What would you say to someone thinking of studying with the OU? Win £100 in OU vouchers

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Studying through the OU gives you the opportunity to learn your chosen subject while continuing to carry out your other daily commitments, whether these are full or part time work , being a carer or running a household. The quality of the course materials and the tutors is to a very high standard, while the cost of the course is highly competitive compared with a full time university. An additional benefit that I found was meeting, through tutorials, a diverse range of people all with different backgrounds. This added to the richness of the learning experience. I highly recommend study through the OU

Throughout my years I'd really underestimated the value and 'knowing' & 'learning', the OU really opened my heart and mind to this.  Give your studies the right focus and you will eventually gain much more than you put in.  They say life's what you make it, make it better with learning. The OU gives you the flexibility to do whilst being able to enjoy and experience other aspects of your life.

Good Luck

I would say that procrastination is a major block to future success. Yes, of course you are going to consider all the obstacles - time, family commitments, cost but eventually you have to just go for it. If you want to walk on water you have to get out of the boat!

The OU has been flexible enough to work around my family commitments.

I can do the school runs without the additional cost of extended schools provision and I work harder during term-time so that I can work a minimum amount during the school holidays. It has meant I was able to start studying before my kids started school instead of waiting until they are old enough to fend for themselves. It's hard work but it has been worth it. And most importantly, it has given me self-confidence which will not only help me with finding a job but is also instrumental in being able to parent better.

It is so easy to find barriers to stop oneself picking up the phone and getting registered on a course with the OU (too hard, dont know how to do it, too busy at work/home/with kids etc...)

I found myself in that position. I always wanted to study law and become a solicitor but life was just too busy- business to run, children and so forth.

I mentioned to my partner that I had always wanted to do it but never had the time. 40 was knocking on the door and she said "do it or you will always regret it". So I did it and it was so easy to do (a phone call to the OU and they guide you through).

Now I am three years into a law degree (one year to go). It has gone so fast and lets face it each academic year is only 8 months long.

OK its demanding at times (make no mistake), but the rewards are massive. I can speak knowledgably, I know an awful lot about the law, and have a placement with a law firm as soon as my degree is complete (because I am resourceful).

If you have a passion for learning and want to get on it life then its education, education, education that you need. Its all done from home in your own time. The OU staff are excellent.

So don't delay it any longer, pick up the phone today (0845 300 6090), or do it online....

I completed my MBA about a year ago and it has given me huge advantages at work.  I won't repeat the advertising blurb that you get on the OU website but I will say that it is accurate!  I think the best advert I could give for the course is how much I miss the studying and the insights it gave me.  I did all my courses online which can be quite lonely at times as you progress through your reading but the iteractive forums with like-minded individuals from all over the world add to the richness of the course and help you stick at it.  The residential schools are the highlight of each module and bring all your studies to a more focussed point.  If you decide to start then provided you make the appropriate commitment in time you won't be dissappointed.  If I could impart one piece of advice to a new OU student it would be to finish your TMAs early!  It took me 3 modules to start doing this but once I was in front of the timetable I never looked back.

I requested OU brochures about 3 times over 3 years before I finally took the plunge to study law, following a dream that I have had for about 12 years.  It was a big decision as I had a 1 year old and I had just started a new job in a new industry requiring a lot of learning at work, so I knew my brain was going to have to work overtime! Some of my friends thought I was crazy, but once I enrolled I actually found that I have inspired a few of my friends and made them and my family proud.  Looking back at my first successful year....I have made myself proud 

I started OU in January 2010.  I was orig inally looking around universities as I had just embarked on an A Level in English Language and wanted to see what else I needed to gain a degree in English Language.  The reason I came to be here is because my mother mentioned Open University - and at first I was unsure and reluctant - was it even a proper degree, it was also with English Literature if I was going to do it with OU, I had done NO literature since school, etc, etc.

But the more I thought about it, and the more I investigated, I started to thaw.  It was only when I spoke to an advisor on the phone when the chance came up for me to start AA100 that I really changed my tune.  It was much better than the association (distance learning again!) I was doing my A Level with. 

