to ask you what you think of OU Degrees...

[SilverDoe]

Trying to decide what degree to, and will be studying with the OU. I'm struggling to decide between a Law degree and a Business degree, and I wanted to hear some opinions on their degrees in general.

I don't technically need a degree for my dream career, but naturally it would be useful to have one. For context I really want to be PA/EA, so am thinking a Law/Business degree would be most relevant? Please correct me if I'm wrong!

TIA :)

I'm doing a science degree PT with the OU and have 2 DC who are both at school (age 10 and 7). TBH I could never have put in the hours with DC the age that yours are, plus working. I don't work and fit my study in during the week while they're at school and in the evenings during the holidays or I put them in clubs, but if I was working, even PT, I would struggle. You'll have to be extremely organised, extremely disciplined and really not have much of a life from Oct-Jun each year. Can you live like that?

Pinky of course I'm sure there is lots of subjectivity around difficulty levels and a lot surely can vary between individuals and different degree subjects. I hope the work load is maneagable!

@PinkyBlunder, in actual fact, I think the only variable is perhaps level of academic intelligence. I highlighted my circumstances to indicate that when I did my degree I had, on the surface, little to no spare time. Yet, I managed to do it at more than 60 credits per year pace.

Theoretically, subject matter shouldn't make a difference either. Degree level learning is degree level whether you're studying English, Maths or whatever...

My point was it needn't be insurmountable for most people whatever their circumstances as long as they're bright enough.

I’m hoping to finish my nursing through the OU next year so interested to hear about this

I did my BA at a brick uni and looked 8nto doing my MA at OU. they kindly gave me access to a free sample of some source material on the MA and I have to say, I found it very very basic stuff, on a par with level 4 (first yr undergrad stuff) so I decided not to and am instead studying it at a local brick uni where I am really being stretched. That's not to say that it wouldn't have got more difficult or that a different subject would not be more difficult. Out of interest what is a PA/EA? Personal Assistant/??

juneau those are fair points to consider and I am nervous about the work load as I simply don't know how I will find it.

However, I am very lucky to have a SAHP who can shoulder the bulk of childcare so I don't have too much worry there, but of course time management is imperative to my (hopefully) future career and is something I actually need to get a good handle on anyway, if that makes sense!

ThePieMother

I do think I kind of agree with you, not that it means someone is less intelligent, but some people do find academia easier than others, and I think I'd get on fairly well with an OU degree.

So a common theme I am hearing hear is that people tend to think the OU degrees are in general easier than "traditional" degrees; do you think that would matter for PA work?

they kindly gave me access to a free sample of some source material on the MA and I have to say, I found it very very basic stuff

There's a whole other debate to be had about the absolute standard of post-experience masters.

I think it is naive to believe that a level 7 qualification is necessary obviously "harder" than a level 6. Sometimes there will be higher skills required which aren't obvious in the course material, but would be apparent in the assessment specifications and the marking schemes. For example, "read this novel and write an essay about it" could be level 2, or it could could be level 7, with the same novel and possibly if you were trying to make a point the same question; there are plenty of PhDs about GCSE set works, after all.

But a lot of post-experience masters courses are only called masters because they are 180 credit courses where a significant proportion of the students already have level 6 qualifications. There are plenty of "conversion" type M-level courses where no-one will seriously attempt to claim they are above their related undergraduate qualifications, which which they can often share modules and assessments.

The standard of British Masters qualifications is, and will remain in a new post-Brexit form, one of the most contentious issues in Bologna process harmonisation. Both in terms of size and level they cover a massive spectrum.

I’m an academic ThePieMother. With the greatest respect you’re talking crap.

I studied science, and the whole first year was basically doing stuff that we had done at a pre-16 level at high school. That's inevitable for an institution which was originally set up to allow people to study for a degree who hadn't come through the traditional academic route. There's a big difference between the first year and later years.

OP I have a degree from OU and. A degree from a well regarded brick uni. D offering subjects. OU was significantly more difficult.

MereD - Of course, but that stuff should be some kind of pre-course foundation course, not part of a degree-level course. It does affect the question of whether it's equivalent to a degree from a RG uni. If the equivalent of year 1 - 120 credits - are taken up getting people up to A-level standard, then that's not the same thing as a course that offers a full 360 credits at degree level. You're not going to get the same depth in one field.

Plus, the parroting stuff back from one set of textbooks, while being totally forbidden to consult other books or websites is ridiculous.

Different subjects that’s meant to read

At level 3 plus certainly we have to use resources away from the OU or journals from the OU library. The questions are very open ended owing to independent study.

So I can't see how anyone can judge standards via a sample.

