The Official &#x27;Ask a Current Open University Student&#x27; Thread

OP

Original post by Lstudent1997

Hello,

I am very interested in studying with the OU, I am 21 and looking to study law

Anyone studing with the OU at the moment?

Any PROS/CONS?

Any helpful advice would be very much appreciated!

Yes, I'm studying with them.

Pros;
You can study at home, anywhere, any time.
You have your own tutor.
You get books posted to you.
It's cheaper.
There's a big online student community.
You can meet up one or twice a month for face to face tutorials to meet tutors and other students.
Good student support available 6 days a week, as well as your tutor.

Cons;
Some discrepancies between what each tutor is wanting from you.
The OU has made some mistakes in my modules, though they've always been corrected with little effect on us.

Original post by kiki213

Would you recommend it to younger people ie 18/19? I want to study Law at my firm but I reckon I’ve missed my offer 😭

Yes definitely! There are child geniuses who have studied with the OU at age 16! I started my degree at age 22. The ages vary hugely, but a tutor once noted that there seems to be an increase in the number of young students who are signing up. If studying at home with fewer parties is your thing, it's perfect! You can always study year 1 with them, get 120 credits behind you and transfer to another university.

Original post by Neelambri

1.

Hi can someone please explain to me how doing 120 credits (full time) in a year works? Do you study one module from October - February and then the 2nd module March - September? Or do you study both modules at the same time for the whole year?

Modules can be 30 or 60 credits, but they are usually 60 credits, meaning you would do two modules in a year to complete 120 credits. In year 1, you sometimes can stagger your modules, so you would start in October, then start the second in February which is what I did. In other years, you can only start an academic year in October.

Reply 24

jazzstoreyx

2

Is anyone studying OU Primary Education?? Please message me I’m looking to start in October and would love some advice! Xx

Reply 25

Nathdragon5

6

Hi all!

My partner is looking to study English Literature at the OU, and she's transferred from Kent Uni after 2nd Year. The issue is that because she 'Passed on Condone' (i.e. failed but the average was a pass) for one of her modules she's only been given 180 credits rather than 240 credits.

She's not working at the moment, and I was wondering if anyone had any experience of the English time requirement for full time study/if doing 180 credits in a year is insanity?

Thanks for any replies!

Reply 26

Laceyvee

11

Hey!

I've applied to study BSc in Psychology too. Did you study social or child psychology for the first module?

Also, do you get time off in the same way brick universities do?

Oh and lastly, do you study part-time or full-time?

Thank you! :smile:

Reply 27

OP

Original post by Nathdragon5

Hi all!

My partner is looking to study English Literature at the OU, and she's transferred from Kent Uni after 2nd Year. The issue is that because she 'Passed on Condone' (i.e. failed but the average was a pass) for one of her modules she's only been given 180 credits rather than 240 credits.

She's not working at the moment, and I was wondering if anyone had any experience of the English time requirement for full time study/if doing 180 credits in a year is insanity?

Thanks for any replies!

I believe you can only do 120 credits per year, otherwise you probably wouldn't get funding. The OU strongly advise against doing full time study but it's possible. You would be expected to put in a lot of hours which your friend will be made aware of if she rings the OU for some guidance and before she begins. She would likely have to do 120 credits in one year, then 60 credits in the next academic year to get the 180 credits.

Original post by Laceyvee

Hey!

I've applied to study BSc in Psychology too. Did you study social or child psychology for the first module?

Also, do you get time off in the same way brick universities do?

Oh and lastly, do you study part-time or full-time?

Thank you! :smile:

I did social psychology. The first module was largely disliked - it is broad, which is what social psychology is. People thought that the whole degree was going to be like that but from the second module onward, it's pretty intense psychological stuff. My third module was going to be a social psychology one, which I didn't realise until I received the books so I've changed to really intense science based modules!
Yes, you get a week off for Easter and a couple off for Christmas. You have summer off and you sometimes get time to work on assignments which can be useful to catch up or get ahead in study.
I studied full time for the first year, but I'm studying part time for the rest of my degree so I can focus on getting good grades!

Btw, I have blogs here, that I'm going to update now, that you might like to read. https://www.thestudentroom.co.uk/showthread.php?t=5004068
https://www.thestudentroom.co.uk/showthread.php?t=4905430

(edited 5 years ago)

Reply 28

Laceyvee

11

Original post by hannxm

I believe you can only do 120 credits per year, otherwise you probably wouldn't get funding. The OU strongly advise against doing full time study but it's possible. You would be expected to put in a lot of hours which your friend will be made aware of if she rings the OU for some guidance and before she begins. She would likely have to do 120 credits in one year, then 60 credits in the next academic year to get the 180 credits.

