Open University or Access to Higher Education?

[ApplepieSnapplepie]

Brief back story:
I'm a late thirties single parent with no previous qualifications. I've been self employed for the past decade with some success but due to a combination of things (mostly Brexit) it's becoming more and more difficult, something which will only accelerate over time, and I'm looking for a change. I've taken up a low paid, part time job in the charity sector, doing admin, data entry and other menial tasks, but I really feel that I have more to offer than this.

I believe that not having any qualifications is holding me back and it's always been a dream of mine to have a degree. I was quite academic in school but had lots of problems at home and no motivation or ambition, went in to work and have just drifted from one job to another since. I've always done well in my jobs but have lacked a sense of direction and gone for whatever has seemed practical at the time.

I'm looking at Open University and perhaps doing a degree in Philosophy and Psychological studies. (I have no idea if this is a good choice of degree?)
I could then start in September and hopefully manage to support myself on my self employed income. I am thinking I could follow this with a masters at a bricks and mortar university, as I am concerned that Open University doesn't quite have the same status when applying for work. I could be completely wrong on that one...

The other option is to spend a year doing an access course and then applying to a bricks and mortar university (perhaps doing a psychology degree if I can manage that!). Attending face to face lectures and tutorials really appeals to me, I'm very sociable and love a good discussion. However, I'm also aware that I'd be studying with people half my age and that I'd be spending a lot of my time travelling to and from the university (I live in London) and would have less flexibility for my self employed work and parenting.

I'm not entirely sure what I'd ultimately like to end up doing with my life. I'm interested in social issues, human behaviour, politics and working with people in general etc. I'm very entrepreneurial and a natural communicator. I would love to work within the charity sector, which is partly why I took on the part time job.

I'm very much at a loss about what to do. I've been going back and forth about this for a few years now. Time is ticking, I'm pushing forty and no closer to figuring out my career. I'm starting to feel that it would be better for me to just do something, anything, and at least be on a path!

I would really like to do something meaningful with my life, have some job security as I age and also be a role model to my DC, showing them that education is important and achievable (which I not how I was brought up). Any input or advice is much appreciated!

I've no experience of OU but I do have experience of doing an access course in my 30's and going on to do a degree at a bricks and mortar uni. The access course was the best thing I ever did, genuinely (apart from my kids I guess lol). I loved it. It stretched me, it helped me get into thinking academically and it gave me the confidence to do a degree (then a MRes and now a PhD - am an eternal student I fear 🤣)

Studying with people half your age won't be an issue unless you make it an issue lol. And there'll always be other mature students - I found we naturally gravitated to each other, but I also got on well with the younger ones too (and some were close in age to my kids)

My degree was in psychology and although it definitely opened some doors for me, in terms of transferable skills etc, it didn't really guarantee a better job at the end unlike social work or nursing degrees did. So I'd just caution on that.

Good luck with whatever you decide 😊

National Careers Service

UCAS

Have you read everything relevant on both of these sites, OP? If not, trying some of the NCS quizzes and following links on UCAS might help to clarify things a little.

(Can’t help with your specific question but am sure others can.)

Also, don’t know if you’ve seen this thread:

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/mature_students/4365554-Open-University

Might be useful. I think there are a few other threads on Psychology degrees, too.

I'd think more about the outcome you want, perhaps as a pp said, a degree with a vocational aspect or a clear progression into a career might be more likely to lead where you want. It sounds like you'd do great academically but there are many graduates doing the type of job you're already doing, research into where your degree will lead and choose your course carefully.

A lot of colleges do the open access courses. Why not drop in and chat to those who know what the steps are and discuss what you’re looking for. It’s a lot of money to get wrong!

I did an access course in my 30s, while mothering small DC, and then went onto a degree and loved it! Honestly, university is wasted on the young .

They have no idea what a luxury it is to be spending time in a place where you don't need to work to get paid, you're there to expand your mind, learn stuff, develop. It's wonderful!

I'm not going to lie, though, it was hard work. If you want to parent, work and study, it's going to be tough, time-wise. Depending on how much you need to work, it's doable, just don't expect to have any kind of social life or even keep up with TV while you're studying!

How old are your DC? I went to a university with a nursery onsite and we travelled in together, that helped.

I made some good friends at university, despite being so much older than most of them. There was a huge difference in maturity level between the students who'd gone straight from school and those who'd been out in the real world, even for a couple of years. I remember a 21 year old friend of mine saying exactly this - she felt like she had more in common with me than the 18 year olds, she felt worlds apart from them as she knew why she was at uni, she felt motivated.

You may well end up making friends with the mature and more studious students in your cohort - not implying they'll be less fun! (mine were great fun) but that they, like you, will be there to learn, not to go piss about and party.

All universities lose a lot of students after the first year as they decide it's not for them. (I had to remind myself not to judge them as that was exactly me aged 18!)

Could you move to be near a university? If not, then which universities are easy for you to get to?

That might be a starting point - have a look at their courses and see if anything appeals to you particularly. And see when they do their open days. Lots of them are doing online open days as well as in person ones I think.

I’ve done both. An OU Business Management degree and an online Access which has put me in a bricks and mortar university doing Midwifery. I’d definitely suggest doing something with more of a career at the end of it if you are looking for progression

OP, before you embark on it, consider all the logistics, particularly if you are in receipt of benefits as you may lose eligibility for some benefits when you start receiving student loans.

