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 :)

amusedbush

Wow oh my goodness I had no idea they cost so much more than a regular masters!! Gosh, 17.5k for the OU's one

That rules that out then

evilharpy I have. It's really good and the tutors were uniformally lovely.

SilverDoe

Right?? My chosen masters is painful enough at £6.5k - and that's on the cheaper end of the scale

amused - you say the competition is fierce, but who says it can't be you who gets it? I totally think you could do it. Be careful you don't fail simply through not trying! (She says, as someone who could do with learning that lesson herself!! )

pigmcpigface

To be honest, there's more to it than just money. There's a massive focus on finance/stats in one part of the MBA and I think I'd really struggle. I did a managerial finance module last year for my BA and ended up in tears more than once because it's like trying to read Greek

amused - I understand. Believe me, I really do. When I had to do maths and stats for my biology degree, I really struggled. There were definitely tears. And I think I had to put in about four times more work than some other people for whom maths came naturally. BUT I got there. And you get better, and faster, as you get more accustomed to it. I even ended up seeing the beauty in maths, strangely enough - though it never felt completely 'natural'. Part of it is finding someone who explains it well for you - because everyone learns differently. I found the OU maths courses absolutely horrible to do (they are almost lawyer-like in their language and endless qualifications of a question), but Khan academy was a much more intuitive way of learning for me.

Oh god you two are scaring me now, I was planning to do the Economics route of the Business Management degree and there are a few mathsy/statsy modules in there; might have to reconsider

I have just finished an OU science degree. I also have an MSci from a RG uni in a very different scientific field.

The early OU courses (S104) were very basic, not at all tricky, and definitely easier than my first year at a brick uni. But I was never penalised for going outside the course materials.

By the level 3 courses wider reading was very much expected, and you couldn't get a decent mark without looking outside the course materials. My level 3 OU courses seemed far harder than my 3rd yr at a brick uni.

I loved OU - I did sport nutrition and found working at my own pace and around my life was far better for me

Dubdoor I did think the penalising for external information sounded very odd, I can't see the necessity of it. I know people criticise the OU on this, but it does make sense for them for the year 1 modules to be more accessible, if there are no entry qualifications. It's reassuring to hear that the 3rd year stuff is good and hard though (ahem), so the degree feels worthwhile! Congratulations on finishing it btw :)

CanI, it is really appealing sounding, I just love the whole concept of self directed study! I work so much better in all areas of my life when I am responsible for myself

I'm just about to finish my 5th year of an English Lit degree, and I'm loving it. I'm a single parent and I work F/T and it is possible, and I'm doing pretty well having not made any of the tutorials but then my tutor is easily reached for help and his online tutorials are good.

I would say if you want to do it in less than 6 years, do 120 credits in the first year and possibly the second as I'm finding the level 3 a lot more intense. I was going to do my last year in 1 year instead of 2 but now I'm really pleased I didn't as I would've struggled with the workload and reading.

The Facebook groups for the courses are brilliant for help and support, and that may be a good place to ask advice about the course - it's helped me decide which module to take next year on the advice of this years students.

I did an arts degree with the OU. Part way through they started this restructure that's still ongoing. What that meant for me was that suddenly I had to go back and study a Level 1 module in order to have a named degree. My marks, which at levels 2 and 3 were pretty good, dropped to 40s. I barely passed the module. In my TMAs I was constantly told off for going outside the course materials. I ended up with a good degree no thanks to that module and a tutor who was obsessed with me not using any other materials other than those in the official module materials.

I've not read the whole thread because, ironically, I'm meant to be working on an OU assignment

I am one assignment away from finishing a law degree and I've done it in 4 years. I did the first two full time and the last one part time. It's completely doable and some weeks I do no work, other weeks I do loads. If I were to average it out I'd say you could do it in about 6 hours a week if you pick things up quickly (first year you could do in less).

Going into specifics I can only speak to the law degree side of things - the law degree is fairly similar to studying a history degree. You need to be able to remember dates and a lot of the modules are covering the history of an area in essays, or applying the case precedents in problem questions. The biggest assignment I've had was only 3000 words. In law you are allowed to read around and use outside sources but that isn't the same for all modules. Tutors tend to be hit and miss but tutorials are optional and there's usually online alternatives if you can't get to the in person ones and, with those, you can pick which tutor's tutorial to listen to.

Studying with the OU has always been used as a talking point at interviews and is an excellent way to demonstrate that you can handle juggling responsibilities and prioritising workloads. My degree just meant that I got a legal secretary job after 10 years in retail and I'm loving it. I'd go for it!

... I'm hoping to recruit a PA type person in the next year or so...

I would want to hire a graduate... probably NOT a business studies graduate (the business studies students I've come across would not be out of place on The Apprentice).

Probably someone with a good academic degree... I wouldnt mind if it were economics/ancient history or English or Maths...

Id want someone in the office... Who was bright, analytical /be able to get on with stuff on own initiative /creative and be able to make a good impression with a wide variety of customers

Rioja thank you for the advice, that sounds like a sensible way to do it and I reckon that's the route I'll take :)

SevenStones sorry to hear you aren't having a good experience of it, that's a shame :/ I wonder if some subjects are better planned or structured than others?

