I´ve just finished my first course with OU, Understanding Human Nutrition, which I really enjoyed, and I´m working towards a Certificate In Health Science, followed by an Open Degree.
nimmy - Thu, 20/08/2009 - 15:04
People do think the degrees from certain institutions are better than others. If someone says you've been to Oxford or Cambridge everybody all so impressed. If OU or Derby or whatever, not so.
What they fail to realise is a degrees a degree is a degree. There are external moderators to ensure the quality and level. So a degree from the OU is just of the same level as one from Oxford.
Further more, to obtain an OU degree requires much more perseverance and hard work than a brick uni, especially if trying to juggle work and family. Personally I'd be more impressed with an OU degree than an Oxford.
The only reason institutions such as Harvard and Oxford etc are looked upon as better University's is resources. Harvard in one year as a budget more than all the university's in Britain put together. Thus they can offer more degrees, have better equipment and attract top draw academics and lecturers.
The only thing I would say some universities have over OU and places like Derby is they may offer more structured course in specific areas (I don't know, I'm just assuming from what I have seen on syllabus'). The OU and Derby have a modular approach, so you can end up knowing a little about a lot but nothing to any great depth.
smps24
- Fri, 21/08/2009 - 19:02
I felt the same way when I left 'normal' university for the OU. I felt like I wasn't the same, that I wasn't really at university.
But now I realise that the OU can actually do a lot more for you than some universities! The fact that I'm doing an OU degree has done a lot for me, and people are actually a lot more impressed. You need to be quite self disciplined to make sure you sit down and get the work done, and from what I've gathered from various employers they are really interested in people who have gone to the OU.
So don't think of it as 'just' the OU, and start shouting about it! Be proud of it and be proud of your achievements here.
simondo
- Sat, 29/08/2009 - 19:14
Lets be honest, if you had the time and resources to go to Oxford you would.
nimmy - Sun, 30/08/2009 - 00:15
**Lets be honest, if you had the time and resources to go to Oxford you would.**
And the accent.
Why though? A degrees a degree. Why go to Oxford as opposed to any other Uni, or Harvard where this America?
simondo
- Sun, 30/08/2009 - 07:01
I don't dissagree that a degree is a degree. However if time and resources were not a problem and one had the option to choose between the OU and Oxford they would probably choose Oxford. Why? People's perception of reputation.
ps Nimmy. I noticed you mentioned that you plan to start S808 in January. I also am starting S808 in January for the MSc in Earth Science Pathway.
nimmy - Sun, 30/08/2009 - 20:11
simondo, that's great, mine too is towards the master of earth science.
simondo
- Sun, 30/08/2009 - 20:47
Thats great Nimmy. I don't wish to take this thread of in a MSc in Earth Science tangent but we should keep in touch. Theres a thread in the OU LIFE forum titled is there any past/present/future masters earth science. We should chat there if it suits you.
Simondo
nimmy - Mon, 31/08/2009 - 01:59
Yeah mate, I'll look it out.
app24
- Tue, 01/09/2009 - 00:33
I think a degree is just a degree no matter where its from, but what is different from the OU to other universities is what else you do while getting that degree compared to a normal full time student. Like methods of teaching and day to day activities, im sure most OU students dont generally get drunk often and rack up huge debt. But i think a big thing for me about the OU is that it is kind of lonely sometimes, ive made a few friends but, say compared to a full time uni, where you could chat to people everyday face to face and have social interactions is something id love to do :/ i know i could go to 'normal uni' but the benefits of OU can hugely outweigh anything it may pose so far, sure you could get a university education at oxford but you would be paying highly for the privilidge (sorry if thats a poor spelling) i know one of my friends whos got £6000 of debt in his first year of uni and hes got 3 left, he will be in £24,000 of debt, which is a hell of a lot of money!! Thank god for the OU! But i seriously think we probably work alot harder, we mostly have jobs, sacrifice some social life and home life, to gain that degree! And need hardcore determination to do it when you are at home. The OU i believe is what we can use to prove ourselves! We are not here for the social life or life experience (as i know some of my friends are....), we are here to LEARN!! And we try and try building up those precious points until we have the degree, on our wall to be proud of. I will be more proud of it than my friends with theirs, i know i have earnt it through blood, sweat and tears!!!
