Anyone Here Studied With The Open University?

Aaaaah, thank you!

I’m definitely more of an independent learner, so group working for me was a huge struggle at school. Glad that you made a good friend!

Well done.

I didn't thrive in education until I took online only, like the OU--I wish I had done it sooner! I have been working on my degree off/on since 2005. I didn't realize until the last two years that I was self-disciplined enough to do online only bc I always did terrible in the online offered college classes. This semester, I've finished 11 classes & will earn my degree by April-end. I HIGHLY recommend online only education. 

Personally, I quite like being with other students. I just can't handle social plus academic demands together - can't make the routine work that way.

The OU does by it's very nature allow for solitary, independent study. And I do prefer to my assignments to be MY work alone. Some courses at brick unis require collaborative submissions - nop! Not for me.

I did make one good friend at an OU tutorial (they are generally very small groups btw). She lived quite near me, so we used to have girl's night out in a pub once every assignment cycle, to have a pint and swap notes and talk about the central themes of the unit. We enjoyed bouncing ideas off eachother.

I’m the exact same with your brick Uni experience. Lots of assignments but not a comfortable atmosphere to be surrounded with over 100 people in a lecture. Thanks so much for your reply- very helpful!

I’ve done a ton of free courses as well but on FutureLearn and EDX. I’ve done some reading on OU free courses but not tried one yet! Thanks.

That’s great to know! Thank you.

I’m not the best at time management but maybe doing a degree is the right thing to get better at that? The trips away do scare me however since my chronic condition is unpredictable. Thanks for replying, really helpful! 

Hi there,

I'm still waiting for a diagnosis, but I can fully recommend the OU and I think I particularly like them because it so suits those who need to be doing one thing at time and like to hyper focus...

I did my first degree the old fashioned way, but didn't particularly do myself justice.  I could never balance the social distractions with the 101 assignments all coming in simultaneously for different deadlines.  Either I turned in minor assignments, I'd spent a week doing, and got a first, scraped by with something substandard, or didn't do them at all. I did OK, but not what I am capable of.

Subsequently, I've done a post-graduate diploma with the OU and another undergraduate qualification and got straight distinctions.   They are brilliant!  What I really liked was the fact that each course is built unit by unit.  Only ever ONE assignment to think about at a time and I found my study rhythm quite easily.  I had my little routines, reading on my commute and lunch times, writing from my son went to bed to the small hours of the morning... 

Mind you, they say each student would spend 15 hours per week on a unit - errrr...I spent double, at least.  I am dyslexic, so reading time is tad longer, but I think it was all the detail digging and analysis until I was confident of my conclusions that went into each carefully crafted submission that took the time.  I'd never let the assignment go, until the 11th hour ... I'd be checking it over and over until then.

The quality of the materials and the tutors is first rate.  I understand that they also offer good support for students with disabilities, albeit I never availed myself of that.

The sad thing is that until they introduced tuition fees, their courses used to be quite affordable.  Now they are much more expensive.

Hope that helps.  Good luck and enjoy!

I have only done some of the free courses.  List of free Open University courses here:

https://www.open.edu/openlearn/science-maths-technology/free-courses

Have you looked any of these that are in your field of study?  It would be a way of trying out studying with the O.U. to see if it suits you,without having to make a big commitment.

I am an OU veteran.

I started doing their courses in the 1990s when prices were low.  The printed materials were first rate and we had tutor support, by telephone, also optional live tutorials at local colleges at weekends.

Even after I completed a degree with them, I continued taking courses.

The academic standard is as good as a normal university because there is a constant flow of staff between the OU and traditional brick universities.

I’m with the Open University and have been studying an Engineering degree for 3 years. I am autistic and have a depression, anxiety and I suspect ADD. I’m 24. I love it. Don’t think I could have managed at a traditional brick university. 
Of course you need to be good at managing your own time and need to be someone who is good at self teaching but those are the positives for me. There is the ability to interact socially if you wish and there is forthcoming support for disabilities. 
For my course we do have to participate in 2 residential schools that involve going away for a week and taking part in practical activities with other students. I haven’t had mine yet because of covid but it is clear that they are accommodating for those with disabilities and my understanding is you can get assigned someone from the OU who will support you on site. 
I love not being in a class room (often find the pace too slow), being able to chose when to study and it means I can work full time also. 

hope that gives you an overview but if you have anymore questions then let me know :-)