Open University
Milton Keynes
any worthwhile degrees offered by ou please help advise if there are im desperate
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Original post by posidon666
2700 a year on the ou spread out into payments i can fund that my self no problem
Go for it and I wish u well
Open University
Milton Keynes
Original post by posidon666
somethingbeautiful that is interesting and might be the best route forward can i ask what module you are doing and what training you are going in for with the nhs, i was under the impression you would be at a disadvantage to someone younger with the relevant a levels as competition for placement's is fierce
SK277 - Human Biology and I applied to BSc Physiotherapy.
The difference between mature applicants and school aged A-level applicants is that we have more life experience - I've been working since I was a teenager and so interacting with the public. NHS courses are practical and involve patient contact/interaction - they need to know that you are able to interact with people successfully/diplomatically/tactfully. How can you demonstrate that? Prove it through experience. Someone can write how great they are at patient interaction on their PS but unless they can back that up with solid evidence then it's worthless. 18 year olds have limited life experience - they've spent most of their lives in classrooms. That's not a criticism of them (I was the same at 18), it's just a general truth. So by your age you should be miles ahead before you've even applied.
The advantage of applying to NHS courses as a mature student is that not only can you demonstrate theoretical knowledge of a subject such as Biology, but you can actually use your working life to your advantage, even if it involves talking/writing about jobs you've not actually enjoyed. You don't realize how much you've grown up and how much life experience you have gained until you're sat in a room with 18 year olds who've never worked at all and suddenly you feel that age gap when you first thought that it didn't really exist. There is actually a massive difference between 18 and 25 (or 28 in your case). I still think of myself as the same person I was at 18 and I don't feel 'mature' as in old but once you're around 18 year olds, believe me, you realize that you have experienced life a lot more. Use it to your advantage. You've got communication skills, leadership skills, organisational skills, multitasking skills, responsibility etc - and you can demonstrate it though your job. You might not realize it but you've dealt with responsibilities and problems that the vast majority of 18 year olds haven't yet. Those things are useful - you can use them to your advantage at interview e.g. if you're asked how you handle pressure or multitask you can talk about more than sitting exams and balancing A-level subjects - you can discuss work and having to meet multiple deadlines, you can talk about juggling different projects, maintaining good work relationships etc - all whilst having a social life and outside interests.
As with most things in life, experience counts for more than pieces of paper. Someone could have A*A*A* A-levels and have the worst bedside manner and poor communication skills. They need smart people but they also need people who are good communicators and can work with/for people from all walks of life. It's not just about grades. That's why there are a large amount of mature students on NHS degrees such as Nursing and Physio - not everyone knows what career they want at 18 and they consider things carefully for a long time before settling on something whilst getting real life experience. Work experience is a massive element of the application for NHS courses, working in the NHS will be to your advantage. Don't sell yourself short and don't underestimate yourself just because there are younger people with A-Levels applying for degrees - being younger doesn't make them stronger candidates. A strong candidate is someone who can demonstrate a level of academic ability, strong work experience, clear reasons for choosing the degree, clear ambitions for the future, excellent communication skills and determination to get through 3 years of degree level work. Just because someone is 18 with a string of As doesn't mean they meet that criteria - don't undervalue your own strengths and don't let competition stop you, the competition are just other people who are doubting themselves too.
(edited 8 years ago)
With that in mind i just got off the phone with LSB universty completing a science module would be accepted as well as the access courses ect to getting on a nhs funded course, tho i would have to start at year one so occupational health, radiography and physiotherapy in my case (assuming microbiology is not nhs funded). seems there are some options I can discuss with family and friends.
Original post by posidon666
With that in mind i just got off the phone with LSB universty completing a science module would be accepted as well as the access courses ect to getting on a nhs funded course, tho i would have to start at year one so occupational health, radiography and physiotherapy in my case (assuming microbiology is not nhs funded). seems there are some options I can discuss with family and friends.
Excellent. Good luck with it - it can feel like a slow process but it's worthwhile.
definatley at least I have some where neutral to discuss options with people before making such a big life changing decision. my head has not been in a good place the last couple of years
Original post by posidon666
With that in mind i just got off the phone with LSB universty completing a science module would be accepted as well as the access courses ect to getting on a nhs funded course, tho i would have to start at year one so occupational health, radiography and physiotherapy in my case (assuming microbiology is not nhs funded). seems there are some options I can discuss with family and friends.
Micro isn't funded by the NHS, same goes for most of the clinical sciences, but there are some postgraduate options which are NHS funded, though competitive. Also a lot if NHS lab jobs seem to want an accredited degree, have a look at some job descriptions, just something else to think about.
Also the OU is £2700 per 60 credits.
Still want that terminal, incurable illness...?!
(edited 8 years ago)
Original post by SuperCat007
You have to find it. ALS Food and Pharmaceutical often take people on for work experience, also a company called Biograd who offer a microbiology practical course. Most microbiology jobs also ask for a specific microbiology degree, or at least a specialised module in microbiology which the OU don't offer. But there are masters programmes etc.
Why microbiology? Also why not a 'normal' university degree which includes lab experience if you haven't been to uni before?