Ever since I started OU my life has changed!  Everyone says that - especially the tutors I have had.  And what's more it is so true!  I have done fairly well on all my courses - quite good for a girl who never, ever even thought university was an option (I was not academic and too thick for university) - or so I thought...

I am 33 years old now, and I started when I was 30, after years in retail and secretarial roles, including management.  I had just left a very stressful and frankly soul destroying dead-end career as a retail manager and was at a complete crossroads.  Then I decided to retrain as a teacher of English as a Foreign Language - now I am thinking about a career in English Literature.  There seems to be no stopping me now.  I am studying at Undergraduate Level 3 and I am loving it! 

I would say to anyone thinking about OU - do it, do it, do it!!!!  It will be the best thing that ever happened and the making of you.  Everyone I have encountered - tutors and students alike - say it has changed their lives.  It has certainly changed mine.

Well, enough of the enthusiastic cheerleading from me - I will let you decide.

Don't think the OU is an easy option, but do think it's a wonderful challenge. Choose a course that interests you, because like anything, there are going to be difficult bits and your enthusiasm is going to need to carry you through at times. However, you are never on your own as you will have a tutor and a great bunch of fellow students to chat to on the forum. I couldn't do it without this support. The sense of achievment is immense. Each time you get an assignment back, carefully marked and full of comments designed to make sense of your mistakes, point the way forward and tell you when you've done well, you get a boost that keeps you going. It is a challenge, to work at home and to fit it in with everything else life throws at you, but it is also a brilliant way to work. There is so much to choose from - take a look! See what's there and then take the plunge; you'll get a warm welcome.

i am enjoying my time studying with ou. i did not think i was capable of studying at this level particularly because i was never encouraged by the people i have lived with all my life. i am doing this for myself. to prove i have a brain and in turn to keep my brain motivated. maybe one day i can share my success with my future grandchildren! learning can be for oneself. i look at it as me time. or if you are really clever you can use it your advantage and free yourself. go out there in the big wide world and sell yourself. the universe is waiting!

I am on my second OU course working towards an open degree and I can't recommend it highly enough! I'm a working mother in my 30's and never though I would have the time or motivation but I am finding both as I love the course. I am studying AA100 The Arts Past and Present and it is so interesting. Without having even reviewed my career options, I am already using the skills learnt and information and knowledge gained in my job and my day to day life. This course is my stepping stone to "Plan B" which could not be further away from my current deathly dull job. OU has made my dreams a distinct reality and I can't wait! 

Anyone thinking of studying should give it a go, start small and work towards your goals. You can do it! 

I was in my early-30s, had only ever worked in a dead-end job I hated, and was convinced I was too stupid to do anything else. After experiencing major personal upheaval, I decided I had nothing to lose and anyway life is too short to not take chances now and then. I signed up for my first OU module with no clear idea of what I was going to do and expecting to fail. To my amazement, I absolutely loved it. I still remember the sense of discovery and the excitement as the way I saw the world started to make sense. And my shock as I realised I'm not completely stupid after all. After that first module, I carried on to complete my degree and then to do a Master's and a PhD. And now I'm back, studying again, because it is never too late to learn more. 

I can honestly say that signing up for that first OU module was one of the best, most life-changing decisions I ever made. Studying with the OU is hard-work, will probably make you scream at times, and might mean that you have to forego a couple of trips to the pub or the local coffee shop while you catch up on work. But it's one of the most rewarding things you will ever do. So what are you waiting for?! 

 Do it do it do it!!

I have studied, completed and passed 3 courses with The Open University and it is one of the best things I have ever done and If I hadn't run out of time I would still be studying away! I absolutely loved it and would love to carry on. I really hope that at some point in the future I will be able to carry on with my studies with them. 

I was able to study, work and raise my children all at the same time without having to sacrifice anything, except some spare time which I devoted to studying.I now have renewed confidence and letters after my name! I am often waxing lyrical to friends and aquaintances about the OU and advising them to undertake studies with them! And YOU must too if you're even considering it! 

Just do it! You'll be so glad that you did!

Emma Sanders cert HSC (open)

Do you feel your'e too old, but really want to study?

Do you want a degree, but don't have the time for it?

Have commitments? Finances?

There's only one solution to all these problems: Open Uni!!!

I was in the same boat, started Open Uni and have never regretted it!

