To wonder if the OU is really equivalent to a regular uni?

[PuzzledOfPuzzledom]

I’ve been thinking for a while about starting a degree in English Literature and I’ve started researching possible universities. The OU looks ideal to me as it’s so flexible compared to other unis, but I can’t quite get my head around how it can really be equivalent to other unis as the amount of reading and variety of modules seems so limited in comparison.

For instance, in year two the OU seems to offer two compulsory modules and the reading lists seem to have about 14-16 tests on them so I assume about 30 texts total. Other Unis I’ve looked at seem to split the year up into 4-6 different modules, each of which seem to cover maybe 15-20 texts so at least 60+ texts in total. Other unis I’ve looked at are Birkbeck (who also offer part time options) and a couple of other red bricks.

I’m not at all intending to criticise anyone who studies with the OU (I already know how hard it is to combine studies and work), I’m just struggling to understand how their degrees can be equivalent to other universities if it seems like the range of modules and number of texts is so limited in comparison.

Does anyone have experience of the OU and can you tell me if I’m right to be cautious? If it matters, after completing my undergrad degree I’m really interested in doing an MA and possibly a PhD (circumstances and funding dependent of course).

[pickleofficer]

DH and I both studied with the OU. Loved it. We had our first two children in the middle of the degree and both held down full time jobs.
I became a SAHM since graduating but DH's career as flourished as a result of having this qualification.

Do it... it's really great!

[fannyfelcher]

I graduated with the OU last year and am now doing my MA at a local uni. I did the children's literature module in my 2nd year. The OU provide you with everything you need to pass the course. it all comes in a box with course manuals, cds, dvds and a study guide. On top of that you have your online tutor group as well and can search for journals, use the OED, etc. It may seem like the reading list is smaller, and you are right it is. Extra reading is recommended but not an actual requirement as they simply teach you how to use the provided texts to back up your argument/opinion. It is that simple. It makes it much easier to create a TMA (teacher marked assignment) or an EMA ( final project). A 60 unit module will typically be done part time over one year and tends to consist of 4-6 TMAs and one EMA. Some smaller units may be made up of 20 or 30 units and these can be studied side by side. You need 120 credits at each level (1,2,3) to graduate. I graduated in Brighton and it is taken very seriously. I had a great day!

I actually prefer the OU to the uni I am in now. I wish I had done my MA with them as well but wanted a certificate from a "proper" uni. But my uni is poorly organised, the online virtual learning is absolute shite and the grading seems very inconsistent.

[PuzzledOfPuzzledom]

LucilleBluth

If you think it's so easy then why don't you ask for some sample level 2/3 module materials. Do you actually think that OU students are slogging their guts out to study around work and children for nothing, that we are all thick because there's no entry requirements. Do you honestly believe that an ex poly in a provincial town is better.?

I actually said in my OP that I recognised already how hard it is to juggle study and other commitments. I thought I made it clear that I was asking for people’s experiences of how OU study compares to other unis and now it’s regarded by employers and universities. I can’t see how that’s been interpreted as me saying OU students are thick, particularly as that’s not even close to what I think. Anyway, I meant absolutely no offence to anyone who is studying or has studied with the OU and I’m grateful to the people who have kindly shared their experiences as I think that’s helped me more accurately weigh up whether the OU is right for me.

[PuzzledOfPuzzledom]

PinkyBlunder, that’s so helpful to hear from someone who’s studied literature at the OU. The reason I thought the modules didn’t cover as many texts as conventional unis was because they seem to say so in the module descriptions on their website. For instance, level one only seems to include four literary texts (though I appreciate the modules are interdisciplinary), whereas other unis seem to cover dozens of texts in the first year. The level two module description mentions 16 texts, but it’s equivalent to three modules at most other unis which seem to each involve reading around the same number of texts.

I’m happy to defer to your experience, just explaining why I had that impression based on what I had seen on the OU website.

[PuzzledOfPuzzledom]

borlottibeans, thanks for the feedback about Birkbeck. I think I would prefer that option in some ways because I’d like to have more regular contact with staff and students, but at the same time I worry that it would be hard to attend two evenings every week when I have other responsibilities. I might try to get to an open evening there and get a better idea of how many hours attendance are required etc.

[OldBlueStitches]

@Fintress yeah my degree (so far) hasn’t required anything like that.

[sashh]

One advantage the OU has is that it can use experts from any other uni.

I had a friend drop out of a brick uni because she was pregnant. She went to live with baby's father who was at Oxford and picked up an OU degree, she and her husband had some of the same tutors.

I'm currently thinking about doing OU. I also have a friend who was studying long distance with a Swedish uni, taught in English and free while we are still in the EU which appeals.