How to pay for transport and child care should be at the top of your mind. The big question is, can I afford this right now? Sometimes it makes sense to wait until the kids are in school as then childcare is more manageable, do also pay attention to transport costs as they can become prohibitive if you are not close enough.

The OU is great, I often used their resources when doing my PG degrees because they were very well prepared, but the OU is not for everyone: You need to ensure you have enough self discipline to succeed (you will need a lot working on your own). They are accessible courses but that doesn’t translate to an “easy degree”. You will be expected to devote at least 14 hours a week for independent study if you are part time or 28 if you are full time. People who graduate from the OU get a lot of respect from academic staff. In the words of a PG admissions tutor: whoever who can commit to it and carry it through alone for such long years can succeed at anything they try.

If you want to move to a bricks and mortar Uni, you may be better off taking the access course but decide first what you want to study and where as not all access courses have the right components for all degrees so it is always a good idea to check with the uni if the access course you want to take is considered for by the uni for the degree you want to study.

OU’s courses are structured in different ways to ensure you can start without qualifications so, I’m some cases, it is not easy to transfer to another university. But they have a scheme called OpenPlus which allows you to progress into 2nd year of some universities/programmes if you complete 1 or 2 years of distance learning.

Good advice to think of the opportunities, but just to caution against doing anything like nursing while parenting and working.

A friend stayed with me while she did her nursing degree. There is NO WAY I could have done that while parenting or working, let alone both. You have to be available for placement, you don't get to choose where, what time etc. They don't get long holidays like other degrees. And, it was an insane amount of work.

OP, before you embark on it, consider all the logistics, particularly if you are in receipt of benefits as you may lose eligibility for some benefits when you start receiving student loans

Yes, but you may also be eligible for student loans and you need to balance it.

Good advice to work out what you'll be entitled to, but you need to speak to someone who understands about student finance to know what you're eligible for.

Worth checking as I know it's changed since then, but there were different pockets of money (for me, tax credits for childcare, some one off payment, I forget what it was, student loan etc).

It made a significant difference whether I was full time or part time in terms of what I was eligible for.

I'm mid thirties and coming towards the end of an access course (psychology, sociology and English lit) it's been a breeze, I'm expecting a shock when I get to uni.
I'm doing English lit at uni which isn't job focused but I rather self indulgently couldn't bare not studying it anymore. Good Luck!

Highly recommend open uni

Reputation wise OU is very well respected. I did my degree full time at uni but my masters was done distance learning through a bricks and mortar uni. I missed the interaction doing my masters and found I often did enough to pass my essays but didn't develop the wider aspects than if I had been physically there. It also took quite a bit of self motivation. People I know that have done access courses have said it's a good way to get back into studying.

I did a certificate of higher education with the OU then moved on to Bricks and Mortar uni for 2nd year you could see if you could do that ?

Worth noting lots of unis now do the bulk of their learning online if it's really important for you to actually attend research how much of the course is offered online. I pay 9250 a year for mostly online and the OU I believe is much cheaper

@planningtomakeaplan

OP, before you embark on it, consider all the logistics, particularly if you are in receipt of benefits as you may lose eligibility for some benefits when you start receiving student loans

Yes, but you may also be eligible for student loans and you need to balance it.

Good advice to work out what you'll be entitled to, but you need to speak to someone who understands about student finance to know what you're eligible for.

Worth checking as I know it's changed since then, but there were different pockets of money (for me, tax credits for childcare, some one off payment, I forget what it was, student loan etc).

It made a significant difference whether I was full time or part time in terms of what I was eligible for.

Yep, things have changed a lot, some time years ago being in receipt of student loans made you ineligible for tax credits. Universal credit has replaced tax credits and considers student loans income for entitlement calculation. There is help available for students in the form of hardship grants but, only if the circumstances couldn’t have been foreseen at the time of entry but then, that may have also changed by now.

There is some advice at www.turn2us.org.uk/Benefit-guides/Student-Support/How-does-student-support-affect-benefits

Like others, absolutely loved my access course, felt so ready for uni and appeared to be much less overwhelmed than the school leavers on my course.

What qualifications have you already got? I'm currently studying an access diploma, despite having previous qualifications up to a Masters, as it is so long wince I studied. I'm doing the access course through distance learning which was far cheaper and more flexible than attending a local college. however I've not been that impressed by the support or the course materials and I think seeing people face to face more often may have been a better option. I'm hoping to get a place at Uni this September. Be aware that UCAS applications have a January deadline. (Though I'm not sure if people can still et in after that through clearing for example). I've chosen a practical course with a bursary and work placements with an idea to a specific career at the end.

'since' though wince is very appropriate too!

I'm an Environmental Health Officer. Best job in the world. I retrained mid life.
I have to be honest from my foundation cohort all the Environmental Health pathway walked straight into fairly well paid job. The psychology cohort didn't. I'd look for a vocational degree.

I’m in the final year of my OU degree and it’s opened a lot of doors and that’s before even finishing.

You can sit A-Levels as an external candidate and go straight into university. I'd never have had the patience to do an Access course

But it’s so hard to self-motivate if one is studying alone. And A’ Level tuition is expensive if you take that route.

I have no experience of Access courses though!