Open University

[EllaAlright]

I was originally accepted onto an English Literature and creative writing full time degree at my local university. Unfortunately my circumstances have changed and it looks like attending a traditional university probably won’t be an option.

I’ve looked into the OU, and I do think the flexible study options could fit around my life, as I can choose each year wether to study full or part time, and the modules do look really interesting. I’m in England so the fees are 3k a year for part time study, and 6k a year for full time study.

I’m 39 and will be self funding. I’d hopefully like to get into teaching or carry on to do an MA in linguistics after I’ve completed the degree.

AIBU to think that an OU degree is just as well regarded as a degree awarded from a traditional university?

It would be interesting to hear from people who have gone down the Open University route.

I've done 120/ yr and not struggled

I've done 120 credits - sorry

I did my degree through the OU, and then a SCITT with PGCE. I highly recommend it. I am now in my NQT year.

I have found it to be highly regarded.
It shows commitment, good organisation and time management- all important for teaching.

Good luck

OU courses do start off easy, to bring in the people with no previous qualifications and get everyone on track. The level 2 and 3 courses are equivalent to the same level at a standard university though. The grading is the same too (specifics of the marking scheme aside), so for example, high and low 2:1 answers would be graded the same elsewhere.

One thing that's different is that they operate a threshold system for allocating grades (or did a few years ago), so a certain % of people get firsts, then 2:1 etc. Lots of universities used to do this, as a way of levelling results between years, based on the very sensible idea that the difficulty of exam papers can vary a bit year to year but the average ability level of a very large cohort of students will not.

Individually, if you're borderline, that can work either way for you. Generally, it means that a certain % of people will always get firsts and 2:1s but also 2:2s and presumably 3rds. So you cannot get the grade inflation that some other universities have seen, with huge numbers of top grades.

A quirk of the OU is their demand for consistency between coursework and exams; probably another failsafe against people cheating the distance learning system. If your marks diverge, you get the lower grade, not an average. So you do need to be as steady and consistent as possible. Tutors do have some discretion about coursework deadlines though and are generally understanding about 'real life' circumstances, probably more so than in another university. So you have more freedom to get things right in your own way, according to your circumstances. But, if you can't pull it together in the end each year, it can go very wrong.

If your own experience and that in your tutor group is that everyone seems to be doing very well, that's probably to do with who turns up and speaks up. Generally, mature students are more conscientious, organised and motivated, so do the work, turn up and are keen to discuss things. That doesn't make people cleverer or more able though, it just means they'll give it their best shot and might be more likely to fulfill their potential.

Also, really check how your course is assessed and graded, before you start. Then you'll know which modules really count.

I finished off my English Literature degree at the OU tens years after dropping out of my original university (an extremely prestigious Russell Group institution in Scotland) with mental health difficulties. I was able to use my credits from there and complete my degree and got a 2:1, which allowed me to go back to my original university and completed a MSc in my favourite area of English Literature. I was accepted onto the MSc with open arms as the course organiser considered my OU degree to be every bit as valid as an undergrad from themselves, especially as I’d completed a module which led directly into my Masters. A great many lecturers from “Bricks and Mortar” universities teach at the OU as well.

Not only did I have an awesome experience at the OU and it was an fantastic feeling graduating both from the OU and my original university. Felt like I’d really laid a lot of ghosts to rest. My confidence had been shot to pieces for years and I’d always bitterly regretted dropping out of university first time around (although I was way too poorly to continue) so getting those degrees were a real vindication for me and led me onto a good career now working with students with disabilities. I received excellent support for my MH difficulties from the OU and that inspired me to do the work I currently do.

TLDR- was the best thing I ever did; truly life-changing.