Is an OU degree just as recognised as actually going to uni?

[harlaandfowkes]

There are no entry requirements, you study in your own time and will have less debt, sounds great.

AIBU to think that realistically employers aren't going to pick me over someone who's also studied a-levels/access and has actually been to university in a formal setting? I've just signed up for a psychology degree and I'm dithering. I don't know what to do. I can't actually go to uni as I need to keep working.

I'm in a dead end job that I hate and want out.

I'm young so no excuses really. I probably just need a kick up the bum.

The OU is fine - it's not russell group but it's a lot better than an awful lot of other brick unis. Their academics produce solid research as well as teaching and the level of committment needed to do an OU degree is pretty epic which employers like.

Just check that your degree is accredited by whoever is important in that area- BPS for psychology? - otherwise it isn't going to be thought well of.

Yes absolutely, it's held in high regard. I have a psychology degree through the OU and have had nothing but positive feedback for postgrad applications regarding the degree (I've carried on studying so can't comment on applying for jobs as such).

An open degree is not any degree from the OU. It is a degree where you have chosen from a broad range of courses, rather than the narrow range allowed for a named degree.

ISnt "open" actually because it was an open degree? Not because you have stats it's ou.

@missiondecision yes I believe so but would need to check. I graduated OU 10 years ago now!

Exactly. So, a psychology degree would be BSc Psychology.

I thought the word "open" after degree with the OU it was an "open degree". Not that you needed to state you studied with the OU.
Open being you picked your own choice of subjects. ??

My favourite lecturer at uni had an open uni degree (followed by masters and phd) he was so knowledgeable and an amazing lecturer so obviously had never held him back

Well, it wouldn't be considered as prestigious and challenging as Oxbridge. But it is absolutely a real university that does some great research and is in general widely respected. Most employers would recognise someone who gained their degree through the OU as an equally valid path to someone who did the traditional full time student experience.

Fwiw I've degrees from both of Oxbridge and have also studied at the OU in psychology and I think their teaching is very high quality. The disadvantage for people who are very motivated or academically able is really that the OU is geared to getting as many people as possible over the bar of earning their degree, and less so supporting people to pursue their own academic interests. OU residential schools are also wicked fun.

As a PP says, if you want to enter psychology postgraduate training will be required. The OU psychology degree is BPS accredited though so you can go on to postgraduate psychology training should you want to. An undergraduate degree in psychology by itself will tick the 'degree' box generally but not otherwise take you any further.

Have looked it up: you have to put (Open) after the letters. As for pps asking where the info comes from: Google is your friend.

I have completed OU degree and 2 years at brick uni. There is not a great deal of difference apart from the OU was much better organised and materials far better. However the OU has been pared to the bone in terms of funding and resources.

We used to have tutorials every fortnight locally. But now these are online or don't exist. All materials seem to be online now. I prefer having physical books and notes.

The OU opened doors for me. I got the same grade at both so think they mark fairly etc. Some may look down their nose unless you go to Oxford but as long as you enjoy it who cares! It is a degree as any other. Loved doing mine and am proud.

Oh and it was psychogy too

Oh and as a PP says the Open thing is only when you've specifically studied the OU's Open degree programme rather than specialising in a subject. So rather than BA Psychology or BA English Literature, it's BA Open. That is all. The OU is a fully accredited university with a lively and highly respected research programme.

Open being you picked your own choice of subjects
And do a degree by choosing a bit of biomedical science, French, polymer design and 20th century history...?

I went straight out of college into a regular uni, did my degree, and about ten years later did a second, OU, degree while working. The OU degree was far far higher quality and I am much prouder of it than I am of my first degree. That's in terms of the standard of the teaching and learning materials, and the standards demanded from students. Hth.

No one seems to mind that my MBA is from OU. :D

I suppose so, if those are offered...

User, you put open after for a 300 point open degree. You don't put open after honours they are two different degrees.

No one doubts that it's fully accredited. The reason you have to indicate that your degree is from the OU is to indicate that you did it by zero attendance distance learning .

The OU psychology degree is accredited by the BPS.

Remember you don't have to commit to a full degree upfront! If you've had enough after a couple of modules, you'd have earned yourself a Certificate of Higher Education (CertHE), after four modules its a Diploma (DipHE).

Also the first module of the psychology degree is a general social sciences one which is common to a few different degree pathways, so you could change your mind later about exactly which area you are interested in/which degree to complete. E.g. whether you want to go down the counselling route, or academic psychology/research, or a more general social sciences degree ("with psychology" or "with criminology" etc).

Sorry not much use with your AIBU, although I have heard that employers look upon OU degrees favourably...
Just wanted to reassure you if you are "dithering" and worried - it's just one module at a time!

I on the other hand had no choice at all for psychology. All my courses were compulsory for the named degree.

FallenMadonna, you've missed the point. What would that degree be in?

Out of interest, when would you ever give the fact that you have a degree without giving full details of when/where you got it? I only put it on application forms.

You only have to put (Open) after BA/BSc if you didn't complete a formal degree path. As with other Unis the OU offer a range of degrees which require a particular combination of modules.

They also offer an Open degree which is where you can do any combination of modules and then claim a degree once you have the requisite number of points to get a degree.

Have looked it up: you have to put (Open) after the letters. As for pps asking where the info comes from: Google is your friend

Not your friend it seems. It's not true. If you get a BA from there, you can put BA (Hons) same as any other degree from another university. An open degree has been explained below to you.