Open University

I’m sorry that you regret doing it - and thanks for sharing your experience. 

I think OU study is oficially all part time, its up to you how many modules you do, but you won't get any of the benefits of full time study

Oh that’s positive sounding Kate. 

Some of the traditional universities offer better support than they used to for students doing distance and/or part time courses. I have only postgraduate experience of other universities from years back but I just thought I’d mention it in case your son hadn’t considered their distance options.

Thank you and condolences. 

I lost my dad many years ago and have never stopped missing him.

Kate Kestrel said:

Did you fund your studies using Student Finance? Was it a degree that you were doing? 

I didn't have student finance. 

I don't remember there being any available but I was working full time. 

I had very little money at the time, was single and paying a mortgage on an admin salary, so it was a huge cost investment. 

Yes a first degree.

I would rather I hadn't done it as it lead nowhere per my earlier posts.

Hi B - thanks for your reply - and sorry about the loss of you Dad. I lost my Dad last year and it really takes a long time to process it all doesn’t it? It makes it hard to think straight sometimes. Did you fund your studies using Student Finance? Was it a degree that you were doing? 

Hi - thanks for this - it’s really helpful. Can I ask : are you studying your course part time or full time? I can imagine studying alongside work would be challenging - that’s a lot. Hope you get good support as you continue :) 

Its remote study, at home with no campus you have to go too, thats what makes it open.

I've looked numerous times at OU courses and found the choice very poor, there's nothing I would consider doing the last time I looked. Study is also over the summer, which put me off, summer is for being outside in the garden not inside studying, or for me it is at least and I love to study and read.

One of the reasons it's set over the summer are because many of the tutors come from other universities and OU is a summer sideline.

All that being said there are many people who study with them and love it, I guess it depends on what you want to study and how well motivated you are, and how much you know about the subject you've chosen.

SilmarilCritter said:

What I will say is that their degrees are a large time commitment and I've at times found that very stressful. I already have a degree so thought it'd be manageable but studying alongside work is har

I agree.

I was working when I did mine.

I gave up on two courses because it was too much with deadlines etc (and my dad passed away).

This meant a large financial loss as there was no refund available. 

Hi there, I'm half way through an undergraduate course at the Open Uni. This is my first year knowing I have autism so I'm not sure right now how helpful the uni will be, however I've been in touch with them and they've said they'll take this into account with deadline extensions etc. I haven't had a grant (relied on loans) but I've applied for DSA this year so I'm waiting to see what I'm entitled to for that. What I will say is that their degrees are a large time commitment and I've at times found that very stressful. I already have a degree so thought it'd be manageable but studying alongside work is hard.

I've never heard of an open university before.  What is it that makes it open?

Thanks Jay - that’s really encouraging to hear (about the support). Yes - the student finance aspect is intimidating- and far from ideal. But I don’t want our anxiety about that to prevent my son from trying this as it might well be a really good option for him. I tried to phone Student Finance today to ask some questions and the wait to speak to someone was so long that in the end I had to give up and put the phone down! Not an encouraging sign! When I was at a Polytechnic many many years ago it was all free - we didn’t realise how luck we were at the time! 

Thanks for sharing your experience - i’m sorry that happened in your case. We’re trying to find out all we can because we don’t want my son to take out a student loan if this isn’t the right thing for him. Having said that he’s keen to continue learning and I think finding paid work is something he doesn’t feel ready for yet (and finding a job for anyone is far from easy let’s face it). So continuing education seems like a good idea. 

Thanks Zac - I really wish you luck if you decide to go ahead and apply to the OU! My son is thinking he’s probably going to do this - i think it could suit him. 

Thanks - I’m glad that your experience was a positive one. I spoke to someone from the OU today about the support offered and the person I spoke to was extremely nice and said they were really committed to help disabled students in every way they can. She was very encouraging. 

Thanks for sharing this - and I’m sorry his experience was so poor. 

As OU is oficially classed as a part time course there is no financial help at all, you can't even get student discounts on council tax. WHat support you get will very much depend on the course, the tutors etc, some are helpful some are not. As you won't be on site, there may be limits as to what help you can get.

An ex of mine did a degree with them and was very disapointed, there were a lot of things that he felt were not made clear and he ended up feeling that it was missold, he stuck with it because he was only really dong it for the piece of paper, but some of his fellow students were really angry that what they thought would be a pathway to a job in computing actually wans't because the language they were being taught in wan't used in business.

I did an undergraduate OU degree many years ago.

All the staff encountered — administration, disabled student support, course tutors, etc., were excellent and most accommodating in finding solutions to issues and difficulties. I sat my exams in a room on my own with an invigilator. I was allowed rest breaks if required but no extra time to complete the exams.

I didn’t request any equipment to help me with my studies but I know some other students got the loan of laptops, special chairs, audio equipment etc., and some received coursework in other formats. I didn’t apply for a maintenance grant.

The OU continues to send me correspondence and from what they say, they seem to have retained that inclusive, supportive and accommodating element.

Hello Kate Kestrel.

It’s funny you mention this - I am considering pursuing a degree with the Open University, I may have to take note of this topic myself!

While this is not my experience, a friend of mine applied to the OU where disclosing additional needs, receiving a good degree of support, ranging from adapted equipment to educational concessions such as extra time for coursework & adjustable study hours.

While I can see that our fantastic community has fantastic input to give, I would like to pass on NAS resources related to university level education.

starting college or university

Best of luck with navigating education, you have every right to succeed.

Thanks - Mod Zac

I did a couple of courses years ago and mistakenly thought that I could take long breaks between and accumulate a degree.

However, I later found out that the degree needs to be completed within a certain number of years, so I wasted a lot of money and effort.

All the best to your son with this.

 Hi there, a couple of years ago I started doing a module for a Psychology degree when I was 20, but stopped due to personal circumstances. From what I remember, you would need to inform them as soon as you can about any disabilities. With assignments you can ask for extensions within a certain time period. I don't think I applied for maintenance grants with the OU, but I remember Student Finance England being very difficult to navigate and manage, so a heads up about that. With the OU specifically I personally found my tutor to be very supportive, especially when giving feedback on assignments. I do remember asking them to clarify what they meant when giving me feedback and it was helpful.