What is the catch with the OU?

So in this sense you would say that a physical university degree in Physics is better than a OU one?

What Moggs said (in the previous posts as well as this one)

I too love the fact that within the structure of the course (i.e. assignment deadlines/exam date) you can approach your studies in whatever way suits you best: as Moggs says, you can speed up, slow down, read around the OU material and generally do your own thing. You definitely do feel in charge of your own learning, and, although the lack of interaction with others can be frustrating at times, I think this independence is good preparation for higher level study and demonstrates certain transferable skills that employers are likely to find desirable.

Is it actually a degree for free?

It can be, if you don't earn much. Providing I don't get a pay rise, and continue studying 60-90 points a year (and assuming their financial support stays the same!) I don't think I'll have to pay much, if anything - maybe a few hundred quid if I take expensive courses one year. However, it's certainly not easy...I have more assignments then I did when I was at uni full time, and you really need to be motivated.


Exams are held at your nearest regional centre usually, I think. There's a list of these somewhere on the OU site. I'll have to go to Birmingham for mine.

The temptation to do easy modules is always there too. For instance, skimping on the maths at level 2/3 and picking up a design course could still result in the same B.eng qualification. Gotta prod myself every now and then and remind myself that I'm in it for the knowledge not the piece of paper at the end.

While I accept that someone at Leicester might think that they are well placed to recognise a crap degree when they see one, in this instance you clearly don't know what you are talking about. OU degrees are very well regarded. In fact, when I was at Cambridge University, one of my tutors had an undergraduate degree from the OU, followed by a DPhil from Oxford University.

I completed two 60 point courses with the open university, they were both certificates but also were the first year of the health and social care degree. I had mine paid for and a £250 grant as i had a low income. Some universities accept open university points as entrance requirements for certain degrees for those that don't have their A levels. I've decided to go to a 'brick/proper' university this September as i found the OU really difficult, as i'm terrible with self-motivation. I think that is one advantage to those who do gain their degree with the OU it will show they can be extremely organised and disciplined. Although i found it difficult the support from the tutors was fantastic, always on the end of the 'phone when i needed help.

Also i wouldn't say it was a 'crap' place to gain a degree i have two family members who gained their degrees through the open university and have acheived fairly well in their careers It's like anything in life you have to work to get the best you can from it.

So you didn't have to pay for the courses and you got £250, you got given money to do the course? Am I missing something.

So you didn't have to pay for the courses and you got £250, you got given money to do the course? Am I missing something.

Hey Moggs,

Hi, check your eligibility here The income of your parents shouldn't be included, just yours. There's always OUSBA too if there's any excess to pay, which just means paying monthly at about 5% interest - though as linin says there won't be much more than about £200 per year, which is covered by your £250 materials grant anyway.

BigFundamental makes some good points too.



I think this may come down to which modules you choose. For example, for a physics degree you could fulfil your level 1's with things like MU120 and Y162 or MST121 maths wise and still get it. However, you could also choose to do say, MST121 and proceed straight to level 2 and 3 maths courses.

So the option for the easy route is absolutely there, but of course, you are not required to do your 120 points at level 1, covering as you say, A-level and sometimes GCSE. You could do all your points at level 2 and above - this I believe is the reason why some masters programs ask for which modules you did.

If my GCSE's or A-levels were strong, I'd probably consider picking up a 10 pointer in May, just to get used to OU study and the type of answers/feedback they require, then begin with level 2's skipping most if not all level 1's.

Of course if you really love the subject, there's always the online MIT lectures, sites like khanacademy and books like Stroud to take you beyond the course material. I suppose how much knowledge you come out with at the end is your choice as long as you meet the award requirements

I really don't get the funding of the degree at all.

I really don't get the funding of the degree at all.

Which part?

If I am able to study free or not.
It says the household income whcih then I include my parents income.
Then it says I am entitled to nothing.