Do people consider OU degrees

[EverythingRightNow]

I was wondering do people consider OU degrees real degrees? One thing that gets me is I'm into arts and crafts, you essentially get a brief & work from it, why don't they do Arts OU that are funded the same way?

It would work in a similar fashion where you touch base with a tutor periodically.

My friends laughed when I suggested getting an OU degree as I should aim for a real one instead. Is this general consensus?

The OU is different. It is designed so people who work full time can study.

Exactly.

Further to this, people don't usually state the method of study for their degrees, so if you have a BSc from UoL no-one is going to know you were a part-time distance learner. That's obviously not the case with an OU degree, so there is still that element of doubt about its integrity that other degrees don't have.

I looked at Birkbeck and would have done it if I lived in London. It looks great.

nettle so sorry if you think I can't spell. Auto corrects give me dreadful errors and my chemo has affected my eyesight sadly so I don't always notice.

Nephew works in a bank and they sponsored him on an OU degree course.

In two years into my part-time degree. OU gives you flexibility to take time out if you need to or change course. Best thing I ever did.

MaisyPops
I looked at Birkbeck and would have done it if I lived in London. It looks great.

Remember they do distance learning too. They don't only offer evening lectures on site.

Flower, I first looked for postgrad about 5 years back. The course I wanted wasn't an option by distance without going through the University of London online and their fee calculator had all trh distance learning fees set at international rates so I ruled it out and went part time at a local uni.

I work for a large multi national company and their HR department in charge of recruitment do not think differently of OU vs brick uni.

I have 2 modules of OU degree under my belt but have had to take a break at the mo, none of my friends (with 'real' degrees or without) have ever laughed at my decision to pursue a degree with OU. I suggest you get rid of the friend!

I think it depends on the degree. My discipline is one that can be studied in this way. As an employer, I would value someone who approached us with a degree from the OU as much, if not more, than a mainstream university. It shows commitment and time management skills to be able to study like this, and work full time - I did an MSc as distance learning from a local university, and it is hard to fit everything in.

The snobbery on here is astounding. How many professions actually care about where you did your degree?

MaisyPops I see, yes I don't know how long they have been doing distance learning. Glad you found the right course for you!

LoniceraJaponica
The snobbery on here is astounding. How many professions actually care about where you did your degree?

I have no snobbery and haven't made any of those previous comments, but just in answer to your question - many, many professions and employers do. Some quite correctly, and some through HR department ignorance.

Which ones Flowerpops?

I doubt very much if anyone cared where you got your degree where I work. But I don't work in a profession where it is important.

Some of the comments made on this thread are absolutely ridiculous, borderline insulting frankly.

If an OU degree or pathway is any less valuable than a red brick university alternative, I highly doubt Oxford would accept OU transfer students. As it happens, they do. There are also courses that the OU run alongside other institutions that allow you to gain your qualification from the other institution instead.

Perhaps rather than some posters being so judgey, they could try their hand at distance learning at degree level WHILST working full time, running a home, looking after family etc.

I almost did an OU degree because I'm a single mother and thought studying from home with an infant would be easier. I decided on campus university in the end and don't regret it. 1/3 through my degree and have access to societies, sports even get to intersect with people from other courses, I'm going to be studying abroad nectvyear too which isn't a requirement of my degree and have been doing courses that wouldnt have been able to do with the OU such as French and how to use bloomberg terminals.

I think OU might be better for someone not looking for new experiences who just wants to study.

Haven't got time to read the whole thread, sorry...

I have a Brick Uni Degree and an OU Degree.

I found the quality of the learning material at the OU to far exceed the teaching at the Brick Uni. The course material is written (in published books) by leading experts in their field (even different experts for different chapters), at the Brick Uni individual lecturers covered a range of different modules, therefore their knowledge was inconsistent/ poor in some areas). More thought had gone into the structure of the OU course (how modules linked into each other whilst at the same time being available as stand alone courses).

I much preferred the style of learning with the OU, and found it a much more efficient use of my time. However at times of high workload it was quite socially isolating (I was single at the time).