It is the only way to keep the cake and eat it! So good luck, You know you're covered...  

Eye OU for life with more interest!

Bring your horizons closer with the world's greatest distance learning University offering hundreds of inspiring courses leading to over two hundred and fifty different qualifications. Choose your own individual module path and your own flexible schedule. Meet the most eclectic student body in the world. Give your potential and the rest of your life the credit it deserves!

Do not worry, just do it!

The quality of study, the amazing amount of support and the surprising amount of socialising will make you realise early on that this is the best way to study. All you have to do is believe in yourself!

If you wait for the "perfect time", youll never begin any journey.

Ou was a new and exciting journey full of anxietys and uncertainty and above all, fear of failure. What have you got to lose? No one ever achieved anything by not giving things a try 

good luck ;)

 Go for it!  Whatever your age or educational background, there is something for you at the OU.  

The tutors are fantastic and extremely helpful and the course materials are written in a way that makes them interesting and easy to understand.  If you are unsure, start with an Openings Course - these will give you a taster of studying with the OU and I am sure once you have undertaken one you will be hooked!

There is so much to learn out there and the OU is a fantastic place to undertake university education whilst getting on with everyday life.

Don't take my word for it or the word of the thousands of happy OU students out there - sign up and see - you won't regret it for a moment!

Think very, very carefully before you sign up. Be extremely cautious. This is one of the most dangerous steps you can take in your whole life. Once on the OU path, ther is no turning back. Only the truly daring and courageous should sign up.

There is a huge risk of addiction. Not only will you free yourself from thinking and behaving like the common herd, but you will also develop the courage of your own convictions. The power to direct and follow your own path for the rest of your life, while learning more and more about the real world, leads you to freedom from the Matrix....Don't do it!

Certain people in your life you meet, they just stick with ya, and in a good way. If you know what I mean? 
That’s made me who i am today.I look at past mistakes more now like past learning curves.
Nothing in life is a mistake. It is an opportunity to rise up and learn from it.
You can waste so much of your mind, and also your time, to thinking negative thoughts.
But they only get you, if you register the thought!
You can achieve anything you want to." ~ Daniel Gosbee

(Taken from my private chat with a friend on Facebook a couple weeks ago.)

Join the Open University and open up your life to endless options.
"Knowledge Is Power"

My first contact with the OU was when I emailed to enquire about a course. I got an email and a phone call back, sooner than expected, with lots of advice. It helped me made my choice. I signed up. Then the books arrived, then I could log on to the website, mapping out the whole module for me, week by week, making me feel like I could do it. I was very excited to be learning about something that's been fascinating me for years. I thought I'd be done after one module...

Thanks to the OU, I've gone from being someone who has always wanted to study Psychology to someone who is now studying towards a degree. And all completely on my terms, but with help and support when needed.

It can change how you look at your life and what you expect of yourself and others. You will love every minute of it!

What a fantastic way to learn! I have been studying with the OU for 10 years and to be honest I think I've taken longer because I enjoy it so much.I have made many friends all over the country through the conferences and I have met up with many of them too. Also I have recommended OU many times and encouraged people to give it a go with an Openings Course for a starter.

My advice would be: just go for it and reap the benefits of home study and recognisable qualifications. It is fun, challenging and mind boggling at times but well worth the effort!

 Open University is simply amazing! I never thought something so traditional and respectable as a university can be so modern and flexible at the same time. 

You can choose how much support you need attending online and face to face tutorials, meeting fellow students, chatting in forums, facebook etc. OR you can simply study and submit your assignments with no fuss. I have chosen various options depending on the subjects - sometimes you might need more support, sometimes less. There is no need to waste your time!

Probably most of the Open University students work just like me. It is a great way of keeping good life standards while gaining a degree to progress even further. I felt so proud to be saying during a job interview that I am doing a degree but it will never affect the standart of my work and I don't need a day off to attend a tutorial. 

I'd recommend Open University to anyone who would prefer studying to sleeping in the lecture hall.

