Open University - 85% to get a first!? 70% to get a 2.1!?

Actually it's about OU, not necessarily UK.

Lol you don't know anyone who got into Oxford but refused from OU that's the whole reason they are called OPEN university because it's open to everyone I left School with no gcse no qualifications at all and started my degree with open university without any problems at all an I have gone back to colllege at the same time to do GCSE English an maths

I was reading on here that you only need to pass level 1 to progress to level 2 so can anyone tell me what percentage is a pass for a TMA at level 1 or do they vary?

Lol you don't know anyone who got into Oxford but refused from OU that's the whole reason they are called OPEN university because it's open to everyone I left School with no gcse no qualifications at all and started my degree with open university without any problems at all an I have gone back to colllege at the same time to do GCSE English an maths

I've done some traditional university study at a decent university and some OU study - S142 and SDK125. . My feeling is the OU year 1 content starts at a lower level but ramps up to a similar level of difficulty quite quickly, I suspect by 6 weeks in anyone not capable of completing the module will already be struggling.

It is relatively easy to do well on OU coursework but the module setup makes it quite challenging to get a good final result. For example you might do really well on 3 assignments and the computer marked quiz, but it ends up counting for nothing because 100% of the module weighting is on a final exam or final bit of coursework.

Personally I do not rate the tutor forms, online tutor meetings or module pages which I found confusing.

I'm not certain the OU represents good value for money and I'm unsure as to whether to continue or not.

This is why I've transferred to a red brick from the OU. I was getting annoyed with everything moving to being entirely online, on top of having your pass marks entirely dependent on exams only. Nothing worse than getting a good OCAS and then ballsing it up over just one exam.
Then there's the cost, it's cheaper but not by much now.
I figured I may find traditional uni to be better for me personally as I was really lonely and struggling to motivate myself with the OU when I did my last course (S215 - chemistry).
It varies from person to person though!

OU is not the bargain it once was and I do wonder if employers take it as seriously. For grad entry jobs (no that I would want one) they often demand a 2.1 from a red brick or 'traditional' university...... would the OU qualify?

No they don't. I've looked at lots of grad jobs and I'm yet to see one ask for a specific university. No doubt they have their preferences, but in the interests of equality they can't specify like that. They just ask for a 2:1.

As an aside red brick isn't a description of a good uni, it is a description of the period the uni was built. I.e. In the Victorian era where the campus buildings were made of red bricks. That's all it means, nothing more, nothing less.

I know, and the university I'm going to is an actual red brick.



@BigV
I don't think the OU is looked down upon actually, a lot of employers really do appreciate the hard graft involved in getting a good classification there.
Of course it varies, and grad schemes are usually aimed at the very young graduates and usually at those from certain institutions (Oxbridge, LSE etc.)

No they don't. I've looked at lots of grad jobs and I'm yet to see one ask for a specific university. No doubt they have their preferences, but in the interests of equality they can't specify like that. They just ask for a 2:1.

As an aside red brick isn't a description of a good uni, it is a description of the period the uni was built. I.e. In the Victorian era where the campus buildings were made of red bricks. That's all it means, nothing more, nothing less.

Thanks for the patronizing education on what the term means and the strict rules you appear to think I must follow when discussing such a subject..... However I was already aware of the technical definition, it is just in my experience 'red brick' is often used as a descriptive term to mean to "good" university, as opposed to the 1992+ institutions which some consider inferior.

Equality - They may not always advertise this kind of snobbery and discrimination but if you think it doesn't exist you are mistaken. Do you really think a 2.1 from the OU is going to open doors in the same way as if you graduated from a 'Red Brick'? I do not.

Some examples I found in 2 minutes:
"Developer: First-class, or equivalent, degree in Mathematics, Computer Science, Finance or numerate subject or a 2:1, or equivalent, from a "red brick" or internationally recognised university;"

"Graduate accounts assitant: Be a graduate from a Red Brick University that has studied a relevant qualification (1st class degrees only)"

"Graduate Assistant: Are you a sophisticated and intellectually sound graduate from a red brick University with bags of common sense?"

Graduate Finance: A strong academic history, ideally with a degree from a red brick university


I think it is safe to assume those adverts don't mean they will only accept applicants from the half a dozen or so real 'red brick' universities, what they mean is they want good universities (depending on their own perception of such) and they will not accept grads from the many universities of bums on seats that have popped up in recent years.