I've done both brick uni and OU so again it's obvious that comparing wouldn't be helpful.

SilverDoe I'm doing two 60 point modules, both at level three and it's manageable. I've now only got a 4,500 word essay and an exam and it's all over. Yes, I've had to be organised, but I made myself an Excel calendar and I've marked off every piece of work as I've done it.

I've seen quite a few people say they're not 'easier' as such, but there are so many different people working on them, who may or may not already have an undergraduate degree.

I can see that it would fit in with part-time work.

Do you have an idea of the type of company you want to work for?

My last level 3 module was 90% independent study. It felt much much more like a research degree than a BA. There’s a huge amount of variables in the OU and the amount of independent study really does depend on the subject and module. First presentations of modules are also historically much more difficult than those that have been running for a number of years

But it's no good having one or two modules that consist of independent study at the end. Research skills and training need to be built into a degree from the start. I expect my undergraduate students to read widely and deeply around the subject of each week's lectures from day 1, not just to show up and parrot back to me whatever I say in my lectures. (Some do, of course, but it's not for want of encouragement not to). To grade someone down for taking a subject further than the textbook, and researching it more deeply is just appalling pedagogic practice.

I studied 120 credits a year but chose my course so they overlapped rather than studying two at the same time for the whole of the courses. It meant there was two to three months of double work but that was manageable with a bit of organisation. I used to try to get an essay or two ahead on the first course before the second started which helped. I would then tweak them to take into account any information gleaned at the tutorial.

It was hard work. I was working 24 hours per week term time over four days a week. For two years of the course I was a single mum to four children. You have to be organised and schedule uni work and family time. I often studied at night after they were in bed so they didn’t miss out on time with me and most of my day off work was spent studying. My children were all in nursery/school by that point. I would read course texts when they were reading and sit with my work when they did their homework. My daughters tell me that it helped teach them a great work ethic.

I would recommend doing 60 for the first year and seeing how that goes before trying to do 120. If you are doing 120, I’d try to opt for the first course to be an EMA rather than exam and keep notes as you go through for things you might use.

I will always be grateful to the OU. Thanks to them I not only earned my degree but also (finally) got my dream career.

I have a law degree and a masters degree, both from Top 5 universities. I also studied at the OU. All with small children. There is no doubt in my mind that the OU is as good as the other two institutions I attended and the student experience was better. I can’t recommend the OU highly enough. As a pp has said it is different and the academic rigour adapted for people with many other demands but I didn’t feel that my own learning was curtailed and i am basing that on my previous very intensive study.

From a career perspective I would do business with as many accounting modules as you can manage, because so so much is accounting. It really is. Business comes down to spreadsheets, depressingly enough and I know my managerial job would be easier if I were an accountant rather than a lawyer!

@PinkyBlunder oh, of course, I MUST be talking crap if you- an academic no less - says I am. I bow to your obvious superiority on the topic.

Independent study is never discouraged though pig. I’ve never known a tutor (and I’ve had many!) at ever level to discourage independent study. From the get-go at level 1 it was actively encouraged and recommended. So I have no idea why you have that impression to be honest.

I've studied three degrees with the OU - one undergrad (for fun) and two post grad (both business). I also have a Russell Group first degree which I did straight from school.

I was a single parent with a baby and worked a full time plus job. I'd been out of education for almost 30 years. I started studying because once I was home from work I was stuck in the house with two small children under three. It became my hobby. It was bloody expensive (all self financed) but enhanced my career enormously. Colleagues with MBAs from brick Unis believe I had more support and classroom time than they did. I was also taught by people who earned their living outside academia and that's helpful in business.

I'm not so sure a supportive partner is essential. I didn't have one and I don't think I could have committed as much time to study if I'd been in a relationship. I would probably have kept studying except I found it much more difficult as my DCs grew up and became more emotionally demanding and I also met my now DH.

I'd say about half the married people I studied with are no longer married. Different reasons, but largely I'd say a lot of women found the confidence to discover that their old life wasn't enough any more. Probably a doctorate in the study of that one!

When I tell people about my OU studies they are often amazed that I achieved so much- but honestly - the OU is full of people like me. Good luck with your studies.

As an employer I have a lot of respect for them - particularly for people who have studied and gained a degree at home while also managing another role eg caring, working etc

It's great to hear from an employer's perspective!

OllyBJolly that's an interesting perspective.. Luckily I am already the career oriented one so I have no worries that we may split up over me being more successful!

I am wondering if I can handle full time study if I'm only working part time, I would really like to be done with it in less than 6 years.

Pinky - Because I've done a science degree with the OU and you were marked down if you referred to any material outside of the textbook. That's why.