Open University - idiots guide

[medianewbie]

Any advice please ?
I'm interested in creative writing, Psychology (only y1 / low level as I hate statistics!), religion & philosophy / history of ideas.
Not very confident as last time I studied (1997) was at HND level.

I've not studied with OU so can't help but bumping for you op.

I'm part way through a MSc with the Open University, and have found that it does pretty much what it says it does on the tin.

It's geared up for distance learning, they can offer you guidance about what qualification to do based on your previous educational experience etc, it's pretty flexible. In my experience, the tutors are very receptive if you email them with a query or problem.

Try one of the short courses first (the 15 pointers) and definitely get their study skills book, as it is useful outside any qualifications.

Undergrad or postgrad?

It worked brilliantly for me. I did mine over 4 years, wish I'd just done it over 3. You get some modules with brilliant resources and others with pretty much bugger all. You get some tutors that are amazing and will absolutely do everything to help you understand something to others that feck off on holiday most of the term, especially at tma/ema/exam time and not reply ever (Martin, are your ears burning?).

What advice are you looking for?

The OU is very good at guiding you through what they want, in terms of assessments, particularly in the Level 1 courses. I don't mean it's easy, especially if you haven't don't uni-level before, but it's designed knowing that lots of people have been out of education for many years

You can study an Open degree, meaning you can choose whatever you want at each level (so in level 1 you cannot do level 2 modules). Or you can choose a specific degree pathway. It depends what your purpose of studying is.

Psychology has lots of modules with no stats. If you do a psychology BA there's none (rather than BSc).

There are free courses you can do and there are access courses. I'm not sure what suits you but honestly, far more people are able to do a degree than think they are and the OU is really set up to facilitate that - but not by lowering standards.

I studied at a "red brick" uni for my first degree. It was good but I have to say that the OU has been brilliant. Not perfect, mind, but I don't believe any system is perfect. I'd highly recommend the OU though, especially if you've been out of (any) education for a while.

I did a psychology degree and absolutely loved it OP. The learning materials were fantastic. They talked you through how to write an essay, how to critique an academic study, how to conduct an experiment. Right down to basics. There was a lot of choice of options and I really enjoyed the summer schools (although I don't know if they do these any more). I found the feedback you get on your work generally pretty comprehensive so you knew how to improve. I wasn't ever fed up with writing my assignments. I've never felt so motivated in doing an academic course (and I've done loads!). As for the statistics, it's a very small part of the course overall, so I wouldn't be put off just because of that.

I did a natural sciences degree, I found it refreshed and built up my study skills well, I'd estimate the difficulty matched to something as below.
Module 1 = GCsE
Module 2 = A level
Module 3 = brick uni year 1
Module 4 = brick uni year 2
Module 5 & 6 = brick uni year 3
Level 1 modules (1 & 2) have to be passed but dont contribute to your final grade whereas the others do.

The OU Open Learn platform has lots of free courses that you can try that gives you a good idea as to how the modules are taught as most of the free courses are archived ones.

It was worth doing more because of it being a talking point at interviews but some of the skills learnt doing the tasks directly contributed to the job I'm in now which is great.

I am enrolled to do a BSc Psychology with Counselling degree through the OU. This is my first time doing distance learning, over twenty years since doing a degree so it's a long time since I was last a student 🤣

I am starting to feel a bit nervous but I think this will do my confidence wonders and hopefully a good way to get to know other like minded people.

I did a part time MA through ou. The resources were up to date and I could work through them in my own time. My tutor in the first year was uncontactable, disinterested and gave unclear feedback. The tutor in my second year was amazing. I would do another qualification with them but I would have more confidence asking to change tutor earlier. Good luck.

thank you all for replying.

I am not looking to further my career. I am a Carer so could only do p/t study but want to do something 'else' with my brain now.
I'd like to study peoples beliefs / religion / parapsychology / neurodiversity / trauma as these are the things I find most interesting / have had experience of.

I completed my first degree (Criminology and Psychology) with the OU and I'm just about to start the second module towards my second degree (Psychology with Counselling). I started with some introductory courses when my children were babies as a way to keep my brain engaged, one course lead to another. I've also completed quite a few of the free courses they offer in between degree modules, they're great for giving you a taster of the subjects and courses.

I am away to start my 5th year of a PT degree with OU. What do you want to know?

@freetheunicorn1 - am I too late for this year ? I should qualify for (Scottish) p/t funding but it takes 28 days. Do I have to pay up front though?

Not quite but it is close. I think the 7th September is the deadline!

But some courses start in April as well.

I have just finished a short course called Childhood in the digital age. About to start a forensic science one and also MSE academy of money. All free. It's a good way to gain some knowledge whilst waiting on the module to begin.

I applied for SAAS funding back in June. It only took one week to be approved.

Sorry missed the funding question. I had one year paid by SAAS and I never paid it up front, I just filled in the forms. But I think you would be too late for that. Send both SAAS and OU a message and ask.

Usually it is not until late October that students are deregistered if their finance hasn't come through so hopefully still time.

The core psychology modules for a BPS accredited degree will have stats in them, so a degree which avoids those modules will not enable you to work as a psychologist - which sounds fine for you. Be very clear from the start that you are not interested in it as a career, you should be able to avoid most stats on a psychological studies degree. I think there is a philosophy and psychology pathway too, that has some stats though at level 1. You might though find that the open degree is more flexible. Do bear in mind that you will still need to show an understanding of methods even in the other psychology modules.

Thank you @lastminutetutor
I may not manage this year as I'm busy trying to sort my Ds' University issues but I've decided...
I want to do a p/t degree in Theology at Edinburgh. For this I need recent evidence of study at an appropriate level.

I actually did 1st Yr Psy many moons ago (1991!) & managed to pass that so I guess that would be the simplist option?

How are you getting on @vettrianofan?
This is the course I am most interested in at the moment. I have no experience of OU, wouldn't consider myself academic and haven't studied for 20 years!
I have only just applied for my prospectus. Initially was thinking I could study part time at a local college but that doesn't seem to be an option for me.
No specific question, just generally wondering how you are finding it so far?