Distance Learning

[Mark A]

Hi,

Has anyone studied part time for a degree, or know of someone who has? If so, where did you/they study and how was the experience?

I'm considering studying History part time but as this is all new to me I'm still finding out about the options available. I've looked at the Open University but thought the prospectus was very limited regarding the choice of modules.

Cheers,
Mark

 

[gregmcateer]

dunno about history, bit my Dad did law with OU

 

[Graham Orm]

I've got 3 spirit levels, not been to uni though.

 

[joethedrummer]

I've got 3 spirit levels, not been to uni though.

Hello Grayorm,,I"ve drunk a lot of spirits and live near a uni,, looks as tho" we are similarly qualified to help,,
,,,,,,,,,,,joe,,,

 

[marcros]

yes, I did both a BSc and an MBA through the OU.

I agree about the prospectus, and towards the end of my qualifications, I ran out of modules that I really wanted to do, and had to take a couple that I wasn't that interested in. The faculties were very mixed- my BSc was between Engineering and Technology- some were getting a bit dated and were about to be written. One of the MBA ones fell under the Technology faculty and was outdated, and generally pretty poor. They were about half the price of the Business faculty ones, which in fairness were very very good.

I found it a lot of work, at times, but very enjoyable. It was a few years back now, but it has stood me in good stead- both directly helping my career, but probably more so exercising my mind, which at the time work was not really doing. I would look at another course., but the fees are a lot more now than they were then.

The OU was and still is highly respected, and I particularly liked the fact that the average age in most classes was 40-50. I am younger, but the business classes benefited from life experience. History is a different animal entirely, but I expect that life experience within the class would be equally useful.

 

[Jacob]

OU is brilliant. I've done various bits n bobs and they all were really well presented. Prospectus may be limited but what there is will be very well designed. They keep you on your toes - no slacking - to get a good mark you will have to put in a lot of hours.
Last one I did was MST 121

 

[DrPhill]

My mother did OU courses ten or so years back and thoroughly enjoyed them (especially the summer school stuff). My wife did some and decided that she was not academic.

I think that there are some taster courses exposed free as moocs (massive open online courses) if you can find a suitable one...... Many academic institutions are doing them, even mainline universities. Have a hunt around......

 

[John Brown]

I believe that the OU prices have gone up a lot lately.

 

[marcros]

University education as a whole has. The OU courses used to be a couple of hundred to few hundred quid. I bet they are substantially more now it is no longer subsidised.

The advantage is that you don't need to commit to anything more than a single course so if it isn't what you thought you are not liable for the full degree course.

 

[Mark A]

I agree about the prospectus, and towards the end of my qualifications, I ran out of modules that I really wanted to do, and had to take a couple that I wasn't that interested in.

This is what concerns me. My thinking is that I'll work diligently on the modules which interest me but my attention will wane once those are completed.

I believe that the OU prices have gone up a lot lately.

The 60 point modules can cost almost £1000 each now.

I think that there are some taster courses exposed free as moocs (massive open online courses) if you can find a suitable one...... Many academic institutions are doing them, even mainline universities. Have a hunt around......

I've seen that Edinburgh University do free MOOCs and Oxford offer short five-week courses for only £200-something each. I'll keep searching.

Thanks,
Mark

 

[dickm]

My mother did OU courses ten or so years back and thoroughly enjoyed them (especially the summer school stuff). My wife did some and decided that she was not academic.

I think that there are some taster courses exposed free as moocs (massive open online courses) if you can find a suitable one...... Many academic institutions are doing them, even mainline universities. Have a hunt around......

Yeh, MOOCs are the latest "next big thing" for Universities. Only thing is that most of them are just video-ed lectures, of very variable quality, with no proper support. I worked for the Open University in Milton Keynes for getting on for 40 years, and one of the things that the OU did do well was to support students through the regional network. Senior management was always complaining that this cost too much, and that's now probably reflected in OU degree costs, but it made all the difference to students.

Sadly, the whole of higher education is now totally profit driven, so don't expect any favours!