Open University and exams

[MazzaMaisie]

Anybody had experience studying at the open university notably computer science with say mathematics. I am asking for my daughter who has completed first year of computer science at university it is computer science with AI degree but she does not feel capable of continuing at a brick university, although she is headed for a first she is on the autistic spectrum. She particularly has struggled with exams. How are exams arranged at the open university? I’ve heard that they can be a mixture of assignments and open book exams. What does this really mean in reality? Exam pressure really gets to her. I just want to have a clearer picture of how accessible this course may be or may not be for her. Thank you!

It depends on the module. Some have online exams (and some of these they’re trialling an online proctoring system, which hasn’t been entirely popular!) and other it’s just assignments.

They’ve just launched a new computer science with artificial intelligence course that may be worth a look, although not all the modules are available yet.

But the exams themselves aren’t too bad (though I don’t have experience of the online proctored ones) and student support seem to be very good at understanding about additional arrangements e.g. extra time if that would help her.

I did try and avoid exams in my final year because I’m better with coursework, so that might be something to consider in terms of which degree she chooses and how much module choice there is.

I didn’t do computing so this may or may not be helpful but I’ve just completed an OU degree and would wholeheartedly recommend the OU to anyone. I never planned to continue with a masters but the positive experience I had getting my BSc has inspired me to continue studying. There’s a facebook group that’s just called ‘Open University’ which might be helpful for questions like this, there’s a real sense of community in that group and you’ll almost certainly find someone with experience of the computing qualifications. If you have any more general questions about OU life I’ll happily do my best to answer them. Best of luck to your daughter!

My autistic DS is doing an OU degree and part of the reason he chose his subject was that there are no exams, everything is assessed by coursework at all levels. It allows me to provide more support with assessments and I help him with planning and redrafting the assignments and proofreading. You can check the assessment method on the webpage for each module.

He trawled through all the courses and made a shortlist of the ones which had no exams or group projects. It's quite a short list but he does have an interest in the subject so it's worked out for him! I think the maths/science subjects tended to have exams though.

It allows me to provide more support with assessments and I help him with planning and redrafting the assignments and proofreading.

Does the OU realise you’re doing this? it’s the sort of thing I’d expect him to use a study mentor for, not a family member, and he needs to be careful help doesn’t tip into academic misconduct.