The Student Room Group

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Reply 1
what is the OU's reputation like compared to bricks and mortar unis?
- generally very high, I think. But, I'm sure it depends on what you are studying.
Reply 2
*bumps*
anything else to add?? I'm interested!
Reply 3
Employers tend to admire OU students who keep down full time jobs during their studies. Time management is a great asset, which not even full-time uni students can achieve. Though, to complete an OU course regardless of whether you're employed or not, takes a lot of self-motivation.
Reply 4
I hope not to spark any fires but as far as I know OU degrees are not worth the paper they are printed on....

I agree they can show dedication, but for what ever reason I have been told they are not really well regarded by employers...however...

it depends on the employer, the person, the situation and the subject etc..


I would have to say I would not recommend a subject like law from the OU because I doubt you would stand a cat in hell's chance of finding a firm/chambers...
According to one OU graduate from the Ciao reviews website:-

Employers look very favourably at OU degrees - no longer are they thought of the easy option- they realise that to complete one you have to be self discipline, a good time manager and slef motivated.
Reply 6
S_Dimelow
I hope not to spark any fires but as far as I know OU degrees are not worth the paper they are printed on....

I agree they can show dedication, but for what ever reason I have been told they are not really well regarded by employers...however...

it depends on the employer, the person, the situation and the subject etc..


I would have to say I would not recommend a subject like law from the OU because I doubt you would stand a cat in hell's chance of finding a firm/chambers...


This may be true for law - tbh I think the standing of an OU degree depends very much on the subject and what you're wanting to do with it afterwards
I hope not to spark any fires but as far as I know OU degrees are not worth the paper they are printed on...


“OU degrees are viewed favourably by our business due to the personal drive, tenacity and commitment that is required in order to complete OU qualifications alongside many other competing priorities such as work or a family.”

Graduate programme manager, the Co-operative Group

To be honest, there is more proof that you're wrong, but I can't be bothered to find it...
Given that the OU a) is ranked amongst the very best UK universities in terms of teaching and research quality, b) offers degrees very difficult to complete without a good degree of multitasking and self-motivation, and c) is not dumbed down in terms of its academic standards (or so I heard from one person who studied at both the OU and Anglia Ruskin Uni), I see very little obvious reason whatsoever why an OU degree would not be respected. :confused:
Platinum Mech
Given that the OU a) is ranked amongst the very best UK universities in terms of teaching and research quality, b) offers degrees very difficult to complete without a good degree of multitasking and self-motivation, and c) is not dumbed down in terms of its academic standards (or so I heard from one person who studied at both the OU and Anglia Ruskin Uni), I see very little obvious reason whatsoever why an OU degree would not be respected. :confused:


For point c), other universities buy a lot of the OU's course materials because they're so good.
Reply 10
PrinceOfCats
For point c), other universities buy a lot of the OU's course materials because they're so good.


Interesting, I didn't know that!

I'm doing an OU degree, and it certainly isn't "easy" or dumbed down, as far as I can see.
Reply 11
S_Dimelow
I hope not to spark any fires but as far as I know OU degrees are not worth the paper they are printed on....

I agree they can show dedication, but for what ever reason I have been told they are not really well regarded by employers...however...

it depends on the employer, the person, the situation and the subject etc..


I would have to say I would not recommend a subject like law from the OU because I doubt you would stand a cat in hell's chance of finding a firm/chambers...


Don't worry. I'm sure there's no danger of that. Most people are wise enough to 'consider the source'. :cool:
Reply 12
Is this OU like for postgrad only? And is it like where you study by yourself and there's no lecture and stuff?
Reply 13
Tyriel
Is this OU like for postgrad only? And is it like where you study by yourself and there's no lecture and stuff?



OU does undergrad and postgrad degrees. There are tutorials but it is essentially distance learning.
Reply 14
I have had the opportunity to weigh between the quality of a bricks and mortar University and the Open University as I have attended both doing Computing, software development and software engineering related courses.

I started studying with the OU in 2002 due to personal circumstances not allowing me to pay for conventional Uni tuition so I opted to work and study with the OU as I am aiming for a BEng Hons degree with them.

As I was made redundant and had enough cash to go to Uni, I applied through UCAS and got places so I had a choice between Uni's.I studied a BSc Computing Hons degree to which I am about to graduate with. By the way, I started at the 2nd level as I got OU credit transferred and not the first as other unis wanted me to start on the 1st level.

The teaching quality of the OU was way better and the level of the materials taught was higher than was taught at 3rd year. I took a gap year to gain some experience and I was made redundant (recession). With no opportunities I studied with the OU again whilst in my gap year and was very well prepared for my final year which I got a 1st for a particular module.

In a nutshell, the exams and assessments with the OU is far harder (but do prepare you well) than the University I went to and teaching quality and materials is the best I have seen. The advantage that the brick and mortar Universities give you is that they "spoon feed" you the material and encourage you to come to lectures to make face to face contact with lecturers. The tutorials from the brick uni was not that good as the OU. The good thing about brick unis is that you get a degree in 3 years rather than 6 or 9 years which is what it would take normally.

I have 545 credits accumulated between both universities and each has its advantages and disadvantages which each person has to look into his/her own light. It is a crusade if you want to go through the path of the OU and one which you will have to consider carefully as it has many challenges.

In answering the question if the OU has a low rep, the answer is simply no! The people who think that the OU has a low rep are misinformed or simply haven't tried a course. The OU is much harder than regular unis. Tutors from the brick uni were OU tutors themselves as part timers and they also teach full time in their Uni and each tutor tells me that the OU is very hard.

If you really think the OU has a low rep, then by all means enrol to a course, finish it together with a full time job and then tell me what you think!
Well I much prefer the OU way of learning from what I've experienced so far.
(edited 13 years ago)
Reply 16
I think thats in the circumstance of the people who get a BA or BSC from a solid university, and then while working do a PhD/MBA/Ma/Msc at the OU.

I don't think it is rated highly as an undergraduate degree provider at all.
Reply 17
Original post by ohjim
I think thats in the circumstance of the people who get a BA or BSC from a solid university, and then while working do a PhD/MBA/Ma/Msc at the OU.

I don't think it is rated highly as an undergraduate degree provider at all.


What gives you this idea ohjim?
Reply 18
What gives you this idea ohjim?


I don't know of any particularly successful people who did their undergrad at the OU, I know quite a few successful people who did PhDs there e.g. Anthony McGowan (before he was successful lol).
Original post by ohjim
I don't know of any particularly successful people who did their undergrad at the OU, I know quite a few successful people who did PhDs there e.g. Anthony McGowan (before he was successful lol).


You don't have to be famous to be successful in your career path :/