To undertake an OU degree even though it is unlikely to benefit my career?

[Clash1001]

Morning all.

I want to do an OU degree - am looking at a BA in English Literature and Creative Writing. I think I would find the course interesting.

I work full time as an accountant and tax advisor and have professional qualifications - ACA and CTA - relevant to the industry. I love my job and am fairly successful and want to remain in the profession for the rest of my working life, so not doing a degree in order to enable a career change.

I never had the opportunity to go to a traditional uni due to family circumstances, despite getting good a level results (three A's in law, sociology and combined English language/literature) I really enjoyed the English literature side.

I do feel a bit bitter that I don't have a degree, although I don't think its hampered my career in any way. Dh is supportive however the idea has been met with raised eyebrows from other family members. It will cost 16k in all and take 5-6 years to complete. They say it's a huge waste of money, and I can see why they say that - but I do enjoy studying and think this is something I could be really proud of.

Dh has pointed out, however, that I have been studying for years for my professional exams and maybe it's time for a bit of a break. I think he's worried that it will take over all my spare time. I'm not so sure it will - certainly, studying for my ACA and CTA didn't apart from in the fortnight before exams, although I'm not sure how comparable the two are - I do know that I passed, and passed well, in less than half the recommended 'study at home hours'.

Has anyone here done an OU degree? Particularly for reasons other than career? Does it take over your life?

I'm doing that degree part time with the OU.
I work full time and have young DC
I don't find it a strain on my time I love the fact I'm doing something for mrs and really enjoy it!

I did an OU psychology degree for fun. I didn't work, but I did have a newborn and a toddler when I started. I did not do the 16 hours a week. Nothing like it! I did enough to get my TMAs in on time. A month before the exams I went back and read all the stuff I should have read before, and the last three weeks I gave my life to revision. I loved it.

I'm doing a second degree with the OU that won't benefit my career. We have enough spare cash that £3k a year on a hobby (which is effectively what it is) isn't unreasonable for us. I put in an average of about 10 hours a week on the course, not the 12 - 16 they suggest, but it's hugely weighted towards assignment times, so about 5 - 6 hours most weeks then 20+ when an assignment is due. Also exam time is pretty fraught. But there are three months a year (including the whole time the kids are on summer holiday) when I'm not studying at all.

I've absolutely loved it and would thoroughly recommend further study for anyone interested. OU might not be the right route though. They are changing a lot with recent funding changes to HE by the government. You might find better or less expensive courses elsewhere. There are lots of experimental online educational things going on right now that you wouldn't necessarily have to spend £16k+ on. Or there might be somewhere that has face to face contact if that's important to you (I find the lack of peer support one of the drawbacks of the OU). So look around.

I did a level 2 course in environmental science mainly for interest. It was quite hard at assignment times and exam time bug I enjoyed it. It was 9 months.
Why not do it course by course, pausing between if you need to get balance back. It doesn't have to be all or nothing if you don't "need" the degree qualification.

Also, look at "future learn" for free MOOCs. I'm doing a work related one now by Leicester uni and it's good.

If you have the money to pay the new fees (£18K for a full honours if you're in England) and the time to do both it and meet your family commitments I'll say go for it!

I did a degree in Humanities and Classical Studies and I really enjoyed it, it was a total contrast to my computing based job but I felt that learning something totally separate was almost 'refreshing'. I keep wavering about doing a Masters but I think the time commitment for that will be more severe.

I'm doing a psychology degree for my own personal development. I don't intend to work as a psychologist, as an honours degree on its own isn't enough! I enjoy it though and having a degree can't hurt any future job applications!

I started an OU degree in February and although I was told to expect to study 16 hours a week and for it to be intense I haven't found that to be the case.

I study around 8 hours a week, often even less than that and am certainly not finding it intense. I have completed three assignments and they were all graded above 80%. I am doing this while working full time too.

Granted I only started in February so it probably will get harder later but I have found 8 hours a week study to be about right.

I say go for it.

Also if you don't have a degree already you can pay for it with a student loan. That's what I'm doing.

I'm in exactly the same position as you OP and I'm starting a social sciences degree with the OU in October. I have professional qual so I don't need this for my job.

It's my biggest regret in life not getting a degree and I'm really looking forward to the challenge of it.

Definitely go for it!

That's really expensive!

Is that how much an ou degree is now?

how many times have I have read on here about the cycling widow . You know the women works full time does all the childcare all the cleaning while the man is out doing his hobby 2 to 3 night a week and all week end .

This is what is like when someone student for degree the OH has to do everything and never sees the student . Now if this is job related the whole famliy benfeits as more money will coming hopefully . Which the OP has done .

But to ask this off DH and kids is just not on for fun really it not .
As is said on here as long as DH get the same amount of time to do what he wants . And there is time to do the kids stuff and family stuff And you can afford cleaners childcare .

T

I just had my last level 2 exam for an Honors BSc in Computing and Information Technology at the OU. I'm stopping for a bit now, as I travel a lot for work and it's getting more difficult.

