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Open University - respected?
I've been looking into the Open University and the concept of studying online seems pretty interesting.
Has anyone here studied an online degree at the Open University? Are degrees from there as respected as they would be from any other institution?
Thanks
Has anyone here studied an online degree at the Open University? Are degrees from there as respected as they would be from any other institution?
Thanks
Scroll to see replies
We had a discussion on this a short while back (I say short while, probably back in July or something ridiculous even though it just seems like last week...).
A number of people study at the Open University for a number of reasons, plenty of people who started at a "brick" university but, for medical/personal reasons need to leave, go back to finish their degree at the Open (you can transfer credits). I think employers realise and respect this. Studying a degree requires a number of skills and chacteristics, self discipline for example. This is especially true at the Open. Their degrees are, generally speaking, as rigirous as any other university. I see no reason why many employers will be prefudiced and, in my (admittedly few) discussions with a range of employers they do respect it.
Would it be helpful if I moved this to the Open University's subforum? You may get some feedback from current students as well as former students (who've entered the workplace).
A number of people study at the Open University for a number of reasons, plenty of people who started at a "brick" university but, for medical/personal reasons need to leave, go back to finish their degree at the Open (you can transfer credits). I think employers realise and respect this. Studying a degree requires a number of skills and chacteristics, self discipline for example. This is especially true at the Open. Their degrees are, generally speaking, as rigirous as any other university. I see no reason why many employers will be prefudiced and, in my (admittedly few) discussions with a range of employers they do respect it.
Would it be helpful if I moved this to the Open University's subforum? You may get some feedback from current students as well as former students (who've entered the workplace).
Reply 3
nintendo
OP
River85
Would it be helpful if I moved this to the Open University's subforum? You may get some feedback from current students as well as former students (who've entered the workplace).
Didn't realize it was there, thanks.
Reply 4
nintendo
OP
apotoftea
The OU is very well respected and employers favour their degrees because of the nature of how the courses are "taught" as such. You need a lot more grit, determination and motivation to do the work as a lot of the time you'll be on your own.
How about with other universities; for example, if I wanted to do a masters degree at a 'brick' university?
nintendo
How about with other universities; for example, if I wanted to do a masters degree at a 'brick' university?
You should have no problems, it's a well respected and. It has been going for close to 40 years and has earned a great name and respect for itself).
Anyway generally speaking, universities aren't all that bothered where you got your undergraduate degree from whether it's ancient/redbrick/plate glass/ex-poly or the Open. It doesn't matter. Your academic performance does.
Reply 8
nintendo
I've been looking into the Open University and the concept of studying online seems pretty interesting.
Has anyone here studied an online degree at the Open University? Are degrees from there as respected as they would be from any other institution?
Thanks
Has anyone here studied an online degree at the Open University? Are degrees from there as respected as they would be from any other institution?
Thanks
The OU offers some collaborative courses with other universities. This scheme basically lets you study with another university and count the CATS points towards your OU degree.
I studied the Undergraduate Advanced Diploma in Local History with Oxford University. The following universities offer collaborative courses:
University of Dundee
University of Durham
University of Manchester
University of Oxford
University of Wales (Bangor)
Cardiff University
http://www.open.ac.uk/collaborative-schemes/p4.shtml
There is some pretty "big hitters" on that list. I hardly think they would want to be associated with the OU if they thought it was some sort of second rate academic institution.
For the record, the OU methods of teaching, course materials, course structure and academic rigour compared very favourably with my Advanced Diploma with Oxford.
PS. I'm off to the Sheldonian Theatre in Oxford in March for my Advanced Diploma "graduation".
Reply 10
River85
Off topic, but what's the story behind your name? Do you have any links/are you from Newcastle. I also see the Northumbria (sic - it's Northumerland's 
) flag - like what I've got!
) flag - like what I've got!I'm from Newcastle.
Reply 11
I'm now doing a course called 'Shakespeare: An introduction', all of the course materials are fabulous. I put down that I was doing it on my personal statement and thing that they were impressed as I got into places where I didnt meet the grade boundaries (Got an unconditional to Sussex which is AAB/AAA when I got AAD). It shows integrity and that you made an effort.
Novocastrian
I'm from Newcastle.
Cool, you have my respect for using Novocastrian rather than Geordie. Far better name.
I'm from not too far from there (born in Hexham, Northumberland) live on the Tyne and Wear/Northumberland border (Gateshead, I suppose, but I refuse to class myself as living in the borough of Gateshead)
Sorry for going off topic
Reply 13
I'm doing a course with the OU atm, as well as doing A-Levels. (: Not the full degree, but some modules. 