If you’re thinking of signing up with the OU but still sitting on the fence, then I can help you decide. Because you are thinking of signing up, I know that you understand the benefits of gaining additional academic qualifications; particularly the way the current unemployment trend is going. Those with degrees, particularly postgraduate, will be in more demand than ever before. This is especially true since the normal University fees have sky-rocketed beyond the means of many people. With the OU, they have lived up to their name ‘Open’ [to all] by keeping their fees to an absolute minimum.

I have undergone a number of OU courses and have found that the tutors to be ‘approachable’ in that they always respond to your questions or concerns within a day or so. In other words you are not left feeling isolated because you are not in a physical classroom. As technology has advanced, so too has the OU. No longer do you have to send your assignments away to be marked, you can even upload them online. I don’t know about you, but I like this idea because it gives you an extra couple of days to make sure that you have done a proper job of checking over your homework!

Although there are times when I wish I could study with other students in a classroom setting but when I recall going to adult classes during the long, dark, cold winter nights when I’m soaked to the skin with a rotten cold I know I made the right choice. Even if I did become, I can afford to leave my homework for a couple of extra days until I feel better. If I was really unwell, I know I could contact my tutor for advice about homework deadlines too.

Having said that, the OU are using a virtual classroom nowadays where your tutor is conducting a lesson where your ‘classmates’ attend – even though they may be spread over a large region. Also, you might be interested to know that, if you miss one of the virtual sessions, they are recorded so you don’t miss anything. If that wasn’t enough, you might be interested to know that you get a more detailed feedback from your assignments than you would from many other establishments plus you get it within a few days. This is great because you can use this to tweak your next assignment in plenty of time for submission, which means you are even more likely to get a better grading.

All I can say is this, If you find a better (or less hassle) way of improving your career choices than the OU, I would like to know. However, if you’re still sitting on the fence then I think you ought to decide soon because the OU is getting more popular and places tend to fill up pretty quickly.

I would have laughed if anyone had suggested I do a Degree at the grand old age of 47! After 17years of caring and two years of night classes costing £400, I found myself skint and demoralised with no purpose in life.

While doing some census work I came across a lady of 86 doing an english degree! Decided to have a look at the open university to see if there was anything in accounting as I couldnt afford the accounting technicians fees at the college neither had I two spare evenings a week to devote to the course due to working .

I was fascinated by the choice of courses available at the Open University , I got carried away and signed up for a degree! I have now completed my first year having studied MST121 Using mathematics (overall score of 82%) not bad for someone who took 3 attempts to get a grade C in O'level maths 30 years ago . Ive just completed DD131 Introduction to social sciences and am signed up for my third course.

To make this all even more miraculous I discovered I was entitled to  course fees and a course grant which has paid for my study despite my husband and I both working.

Achieving success at my courses has boosted my self esteem and I now proudly declare that I am a highly motivated,self starter capable of showing initiative, willing to take on new challenges and embrace technology, who says you can't teach an old dog new tricks! 

Thinking about studying with the OU?  Go for it!  You CAN do it!  You can do it YOUR way!

You will love it most of the time and hate it occasionally.  You will take yourself out of your usual life and where you choose to go from there is up to you!  You can be alone but will never be alone, the OU is with you all the way.  You can return to your usual life whenever you wish but you will never see it in the same way.....

It will change your life in ways you can't even imagine when you first saw the subject that fired your imagination.  It is an amazing, delightful, painful, exciting journey and all you have to do to make it start is click a button!

So what are you waiting for?

If you've not studied for a while, don't worry. I hadn't studied for many years. If you feel unsure about your ability to study at this level - take heart, many people feel the same and are pleasantly surprised when they discover they CAN cope with the work. If you have a busy lifestyle, the OU offers a very flexible approach to learning. I'm retired and wanted to keep the brain cells stimulated but I didn't want a full degree course. So I looked at the short courses on offer and was impressed with the range. I chose a creative writing course which was offered online. Not everyone wants an online course but it suited me very well. The regular tutorial support was excellent and the student communication channels (student forums) enabled thoughtful and supportive discussion throughout the course. The informative course guide and course materials were sent well ahead of the course start date, so I felt prepared for the first 'block' of study. I found managing my own learning very gratifying and assignment deadlines were not a problem - the tutor ensured we knew about them well in advance. I really enjoyed the course and plan to do another in the near future. I know I can choose from a large range of subjects, and from fees which reflect the diversity of the courses. There are various ways to pay the fees - you don't haqve to pay a lump sum up front, necessarily. And there may be help with fees in some circumstances.

