Open university any good?

[fluffynotebook]

Hi there,
Wondered if anyone can help? I'm looking at doing a certificate in higher education for children and families with the OU and wondered if anyone had any experience of studying with them?
It would be perfect for fitting in with the DC and working etc but I was looking online last night and a lot of people have bad reviews! Now I'm not sure what to do.
Anyone had a good experience?
Thanks.

I have recently completed my studies with the OU, gaining both a BA (Hons) Early years and a MA Childhood & Youth with them. I started my undergraduate journey with them 8 years ago so am not up to date with how it is for current students at that level. I found most of the experience to be good, although tutorials will now be all online, the tutors are usually approachable.

@badgerhead Thanks for taking the time to reply. That's really good to know.

I know several people who have studied with them for degrees. I know several who are studying right now. All have been happy with the experience but all say you must be organised to fit in the study. Good luck. It will be a good experience.

I studied with them starting in 2011. I was under the old fee structure, in fact one year I got a grant as I was on a low income. I liked the tutorials as well. In the later years I studied with them (from about 2014 onwards ) , they became a bit of a shadow of their former selves.

Previously, the tutorials had been in buildings in city/town centres but they moved my ones to a place that wasn’t the easiest place to get to without a car and cost a lot in fares. They switched from Royal Mail to Yodel to deliver books, meaning if I wasn’t in, instead of walking round the corner to the post office, I’d have had to go to a warehouse in the middle of nowhere (would have cost me > £50 in taxis). Their fees also shot up, meaning that their original aim of allowing those who hadn’t had the chance to study when they were the usual age was gone as now, I believe you have to pay upfront or take on a student loan, which is what stops many people going to uni in the traditional way.

I ended up with a diploma and I did enjoy my four years overall, but I don’t think I’d do it now.

Thank you for your replies. Very useful to know.