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

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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.

Ds did a couple of OU modules last year alongside his AS levels. They weren't hugely difficult - harder than A level, but not by much. You have to bear in mind that OU starts off easier at level 1, because unlike brick universities it has no entry requirements so it has to start off at a fairly basic level. L2 moves up a step in difficulty, but it is only by L3 that it is supposed to have caught up with brick universities in difficulty level. From what I saw of ds's main module (L2) the L3 ones would need to be a significant step up to be comparable to a top university - I suspect they aren't quite at the same level myself, but this is based on a guess. None the less a high class OU degree is a huge achievement and I would think anything it may lack in content would be more than compensated for by the time management and perseverence skills needed.

{BabyDubs shoots in sideways being very quiet}

Thankyou for the advice, I do appreciate it, I will be sticking with the RG route as you have confirmed what I felt already. I did have a twinge of if its all the same OU would be easier for me, and cheaper, (my course will be 9k pa at the Uni, vs 4k ish at OU, not to mention travel and loss of earnings for both DH and myself - so quite a difference over three years!) But you're right, the connections hopefully will be worth their weight in gold...

...they better be

I cant wait to get my teeth into the course :)

The 2 friends I have who are doing best by far in their careers bith did OU.

I'm a lecturer at an RG university, and think the OU does an absolutely excellent job, easily as good as any RG university I've worked in (I've worked in four so far).

Were we to be choosing candidates for Masters' degrees I would certainly consider a 1st or upper 2.1 from the OU to be equivalent to the same RG grade. I would also think that the student was likely to be much more hard working, mature, and able to manage their time. It would not be a drawback - it would be an advantage.

Like worzelswife I have degrees from both Oxbridge and the OU (both bachelor's degrees, in completely different subjects), and found the OU one very rigorous; I've never come across any suggestion that it was worth any less. Of course it's possible that everyone has just been too polite to say such a thing, but I don't think so. Whatever your qualifications and experience, you need to prepare CVs, cover letters etc so as to show yourself in the best possible light, and an OU degree does give you a lot of solid transferable skills to show off, in addition to the academic content.

Disclaimer - I'm a Redbrick Uni grad as opposed to Oxbridge alumni so please don't flame me for being a Uni Snob :)

Various studies have shown that employers tend to favour Russell Group universities over redbricks, former colleges and polytechnics. Various MN threads have covered the inequalities of this. If you look at the alma mater of the government and CEOs of FTSE 100 companies you should see the same RG names popping up

Yet there are no shortage of MNetters who are now arguing that the OU is regarded as being equal to RG universities by prospective employers

You can't have it both ways. Do employers favour RG graduates? If you are saying that OU degrees are perceived by employers as being equal to traditional degrees then your answer should be NO which is contradicts the evidence.

I'm showing my age but the debate use to be University versus Polytechnic. Despite the evidence that Blue Chip organisations tended to favour Universities there were those who denied such a descrimination existed and instead claimed employers valued Poly degrees more because of the vocational content and the sandwich element of the degree. The fact that various 'destination of graduates' studies showed this to be untrue was swept aside by Poly supporters.

You will see that I used the word 'perceived' several times. I am not saying that OU degrees are inferior so please there is no need to post testamonials :) I am simply making the point that OU degrees are perceived by employers as being not as good as traditional degrees. If you don't agree then feel free to bypass me and go straight to people like The Economist and tell them that you disagree with their data analysis.

I have taught OU and "conventional" undergraduate (RG uni) courses (Environmental Engineering and Earth Sciences) and the course content and level of understanding I would say is similar. The standard of the OU students tended to be higher, and I fully support everything everyone has said about motivation etc.

I left academia, and now work for a v large Quango (I think we may be the largest) and am involved in recruiting and mentoring graduates. I do not ever expect (or find) the quality of OU graduates to be inferior to graduates of conventional courses and have equal respect for OU unis as others.

OU degrees are very highly regarded. Anyone who suggests otherwise is simply wrong.

Yes imo they are equivalent. In many cases more respected. The idea that they arent as respected is pretty much outdated these days.

Depends on the degree and the field you're in. For example a non-graduate with 15 years experience in Investment Banking can get a degree from any institution and it'll add value. Someone trying to get into IB from another field/as a graduate absolutely needs a RG degree.

I have done an OU science degree and a distance masters from a top London Uni. I now work in a science field. I would say the OU degree was generaly seen as a bonus as I did this in my own time so it showed dedication. I do think though it depends on the subject. I personally think the science based ones have gone downhill a bit since I did mine (around 2005) as the subject choice has reduced and the number of summer schools where practical hands on experience was gained have reduced also.

Big compamy Employers don't 'like' russel group candidates more than others, they are just phenomenally lazy in their recruiting.