If you want to embark on a learning adventure, on an experience that will really broaden your horizons, go for it!

The first thing I would say to any new student would be " Welcome aboard,be prepared for an addiction!".  The very first module may seem a bit daunting, but, pleasantly challenging. Choose each module carefully,especially your first because each one after that almost follows naturally,and guides you towards the qualification you are aiming for. Sit back,take a deep,deep breath and slowly unwind and unravel your thoughts on opening the very first book. Find your own little sanctuary for yourself to study and be at one with the materials. Do not rush into studying or writing essays. Make the dedicated time you use to study as productive and as positive as the day allows. Nurture your thoughts,your knowledge and new learning. Let them flow side by side. Do not look particularly for right or wrong answers,they are not there. Instead be critical,open-minded and accepting of all ideas. Then analyse and write your essay with a good understanding of the question and what is being asked of you. Remember to always embrace each module,each book,each idea,each theory with a great acknowledgement,make up your own mind on all you are learning. Let go of each essay with a positive attitude and look forward to your tutors feedback. But most of all...ask questions,question the questions,the answers will show themselves in your very own thoughts.  Enjoy studying for exactly what it means to you and you only. "Welcome aboard,be prepared for an addiction!".....

I would advise anyone thinking of doing a distance learning degree to do so with the Open University.  I have studied distance learning courses with both the OU and other universities and have found the OU unrivalled in flexibility and student support.  I want to start another Bachelor's degree and was keen to study at a different institution from where I obtained my previous degree.  However, after carefully researching all the options, I will be returning to the OU.  Their module choice is more flexible and relevant, their flexible study plans (taking as many or as few modules at a time to fit in with your other commitments) is more convenient and their well-established and excellent student support services cannot be beat.  The OU and their courses are designed for distance learning.  Traditional institutions tend to treat distance learning as an afterthought and their distance students as 2nd class students.

Choose your subject carefully & what to choose.

I looked back to my time at school, what subjects interested me, what was I good at and asked myself did I still an interest in those subjects despite leaving school 25 years ago. I was into geography & geology at school but Environmental Studies caught my attention as a degree. It was current, topical with areas such a sustainability and climate change to study. The degree didn't just include the traditional sciences, but social science, economics and politics. It sounded exciting, challenging and informative of the times we live in.

I would never have finished if I'd chosen something that bored me in school or bored me if it was a programme on the TV.

I graduated after 7 years of study with the OU in 2009 and never looked back.

Having working in a university for years I had the choice to study for a free qualification at the university, or pay myself to study with the OU. With many other commitments outside work I decided to go with the OU, and I haven't regretted my choice. The OU doesn't have the stuffy feeling of many universities. All my tutors so far have been excellent, accessible and incredibly down to earth. Although the workload is sometimes more than I would have expected, the flexibility that the OU offers means that I have managed to fit it in around the rest of my life. I am now constantly searching to see other modules I can do when I finish my current course!

• Small goals are the key. One module/course at a time.
• Do plan ahead on what you'd like to do eventually whether its a diploma, a degree or just a stand alone certificate but try not to feel overwhelmed by all the choices and modules
• Be flexible, remember that courses may change, qualifications may change and most importantly your life may change during the cours of 3-7 years!
• Join in discussions and attend tutorials as much as possible whether they're online through a program called illumnate or in person. If anyone is nearby try to meet up and discuss how you're getting on
• Ask for help, if you're struggling discuss your options with a tutor.

I think thats my best advice!

I've completed 5 courses at level 1, now doing my sixth which will complete my level 1 courses and I'm thoroughly enjoying it. Its is hard work but deffinately worth it.

Good luck to those just starting/considering or in the middle like me!

Some addictions are good

The best way to get into OU study is to understand that it is one-module-at-a-time. I found out about the OU and enrolled because of one single OU module I wanted to do. If I had thought from the start about the hill to climb to get a degree or other qualification, it would probably have been counter-productive. I just thought about the current module, and what I would like to know from it. Indeed, I still see each module as a self-standing end-result, an achievement in itself.

