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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

Open University

88 replies

reallymate · 13/12/2018 00:17

Posting on here for traffic please ignore if you're not interested it takes much more effort to post a rude response. Has anyone done a law degree (or any degree I guess) with the open university and if so how hard was it? Would you recommend it? And what are you doing now having done it (if you've finished it)? Thanks

OP posts:

Cherries101 · 13/12/2018 00:24

OU is the best at vocational degrees but only if you are already working within the industry as their courses are built to need some kind industry application / knowledge. If you aren’t in law already then I suggest going to a bricks and morter university.

Lovingbenidorm · 13/12/2018 00:25

No experience of OU I’m afraid but I did a degree age 32. It’s bloody hard cos you are expected to be a grown up as well as a student.
All worth it though.
Juggling a mortgage, fees, living expenses etc.
Sorry not to be any help, just wanted to say ‘you go for it ‘ !

Original poster

reallymate · 13/12/2018 00:27

Yea I forgot to mention I'm a single mum to an almost toddler. So yea any advice is appropriated thanks.

OP posts:

Original poster

reallymate · 13/12/2018 00:32

@Cherries101 would you say the same advice would apply even if you do an access course? I thought it was designed for people who wanted a career change or upgrade, single parents and people who don't have time or couldn't afford to go to a normal uni...is it not?

OP posts:

Anyat212 · 13/12/2018 00:34

My boss is currently studying his degree through OU and he can’t sing their praises enough! As a PP mentioned it helps if it’s in that sector as its LD support. He’s currently completing his masters in HR after working within the environment for 10+ years.

Other experience I’m aware of is DP studied some design degree (it was a few years ago but I can’t remember the topic) and he said they were fab and supportive throughout. Unfortunately due to circumstances and work he’s popped the studying on hold for now, but he’s keen to finish with OU which says a lot really.

Either way, good luck OP!

KnitFastDieWarm · 13/12/2018 00:37

Do it do it. I just finished a masters (not law, but a humanities subject) with them two days ago and am VERY happy with my grade so I’m singing their praises to everyone at the moment. I started when my youngest was 9 months and they are incredibly supportive to student parents. My SIL is doing a masters with them now and also loves them.
Go for it! Start with a level one course and work up, it’s one of he best things I’ve ever done for myself and the support and teaching was easily as good as (and often better than) that of the Russell group uni I attended as an undergrad.

KnitFastDieWarm · 13/12/2018 00:40

In terms of how hard it is - obviously it gets progressively harder! But you work your way up through and undergraduate degree, they are used to people who’ve been out of studying for a while or who hated school and they’re great at helping you go from the basics to high level stuff. There’s people who just finished my course who have been with the OU all the way from having no qualifications at all and are now applying for PhDs. It’s all about your own determination and ambition!

Original poster

reallymate · 13/12/2018 00:44

Thank you feeling really encouraged to do it now but still would love to here more experiences! also sorry for the drip feed but would you mind if you're answering the questions now also saying if you did it part/full time. Thanks for replying all that have and will

OP posts:

Gwenhwyfar · 13/12/2018 00:46

"OU is the best at vocational degrees but only if you are already working within the industry as their courses are built to need some kind industry application / knowledge. "

I've done years and years with the OU (not law though) and never heard this. Unless you have experience of their law degrees, I wouldn't take this for a fact.

Gwenhwyfar · 13/12/2018 00:48

"In terms of how hard it is - obviously it gets progressively harder!"

That's not necessarily obvious. I think the difference between first and third year is greater with the OU than other universities and that's partly because the first year is accessible for people who haven't studied for a long time or haven't done A level.

Original poster

reallymate · 13/12/2018 00:49

Also congrats @KnitFastDieWarm good on you.

OP posts:

Gwenhwyfar · 13/12/2018 00:50

"I thought it was designed for people who wanted a career change or upgrade, single parents and people who don't have time or couldn't afford to go to a normal uni...is it not?"

I don't think it's designed for single parents particularly, but it's designed for adults who want to study something different or never had the chance when they were younger.
I wouldn't take Cherries at her word unless she can back up that assertion.

jessstan2 · 13/12/2018 00:51

You can do modules. My husband did some modules years ago and they were very helpful in his career, he already had professional qualifications. He liked it too but there was no pressure on him to get a degree.

I have a friend who has a first class honours in English Lit from the OU. Kudos to him. Lenny Henry did the same and it was a hard slog for him but very rewarding.

Good luck!

