To ask for your Open University experiences?

[JorisBonson]

I left school many years ago with very few qualifications. Never held me back, doing ok for myself etc etc.

Would love to do an OU course though, specifically in Criminology. The whole thing baffles me, I'm not sure what level of prior qualifications you need, I don't know how it works and the website does not help (maybe I'm a bit too thick for an OU course .

I've also not studied for anything in 20 years!

If anyone has done anything with the OU would love to hear your experiences.

I'm on my second module an dlove the OU. I've found the materials and the teaching /tutors to be really good. I like that it fits around my life. I've had a mega busy week this week and haven't even picked up a book, but I know next week is quiet so I can simply catch up.
I'm currently studying dd105 introduction to criminology and its been good so far

I finished my MBA with them in 2015, so slightly different to an undergrad experience as there were entry requirements. I chose OU since the accreditation of the final degree is the same accreditation for an MBA at the school where I did undergrad but the price was far more reasonable.

In terms of work, you have to be very prepared and comfortable with being self-directed. I also found the levels of online engagement difficult and there were a few residential school requirements that were difficult for me to commit to with two young children. My tutor was mediocre and I did wind up submitting at least one paper to be re-graded.

In terms of results, my career has progressed quite a bit since finishing the course so overall I would say it was worth the investment.

I did an OU degree way back in the early 80s because I was stuck at home with 2 children. Apart from how it impacted on me the children had to learn to amuse themselves a bit, 'Mummy's OU-ing' and they were very proud to come to my graduation!

My friend tutors criminology for the OU.

What are you planning on doing with it afterwards? If you just find it interesting then absolutely go for it. I did my psychology one with them and enjoyed it. If it's for a future career it has been strongly suggested to me by my friend that maybe something more focused would be more helpful (just something she has noticed over the years tutoring it...)

Undergraduate degrees with the OU you need no qualifications.

I did some modules with the OU as I needed some of them for a job I was doing and ended up with a diploma. They then said the fees were going to increase and I realised if I did a couple more modules I could have a degree so that's what I did.

The first lot of tutors I had only worked for the OU there as the ones I got for my last modules each seemed to work for a minimum of 2 other universities as well. This meant the first lot were more available to answer questions even though they had a lot more OU students and were really helpful, there as out of the second batch only one of them seemed to go out of their way to do that. (I think a lot of the first tutors I had left the OU and retired properly when the last OU Chancellor took over.)

As a PP look around at other universities as depending where you are in the country you could find another university that offers a lot more contact time for your money especially due to the increased cost. I'm in London and over the years have known people studying with Birkbeck.

Yes, I know someone who studied at Birkbeck and it actually did help his career. He did a masters I believe.

@Chesntoots I'm actually a police officer at the moment but have always wanted to study it. I have a strange obsession with serial killers 🤔. It's definitely something I could use if I ever left active policing.

This has all been so helpful. The cost is daunting and it's something I couldn't do for the next year (just bought a house and getting married next year) but I think I'll go for it when things have settled. May look at a diploma first in case my mind is completely blown by it.

I'm currently on my second module, studying part time.

Funding is by student loan for me - it is about a third cheaper than 'brick' universities (in England, anyway) but of course you don't have the face to face element (or as much of it, anyway), however you can study without prior qualifications whereas in a brick uni you would likely need these or do an access course.

Number of tutorials and means of delivering them vary module to module. Generally seems to be about once a month. In my first module their was a choice of face to face at various locations around the country (and quite a few at that in England - coverage a lot poorer in Scotland and Wales!) but this module has more online tutorials and only three opportunities for face to face, these being longer 'day schools' that take place between ten and three.

In terms of difficulty, the first module is very much geared towards people who haven't necessarily studied formally for a long time. They also have lots of short study skills courses you can access whilst waiting for your module to start.

My understanding is that it starts off at a gentler level than a traditional university to help bring those who haven't studied for a long time up to speed, but it soon catches up. There's quite a few on my course in that boat and they have on the most part been fine. The tutors are understanding that you may need additional support with study skills.

Time - I found it really variable. On my modules they divide the study planner into weeks and it's a chapter a week. However some weeks seem to take a lot less time, some weeks much longer - I averaged between 10 - 15 hours a week, more on assignment weeks. You do have to be quite disciplined and fairly self directed.

On my modules, there's been an assignment each month approximately, and then either a longer assignment called an EMA or an exam at the end - happily, on the degree I'm doing there's only one module with exams. I think some modules have online tests etc too.

I'm quite a solitary person so haven't found it particularly isolating - there's forums and most modules someone will set up a facebook/WhatsApp group. I'm not generally huge on social media but have found the Facebook group a blessing - just having the shared experience! Much to my surprise I've actually managed to make a couple of real life friends too.

My tutors have been great so far - emails replied to within 24 hours, good explanation and constructive feedback on assignments, and a reasonable turnaround time for marking. I do hear some horror stories though so I think there is an element of luck of the draw.

Thus far it has been an overwhelmingly positive experience for me.

Well I'm a prison officer currently studying law so it appears we don't gravitate much away in either case!!

I really enjoyed it and it gets you thinking about things from so many angles.

Just go for it!