(Wow sorry i can get carried away i hope my point came across haha sometimes i can waffle)
Darren.
Matt_M
- Sat, 03/10/2009 - 23:00
I did my undergraduate degree at a "traditional university" and feel that it was far too easy, I didn't feel pushed enough, hopefully the course I'm about to start at the OU will be more of a challenge.
But I generally think that it's what you put into your degree yourself that's most important, for example if you study your a*se off at the OU and receive top marks for everything and get a 1st, comare that to the traditional route and you didn't work hard enough, messed about and ended up with a 3rd, what's more impressive?
Also employers/further study institutions will be more impressed by the fact you achieved all this whilst working/ raising a family/ caring or whatever your other commitments are.
alena
- Mon, 05/10/2009 - 13:31
No matter what people say, some universities do have a better reputation than others. "Redbrick" universities are considered better than "polys" by some people, but a lot of this snobbery comes from students from the aforementioned "redbricks". I don't really know whether it's the same with employers or not.
Also, certain universities are considered better for certain degrees, e.g. Central St Martins is obviously considered good for art degrees, Brunel for engineering and so on.
But I have been a member on a few forums where the subject of OU came up and a few people claiming to be employers have said that they do respect people who do OU because more often than not, they manage to balance a full-time job or family with getting a degree.
Also, keep in mind that an institution's ability to award degrees is decided by an external body so there's no way that OU's degrees can be "not good enough".
AlanSmith
- Fri, 09/10/2009 - 17:20
As I live in Thailand, I am unable to attempt a degree with the OU. I have, however, successfully completed four short science courses with the OU and have never said "just the OU". For most people, a degree with the OU is hard work as they are working full time as well as bringing up a family.
I took early retirement at the age of 50 and am about to embark on an on-line degree with the University of Central Lancashire. They have no exams, which makes life easier for me as I doubt whether I could cope with formal exams after almost 30 years. I suspect that the written assessments will be harder than exams as I shall have access to all the course materials etc.
One part of the degree course is a "collaborative Investigation", which could quite difficult for me as I'll be 6,000 miles away from my fellow students. That is a few years away though.
I'll be back with the OU in May of next year for a course on computers.
Alan
JohnReilly
- Tue, 20/10/2009 - 11:03
I'm currently studying with the OU after having studied at a redbrick university 20 years ago. The real difference, for me at least, is that apart from at tutorials there is a much greater feeling of having to go it alone. You just don't get the daily chats and opportunity to mull over difficult concepts with fellow students that you get at a traditional university. I know we have forums but I've found them to be of variable use (the horrible layout doesn't help).
What I have found with the OU though is that the teaching material is of exceptional quality and the support is there if you go looking for it so I never feel embarrassed to admit that I'm studying with the OU and I'm glad that this wonderful institution has given me the chance to keep studying. It’s particularly gratifying to have the opportunity to study something based on a mature choice rather than the often arbitrary choices we make in our school years. I also find that many people I speak to have a sense of admiration that you're juggling a job, family and a degree so no one should ever underestimate the achievement.
Incidentally, my father was, until he retired a few years a go, a lecturer at what is now one of the new universities and he regularly pointed students towards OU material because he thought it was of exceptional quality.
wrighty
- Tue, 20/10/2009 - 18:32
An OU degree is as good as any other. It may be rated better by some employers as, like others have said, you usually juggle studying with having a normal life.
As an 18 year old though university is much more than the degree you end up with. It's a halfway house between school and independent adult life. It's a way to grow up. It's a place to meet new friends and often form lifelong relationships.
If you're 'mature' you don't need all that other stuff and I think you should be proud to be studying with the OU. If however you're 18 and fresh out of A-levels, then I for one would find the OU a rather odd choice.