Within very generous (and pragmatic) limits, the frequency of taking modules is chosen by the student, not by anyone else, as is the sequence of modules taken. True, there are strong recommendations to take level 1 modules before level 2, and to leave level 3 until the end, but the student is still left to decide. The student is strongly supported, but independent - a great balance.

The above OU structure translates into the cool word 'flexible', and the yucky-but-important word 'modularity'.

What you get out of the OU is more than the sum of what you put into it.

It snowballed for me. 33 modules (which are synonymous with 'courses', an earlier expression for the same thing), three degrees, over a 100 assignments and over a decade later, I'm still not finished --- and still taking one module at a time. Some addictions are good!

So, what would you say to someone who was thinking of studying with the OU to encourage them to sign up?

I had no qualifications when I left school and was wondering what to do as a career, I decided to do a OU degeree.                I always had an interest in Art and thought Art History would be a good place to start, then I saw a degree that had two specialisms; art history and classical studies.

At first when I was thinking about what I would like to do in my career I wasn't sure maybe a behind the scenes job in a gallery or museum. But when I have completed the degree I plan on working in a Library in particular Cataloguing and have decided this as an Art History degree is quite often stated in the job descriptions.

Even though at times I have found it little bit of a struggle I have persevered and have only got a couple of more years to go, and what keeps me going is it will all be worth it in the end. It has taken a bit longer than I anticipated, but that is why it is good to do an OU degree as you can do it in your spare time and take your time so as not to put yourself under too much pressure.

There is always a tutor you can talk to when your finding it difficult and the advisors are knowledgeable to help you decide what course to do next, and there are courses you can choose, with new courses coming in all the time, to suit you and the path you have chosen.

I would recommend an OU degree to a friend as they would find they can do things and can learn things, which give them a lot more confidence and achieve the skills they require once they have gained the degree. For example; writing this message to hopefully communicate with strangers so they understand, I would never have done before.

'The Open University's mission is to be open to people, places, methods and ideas'

I would recommend the Open University to everyone! When I was a kid I had big dreams, but due to difficult circumstances I became very ill in my early teens with quite severe mental health problems and PTSD (post traumatic stress disorder) on top of this I was bullied severerly and developed a phobia of classroom situations, I basically grew up in the Young Peoples Unit as an inpatient... Consequently my dreams went out the window along with my education!

I am now in my mid twenties, and decided to take on a course with the OU after a lot of advice and encouragement from my social worker. It was the best desicion I ever made.

My anxieties eased as soon as the first contact was made, everyone I have dealt with at the OU, from the advice lines to students and my tutor - have been amazing! So lovely and so supportive. I never thought I would ever feel this way again, but I am absolutely loving the course and the sense of achievement is quite overwhelming, it has even improved my mental health (more than medication ever has.) Having something positive to focus on and feeling in control of my life again is awesome.

I received funding to buy a new laptop which was a great help, and the support staff made it so easy!

I cannot describe the feeling when I recieved my first essay results, to my amazement I got 88% in the first proper essay I have written in over 10 years. The benchmark had been set, and I will not look back.

The OU has given me my life back, encouraged levels of confidence I never knew I had and inspired me to apply to do a degree.

To anyone who is unsure, or feels they might not be intelligent enough to complete a course - that was me! My advice is go for it...

For me this is just the beginning, what could it be for you?

When I first started to think about higher education, my primary reason was so I had a better chance at breaking into management at work. I left school at 16 with 6 standard grades. It wasn't that I was uninterested or stupid, I was a troubled teenager battling epilepsy, bi-polar disorder, and gender dysphoria. I wasn't mentally capable of taking responsibility of my own life or education.

The main hurdle for me and probably for anyone is the cost. It worried me at first to be fair. I didn't think I would be able to do it. Live on my own with mortgage, bills coming out my ears. But the OU made it really easy, they offer payment plans to suit your needs and if your lucky enough the government might even give you money towards your course fee's.

Studying with the OU is not only rewarding, but they make it fun. I actually feel like I have control over my future and education. With me its win win because I can study for my degree as well as doing the job that I love.

Best of both worlds.