Russel Group universities do NOT have 'rigorous selection processes' they completely rely on application bias. CIMPLETELY.

They DO NOT recruit the most able students as a result, they piick the better qualified (not the same as the most able) from those who think they ought to apply whuch is NOT the same AT ALL as 'assessing all the population and picking the absolute most able' it is a myth. A very lucrative, society conning myth.

Russel Group degree courses are astonishingly basly structured and badly supported. Teaching materials are lazily designed, and student are blamed for 'poor peeformance' rather than staff for poor teaching. Bad performamce still usually gets a pass grade.

OU degrees by conteast are incredibly well structured, with expertly designed teaching materoals. students doing OU degrees are often SOLELY INTERESTED I LEARNING THE SUBJECT CONTENT ...unlike Russel Group student who tended to have picked what they are good enough at to get a Eussel Group qual...because they know employers and society are lazy enough to equate RG degrees with ability withput any critical thought.

I was the best research recruiter at an RG.

I've done both RG and OU degrees and distance learning masters course from a top RG. The worst one was the DL from the RG. Really really poor.

I think it depends on other factors such as ability to work anywhere in the country.

Comparing two graduates in terms of getting top jobs with blue chip recruiters is difficult. The OU student is often fixed location / family that's why they choose DL in the first place. In the competition for jobs then it stands to reason the RG graduate us more likely to be in a position to travel for work or relocate.
So I think it depends what you aim to get out if it.

IT is a bit like the debate poly v uni.

Although I think poly courses were rated highly, often the students themselves were not as able - or had the extras in the c.v, which is why they had gone to a poly in the first place.

I studied for my undergrad degree with the OU. Got a highly competitive graduate position directly related to my degree immediately after. Have since done/am doing another two higher degrees both at league-table topping RG unis. At least from a student perspective the OU was light years better in terms of organisation and teaching materials.

favour Russell Group universities over redbricks .... the original 6 'redbricks' are all RG, you know - just in case anyone was confused

This might be an old thread but the subject still seems relevant, as I have started to contemplate a degree as a mature student. I've been looking at what distance learning is on offer, and while the OU looks good in the subject I want to do, one or two unis (and not RG at that) also look like having a good DL option.

I don't know about employers but I had a good friend who did her degree via the OU, she ended up getting a first and was accepted onto her masters at Cambridge. On the masters she felt as well prepared as anyone else who had attended traditional (mainly Russel group) universities.

Various studies have shown that employers tend to favour Russell Group universities over redbricks

What do you mean by Redbrick? Because all the original redbrick unis are in the Russell Group. By those I mean Manchester, Leeds, Liverpool, Bristol, Birmingham and Sheffield. Maybe exceptions would be somewhere like Leicester, which is not RG but I wouldn't have thought going there would harm your career choices.

I have an OU Masters and work in education.
OU degrees, Masters and qualifications are highly regarded.

To complete one you need to be organised, self motivated and work very hard, anyone who tells you otherwise is lying.

It's a zombie thread. She would have graduated by now!

OU degrees are excellent. Yes, students can study over extended periods of time but it also attracts many who may not otherwise have achieved this level of qualification as education beyond 16 is still for many not considered an option.
There is alot of planning that goes into each module from a team of academics so that modules are often better planned than some from other institutions. Yes, it doesn't have the prestige of Oxford or Cambridge but the qualifications are solid and are all externally moderated to ensure quality. Course materials cover the breadth of their subjects at an appropriate level.
I'll admit I'm a fan and I have BA, MSc and PhD from UK universities, teach in a good university and have undertaken a range of OU courses in a variety of subjects areas.

Haha.... just saw the zombie 😞
Still a fan though....
Happy Christmas

I have a degree from a brick university but my post grad qualification is from the OU. It was a fantastic, well run but very difficult course. It has never held me back and no employer has ever questioned the quality of my qualification. I would say to choose the course which best suits your circumstances and needs and if that is the OU, go for it!!

I am not in the least bit interested whether an OU degree is considered half or equal to a conventional degree.

What i do know is it has given me a 'lifeline' in to study. The Open University is the only education provider that is prepared to help and support a 40 something Autistic Dyslexic Dyspraxic and Irelen's sufferer.

The very person who left school with nothing better than an E grade in English GCSE. (currently at level 2 OU study)

People need to remember the whole ethos of the Open University was to enable people who had a torrid time at school another chance.

I don't care what the level of recognition is, to me studying with the OU since i started with an Access Course has possibly saved my 'life'.

Such has been my level of 'self loathing' and depression.

Maybe i want get a career or even a job out of my degree in three years time.

That is superficial to me , the real thing the OU has allowed me is a chance to finally succeed at some thing.

It is important to understand that the OUs remit is as much to help the likes of me find satisfaction as it is to help professionals gain distance learning Masters.