IanTutty
- Thu, 22/10/2009 - 21:09
It is my understanding that an OU degree is seen by many as being worth more that most degrees from other universities other than Oxbridge. I believe that if you get a BA from Oxford it automatically becomes a masters after a set period of time.
The reason the OU degree is so highly regarded is because you have to motivate yourself.
Some of my friends, who have degrees, are quite envious of the feed back that I got from my tutor. The feed back that one gets from your tutor these days is far better than it was when assignments were delivered by post
JoeG
- Sat, 05/12/2009 - 23:26
Hi yvonnec,
Your question can be seen in relation to identity. It is how you see yourself in relation to others and how you are seen by others. To some extend this is not fixed and can be changed by you and by other OU students.
May I cite Ann Phoenix (2007, "Identities and diversities" in Mapping Psychology [ISBN 978 0 7492 1627 6] p. 65) an OU psychology course book.
"Social change occurs in two ways – through social creativity and/or social competition. An oft-cited example of social creativity is the ’Black is Beautiful’ slogan produced by the US Black Power movement of the 1960s and 1970s. This promoted a positive redefinition of the social identity of black people (the subordinate group). Social creativity can also involve promoting positive views of one’s own devalued group through comparison with another devalued group. Examples of this include homophobia expressed by some working-class people."
So in how we OU students see ourselves and talk to others about our experiences does, to some extend, determine how we OU students are seen by others. I for myself am as proud of my academic achievements as OU student as much as I am happy to have this opportunity to change my life.
Kind regards,
Joe
SuedeNym
- Sun, 06/12/2009 - 19:21
Well the best university is going to be the one whose course work is used by every other university in the country. That university is the OU. From the OU's own history page it states,
In the new millennium there is not a university in the land that does not make use of OU materials and study methods.
I have completed a BA., MA and Doctorate all with the OU. Over the period of time whilst working on my courses, I have compared my work with friends doing distance and part-time degrees at traditional universities, and found they were far behind and struggling for information. I can tell you that everyone who is 'in the know' is impressed with the far superior course work written by the OU. They also know that anyone who has gone through the OU system is certain to be capable of hard work and personal organisation. OU students are highly regarded by those who are knowledgeable.
The OU is known around the world for its academic excellence, far more than many other UK universities. Anyone who thinks otherwise in uninformed. I chose to stay with the OU for that very reason for all my later academic learning; I was so lucky not to go elsewhere.
Stay with the OU if you want the best, the latest and the greatest reward.
AlanSmith
- Mon, 07/12/2009 - 16:33
I'm now almost 2 months into my two modules with the University of Central Lancashire.
The Open University is most certainly better organised when it comes to distributing course materials etc - doing it by courier, whilst Central Lancashire do so by orinary mail. However, all the course material for the Central Lancashire modules is also available on-line though they were very lax in making it available to all students at the same time. Due to the volume of courses offered by the Open University, making all the material available on-line may not be a viable option.
Central Lancashire have recommended text books for their modules and my experience is that they are vital if you want to pass the course despite the claims that all you need is included in the course notes.
I do think, though, that the Open University should look at phasing out written exams in favour of all work being based on assessments. The assessments would be harder than exams to allow for students being able to access the course material and text books but would have the added advantage of covering more of the material covered in the course.
Alan
Chloe
Ward - Fri, 08/01/2010 - 14:34
Hi all
Whenever I have told someone that I was studying with the Open University and have passed, they were really impressed. Generally, most people know the Open University so it is well known.
I have never found myself saying "just Open University" as in my opinion it is certainly as good as other universities and has so many positives about it, including not making myself bankrupt (my family is already struggling to survive with what little money we have and I really did not want to add to that financial stress), recognised qualifications and very helpful staff (I have never had any trouble at all and they have always been so helpful and rang back whenever they said they would) and the part that employers would feel is important - being able to manage your own workload/time management.