Since leaving school I knew I wanted to continue on to higher education but there were many stumbling blocks in my path.  At the age of sixteen I was working full-time and privately renting a house with my partner: I didn't think I could afford, or have the time to attend university.  I also didn't understand how univerisity worked, it all seemed like a huge baffling world that I couldn't understand.  Also, I'm indecisive and couldn't decide what I wanted to study (everything seemed so interesting).

I knew about the Open University from the telly but I have to admit, I didn't trust it!  Was it a real university?  Did it have real degrees?  I ordered an information pack and to be honest it made me feel overwhelmed and I put it to one side and forgot about it.

Several years later I had my lovely baby girl and wanted to set a good example for her.  A friend told me she was studying with the OU and that she had help with funding.  This encouraged me to apply... and I'm very glad I did!

I'm in my second year and have found the course so interesting and I'm very proud of what I've achieved.  The best thing is being able to select from a diverse range of modules to build a degree that suits my interests.  My tutors have been supportive and the other students are all so nice!

I would highly recommend the Open University and my advice would be: Don't put it off!  Be brave and go for it!

The Open University helped me change career.

I took up study with the Open University with a view to moving out of finance (yawn) into 'something' environmental.  It took about 3 years, which isn't a lot in the scheme of work life when I got my break securing a 4 month contract role at the Carbon Trust and when I left there almost 5 years later, took a further step in my new career.

The Open University has helped in a number of ways:

- Understanding environmental issues including quickly realising climate change underlies so many other environmental issues and was (and still is) the sector I want to work in

- Giving the discipline and support to study on top of a full working week (something I thought I'd never do!)

- The modular approach has enabled me to pick up and put down my study year on year depending on my circumstances (and enthusiasm)

I'd thoroughly recommend study with the OU.  My words of advice would be:

- Studying really can help you change your career and the OU offer a relatively manageable way of helping achieve this

- Be aware that in most instance you need to be willing to give up your summer as courses tend to run Jan - Oct

- Think beyond the first year or 2; I've muddled along a bit course by course and have ended up taking longer than necessary to complete my degree

Good luck and enjoy!

I am 51 years old and have completed a number of 10 point modules, one module was particularly useful for volunteer work that I undertake. I was deeply disappointed with the increase in tuition fees for those in England, unfortunately I can no longer afford OU fees and so my studies with the OU have ceased. I am now unfortunately but actively researching other cheaper options. I sincerely hope the OU and the OUSA are continuously seeking to reverse the impact of the increase in tuition fees. I am deeply saddened that I can no longer study with the OU. 

I have several positive things to say about the OU and on balance would encourage people to study with the OU.

I decided to do my MSc with them as they were moderately cheaper than most other uni's, they allowed me to devote less of my personal time - as I work shifts and 1/2 full time study would I thought have been difficult (in reality I managed 2/3 full time), they were supposed to be more flexible in terms of how long you study for etc - setting a maximum time in which to do a qualification and allowing you to fit modules in when you like, they were on line / distance so didn't require any sort of regular attendance which was difficult to fit in around shifts, finally the taught MSc used exams as a main method of assessment and I prefer them over assignments - tending to better in the former.

The reality was slightly different, they were still cheaper, the courses were still online, the courses did use a lot of exams. Where I did find a difficulty and something did not live up to everything I expected / was told, was as follows:

My qualification was withdrawn early - meaning the 8 years I had to complete at my convenience was immediately cut in half - as all students regardless of how far along they were had to finish by a new set date: December 2014. Leaving some students with less than half the time - one of whom (a colleague of mine) - was unable to complete his OU degree as he had to prioritise a work qualification instead and couldn't then complete by the new date. Meaning he had wasted his money on the study he'd done so far. This also meant I had to postpone the same work qualification (making the opposite decision to him) but I then had to do the 2/3 full time study so I could do the MSc as quickly as possible.

Where I became particularly upset is that the OU told me this was due to education cuts, however - I discovered through freedom of information requests this was not entirely true. The OU already had these plans in place even before I signed up for my degree and in contradiction to all I was being told. Whilst the OU had planned to keep the degree prior to education cuts, they were altering the completion rules which required different courses and a dissertation after December 2014. Anyone who had started the degree prior to that under the old rules, like me, wouldn't be able to count the courses / modules I had done towards the qualification after that date. Meaning in effect I would have to start again if not finished. In the end the OU just shelfed the qualification altogether leaving the old qualification rules in place until the earlier completion date. But they blamed this only on education cuts and made no admission of the fact this would have happened anyway. There reason for wanting to do it as per the FOI request was they wanted to place more emphasis on research and less on teaching. Again the opposite of what I expected with my preference for exams over written work etc.

