Open University V day-release or part time study

Hi

My employer have offered to fund a mechanical engineering degree. I'm 37 and already work in engineering with a senior position, but I've always wanted the security of the formal qualification. I have no previous relevant qualifications, so I'd be starting from scratch, other than my work experience which I hope will give me an advantage.
I have the option of day-release or a day off (or scattered equivilent hours) to do it via open university. I dont know which option is best.
Does anyone have any advice or previous similar experience?

Reply 1

pmd_qwe

Hi, some thoughts in no particular order. For context, I've completed (pending results) an OU Computing degree while working a full-time-ish but flexible software job. So somewhat comparable to your own situation. I'm broadly happy with how it all went and would recommend it to most people who might consider it.

I don't know much about the Engineering modules, except that I did take one of them (TM355, communications/signals) and it ended up being one of my favourites.

FYI the OU engineering course leads to a general BEng degree, not to specialist degree titles. You can choose the "mechanical engineering route" and study mecheng modules, but your degree cert will still say "Bachelor of Engineering", not specifically BEng Mechanical Engineering. I'm not sure if this is an important distinction for engineers/your employer or not.

Do you have more info about the day-release option(s)? Which uni, how long would it take to complete the degree, etc?

Be careful about the "or scattered equivalent hours" thing- occasionally leaving a couple hours early isn't the same as having full days to dedicate to study.

Open University

Milton Keynes

Reply 2

Chadderz86

Im glad you asked that, because I now realise my options for part time study are fairly limited to local colleges via the HNC,HND & degree top-up routre. There doesnt apear to be part-time degrees with foundation at Bath or Bristol Uni which are closest to me.
I have options for specific mechanical engineering HNC & HND (2 years each) at Yeovil College or general engineering from Bath College, which is actually very near where I work. I havent worked out where the degree top-up would be, but it appears to be 2-3 years again.
I dont mind the idea of general engineering, because I actually sit somewhere between mechanical and civil engineering in my work anyway (water and wastewater treatment). The general route would allow me to specialise in either later on I suppose.
The OU option would be either Foundation Degree followed by top-up, or CertHE, DipHE & top-up

Reply 3

pmd_qwe

Original post by Chadderz86

The OU option would be either Foundation Degree followed by top-up, or CertHE, DipHE & top-up

You can do that, but it's best to register for the bachelors and then request the intermediary CertHE/DipHE along the way if you want them. It's the same content either way, but doing it that way protects you from potential changes to the course.

Suppose hypothetically that they decided to withdraw the BEng completely. If you've already registered for it, they'd still have to let you finish studying it. If you're only registered for the DipHE when they withdraw the degree, they theoretically don't need to offer you anything beyond that.

(I don't think they've ever actually made changes as brutally as that, and I can't imagine them dropping engineering. But they do change/withdraw qualifications sometimes and you'll save yourself a headache if you register for the final qualification you want upfront.)