Cakes really useful info thank you! I really like History so it's good to hear that Law is quite similar. I know that if you wanted to be a top lawyer for the very best of firms, one might need an RG type uni degree, but I'm sure Law degrees must be fairly well thought of. I had ruled it out because I was worried it wouldn't be seen as well as an Oxbridge one, but I think that's silly reasoning now.

DevilsAvocado thank you! It is really useful to hear from the perspective of employer's. That's a shame because I thought I had decided on Business Management, especially because the OU's degrees in Business are triple accredited, but I do keep hearing a recurring theme of it being considered a bit of a wishy washy subject, and that employer's tend to prefer more traditional subjects. Ah what to do, what to do...

DevilsAvocado would you consider a PA with a Law degree a decent candidate? :)

Don't let me put you off... If you're set on business....

I am only one person!

It would really be personal qualities I'd be most interested in! I would be seeing this person a lot!

So I would take someone with business studies if I met and thought we'd be a good fit!

Altho probably my prejudice against business studies candidates may not mean I sąw them unless there was something else about them from their written application... /first contact.

Certainly a billion years ago I shared houses with business studies people... They all seemed a bit 2 dimensional...
There may be thousands of business study graduates out there who are well rounded interesting individuals though.

Let's see how much money we can make... Than having a real passion for a subject... Other than money!

Interesting thread.
I did a Chemistry based degree back in the 90s - S102 was fairly basic but it ramped up quickly after that.
It cost me £360 a year, how times change!
It wasn't accepted as degree level by the RSC though. My boss had to vouch for my chemistry prowess before they grudgingly let me in at sub degree level.

My OU qualifications have not served me well within the NHS and LA roles I have had, both seemed to disregard them as a kind of hobby!

Haha thank you DevilsAvocado truth is I'm not set on any subject, I have come up with advantages and disadvantages to all of the ones I'm considering

• Law, I find the idea very interesting but according to the OU their course is the "most popular of it's kind in the UK" - read:common?

• Business Management - sounds like the modules would be practical, OU business school is one of the 1% of triple accredited business schools so I feel that would reflect on me, but it sounds a bit boring and people seem to have not so favourable opinions of non traditional degree subjects.

• Economicsand Mathematical Sciences - Useful perhaps, more technical and therefore impressive, but difficult for me to engage with and fucking hard!

Maggie wow, £360 a year! they're £2.6k per 60 credit module now

kazillionaire oh wow really?? may I ask what subject you studied?

In response to some of the more misleading comments...
Foundation level 1 courses, are usually 60 credits, and thereafter course content broadens massively. They are not the equivalent of an entire year at conventional uni.
Secondly, learning expectations require greater independence of thought. That has been an issue for many students who had experience rather more support at conventional uni, and I have seen many who have struggled with this.
Thirdly, most conventional uni classifications, require 70+ for a first, OU requires 85% +
Not only that, but there are threshold criteria in place, which often make it more robust than conventional uni grades. Exams and Assignment work, are equally weighted at 50/50, so your overall grade for any module, can not exceed your exam grade. For any particular classification, this must be achieved throughout. Unlike many conventional unis, RG included, where weighting is often in course work favour, and grades can be pulled up in latter years.
For those who criticise the Level 1 simplicity and structure, just remember it is only a few short months to get that 60 credits, usually squeezed into the rigours of a busy full time life, and more than equivalent of the efforts of a 1st year fresher, who spends most of their entire first year..down the pub!

I'm a pa without a degree. I really can't see how she law degree could help me do my job in anyway. My duties are varied and common sense and patience are much better attributes than a degree,

I did a mixed humanities degree, including several classical studies course, but both level 3 courses were English.
I found the course/teaching materials excellent.

There was only one course where I attended all the tutorials, because I really liked the tutor and found her very good.
I would always go to the first, but that was usually it, if I didn't take to the tutor. Still managed fine and ended up with a 2:1.

I did a max of 60 points in any year, and had no young children at the time. Unless you have no other commitments I do think more than 60 would be taking on far too much.

Especially at level 3, I needed at least the recommended time - I really enjoyed them but neither of those courses was for the faint-hearted! Though there was just one level 2 course which I found a doss, and frankly didn't even enjoy, though that was the only one. All the others were both interesting and very demanding.

From all I've ever heard, OU degrees are valued highly by employers, and not only because of the commitment and self-discipline required.

I did Law with the OU between 2006 and 2010, and I absolutely loved it. Rigorous, stimulating and rewarding - I got a first and I'm so glad I did it.

Mumoftwo and GETTING, thank you, that's a really good overview of the course structures :)

CheekyRedhead I agree that a degree isn't necessary and it's for sure a job where practical skills and experience are more valued, but I want to have a competetive CV and in the future I may want to look for a job that does require a degree. Also I'd quite like to do it for my own satisfaction :)

TheDairyQueen that's great! I have my heart set on a Law degree now too, after much deliberation. Do you mind me asking, as a complete layman, roughly what it involved? Are there lots of essays?