Why microbiology? Also why not a 'normal' university degree which includes lab experience if you haven't been to uni before?
Do you know of any companies that do similar things for medicinal chemistry?
its fine super cat i earn 1400-2100 a month with overtime ATM so i can pay for it my self, also i only work 16 days a month and have 28 days anual leave a year to use so should be able to manage. im going to do the higher diploma which is the equivalent to the first 2/3 of the natrual sciences degree covering Cell biology,chemistry, Physics, maths and human biology for modules this should put me in a much better position to apply to do the above uni courses i can also continue to save for a house (which i will rent). so i think this is a better fit also i have been building a lot of good will with matrons ward sisters and department mangers so will have a nice network in place to make finding a job easier.
(edited 8 years ago)
No, but I'm sure there are plenty that will do work experience. The NHS do.
Original post by posidon666
its fine super cat i earn 1400-2100 a month with overtime ATM so i can pay for it my self, also i only work 16 days a month and have 28 days anual leave a year to use so should be able to manage. im going to do the higher diploma which is the equivalent to the first 2/3 of the natrual sciences degree covering Cell biology,chemistry, Physics, maths and human biology for modules this should put me in a much better position to apply to do the above uni courses i can also continue to save for a house (which i will rent). so i think this is a better fit also i have been building a lot of good will with matrons ward sisters and department mangers so will have a nice network in place to make finding a job easier.
If you spend 2 years with the OU you WILL lose your first year of full time funding, so you'll have to fund £9000 tuition fees and may have to fund part/all of your living costs too. Not only will you have used up 2 years of your funding entitlement, but you will have a higher qualification than the level you'll start at at uni. Unless you can find a uni which will let you transfer into year 3.
even if i pay them my self??
debatable about the higher qualification there is no real lab work so id say its worthless except as route into a bricks and mortar uni
debatable about the higher qualification there is no real lab work so id say its worthless except as route into a bricks and mortar uni
(edited 8 years ago)
Original post by posidon666
even if i pay them my self??
debatable about the higher qualification there is no real lab work so id say its worthless except as route into a bricks and mortar uni
debatable about the higher qualification there is no real lab work so id say its worthless except as route into a bricks and mortar uni
Yes, you will have still spent two years in higher education. The rules are slightly different for NHS funded courses, so you'll need to look that up yourself. But if you're talking about Micro still those rules apply.
It will be a higher qualification. If you have a Dip HE, that is the qualification you achieve at the end of 2 years of uni, no matter where it is achieved it's still a higher level than starting again at year 1 or 2 of any other uni.
You need to do only 1 year. Most people do 1 level 1 course and 1 level 2 course. So you could do S104 and SK277 for example over 1 year and get the basics and a slightly more in-depth look at human biology. Though I'm doing SK277 right now and it's still pretty basic so far.
Original post by somethingbeautiful
I'm 25 - I was in a very similar situation about a year ago and have had the same feelings of frustration except I'd actually got a degree but it was useless.
My completely honest advise - do not waste your time, money and sanity on any degree unless it leads to a particular job. 90% of degrees don't. If you were 18 then the advice of doing a none vocational degree might wash better with me (not by much) but you're 28 and don't have the time to mess around. You need something solid with a clear end game. Not a degree 'which could lead to X, Y, Z'. You need a degree course which leads to something.
In my opinion, for people in your situation - NHS funded courses are the way to go. They lead to a particular job and those jobs are easy to find and apply to (Occupational Therapy/Physio/Nursing/Radiography/Speech and Language Therapy etc). With a degree like Physics you're in the same pile of graduates who are applying for generic grad schemes for a whole host of different type of grad jobs ranging from science based roles all the way to Government jobs and retail management. There is no specific job at the end of such a degree. So if you choose a non-vocational degree then you need to know what career you are chasing before you even sit in your first lecture. You need a clear vision of what exactly you are trying to achieve and you will need a lot of specific solid work experience throughout the degree in order to get a particular job at the end of it.
So if you do a non-vocational degree - you need to know why you're doing it otherwise you're just stalling and you'll be more frustrated and angry at the end of it than you are now when you cannot get a job after all that hard work (I speak from experience).
My advice then, is either figure out what career you want at the end of a non-vocational degree and be bloody minded about getting it - i.e. top grades, strong work experience, extra currics, networking, leadership etc etc.
OR choose a vocational degree which leads to a specific job and get work experience before applying.
Don't just go to uni and expect it to change your life - because if you choose the wrong degree and/or you don't know what you're expecting to get out of the process then you'll be in an even worse situation than you are now.
My completely honest advise - do not waste your time, money and sanity on any degree unless it leads to a particular job. 90% of degrees don't. If you were 18 then the advice of doing a none vocational degree might wash better with me (not by much) but you're 28 and don't have the time to mess around. You need something solid with a clear end game. Not a degree 'which could lead to X, Y, Z'. You need a degree course which leads to something.
