Is a degree from OU respected?

The academics aren't bad, but I didn't think it was as good at brick uni. The OU actually discourages students from doing external research. In contrast, brick uni encourages students to read widely on different topics.

Actually, when you undertake the OU LLB Law degree you have access to a much wider collection of external legal databases than at a brick uni and you get full unfettered access to both Westlaw and LexisLibrary (most brick uni's usually only have one) and you still have full access to them for three whole years post graduation too (a subscription to just one database service costs several thousand a year).

You also have entire Units based on legal research using these external sources and distinctions are usually dependant upon being able to incorporate your own findings on the latest legal developments through external research of these databases or from the latest academic commentary.

In terms of academics, the OU is pretty much top tier (for law at least). As a member of several law groups I get to see posts from RG students wanting help with assignments and PSQ's (legal problem style questions) all the time (this very site has its own law study help sub forum) and they are very minimal in terms of academic requirements compared to OU and really only touch upon the surface, whereas OU law assignments require a much deeper level of understanding, particularly at level 3 but also, in the main, at level 2 as well.

I also have a family member who lectured at two RG universities and then tutored with the OU when disability made a regular job unfeasible; she felt the academic standards and marking boundaries at OU were much higher than most RG universities; almost to a point of being unfair on OU students.

To each their own. I'm at brick uni now. The amount of work required to pass a TMA is far greater than anything I experienced at the OU. In some cases, we're actually required to read a number of peer-reviewed journals and provide evidence of critical think if we can even hope for a passing score. Now that I'm at brick uni, I'm reading many high-quality research from respected academics in my field. This includes required work, and work that I'm encouraged to do on my own.

To each their own? I'm not entirely sure that I understand; I am merely stating the facts as they stand. Also, literally all of those things are also required by the OU too, as stated in my post. I cannot speak for the course you may have studied with the OU in the past, only my own experience during my Law degree studying alongside Russell Group graduates who confirmed that the OU was much more academically rigorous.

The academics aren't bad, but I didn't think it was as good at brick uni. The OU actually discourages students from doing external research. In contrast, brick uni encourages students to read widely on different topics.

In your opinion? Do you think their courses are as rigorous and high quality as some normal universities? Do you think their flexible entry requirements means that you view an OU degree as of lesser value?

My point is perhaps your experience is different. Good for you. At the OU, I was discouraged from any external reading outside of the module books. Others in different programmes have said the same thing. This is in sharp contrast to my brick uni experience.

This is true for the first couple of years, but you are still taught how to access and find information from different databases and how to be critical of evidence you find. Almost half of my current level 3 module assignments have requested external sources so it's definitely a part of the uni experience. It is simply more gradual because not everyone has a solid educational foundation to start the degree with, so they gradually get everyone to the same level.

Well I'm an OU student, so I'm of course going to be supportive of it. My degree is BPS accredited, meaning that it is recognised by the BPS and has been supported and checked by them, and found to be good enough. A lot of the OUs degrees are accredited. Our work is nearly always marked by someone who is a doctor in that field or has lived work experience or may even be working in that field still whilst tutoring on the side.

The OU actually provides a lot of material to other traditional universities, including the most prestigious ones. Not to mention their close relationship with the BBC and some of their documentaries are fronted by people who did their PhD with the OU.

There's always going to be criticism wherever you go, but there is a lot of support for OU students because they often balance studying with work or other commitments. It's a lot more impressive to employers for someone who got a degree when working full time and/or had a family to take care of yet still achieved a 2:1 over say 5 or 6 years (shows motivation, perseverance and time management skills), compared to a young graduate who had 3 years to dedicate to studying without those commitments.

Most people and employers who are knowledgeable of the OU will support it and find it to be just as good. It's been around for 50 years, which is saying something. Anyone who talks badly of it are either not knowledgeable of the OU or they're finding something to look down upon to make themselves feel better.

I disagree with your last point. Many people talk badly about the OU. In fact, many people talk badly about every university. It doesn't mean they're not knowledgeable. Like any product, some consumers will like it and others won't. The education offered by the OU is no different. I think people should learn to accept criticism of the OU instead of being defensive.

I also disagree with your point about employers being more impressed with an OU degree. An OU degree is much easier academically than a brick uni degree. I know from personal experience. Furthermore, brick uni students also have life obstacles to contend with. Perhaps they come from a broken home or have self-esteem issues or other challenging. Furthermore, an OU degree is designed for PT study. Sure, you study while working, but you also only study an hour or two a day (if that much). Brick uni students often have to study much more. You can't assume that just because you're working, you have a harder challenge than a brick uni student.

Disagree all you like but I've hearad employers speak for themselves on this issue and say they'd have nothing but time for an OU graduate. Maybe they don't all agree but where certain degrees are concerned, a qualifying degree is all that matters to employers, particularly in psychology and law where the real training is going to come later.

As a consumer, I'll be the first to admit you don't get the variety on a History or English degree with the OU. You just don't because that's not the product they're offering. They're selling an educational package that allow you to develop the generic skills that all graduates leave with and the knowledge required for their specific subject and they've developed ways for them to distribute that package on a mass scale, which no other university in the UK can really do (besides maybe places like the University of Law and BPP). And every course they offer allows its graduates to develop the skills required to meet the learning outcomes of a level 6 course in a particular subject. And that's actually what employers care about. OU graduates, however, can say that earning their degree stands as proof that they are self-motivated, able to manage their time, able to juggle different commitments almost automatically because they have to be. There's no gleaming inspiration of a brick or sandstone building, no schedule for them to follow, no arch for them to pass under for a graduation picture, not necessarily even any cushion of an academic background to fall back on. Just their hard work and commitment to completing. An OU graduate is often something quite special. The ones i've known have all been very inspiring people, often overcoming incredible personal adversity to earn a degree through the OU as the only route available to them given the hand that life dealt them. They've often had a steeper learning curve than a graduate of a bricks and mortar university. And that counts for a lot in employer's eyes.

Every university has its flaws. The OU is not exempt. But it's a university which I think gives us as much if not more to be proud of in this country than Oxford or Cambridge. I think it definitely helps more people access educational than either of those institutions has done in the past 50 years. I'd be proud to do a degree through the OU. I'd encourage my children to consider it. Ultimately, the OU is a university that still just about allows people to learn for fun and enjoyment. Not many places left in the country that can say that.

I've also heard employers speak on the matter. And many of them would never automatically prefer an OU degree over a brick uni degree, myself included. With all due respect, brick uni students also need time management skills, self-motivation and commitment. No-one forces brick uni students to go to class and put in the hard work to obtain a university degree. On top of that, the academics at the OU just don't compare. At the OU, I had around 75 pages of material to read per week for a full-time schedule. Remember, most OU students are only going PT, so their workload is even lighter. At brick uni, I generally have 500-600 pages of material to read per week on top of assignments. It's much more demanding. I wish you the best, but it's silly to somehow think an OU degree is more difficult to obtain.

I'm pretty sure that for most people the OU is not easier. An OU student will certainly study fewer hours per year but they will also do more years. I took an MSc with the OU over the course of 5 years while working 40-50 hours per week running my own business. My first degree was far easier to achieve.

I'm just one more OU graduate adding their thoughts, proving nothing.