I'm also an accountant (ACCA) and an external auditor. I'm a Certified Information Systems Auditor as well. The big difference with doing ACCA (I qualified in 2010 after 7 years doing it next to my job as information systems auditor, with no study leave or anything) is that at the OU you will have set papers to do throughout the year, both written papers and (depending on the module) computer marked (interactive) assessments. It's not like with ACA/ACCA that you can do a first pass through earlier on and then revise for the last 2 weeks before the exam. You really have to keep up with the assignments, as your overall score for the module takes these into account.

My busiest time of the year starts in May through to September. Exams are typically in June. My calmest time is in October-December, when the course just starts and its relatively easy. Just when it's ramping up, the traveling starts and then the first sprint of accounts audit in May, just before the exam.

do it,do it,do it : )

Literature is a wonderful thing to study,it will bring you as much pleasure as it will stimulate your intellect.

Yes it's a lot of money,but I'm assuming that you are an adult and capable of making decisions about your own finances.I expect that you have worked long and hard and are ready for some new directions.

16 hours is quite a commitment but remember that 16 hours spent reading and thinking about Shakespeare or the romantic poets or modern african literature is hardly a chore. Who knows where it will take you? perhaps you'll be the teacher of the course in future years. Good luck.

Actually,the idea that you should check in with 'hubby' and see if he'd be all sad and lonely without a 'date night' made me laugh,and laugh.

OP promise me that you'll take as many seminars in studying women writers as you possibly can. I also assume that 'hubby' is an intelligent human being and will be insulted at being held up as the obstacle in the way of your degree.

I work for the OU and have done a few courses and a few MOOCs. One thing I would say is don't do a MOOC to see if you'll like an OU module - they're not really comparable in terms of keeping you interested and involved (no time restrictions) or in terms of giving you an idea of the workload.
I would suggest going onto The OpenLearn website and searching the literature stuff on there. The courses on there are mostly made up of a unit of an actual OU module so will give you a good feel for what the materials will be like.
I would agree that they generally take less time that the guidance suggests, but you will be studying in a very different style to what you're used to. The OU takes account of these kinds of things and gives support at level one but it may add to your time.
I would say if you enjoy it it's not a chore at all - that's what I've found anyway. And they really are top quality (but then I'm biased)

Thank you all! So much great advice and so much food for thought.

I don't have DC and am not planning any. We have DHs dc regularly but they are older and studying themselves.

I'm going to do it, I think. I already spend a good two to three hours a day reading, I have looked through the more detailed prospectus and it makes me feel excited.

I did it.
My first degree was good - I did it at the usual time. It led to my career.
In my 40s I did a completely different degree through the OU. The aim was to change career but I had DC2 in the middle of it and various other reasons meant I couldn't make the career change I wanted.

However the new degree meant I could make changes within the career I already had and it made a difference to what projects I worked on. I also met a lot of interesting people in my seminars - one of whom became a friend. I learnt a huge amount. I needed the challenge and I loved the work.

It was hard and it took a lot of my time but I did it instead of televison!!

Well worth it. Would do it again if I could afford it.

museumum - are you doing the 21st century museum one? It's my first FutureLearn experience and I'm impressed.

I did an OU MA while working full time. It was one of the hardest things I've ever done (and yes, I agree with a PP who said it is NOTHING like studying full time for an UG degree at 18...), bit also one of the things I am most proud of having achieved.

One thing (as others have said and I'm sure you already know), it is good but also incredibly draining. I think it took me over a year to 'recover' from the experience after I finished; at times, I felt sick with tiredness. I don't mean to scare you, only to give you insight into the reality of working full time and studying.

I know you say it won't advance your career, but you never know what will happen - maybe you will pursue a career change during the 6 year degree, you just never know! Also, employers hold OU qualifications i high regard - it says a lot about you that you are able to work so hard and study too, juggling deadlines etc. Even if you continue your career in accounting but maybe change jobs, having your experience of studying with the OU to draw upon when you're doing job applications may well benefit you strongly.

Good luck - it's hard work but fantastic, like most things that are worth doing!

I think it took me over a year to 'recover' from the experience after I finished; at times, I felt sick with tiredness

Totally get what you mean. But it's a really satisfying tiredness OP. Glad you've decided to do it.

OP, if you're excited by reading and learning then you are the perfect potential student. You could start reading through the syllabus now before you actually start - it will save you time (especially with the Victorian novel and not forgetting 18c fiction) and you'll feel very confident going into the course. Do it. You sound like you'd love it. There's nothing better than studying for the love of it!

Cheesetoastie - yes. But I'm behind already :(
Going to catch up on last week tomorrow.
So far it's pretty good. I've never done a MOOC before but have done OU and also paid for distance learning with another Uni. I'm impressed with the quality for free.

I'm doing the Open Degree, in biological and social sciences, not for career reasons at all, just finished Level 1. Every time I enrol for another module I say it will becthe last (I originally only intended to do one, but got in on the old, lower funding so I've kept going. I already have a degree and am finding this relatively easy, I'm in my 40s snd life experience is making a huge difference. Maybe L2/3 will be a lot harder though. I just managed a 60 credit L1 module at the same time as working p/t, doing all out of school childcare and slogging my way through the ststementing process for DS who has SNs.

I'm doing one that will make no difference to my career whatsoever. I just feel like doing it.

(Doing an open degree. Got credit for level 1, just completed level 2 module. Really enjoyed it even though it was hard work.)