As a result my experience of the OU is quite tainted. I still enjoyed the courses, liked most of my tutors bar 1 and it was cost effective. In the end though it wound up more inconvenient than a traditional uni would have been because of the changes in place, but as long as you know what you sign up for and assuming they stick to it, which they have in a lot of other respects it is worth doing.

 My advice to anyone who is thinking about studing with the OU but is having secons thoughts, push those thoughts out of your mind, because the work you do with the OU, the studying, the qualifications you get is all worth it in the end. You get continuous help if you do find yourself struggling, and the tutors at the OU are great, they'll advise you either via email, or telephone which ever way yuo prefer. 

OU offers a great chance in education and employment, it opens so many doors.

I regret not following my instincs a long time back, but now i'm doing it, and enjoying it, yeah i do struggle a bit with it, because I am not an in elligent book worm, or anything, but if I am struggling, I just sent an email to my tutor and within a day or a couple of hours he/she has replied back to me.

Well worth it, you'll regret not doing it, and it's an eye opener. well worth it. Go on ignore your doubts, and study with the OU.

 My advice would be just do it.  You won't regret it.  I never thought I would be able to work towards a degree but you can pick and choose which courses interest you.  You have access to a whole community of like minded people, all tinged with the same thoughts of excitment and nerves when embarking on a new module.  Depending on which modules you choose may include some day schools and they have been absolutely brilliant, and you always have a tutor to talk to and discuss any worries or concerns you may have.  So my advice don't hesitate take the plunge you won't regret it.  Its such an achievement to complete TMAs (Tutor Marked Assessments) and then receive the feedback of where you went wrong or maybe could improve for next time.  Brilliant, can't fault the OU in any way.  

If you are considering the Open Uni, stop thinking about it and just do it. You won't find a more flexible course, a tutor group full of more diverse people or a course that is so fun! It will feel a bit daunting at first (I was panicking so much in the weeks leading up to my first module!) but your tutor is always at hand to reassure you and help you progress and the benefit of the Open Uni as opposed to another University is that the vast age range and range of academic ability/history in your fellow students really does help you gain more insights and opinions that you wouldn't get if you were in a group of 18/19 year olds or a group of people who are all very similar to you! 

I really would recommend the Open Uni to anyone and everyone considering higher education. :)

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 About 3 years ago the thought "I'd really love to study astrophysics" entered my mind. I dismissed it at the time. I thought, "I can't do that, I have no A levels and surely it's too late to start now". A year later a friend encouraged me to look for a short course on the OU website, I wanted to learn some astronomy. I had a look and found a short astronomy module that I could easily afford so I signed up, with the intention of just studying the one module for personal interest. Well, I got hooked! I found that I really loved studying with the OU, I loved the format and the materials, I especially loved that I made my own timetable (with the help of really well laid of study planners). Now I am on my 5th module with the OU, working towards a Bsc Natural Science. Beyond this, I hope to go on to study for a PhD! That first OU module I took for fun has inspired me to forge an academic career and I have dreams of the kind of work I might do in the future. It is incredibly exciting! 

So, my advice to anyone considering taking up some study with the OU is just go for it! It's not too late to find a new direction. 

The beauty of the Open University is it designed to suit you. If you suddenly find you need to take time out then you can pick up studying again when it suits you. I was lucky I was able to complete my degree in 6 years however someone I got to know took 15 years to complete their degree as they took time out for family and for work.

Also we are all studying for our own personal reasons. No one judges you on what you have or haven't achieved academically prior to starting a course.

For me the biggest bonus was meeting people from different avenues of life and 'buddying' up with individuals thus allowing  us to discuss the course work outside of forums and tutorials thrashing topics out that we didn't understand - invaluable when it comes to revision time.

Thank you Open University for giving me the chance to succeed in my own right. Now, what's stopping you?