Open University

[reallymate]

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

My law degree with the OU cost about 12k, but that was before the fees rose a few years ago.

OMG VanGoghs, I used to pay over 1k a module years ago, but that was because I lived abroad and had to pay foreign i.e. non-subsidised fees. Once I got back, I was doing post-graduate modules that were more expensive anyway. When you think of the amount of money, it is shocking, but then again nothing like giving up work for 3+ years.

There are lot of free courses with OU that can give you an idea of what to expect.
I’m in year 5 of 6 part time and I work (have a placement) to ensure my skills are practical and academic, although it’s not essential because the are case studies to evaluate anyway, good luck, go for it.

Law was more expensive than other courses, it was always about double. £2.5k per module.

@Gwenhwyfar all the law degrees I've looked at and applied for for next year are 4 years and have a years internship in year 3. Very valuable.

ihate - I see. I don't remember the law students I knew at (brick) uni doing that, all the IT ones had a sandwich year though. (I'm talking years ago of course).

I'm in my 2nd year of Psychology degree. For the most part it's great. There are some things that annoy the hell out of me (I.e. different tutors on the same courses asking for different things and marking differently etc., mistakes in written and online sources) but these are quite minimal.

What I will say is that with a child, it is HARD. Last year, I did the equivalent of full time degree work, worked full time and was pregnant throughout - it was a breeze compared to now when I'm doing part time degree and on maternity leave with 5 month old DD.

Completely procrastinating right now to avoid my assignment.

I'm doing an OU MA and love it. Part time is somewhere around 20 hours a week.

Not all courses have their own books, though of course they do have course materials online, but you also get access to the incredible OU library online.

If you need flexibility the OU is fab. As it's designed as a distance Learning uni, it does that far better than a brick uni trying to be modern.

Not law but I'm a single mum of two under 5 and doing my final year with the ou. I have LOVED it. It is bloody tough at times (night in hospital with a child the night before a major deadline style tough) but it allows me to use my brain and develop when the rest of my time is thinking about poo wee and food.

@Downtheroadfirstonleft is the masters distance learning too? Is it a taught one or a research one? I would love to do postgrad with the OU.

I did my PGCE teaching degree with the OU. I loved every minute of it.

I started a law degree with the OU 12 years ago. My ex-husband bullied me out of it, took all of my money and I never got to finish it, this was back when each course only cost £600.

Now it will set you back £18,000 to complete the whole thing - that's the current quote from the OU website itself. It saddens me that the Open University isn't really "open" any more to the people that it is designed for. I had a great time with the courses that I did complete, wonderful tutors and met some great people at the tutorials. Despite working in the public sector in the law "industry" and being in the lowest paid role in that industry I am not eligible for any financial assistance.

It's a great thing if you can get into it but you absolutely need support from people around you. Best of luck if you do decide to go this route

The system has changed now and it is all student finance. I got my degree for free as I was on less than £19k, but now everyone is required to take a loan, so in theory still open for everyone.