Was it worth going to University?

I studied part-time at three different unis, three times, for my undergraduate degree, PGCE and Masters. Although I wasn’t able to work full time all the rest of the time, university was definitely worthwhile. It broadened my outlook, improved self-esteem and helped me grow as a person. It helped me gain employment in the area I wanted to work in.

I’m happiest when I’m studying for the sake of studying and I would love to return to university for further study. 

ArchaeC said:

I’m happiest when I’m studying for the sake of studying

I guess many of us are like this. I wish they'd publish the whole course content [perhaps they do??] so you can study from an informed point of view. I would love to study archaeology and the art of gardening this way.

I haven’t looked recently but the OU website used to have a section with old course books for sale. They mightn’t even use books nowadays and they don’t do complete undergraduate Archaeology courses. I don’t know of gardening courses.  If you would be interested in a short basic course, these might be of interest. In fact, there are loads of other free university short courses when I searched, but I think you might be looking for a complete undergraduate degree course, followed perhaps by a Masters! 

https://lifelong-learning.ox.ac.uk/courses/archaeology-in-practice-online?code=O25P644AHV

https://www.futurelearn.com/subjects/history-courses/archaeology#:~:text=Topics%20related%20to%20Archaeology

https://www.york.ac.uk/study/moocs/exploring-stone-age/

The Oxford University course is expensive, but there is a good grant scheme for certain groups of people that might cover all or some of the fees. Otherwise there is very little online that would give a grounding in the basics of archaeology and the techniques used. There are lots of specialisms within archaeology. Nowadays it is so much more than destructive digging. 

I did my first degree with the OU before it needed much tech knowledge. Books, cassettes and course materials arrived by post and my essays were handwritten. They didn’t have any archaeology courses back then, maybe they still don’t, unless they do short free courses.

I think all universities nowadays would require people to have tech skills, even if they are doing in person courses. Tech has allowed more UK universities to offer distance or semi-distance courses in lots of different specialisms, although archaeology requires people to participate in person for many elements.

I've never found anything at the OU that I've wanted to study, I wouldn't get on with having to study over summer anyway and the tech side of it would be way to much for me to cope with.

I've never found anything at the OU that I've wanted to study, I wouldn't get on with having to study over summer anyway and the tech side of it would be way to much for me to cope with.

I did my first degree with the OU before it needed much tech knowledge. Books, cassettes and course materials arrived by post and my essays were handwritten. They didn’t have any archaeology courses back then, maybe they still don’t, unless they do short free courses.

I think all universities nowadays would require people to have tech skills, even if they are doing in person courses. Tech has allowed more UK universities to offer distance or semi-distance courses in lots of different specialisms, although archaeology requires people to participate in person for many elements.