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).

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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!