[GETTINGLIKEMYMOTHER]

Pinky, although the Shakespeare course was very demanding, I found the exam a joy compared to the 19thC one. You know that surge of relief when you turn the q. paper over and the qs are what you might have chosen yourself...
Whereas I came out of the 19thC one so depressed and honestly feeling I could have failed - first time ever, since after all previous OU exams I felt that at least I'd done myself justice, and was reasonably confident of a good result. Several of my online student group did in fact fail the horrible 19thC one.
I do sometimes miss the OU and scour the website for any other courses that might appeal, but apart from anything else, it's so much more expensive now.

[lottiegarbanzo]

I agree with others that the first few weeks are easy, for someone who's studied before (I already had a degree and masters in a completely different subject, from Russell Group unis) and the Level 1 modules fairly gentle but that the Level 2 and 3 modules are properly at those levels and marked accordingly. The OU does try to ease people in but the upwards trajectory is quite steep and the move to Level 2 must be quite challenging for people who haven't studied very much before.

I did wonder what happened to the less confident learners, those who needed more time and those with English as a second language who found expressing themselves less easy than I did. I attended 'real life' tutorials for all my modules (no lectures, that was all online and in the books they send) and these people were present early on but I didn't see them at Level 3.

I did come across a mixture of 'leisure learners', mature first-time degree students sponsored through work and some very focused and capable people who were seeking a change of direction or enhanced career progression. There must be some bias, in that more motivated people turn up to tutorials but, amongst a 'probably going to get a second class degree' crowd, there were some obvious 'could or should get a first' students, by anyone's standards.

One thing I loved was the online material, including lots of audio and video material. For my course this included interviews with eminent academics, pieces presented by practitioners, by academics from the countries being discussed and so on. It really brought the thing to life.

All but one of my tutors also taught at 'real life' universities. One was a professor at a Russell Group uni. I found them all really good.

[PinkyBlunder]

gettinglikemymother you picked the two hardest literature modules there I reckon! That 19C novel exam is notorious! By some miracle I managed to avoid both but got stuck with the brand new (at the time) level 3 Shakespeare to Austen which nearly destroyed me.

With regards to tutors and lecturers, I think all of mine throughout the 6 years lectured at Cambridge full time and in addition, some were published authors.

[Graphista]

"It's not quantity which is important. You can study one text very closely using a variety of different interpretations rather than studying 15 texts superficially." Exactly - also applies re length of text, some essays/short stories are far more complex than certain novels.

"the 19thC novel exam was an absolute bugger!" That surprises me I found modernism the hardest to get my head round, James Joyce and stream of consciousness etc fried my brain

[Toffeelatteplease]

I got my English degree from a decent mainstream university. By the end I worked out in could get away with reading the one or two texts I was doing essays on and a few choice quotes from others that I picked up in 4-5 hours of seminars I had a week. Still got a 2:1, was never a first student anyway. Meh.

Doing an ou degree in a different subject. It's brutal by comparison

[Smellylittleorange]

What eltonjohn said. Lots of extracts and readings within units...dont forget it is supposed to be accessible to all so will try and not encourage students spending money on books etc.

I have been surprised how many academics I know respect the OU ..from Russel Group to small locals.

People that are snidey tend to be out of ignorance imo.

The online library is fab!

[GETTINGLIKEMYMOTHER]

Having experience of both 'brick' and OU, albeit with a long gap in between, I found the OU materials excellent, and the modules, especially at level 3 (Honours level) extremely demanding (as well as very interesting). My 2 level 3 modules were Eng Lit, BTW - The 19th Century Novel and Shakespeare. I had not studied Eng Lit before, at least not since O Level so many years before. However I did have experience of writing academic essays.

I did an 'open' BA, so lower level courses were not all lit based - I did several Classical Studies courses, which were also very interesting as well as demanding.
I ended up with a 2:1, which I never really expected, since although I'd always achieved that level in assignments, the 19thC novel exam was an absolute bugger! But I scraped the necessary marks.

I was doing the courses for enjoyment, though did begin to wonder about that when writing my final, double length essay! So can't comment from an employment POV, but from all I've ever heard, employers do value OU degrees highly, since they know the amount of commitment required, especially when fitting them in with work/children, etc.
All the best, whatever you decide to do.

[LucilleBluth]

My tutor for my current level 3 module has a PhD.....she teaches at a prestigious university. She does OU on the side. If you think it's so easy then why don't you ask for some sample level 2/3 module materials. Do you actually think that OU students are slogging their guts out to study around work and children for nothing, that we are all thick because there's no entry requirements. Do you honestly believe that an ex poly in a provincial town is better.?

[lifechangesforeverinjuly]

I'm halfway through my first year with OU - studying full time on top of a full time job - Psychology. Whilst it is manageable, it is only because they are the first year modules and for someone who's quite tuned in academically, I don't need to pay much attention to the skills that OU lay the foundation for in the first year (I.e. for those returning to study). After year 1 it will definitely ramp up and challenge you - just as a brick uni would.