I feel the Open University has really helped me to achieve and also, their course materials are of very good quality and up-to-date.
Kristian Clark - Sat, 24/03/2012 - 20:03
Hello all,
I really need to check this out, my initial understanding was that every HE institution was aloud to develop their own material and grant qualifications to their own specifications. This would of course imply that a degree is not the same as a degree anywhere else. I was also under the impression that the red brick/Poly thing arose from the goverment demanding that somehow nearly 50% of school leavers should eventually attain a degree. This lead to mainy colleges changing into universities overnight and alot of suspect degrees being created. The OU is generally accepted as a worthy degree (equivelent to a good red brick) as the materials and assessments are comparable to a good brick uni. I think from a HR perspective, two candidates with 2.1 degrees look the same untill you look at their A levels and this is imediately reflected by the uni they attended as the entry requirements vary. Therefore an Oxbridge degree is respected more than a degree from any Poly type uni, but even though their are no entry qualification requirements, the OU is still held in high regard as it is hard to graduate whilst working. I need to check on some of these facts but I'm pretty sure there is no overall governing body like Edexel ect.. for GCSE and A levels.
marrisa black - Wed, 01/08/2012 - 19:04
I really think it doesn't matter which university you choose as long as you get your degree and you are good at what you do. Most employers are looking for reliable employees, having an OU degree might even be a plus. I certainly am proud of my OU masters degree because I know it wasn't easy to achieve, I had a lot of work to do in order to get it and I don't regret my choice at all.
People do think the degrees from certain institutions are better than others. If someone says you've been to Oxford or Cambridge everybody all so impressed. If OU or Derby or whatever, not so.
What they fail to realise is a degrees a degree is a degree. There are external moderators to ensure the quality and level. So a degree from the OU is just of the same level as one from Oxford.
Further more, to obtain an OU degree requires much more perseverance and hard work than a brick uni, especially if trying to juggle work and family. Personally I'd be more impressed with an OU degree than an Oxford.
The only reason institutions such as Harvard and Oxford etc are looked upon as better University's is resources. Harvard in one year as a budget more than all the university's in Britain put together. Thus they can offer more degrees, have better equipment and attract top draw academics and lecturers.
The only thing I would say some universities have over OU and places like Derby is they may offer more structured course in specific areas (I don't know, I'm just assuming from what I have seen on syllabus'). The OU and Derby have a modular approach, so you can end up knowing a little about a lot but nothing to any great depth.
I felt the same way when I left 'normal' university for the OU. I felt like I wasn't the same, that I wasn't really at university.
But now I realise that the OU can actually do a lot more for you than some universities! The fact that I'm doing an OU degree has done a lot for me, and people are actually a lot more impressed. You need to be quite self disciplined to make sure you sit down and get the work done, and from what I've gathered from various employers they are really interested in people who have gone to the OU.
So don't think of it as 'just' the OU, and start shouting about it! Be proud of it and be proud of your achievements here.
Lets be honest, if you had the time and resources to go to Oxford you would.
**Lets be honest, if you had the time and resources to go to Oxford you would.**
And the accent.
Why though? A degrees a degree. Why go to Oxford as opposed to any other Uni, or Harvard where this America?
I don't dissagree that a degree is a degree. However if time and resources were not a problem and one had the option to choose between the OU and Oxford they would probably choose Oxford. Why? People's perception of reputation.
ps Nimmy. I noticed you mentioned that you plan to start S808 in January. I also am starting S808 in January for the MSc in Earth Science Pathway.
simondo, that's great, mine too is towards the master of earth science.
Thats great Nimmy. I don't wish to take this thread of in a MSc in Earth Science tangent but we should keep in touch. Theres a thread in the OU LIFE forum titled is there any past/present/future masters earth science. We should chat there if it suits you.
Simondo
Yeah mate, I'll look it out.