I would definitely recommend the OU, but get used to shitty attitudes from some ill informed people who will try to belittle it! Its a shame the prices have sky-rocketed.

Set up an OU log-in and have a look around the OpenLearn website of free short courses. Many will be snippets of full degree modules, it will give you an idea of the learning style, and quality of learning material.

Good luck

I have a degree from a brick uni and a degree from OU. I found the material in the OU degree better. I also undertook more frequent exams and assignments through the OU and felt more academically challenged (I did my OU degree full time, so over 3 years the same as brick uni).

I've never had any negative comments from anyone regarding the OU degree and have been offered places on several postgrad programmes with that degree. My close friend has a brick uni degree in marketing which she never did much with and an OU degree in Psychology. She has since gone on to undertake a msc and PhD in Psychology at very prestigious universities here and in USA.

I did a two year foundation degree at a brick uni, did a credit transfer and have just completed my BSc hons with the OU. I've found the OU great and can't see why it would be seen as any lesser than any other degree.

Just about to apply for a MSc course at a brick uni and they have no problem with accepting an OU student.

I've just finished my degree with the ou, waiting for my final results but I've got either a 1st or a 2.1. I've worked just as hard as my friends who went to 'traditional' universities, if not harder. I've worked 40 hours a week and then completed my degree in 4 years on top of that (full time equivalent would have been 3 years, so almost full time intensity). All of our modules have external checks to ensure they're of a similar standard to those of brick universities. Ive sat 3 hour exams for my modules, and submitted a dissertation the same as my friends at brick unis. My lecturers and tutors have been highly qualified, well respected academics, the only difference is that instead of sitting in a lecture hall they're done by a video conference system. The only slight disadvantage I could say for my course is that obviously 'lab time' isn't as frequent as a brick uni, but we cover the material, and then did residential trips to practise them.

Our grade boundaries are incredibly high (85% for a 1st, 70%for a 2.1) and are almost solely based on exams.

Any employer who didn't recognise that motivating yourself to learn such a high level of detail on your own, in isolation, on top of other commitments was a good quality in an employee isn't somebody I'd want to work for.

Just about to apply for a MSc course at a brick uni and they have no problem with accepting an OU student.

The MSc relevant to my job isn't offered by the OU so it would be back to a brick uni for me too, which I find quite off putting. I would much rather complete any future studies via the OU.

2 degrees from brick uni. I wouldn't do OU as i don't think I could hack it. My mother is an OU lecturer (as well as at brick uni) and the perseverance required to work full time and raise DC sometimes without help is phenomenal. I'm not saying mature students at brick uni's don't face that, just the reality of OU is that it's usually the case.
I'm very impressed by an OU degree, some of their degrees are well regarded ( but not all like most Uni's)

Our grade boundaries are incredibly high (85% for a 1st, 70%for a 2.1) and are almost solely based on exams.

Just in case that is off putting to the OP or anyone else considering the OU, my degree only involved two formal exams (3 hours exams at a regional centre), one of which was for a module I received credit transfer from my previous degree, so I only had one big exam :-) . Mine was a vocational/ work based learning degree though, so it does vary.

Similar to a poster above, my OU degree was 'real' enough to get onto a competitive masters at a red brick uni.

The fact that I was a parent working full time for the duration also underlined my commitment and ability to study.

I think years ago there was a level of snobbery. And certainly I think the online format is challenging to deliver in some disciplines (my area was social sciences). Employers are starting to grasp, though, that OU courses are genuinely degree level, and that OU graduates prove their worth in every way.

Maybe ask your friends why they think OU is somehow less valuable than other unis?

All my OU modules have 3-hr exams with full summative module result weighted on the exam - no one else can do the work for you if you are sitting an exam! My subject is maths though and I know other OU courses have a higher coursework weighting (all my coursework is formative only)

"I'm very impressed by an OU degree, some of their degrees are well regarded ( but not all like most Uni's)"

So, which OU degrees are not good enough?