OU degree

[Cowsontheloose]

Hi all.

I am educated to GCSE level. I have a few NVQs also. I have always worked minimum wage/unskilled jobs. Still do. Currently a domestic cleaner working 16 hours a week.
My dd has just started secondary school and I have a bit more time on my hands. I considered finding a 25/30 hour a week job but I am currently considering doing a degree with the Open University.

I am nearly 40. Am I way off the mark here? Has anyone started this late?
I dont want to do manual work until I'm 67. I will do college courses as needed until I can start the degree. Any advice? Good and bad are welcome.

Any idea with student financing? My DH earns £60k but we are really only just managing so whatever I could get, I would apply.

They used to be really good for people who hadn’t been able to go onto FE/HE for financial reasons. The courses were at most a few hundred, then they changed and it’s 9k, same as going to a traditional uni. I did a qualification with them under the old system, one year I got a grant from them as my earnings were so low.

I don’t think what you get offers value for money now; I used to get actual textbooks and DVDs, towards the end of my time, everything was going on line. Five/six tutorials a year in no way represents value for the fees now.

It is more expensive than it was, but easy to access you don't have to go anywhere and you can study in your own time, Go for it if you can afford it. OK a lot is now online and you don't get physical books, but it's all there.

I completed my degree through the OU.
You won't need to do any college courses beforehand as you don't need any qualifications to be accepted.
You will also be able to claim student finance. You can only claim for tuition fees that will be paid directly to the OU. You can't get a maintenance loan unless you're in Scotland, or disabled if you're in England or Wales.
When you sign up you can choose to complete your degree part time over 6 years or full time over 3 years. But when you apply for student finance it will still be classed as part time.

Firstly, you're actually young for OU! When I studied with them I'd say 70% of each cohort was retired. It's been a while but I loved my experience there.

What I would say though is to shop around carefully and check student reviews etc. Since Covid, lots of unis have got much better at online courses and it may be distance-learning at a traditional uni is a better fit. Or indeed, a combination of in-person and distance. But I would definitely say to go for it.

It's £6,924 per 120 credits at the OU compared to £9,250 at a campus uni. Same eligibility for tuition loans.

Their access modules are also free for some people.

https://www.open.ac.uk/courses/do-it/access

I stand corrected, but it’s still bloody expensive compared to what it used to be. I started in 2010 so not that long ago. No way would I be able to afford it now.

I didn't know this about traditional universities, I will have a look round. Live fairly close to 3 or 4 so I will definitely look

Just to note, If by any chance you’re in Wales or Scotland fees are around £2,100 for 120 credits (part time would be £1050ish). I’ve just graduated with an OU degree and at my graduation I’d say more than half of graduates looked to be older than 46 (your age now plus 6 years of part time study) so definitely not too old! Best thing I’ve done 😊

Well done.

What's next for you?

I'm gonna reasrch properly tomorrow buy good to get some info beforehand

Definitely not old. I started a degree last year with the OU and I turn 40 next month. I work in Education already, so the degree is for me at the moment and what comes of it is later down the line.
If its something you want to do then go and do it 🙂

I am studying part time with the OU, working towards a psychology degree. I applied for funding from SAAS so my fees are fully funded.

Go for it, it's the best thing I have ever done. I am in my 40s (have a degree from years ago at a bricks uni) and needed a degree I could do flexibly from home to work around family life.

You won't regret it.

Hi! I’m currently studying with the OU and my classes are a total mix of ages and backgrounds, it’s really varied so you’re definitely not too old. I’ve seen a few PP say it’s all online but I have physical textbooks for my course material as well as online materials. I find the set up really good for me and they really help structure your studies. I am quite an anxious person and find this suits me much better than going to a bricks and mortar uni (tried that, not for me). I did an access course first to see how I found it then applied for my degree which I strongly recommend. It was a great way of learning how the OU operates and finding my feet with academic writing and reading again. Good luck, OP!