In my opinion, for people in your situation - NHS funded courses are the way to go. They lead to a particular job and those jobs are easy to find and apply to (Occupational Therapy/Physio/Nursing/Radiography/Speech and Language Therapy etc). With a degree like Physics you're in the same pile of graduates who are applying for generic grad schemes for a whole host of different type of grad jobs ranging from science based roles all the way to Government jobs and retail management. There is no specific job at the end of such a degree. So if you choose a non-vocational degree then you need to know what career you are chasing before you even sit in your first lecture. You need a clear vision of what exactly you are trying to achieve and you will need a lot of specific solid work experience throughout the degree in order to get a particular job at the end of it.
So if you do a non-vocational degree - you need to know why you're doing it otherwise you're just stalling and you'll be more frustrated and angry at the end of it than you are now when you cannot get a job after all that hard work (I speak from experience).
My advice then, is either figure out what career you want at the end of a non-vocational degree and be bloody minded about getting it - i.e. top grades, strong work experience, extra currics, networking, leadership etc etc.
OR choose a vocational degree which leads to a specific job and get work experience before applying.
Don't just go to uni and expect it to change your life - because if you choose the wrong degree and/or you don't know what you're expecting to get out of the process then you'll be in an even worse situation than you are now.
Graduated from uni in 2013 with a non vocational degree and not a clue what to do with it so for the past 2 years worked at the hospital in the admin department and have been accepted to start Nursing in Feb 2016. You are spot on i didn't know what i wanted to do at 18 and felt very depressed since leaving uni as i didn't know what to do next.
Original post by chikane
Graduated from uni in 2013 with a non vocational degree and not a clue what to do with it so for the past 2 years worked at the hospital in the admin department and have been accepted to start Nursing in Feb 2016. You are spot on i didn't know what i wanted to do at 18 and felt very depressed since leaving uni as i didn't know what to do next.
Pretty much same story as me - I graduated in 2012 and have had a bunch of non-graduate jobs since then, all low grade stuff. Finally reached the end of my tether last year and applied to Physio this year - hopefully starting next September if I get an offer. I've kind of felt quite alone in this process (graduate going to do a second degree) because no one that I work with has a degree and none of my friends have done two undergrad degrees but I knew it was the best/most sensible option and TSR and my uni interviews have got me in touch with people who've done a similar thing and it makes me feel a lot less alone in this. So it's nice to 'meet' you and hear of another person on a similar path!
Congratulations on your place for Nursing and best of luck with your degree and new career.
then its looking more likely i give up my current hours and go the college route OU look fine for maths and things but there is just no way around it a degree in science requires lab work and i can not afford to damage my funding.
(edited 8 years ago)
Original post by posidon666
then its looking more likely i give up my current hours and go the college route OU look fine for maths and things but there is just no way around it a degree in science requires lab work and i can not afford to damage my funding.
That would be more sensible. You will get better teaching and support to make your application. You won't need it for micro, but if you're looking at any of the NHS funded routes then make sure you get yourself some work experience to go with it.
would still prefer to not give up my job tho thinking of the money and things that have to go is making me feel sick horribly sick. also note that when i finish the course funded courses are being scrapped by the nhs and osbourne for nursing at least and imagine the other trades as well
(edited 8 years ago)
Original post by posidon666
would still prefer to not give up my job tho thinking of the money and things that have to go is making me feel sick horribly sick. also note that when i finish the course funded courses are being scrapped by the nhs and osbourne for nursing at least and imagine the other trades as well
You'll probably be able to have a part time job.
Yes they are, but you can still get a loan to cover the costs.
As people always say, nothing worth having is easy.
Original post by somethingbeautiful
Pretty much same story as me - I graduated in 2012 and have had a bunch of non-graduate jobs since then, all low grade stuff. Finally reached the end of my tether last year and applied to Physio this year - hopefully starting next September if I get an offer. I've kind of felt quite alone in this process (graduate going to do a second degree) because no one that I work with has a degree and none of my friends have done two undergrad degrees but I knew it was the best/most sensible option and TSR and my uni interviews have got me in touch with people who've done a similar thing and it makes me feel a lot less alone in this. So it's nice to 'meet' you and hear of another person on a similar path!
Congratulations on your place for Nursing and best of luck with your degree and new career.
Congratulations on your place for Nursing and best of luck with your degree and new career.
Im 24 and I did thoroughly enjoyed my time at uni made lots of friends and grown confident etc but thought what next after graduating and realized that working with the nurses made me decide that Nursing is something i would like to do. Thought of this for a year and decided to apply September gone by and they offered me an interview in October for February as they had alot of spaces, feel so blessed as i felt i did awful in the maths test but they gave me an offer. I wish when i was 18 that they spoke more about these NHS courses as no one in my year decided to do nursing or physiotherapy etc so thought nothing of it but glad i did the 1st degree as i know if this doesn't work out i got something to fall back on even though i don't know what lol.
Good luck fingers crossed hope you get your offers let me know how you do and thankyou your advice to op is brilliant and so true this is the advice i would give to others
(edited 8 years ago)
so after speaking to student finance i can clarify so if i do this course i can still get full funding for university as its worth less than the first year honours degree http://www.open.ac.uk/courses/qualifications/w37
(edited 8 years ago)
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