want to do degree - is OU the best option or are there other good places. Want a degree from a reputable & recongised/recongisable institution

[dreamsofsea]

Mind you, I found the OU website incomprehensible, so think my brain has turned to mush, so having 2nd thoughts! Is the application process generally more complicated than the degree itself or have my pregnancies destroyed alll remnants of brain?

Do you normally attend the occasional weekend? If so, I'd need something close to London. Anyone got experience of distance learning places. Am considering theology. Thanks.

ps is it generally referred to as online learning, distance learning, coreespondance course.... You can see I'm new to this

There are many overseas students and online tutorials

I'm in Ireland myself

the main starting points are early in the new year and autumn, other than residential or short courses. If you decide to aim for the Open degree i think you can do short courses towards it so you might find something starting sooner with the added benefit that it would ease you back into studying a bit more gently.

short course great idea. I found one starting in February, but already closed Will try to find something else, thanks for tip. Makes lot of sense. summerrain, do you attend anything at all being in Ireland, or it it 100% distant learning? ANy weekends or assessments?

there are tutorials but last year ds2 was too young for me to spend all day away from him and the first one for my S250 course is in Belfast which is just completely unfeasible for me to travel to.

My other course isn't doing face to face tutorials as the tutor reckons we're too spread out and no one would come (not that she consulted us first)

All the assessments are electronic so I just submit them via studenthome and my tutor posts them back up for me when they're corrected.

I would recommend phoning the OU instead - maybe the student registration and enquiries service number? They are usually very kind and helpful. I've had outrageously long chats with them before as I planned my studies.

I'm halfway through a maths degree with them :)

And in London there is a fairly high concentration of tutorial venues, obviously depends on subject. I go to Croydon a lot.

For some courses though, I have managed without attending any tutorials.

I thoroughly recommend the OU.
On my third course with them now. A much better choice financially too.

With the level 1 courses you can really take it at your own pace and if you can't attend tutorials it isn't the end of the world. If you are based in London then guaranteed whatever course you do there will be tutors who hold tutorials centrally, these are usually once a month.

I find most of the people I have met on my courses are parents, many have young kids or are on maternity leave too so it is definitely possible to juggle with children.

Just have a good browse of the website, if you are still unsure then you can make an appointment to visit your nearest regional centre and sit down and look through all the materials for every course. This maybe a bit time consuming but will help you get a feel for what is expected and what the workload is like.

Also, if you have an iphone there is an app with the full prospectus on there so you can browse on the go.

I cannot sing their praises enough, I would tell anybody of any age to study with them.

Good luck