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.

I have a first degree from a RG uni and a MA from the OU (different subjects, but both very relevant to my profession). I would be a little concerned about the perception of the OU in relation to first degrees, but not so much with postgrad qualifications, particularly the vocational ones like mine.

It is a massive achievement for many people. However for some jobs due to vast numbers of candidates with all As and very good qualifications just to filter down the numbers of applicants a bit employers ration themselves to 5 or 10 of the very top universities so OU would not appear in most cases.

www.chambersstudent.co.uk/where-to-start/newsletter/law-firms-preferred-universities Eg that is a survey of where better law firms recruit from.

babydubs, I just saw your post and wanted to reply. I'm a medievalist, though more lit than history, and I am junior (postdoc). I have, however, been involved in selected MPhil PhD candidates so I have some idea of what's valued. This is relevant as you'd need these as steps into lecturing. So:

I think an OU degree would be well regarded in my field, but obviously so would a RG degree. And it would be impressive that you'd fitted it around other things, definitely. And dreaming is right that the prestige of the people who are your referees can mean a lot (so network, get close to your teachers, etc.).

I don't know what helps people get academic jobs these days (!) but I can't possibly imagine that simply having a degree from one place not another place would be enough to swing it one way or the other. It's the use you make of the degree that matters, and what you get out of it.

Recruitment background here - no, definitely not.

LRD the thread's now 5 years old: she'll be into her PhD/DPhil now if all's gone to plan That said, still good advice - and I know when we're recruiting, we don't look at where someone's degrees are from (or, interestingly but strangely imo) how they were funded, but whether they have a full REF submission for 2020...

God, I'm such a twat!

I just thought, darn, I thought baby was older than 28 ....

Haven't read all posts so this might have been said, or even the opposite said... but I've had a terrible experience with a long-distance masters from a non-OU university: that is, one set up for delivering courses in person. Others doing the same from other non-OU universities have told me it's the same there. We're very much out-of-sight-out-of-mind, the course materials are awful, and communication non-existent.

So if you're going to study long-distance, I say do OU! I certainly will if I pursue another degree.

...my advice is relevant for 2017, by the way

I have taught for both and in my discipline the OU has higher standards and better teaching. Many OU students do attend in person too, there are tutorials and lectures just like a brick university.
OU students are different; more independent thinkers and a wider range of life experience. Much more interesting to teach.
I'm sad to see comments that OU degrees are seen as lesser, it isn't the case in reality.

I'm starting a masters with the OU this year (already have PhD in another subject), it looks very good.

The OU don't give conventional academic references. It doesn't matter how close you get to your teachers, you can't ask them for a reference. The OU send a pretty generic reference which explains the nature of distance learning, commitment, dedication etc.

However, the OU was highly organised and everything was clear and easy to find.

The RG uni I'm at now is terrible for communication. I've had timetable issues, reading lists not issued until last minute and guidance on assignments has been a nightmare to find. I do love the library though.

Nope

Just being smug, LRD, because I nearly did the same thing Bloody zombie threads!