KayM2 · 13/12/2018 00:57

I've done a fair bit with the O.U.; Undergraduate and Masters levels

I'd rate the quality of the teaching materials very highly. Much higher than I received at some other places. Like others, I don't know what Cherries ( above) meant; have a look at the OU website, and you will see what is on offer. very very good stuff, and a fair bit of very friendly support.

Not as cheap as it was, which stopped my studies.

BananasAreTheSourceOfEvil · 13/12/2018 01:02

I started off doing law with ou and whilst they were superb in terms of support and resources- it wasn’t for me. I had three small kids (4,3,2) and whilst I was told that the degree would be recognized where I live- I realised I would have had to do a 1-2 year conversion course on top of the 6 years for me to be able to progress where I live.

Ou is fantastic but law is a subject that’s constantly evolving and in my personal experience you’d be better off physically attending a course. The other factor is that you have to be honest with yourself and ask whether you can commit to doing the full time mummy and then study in the evenings, because it is not that easy, especially when doing it alone.

I’m not trying to dissuade you, just giving my experience and wish you all the best whatever you decide

Tigger365 · 13/12/2018 01:03

I did a law degree, at full time intensity, back when it was free. Bloody hard work. Lots of coursework, lots of reading. You have to be interested in the subject.
As an aside, I’m now doing another degree, completely different subject, at part time intensity, because the OU works for me and their support for disabled students is second to none

katesxo · 13/12/2018 01:11

I'm currently in my fifth year of my Forensic Psychology degree with Open Uni - I would recommend it purely because it gets you the degree and allows you to work full time but if I was given the choice, I'd probably go with a red brick uni. I've always felt a bit alone doing it. I've had tutors that don't want to know and I can't always make it to the sparse tutorials they do (the few I have been to weren't massively helpful anyway!) so you're just sort of left to read your module texts and get on with it - a lot of emphasis is placed on getting the coursework done so you wonder whether you're actually learning anything. I wouldn't feel massively confident about getting a job in this field in future! Definitely pick a subject you have a big interest in because you really have to motivate yourself.

Original poster

reallymate · 13/12/2018 02:06

@BananasAreTheSourceOfEvil where out of interest are you? In the U.K.? Thanks

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Original poster

reallymate · 13/12/2018 02:08

Thanks for the replies everyone I'm taking it all on board. @Tigger365 did you eventually work in the field of law after your degree? All replies appreciated

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Rosalie2109 · 13/12/2018 02:18

I'm currently doing the LLB law degree with the OU, part time. The first modules are easy, there more like introductions but it does get harder as you work your way through the modules. There's a lot of content to read through each week but the tutors are really helpful.

AmyDowdensLeftLeftShoe · 13/12/2018 02:51

OP OU degrees are all part-time and module based.

Original poster

reallymate · 13/12/2018 02:54

@AmyDowdensLeftLeftShoe but they have a 3 year and 6 year option. Is that not full and part time? I know you can only apply for part time funding though.

OP posts:

adoggymum · 13/12/2018 02:57

Hi! I'm currently doing my Higher education access course in Law with the OU but it's only a 6 month course so I'm able to apply to do my degree at a proper university.

I wouldn't recommend doing degrees with them to be honest (especially Law) as you don't get the experience and quality of education needed to excel in Law. Most firms would probably pass you up straight away if they saw your degree was an online one, it just doesn't provide you with the hands on experiences and people skills you need to study law and succeed.

That's just the advice given to me by my university advisor at my local college :) she said by all means complete your higher education access course with them to get onto a degree course with a uni but definitely don't do the actual degree with them.

NatureGal · 13/12/2018 06:35

Currently studying a social sciences degree. OU works for me as I have 3 young kids and pregnant with my fourth and a brick Uni just wouldn't work for my situation. It is great but hard work, and you will need to be motivated to study something I am struggling with at present. I have had great tutors and my current one is a bit rubbish, tutorials and location and a bit varied at present too. Level one courses are a broad area of subjects so at times can be not your interest which is hard. I know of one OU law student who is a legal secretary and her employers had high praise for it and helped her to get the job. If law is an area you want to get into speak to people in that area for advice. If working isn't possible, look at volunteering alongside it. The quality of education is excellent and as good as brick Uni, so I have to disagree with adoggymum.

ClaryFray · 13/12/2018 06:46

I'm 3 years in and love it! You don't need to be in the filed your studying, that's hogwash. Go for it. It's challenging but the support from other students is amazing!

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