I did social psychology. The first module was largely disliked - it is broad, which is what social psychology is. People thought that the whole degree was going to be like that but from the second module onward, it's pretty intense psychological stuff. My third module was going to be a social psychology one, which I didn't realise until I received the books so I've changed to really intense science based modules!
Yes, you get a week off for Easter and a couple off for Christmas. You have summer off and you sometimes get time to work on assignments which can be useful to catch up or get ahead in study.
I studied full time for the first year, but I'm studying part time for the rest of my degree so I can focus on getting good grades!

Btw, I have blogs here, that I'm going to update now, that you might like to read. https://www.thestudentroom.co.uk/showthread.php?t=5004068
https://www.thestudentroom.co.uk/showthread.php?t=4905430

Would you say the first stage is easy enough to work 5 days a week and study full-time? I don't want to sign up for full-time and realise I'm in over my head!

Also, would you say that social psychology is actually a lot about politics? Or just covering society in general?

I shall have a good read of your blogs and possibly keep on to you in the future when I need advice haha!

Best of luck with the next year though :smile:

Reply 29

OP

Original post by Laceyvee

Would you say the first stage is easy enough to work 5 days a week and study full-time? I don't want to sign up for full-time and realise I'm in over my head!

Also, would you say that social psychology is actually a lot about politics? Or just covering society in general?

I shall have a good read of your blogs and possibly keep on to you in the future when I need advice haha!

Best of luck with the next year though :smile:

Many people work full time and study full time. It's possible if you're determined enough to study almost every day and keep up and do your assignments in time. You could start full time and then defer a module and go down to part time if you're struggling though - not the end of the world!

There is some marketing, politics, history and society in social psychology/DD102. In DD210, level 2 module, I noticed some history and politics as I looked through the books. Politics isn't all that interesting to me, but I kind of skipped over those chapters. :lol:

It is not the dominating factor in DD102 though, there are definitely parts I found interesting. My blogs are a little ****, but they will give you insight into how it runs and my thoughts/experiences/concerns/obstacles throughout the year as an OU student.

Reply 30

Laceyvee

11

Original post by hannxm

Many people work full time and study full time. It's possible if you're determined enough to study almost every day and keep up and do your assignments in time. You could start full time and then defer a module and go down to part time if you're struggling though - not the end of the world!

There is some marketing, politics, history and society in social psychology/DD102. In DD210, level 2 module, I noticed some history and politics as I looked through the books. Politics isn't all that interesting to me, but I kind of skipped over those chapters. :lol:

It is not the dominating factor in DD102 though, there are definitely parts I found interesting. My blogs are a little ****, but they will give you insight into how it runs and my thoughts/experiences/concerns/obstacles throughout the year as an OU student.

You've been so helpful! I'm quite interested in politics and society, so I'll probably be one of those few people that like this module haha!

I've been reading through your blogs and congrats on all of your assignments, you seem to be kicking A! You seem to be similar to me in the sense that I worry about things a lot, so will be interesting to see how I fair in comparison to you. I've definitely subscribed :biggrin:

Reply 31

JLS26

1

Original post by hannxm

Hey everyone! I started my OU journey last year and I'm fast approaching the end of year one. If you have any questions for an OU student, ask away! :h:

My blog & my GYG blog

Hi,

I have recently submitted my OU application, personal statement and references. In the application pack I had to chose a selection day. What happens at the selection day? I have not heard anything since submitting my application :frown:

Reply 32

OP

Original post by JLS26

Hi,

I have recently submitted my OU application, personal statement and references. In the application pack I had to chose a selection day. What happens at the selection day? I have not heard anything since submitting my application :frown:

The Open University doesn't require references or a PS, neither does it hold a selection day so I think you've got this confused with another university?

Reply 33

JLS26

1

Original post by hannxm

The Open University doesn't require references or a PS, neither does it hold a selection day so I think you've got this confused with another university?

Are you not in the UK??? It does require an application form, PS and selection day etc because Iv just done all the paper work for it with my Local Authority

Reply 34

SuperCat007

17

Original post by JLS26

Are you not in the UK??? It does require an application form, PS and selection day etc because Iv just done all the paper work for it with my Local Authority

Which course are you doing? I think the nursing and midwifery course requires that doesn't it? There will be more people on Facebook groups for your course so it might be worth asking there rather than here. Though asking the OU would be the best way of all.

For most courses at the OU you don't need to do a PS or go to a selection day so most people on here won't have experienced it.

Reply 35

OP