Ugh there were paragraphs when I posted, I promise!

I finished a Business degree with the OU summer 2018. There were times when I loved it and times when I hated it and thought I couldn't do it, but overall I am so glad that I did.

It was my first degree so I took out a tuition fee loan to pay my fees, I doubt I will ever earn enough to pay it back tbh as currently only do 3 days a week.

I would have a look at Open Learn as there are loads of free courses on there and it gives you a bit of an idea. I would also check out the certificate and diploma courses and see if the modules are the same as for the degree. This is how I did mine so I knew that if I got to a point where I wanted to stop I could cash out the modules I had done iyswim

@Chesntoots sorry to barge into someone else's thread - but are you studying Law at OU?

I did psychology through OU. My law degree is through another university that does distance learning.

I have met a couple of OU law tutors though, the way they teach it is different to brick universities, but it still fulfills all criteria for it being a qualifying law degree.

I did Criminology back in the day when it was much cheaper and really enjoyed it, in fact i found it much better experience than my MSc at a red brick RG uni. I was a carer at the time, so not having to leave the house suited me. I did it PT but the years flew by. The materials are excellent and the online support from fellow students on Facebook and whatsapp was really good.

OP it costs a lot now, I founf criminology a great subject but it won't give you direct entry into any job. I would suggest doing social work or health and social care as these will get you into a job directly.

I also did it before fees went up, Humanities courses I was interested in.

Unless things have changed a lot, and unless you have proof of prior higher education, you will usually need to do a certain. amount of level one courses first. It used to be 120 points, so 2 x 60 point (60 points = roughly half a 'brick' university year).

Someone on one of my level two courses had gone straight into that, but the assignments were essay based and he had no idea how to write an academic essay - something you are taught on level one courses, so although the tutor did her best his grades were always pretty low.

I always found the teaching materials very good, though didn't always attend tutorials, unless I took to the tutor. For my courses it was not compulsory to attend tutorials.

It's certainly not an easy option. You need an awful lot of self discipline. I found my 2 level 3 courses in particular very demanding, , but they were extremely interesting and I certainly enjoyed them.

You can get a student loan to do a second degree, as long as it's part time and in a STEM subject. The OU have taken advantage of this and have a combined STEM degree that is really flexible, so you can take modules outside of the subject area if you wish.

Too expensive to continue - I wasn't going to get into massive debt when they weren't providing 90% of the things a standard university could for exactly the same cost.

I hated the online tutorials they introduced to save money as often they didn't work properly, people didn't respect that it was an actual class they were interrupting, it was very isolating and very difficult to ask questions if you didn't quite grasp something first time. And no chance of asking a question at the end if the allocated time had expired.There were several units where I just didn't understand something until I'd been to a real tutorial, where I'd got it immediately. But they don't seem to offer anywhere near so many of those now.

Other people, though, loved the things, never communicated with a single living soul, got on with the textbooks that consisted of huge blocks of writing and continued after the changes. I cashed in the units I'd completed to get a qualification and still harbour dreams of actually going to University.

OU fees are now a real rip off.

Hugely well regarded in the workplace as an OU degree says so much about the type of person you are.

Great quality course materials and well put together modules.

Go for it.

I did my OU degree in the 1990s. It was one of the best things I've ever done. If I had the time I would do it all over again.

I did OU about fifteen years ago, but life then got in the way (had a child who is disabled) and opted to cash in my credits for a HNC qualification. I might go back to it in the future but at the moment I'd find it terribly difficult to allocate the time.

I’m on my third module, working towards a Criminology and Psychology degree. I’m doing it for no other reason than a keen interest. It’s not directly related to my field of work, but it may be advantageous if I were to apply for promotion.

I’m a working lone parent and the biggest hurdle for me is organisation. It’s essential for me to be slightly ahead if schedule as the children will invariably be unwell/I will be unwell/work pressure mounts/life gets in the way as I approach assignment deadlines.

For context, I dropped out of uni about 20 years ago and had only done work-related qualifications since then. I have found my tutors to be supportive and constructive, and the course material engaging. Your tutor will give you feedback, and if you follow that, you will be grand. I have found the assignments challenging, but not impossible, and have done better than I expected (so far!)

Go for it!

I'm in my last year of computing & IT degree with the OU. I left school and went to straight into work so I get my fees paid via a Part Time Fee Grant. it can be hard keeping the motivation up (house is always spotless when I have an assignment due!} But I've really enjoyed it and this time next year I will be waiting to see what classification of degree I have achieved while working full time and having kids.

I'm half way through my degree. Level 1 modules were GCSE level and a little bit of A level and builds up slowly.

I don't like how everything is online and costs several times more what others paid when they received physical resources. I get a student loan as I did not complete my first degree/my current one is in a Stem subject. Again its a loan that doesn't need paying until you earn X amount but the interest far outweighs what I pay back.

There are free courses available which are laid out the same as the paid for ones if you want a taste of a course. If you just like the subject why not just get some criminology course books instead of getting in debt if it wouldn't help your career prospects.

I completed a access course with OU and 1 module at level 1 but stopped because of work and 4 kids I found it too much. However I'm looking at going back now that I am not working. What I'm worried about are the exams.