I love studying with them, you can be as involved or not as you want - I.e. I just want to study and get my degree, I don't care about socialising etc. so I only go to tutorials etc. If I really feel that I need to.

As others have said, the OU courses are viewed extremely favourably, sometimes more so than brick unis, due to the commitment and drive they prove the student possesses.

Good luck!

[DaphneduM]

I did the English literature degree with the OU and I can assure you it's very academically rigorous. I can't recommend it highly enough. So wide ranging, challenging and enlightening. Gaining the degree greatly helped me professionally too, to get promotion and credibility. Before starting, we had an assessment piece to complete, which then gave the lecturer an idea of academic ability. The tutorials were excellent and I can say all my lecturers were very professional and committed. I don't think they do the summer schools any more, which is a shame. I did one at Bath Uni and one at Queen Mary University of London. Both amazing experiences, got to go to workshops at the Globe Theatre and interview the director of Othello, which was being performed there at the time. Ended up with a 2:1, very happy with that - and a fraction of the cost of full time Uni. But more than that it was a totally life changing and life enhancing experience.

[Fintress]

@OldBlueStitches

I use a Mac and have so far (3rd part time year) has no problem

It's course dependent. I'm interested in physics and planetary sciences and some modules require you to run Windows software, which I could do if I partitioned my Mac hard drive but I don't really want to do that. There may be a different way, don't know.

[Geronimoleapinglizards]

It might be different with different subjects but I did an OU degree and they didn't want us to read more widely than the books provided, at least not in terms of writing the essays. They encouraged us beyond that but it was optional. But I did a science subject.

I thought the standard was very good. I found it hard. I got a first but I believe only 7 or 8% of people doing my subject did.

I didn't think the teaching was very good but lots if people complain of that at redbricks uni's. I just studied from home more when I realised the lectures were a waste of time

[TittyGolightly]

One of the issues I have found with the OU when I was looking at courses recently was the lack of support for Mac users. The software for the course I was interested in wasn't Mac compatible.

I’ve not struggled but have had to find some work around hands for specific bits of software (SPSS). It’s much better now.

[PinkyBlunder]

I’m an OU literature graduate.

Not sure why you think the reading list is on the small side, there’s literally 100s of books from my degree sitting in my living room.... the best way to think about it is that the degree is made up of modules and those modules are also made up of modules. The reading list you see when browsing modules will be a small percentage of the reading materials. Some will be included in the OUs own materials and some online. You are expected to go wider than the suggested materials and at level 3, there’s a solid chunk of the lit modules that are more like a research degree, where you are expected to find your own sources.

There’s no entry requirements as such but they will ask you to take foundation courses to catch up of needs be. There’s also a massive step up from level 1 to level 2 and an even bigger step up into level 3. If you’re not ready, you just don’t make the grades, it can be a bit brutal.

I’ve always also found like PPs that an OU degree holds the same and a lot of times, more weight than a conventional degree, mainly because of the work ethic you gain.

[Eltonjohnssyrup]

And if you have a local uni they usually let OU students use their library and union.

[Fintress]

rose, do you mean the OU’s lack of entrance requirements means their degrees aren’t as challenging as other unis?

Absolutely not. The higher up modules soon weed out people that are not up to completing a degree.

MrsFs I did maths and computing and yes the maths do get quite complex. One of my favourite 30 point modules was Graphs, Networks and design, it was called MT365 back in the day.

[Eltonjohnssyrup]

puzzled, I started mine in a brick and finished it at the OU (pregnancy). At a brick uni they won't be expecting you to read 60 whole books, you'll access sections of them, often electronically. With the OU you'll do the same, but they will often provide the extracts in a 'sources' book rather than online.

Incidentally, don't know which unis you were looking at, but at my brick Russell Group English lit had 3 x modules per semester with normally 1-3 books. So max 9 books per semester and usually less.

It's not quantity which is important. You can study one text very closely using a variety of different interpretations rather than studying 15 texts superficially.

[borlottibeans]

I don't have any direct experience of the OU but have a huge amount of respect for people with their degrees because studying part time is hard and I think that doing it without very regular face to face contact must be even harder.

However, I'm coming on here to say keep looking at Birkbeck. I did my Master's there in another humanity, and I found that actually going in and sitting down with other students to talk about the week's reading was invaluable. There's also the advantage of a physical library you can go to if you need to work somewhere with fewer distractions, and as it's right in the middle of university-land you've got a huge selection of other academic libraries which you can get reading access to as a University of London student. And the other students come from such a wide range of backgrounds which is great as a humanities student because your discussions will cover such an extensive range of perspectives (although I'm sure this is the same at the OU).