If anyone else is working full time while studying through Open Uni...

[maristella]

How do you fit it all in???

I'm starting to feel daunted

I'm doing a 30 credit course from May until Oct. Am I right that this will require approx 16 hours of study every week? Also am I right in that if the course finishes in Oct it will actually finish by Oct 1st?

I'm going to request that I do all my working hours over 4 days but I've been told not to hold out too much hope, which is a shame because it would have been great to have an entire day to study.

Please tell me how you survive....

Well I'm not sure, I will be full time from April and am doing a 60 point course. YIKES.

May be a good idea to ask MNHQ to move this to student parents board :)

Ahh ok, I will, thanks.

Was hoping to catch some of the steady stream of traffic

I'm hoping to start a 60 point course in Sept (hence the Q about finish dates)

It's going to be quite a while before I can have any sort of a life again isn't it? Lord only knows how holidays will fit into this.....

Hi,

Both myself and my DH study with the OU - he works full time, I'm a SAHM (but due to ages of my 3 boys I can't do any study through the day). It is do-able. 30 credits usually works out to about 10ish hours a week but thats for courses running over 8/9 months so if you course only runs over 4 months 16 hours sounds about right.

DH did a very intensive 60 credit course last year (Oct-Jun) and he found it tough going but still managed to get a distinction. The end date would depend on whether there is an exam or just an EMA. Exams are usually around the 3rd week in October and EMA submission dates vary.

It is hard going and we both have moments when we want to give up but it feels great to finish a couse and finally pass. My advice would be to make a start as soon as you get the materials through, don't wait til the official start date. By getting ahead you have a lot more leeway (sp?) and are less likely to get in a panic near the end! It has worked for us - that way we also manage to have some nights off. DS3 is just 12 weeks and still feeds a lot so I rarely get anything done on weekday evenings - that's DH's study time, and he entertains the boys on a Saturday so I can get on in between feeds.

Good luck!

I have been studying with the OU for 5 years now and should be writing a bloody essay now but only working part-time with 2 children. It is do-able, and the 16hrs is a guide - I never do that much unless it is TMA week, and it only takes so long because I am queen of procrastination

I couldn't do it without my DH though - he is quite literally a lifesaver, both for me and the kids!

What are you studying?

No Dharma I am the queen of procrastination!!!

Wow toomuch that sounds really full on, you must both be non stop!

I think you've both highlighted what I'm worried about. I'm a single parent with teenage DS and I'm worried about the impact on him. The only way to reduce that would be to study evenings, and then all evening on weekends. That's really daunting

I think it may be easier with a teenager though, but that's because I am under the impression that all teenagers do is play on the playstation

Give it a go, a 30 pointer should be slightly less work easily doable on week evenings which should give you time off for dating other stuff at the weekend

Yes, it should be SOOO much easier now DS is a teen. I was studying when he was at infant school and it was a total nightmare!

i work full time nights!!!!and starting two 30 credits course from may D240 level 2 and k342 level 3..honestly i havnot got a clue how all this works or how the exams work???i just thought i will work hard...but as the materials arrive it has frightened me.!!!www.mumsnet.com/te/3.gif

....basically other than work i havenot got anything else to do...(mum looks after my toddler)....so i thought i could manage..plz help me guys with some information on how this works!!!!do we study all the contents of books ..???how do the TMAs work??plz help guys!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I start a 60 credit course in October and am hoping to be back to work by then too, so watching this thread with interest.

awww ....but one 60 credits module is much better than two 30 credits one!!so i am sure u will b ok....i am
in a bad situation..wish i hadnot started two modules at once...:(

I work 28 hours a week and am doing a 60 credit course, working towards a BA Humanities. It is really hard work. I got behind at the outset and have never managed to catch up. Fortunately my tutor is really understanding about giving extensions for my assignments, but I'm dreading the exam in June as there is hardly any time between the last assignment hand-in and the exam date. I have no idea when I'm going to fit in the revision.

I've taken annual leave this week to try and catch up, but am still about two chapters behind on the course work and feeling very frustrated.

Someone above mentioned studying with teenagers. Well, I have a fifteen year old and I have to say it is a lot harder now than it was when I started (she was about 10-11 then). Problem with teenagers is they don't go to bed, so my evening study time is gone. Also my DD is raging with hormones and very argumentative, which I find emotionally draining sometimes, so when I do have a spare hour I find myself doing something 'mindless' like coming on MN, rather than studying.

I hope I haven't put anyone off! Next module I'm going to start earlier (as soon as the course books arrive) and try to begin with a proper study strategy rather than the somewhat ad hoc approach I've had up until now. I know it can be done...