It is respected, and cheaper than university.
It is respected, and cheaper than university.
Reply 14
You won't have any debt owing to the OU as opposed to over 10k-20k from a brick Uni.
PS- Anyone able to say roughly how long after you finish your last module ( so you have the 360 points) you have your graduation?
I hope to finish in the month of June (not 2009) so I would assume July/August?
PS- Anyone able to say roughly how long after you finish your last module ( so you have the 360 points) you have your graduation?
I hope to finish in the month of June (not 2009) so I would assume July/August?
Reply 15
It'd be September if you finish in June.
See http://www3.open.ac.uk/ceremonies/general/helpful1.shtm ("Venue choices" gives you dates and places).
Actually it depends when you get your last exam result back, I seem to think they took at least 6 weeks to mark mine
so it might be the following year...
See http://www3.open.ac.uk/ceremonies/general/helpful1.shtm ("Venue choices" gives you dates and places).
Actually it depends when you get your last exam result back, I seem to think they took at least 6 weeks to mark mine
so it might be the following year...Reply 16
Thanks
One doesn't have to attend anyway, right?
One doesn't have to attend anyway, right?
Reply 17
I'm not sure, personally I'd rather not so I hope so.
Reply 18
SunburnedCactus
I'm not sure, personally I'd rather not so I hope so.
Well I wouldn't mind but I will be in London by the following May you see.
No I don't think we have to attend.
Reply 19
I should think it is respected, and to be fair having studied at a redbrick the degree system is not very different, in fact it may be worse and I think employers should take open university degrees as some of the top degrees you can attain, i'm sure over time the courses available will increase (in fact they may have done considering the threads OP date) and more tie in with the big physical universities have occured.
Aside from having the occasional opportunity to talk to a professor in person you have exactly the same resources etc. For University today you spend 9000 £ + to buy your own books, support yourself financially entirely (remember those are your loans, not free grants) motivate yourself and study in your own time frame with your own resources in your own space.
Your essentially paying for the reputation of the university. As exemplified by The University of Birmingham cutting its departments and staff to artificially inflate it's results and so attain the smarter and more self-motivated students that require less interaction (which is good when you have just cut staff) and so on and so forth in a cycle and then trumpet it's "university of the year" badge as if people cannot see though its thin veneer.
All the while making a £20 million + surplus and having the highest paid chancellor in the country (and having fees up to 16K+ in the pipeline to make even more money, despite en masse protest and resignments).
An open university degree will be done in almost exactly the same method but requires the person to work slightly harder as you lack physical contact, but aside from not being sat in the room when the lecture is being taught.
There is no difference and no reason for an employer to think of it as less particularly with non-contact heavy courses, in fact I'd say its worth more, especially as the available online resources far outweigh anything any top uni has to offer (you can even access other unis materials), internet learning is where most of the big universities are going anyway (JSTOR, Online lecture recordings, Online learning centers and course portals (all of which means you can get away with employing less staff of lower quality to make even more money).
Remember Modern university is like modern gaming: pay to win, it's a business for profit now and you are deluded if you think that is not the case.
Aside from having the occasional opportunity to talk to a professor in person you have exactly the same resources etc. For University today you spend 9000 £ + to buy your own books, support yourself financially entirely (remember those are your loans, not free grants) motivate yourself and study in your own time frame with your own resources in your own space.
Your essentially paying for the reputation of the university. As exemplified by The University of Birmingham cutting its departments and staff to artificially inflate it's results and so attain the smarter and more self-motivated students that require less interaction (which is good when you have just cut staff) and so on and so forth in a cycle and then trumpet it's "university of the year" badge as if people cannot see though its thin veneer.
All the while making a £20 million + surplus and having the highest paid chancellor in the country (and having fees up to 16K+ in the pipeline to make even more money, despite en masse protest and resignments).
An open university degree will be done in almost exactly the same method but requires the person to work slightly harder as you lack physical contact, but aside from not being sat in the room when the lecture is being taught.
There is no difference and no reason for an employer to think of it as less particularly with non-contact heavy courses, in fact I'd say its worth more, especially as the available online resources far outweigh anything any top uni has to offer (you can even access other unis materials), internet learning is where most of the big universities are going anyway (JSTOR, Online lecture recordings, Online learning centers and course portals (all of which means you can get away with employing less staff of lower quality to make even more money).
Remember Modern university is like modern gaming: pay to win, it's a business for profit now and you are deluded if you think that is not the case.
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