the qualification and what you want to use it for. Bluechip recruiters are often biased towards Russell group, specialist recruiters will probably know the individual courses and whether they respect their graduates. The OU is quite well known and respected internationally. When I've recruited I've always had respect for OU graduates, but have never been able to discriminate on the basis of where qualifications were attained.