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The open university; quickest, easiest BA degree?

Hello everyone, I'm asking this question because a BA degree (in anything) is the legal minimum requirment to live and teach in thailand. I have family there and have been there many times, my intention is to move there and not return to uk.

I realise the best bet is to go for something your interested in, as you will find it much easier, but the course im interested in (health and social care) is only available as an honours degree which means an extra 60 points, which means an extra year.

It has to be a BA degree, a foundation degree is not good enough, so at this point I think my best bet is one of those "open" degrees.

Any ideas/suggestions?


Thanks,

geno

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Reply 1
If you don't care why not just put your finger into the guide and pick a random subject?
If I was going to do a distance learning degree, it would be with the University of London External programme -- you get a University of London degree at the end of it, which is very well respected, but you only need very basic A-Levels to be accepted, as opposed to the high grades they ask for to study at the actual university. And from what I've seen, Open University degrees don't look that well planned out; it all depends on the course though, I guess.

Here's the link: http://www.londonexternal.ac.uk/
Reply 3
Well, part time to get a full ba takes 6 years, which is double the time of an average undergraduate course.
Reply 4
genocide
Hello everyone, I'm asking this question because a BA degree (in anything) is the legal minimum requirment to live and teach in thailand. I have family there and have been there many times, my intention is to move there and not return to uk.

I realise the best bet is to go for something your interested in, as you will find it much easier, but the course im interested in (health and social care) is only available as an honours degree which means an extra 60 points, which means an extra year.

It has to be a BA degree, a foundation degree is not good enough, so at this point I think my best bet is one of those "open" degrees.

Any ideas/suggestions?


Thanks,

geno



Hi. Firstly, I'm not sure that there is such a thing as an 'easiest degree'? Secondly, if you really only want to do a degree without honours - which not many students go for in the UK; it is mainly honours degrees. However, should you wish to take an ordinary degree then you need to have 300 credits. Most courses are 60 pointers; you can take no more than 120 points per year, so therefore it would take you a minimum of three years to complete your ordinary/non-honours degree (300 points). At the same time it could also take three years at a minimum to complete an honours degree (360 points), if you catch my drift. :smile:

An OU degree without honours is not an 'open degree' by the way. An open degree is where you can take a variety of disciplines and incorporate them into one degree. I think this method is unique to the Open University? I'm not sure, though.
Reply 5
Why would I pick a random subject? I am looking for the quickest one.

Jismith thats the problem I had, I don't have A-levels; I believe the OU is my only option unless I get my A-levels which will take more time. I have heard alot of positive feedback about the OU.

Constante, you can do different courses together, it doesn't necessarily take 6 years.
Reply 6
genocide
Why would I pick a random subject? I am looking for the quickest one.



I don't understand what you mean by random subject?

There isn't a 'quickest one'. They all amount to 300 credits for an ordinary degree which takes a minimum of three years study as you can take no more than 120 credits per year.. By ordinary I mean without honours, as you are saying that is what you want to do.
Reply 7
Thanks Elberath, I didn't think it was possible to do it quicker than 3 years but had to ask, just incase.

Seems silly to me that it's a BA degree in anything to work legally as a teacher (in Thailand), but that's the way it is.
Reply 8
genocide
Thanks Elberath, I didn't think it was possible to do it quicker than 3 years but had to ask, just incase.

Seems silly to me that it's a BA degree in anything to work legally as a teacher (in Thailand), but that's the way it is.

I honestly can't really see you completing a degree if you're only doing it for the purpose of a visa.
Reply 9
No worries. :smile:

You could always give the OU a ring. They are very helpful.
Prudy
I honestly can't really see you completing a degree if you're only doing it for the purpose of a visa.


Why not? I know a number of people who have. It's a matter of red-tape, unfortunately. The impression I get is that the OP desires to, and has the ability to (thus the lack of caring about which subject) needed to teach, but their lack of a Bachelor's degree is standing in their way.
Reply 11
DanGrover
Why not? I know a number of people who have. It's a matter of red-tape, unfortunately. The impression I get is that the OP desires to, and has the ability to (thus the lack of caring about which subject) needed to teach, but their lack of a Bachelor's degree is standing in their way.

I wouldn't say it's impossible, but spending 2+ years doing something you at best find completly uninteresting and at worst hate is a fairly insurmountable feat. If you don't drop out, you may well fail. You'd have to be damn dedicated to the ultimate cause to get the degree.
Prudy
I wouldn't say it's impossible, but spending 2+ years doing something you at best find completly uninteresting and at worst hate is a fairly insurmountable feat. If you don't drop out, you may well fail. You'd have to be damn dedicated to the ultimate cause to get the degree.


But it's with the intention of getting a job; How is it any different to simply working somewhere for a few extra years before being promoted? I worked at McDonalds for 2 and a bit years before going to university, because it's what I had to do to get to where I wanted to be. It's really not tremendously difficult.
Reply 13
It is my ambition to live and teach in Thailand, I would undertake any education necessery to achieve it. The quickest way is the best way!
genocide
It is my ambition to live and teach in Thailand, I would undertake any education necessery to achieve it.

Can't you, therefore, do a degree at a Thai university?
Reply 15
DanGrover
But it's with the intention of getting a job; How is it any different to simply working somewhere for a few extra years before being promoted? I worked at McDonalds for 2 and a bit years before going to university, because it's what I had to do to get to where I wanted to be. It's really not tremendously difficult.

A degree is much more consuming than a job. Especially if it's an OU course one presumes the OP will be doing it along side a job, as such it becomes terribly consuming. Furthermore it requires different skills from working a job, and you have to put effort in in order to pass the years, more effort and indeed different effort from trying to gain promotion in menial labour. Finally the OP's attitude doesn't seem conducive to a degree: an indifference in which degree he studies to the point where he's asking complete strangers to suggest an 'easy' one for him suggests that he may not thrive. I'm not saying he definitly won't, just that IMO it seems improbable.
I think you're insultingly underestimating people's ability to do well if it's what they really want.
Reply 17
DanGrover


I think you're insultingly underestimating people's ability to do well if it's what they really want.


:dontknow:

I'm speculating with what is IMO pragmatism.
Reply 18
I wouldn't choose something that didn't interest me at all. Just trying to weigh up all my options is all, give me a break.
Actually, it is presumably the fastest way fo getting a degree - provided you get granted to do more than 1 years worth of units' - per year that is.
The maximum I think is 120 credits per year
I was discussing this with a admissions tutor one day and they told me that In theory, If you worked as hard than say Oxbridge Students do in thier short terms- but you over the year, then you can finish the Bachelors in 2- 2 1/2 years instead of 3.

They really don't recommend it though because I'm guessing they see high failure rates


From OU
Students generally do not undertake more than 60 points per year, meaning that an undergraduate degree will take typically six years to complete. With the exception of some degrees in fast moving areas (such as computing) there is generally no limit on the time which a student may take. Students need special permission to take more than 120 points (equivalent to full-time study) at any time; such permission is not usually granted.