I think a degree is just a degree no matter where its from, but what is different from the OU to other universities is what else you do while getting that degree compared to a normal full time student. Like methods of teaching and day to day activities, im sure most OU students dont generally get drunk often and rack up huge debt. But i think a big thing for me about the OU is that it is kind of lonely sometimes, ive made a few friends but, say compared to a full time uni, where you could chat to people everyday face to face and have social interactions is something id love to do :/ i know i could go to 'normal uni' but the benefits of OU can hugely outweigh anything it may pose so far, sure you could get a university education at oxford but you would be paying highly for the privilidge (sorry if thats a poor spelling) i know one of my friends whos got £6000 of debt in his first year of uni and hes got 3 left, he will be in £24,000 of debt, which is a hell of a lot of money!! Thank god for the OU! But i seriously think we probably work alot harder, we mostly have jobs, sacrifice some social life and home life, to gain that degree! And need hardcore determination to do it when you are at home. The OU i believe is what we can use to prove ourselves! We are not here for the social life or life experience (as i know some of my friends are....), we are here to LEARN!! And we try and try building up those precious points until we have the degree, on our wall to be proud of. I will be more proud of it than my friends with theirs, i know i have earnt it through blood, sweat and tears!!!
(Wow sorry i can get carried away i hope my point came across haha sometimes i can waffle)
Darren.
I did my undergraduate degree at a "traditional university" and feel that it was far too easy, I didn't feel pushed enough, hopefully the course I'm about to start at the OU will be more of a challenge.
But I generally think that it's what you put into your degree yourself that's most important, for example if you study your a*se off at the OU and receive top marks for everything and get a 1st, comare that to the traditional route and you didn't work hard enough, messed about and ended up with a 3rd, what's more impressive?
Also employers/further study institutions will be more impressed by the fact you achieved all this whilst working/ raising a family/ caring or whatever your other commitments are.
No matter what people say, some universities do have a better reputation than others. "Redbrick" universities are considered better than "polys" by some people, but a lot of this snobbery comes from students from the aforementioned "redbricks". I don't really know whether it's the same with employers or not.
Also, certain universities are considered better for certain degrees, e.g. Central St Martins is obviously considered good for art degrees, Brunel for engineering and so on.
But I have been a member on a few forums where the subject of OU came up and a few people claiming to be employers have said that they do respect people who do OU because more often than not, they manage to balance a full-time job or family with getting a degree.
Also, keep in mind that an institution's ability to award degrees is decided by an external body so there's no way that OU's degrees can be "not good enough".
As I live in Thailand, I am unable to attempt a degree with the OU. I have, however, successfully completed four short science courses with the OU and have never said "just the OU". For most people, a degree with the OU is hard work as they are working full time as well as bringing up a family.
I took early retirement at the age of 50 and am about to embark on an on-line degree with the University of Central Lancashire. They have no exams, which makes life easier for me as I doubt whether I could cope with formal exams after almost 30 years. I suspect that the written assessments will be harder than exams as I shall have access to all the course materials etc.
One part of the degree course is a "collaborative Investigation", which could quite difficult for me as I'll be 6,000 miles away from my fellow students. That is a few years away though.
I'll be back with the OU in May of next year for a course on computers.
Alan
I'm currently studying with the OU after having studied at a redbrick university 20 years ago. The real difference, for me at least, is that apart from at tutorials there is a much greater feeling of having to go it alone. You just don't get the daily chats and opportunity to mull over difficult concepts with fellow students that you get at a traditional university. I know we have forums but I've found them to be of variable use (the horrible layout doesn't help).
What I have found with the OU though is that the teaching material is of exceptional quality and the support is there if you go looking for it so I never feel embarrassed to admit that I'm studying with the OU and I'm glad that this wonderful institution has given me the chance to keep studying. It’s particularly gratifying to have the opportunity to study something based on a mature choice rather than the often arbitrary choices we make in our school years. I also find that many people I speak to have a sense of admiration that you're juggling a job, family and a degree so no one should ever underestimate the achievement.
Incidentally, my father was, until he retired a few years a go, a lecturer at what is now one of the new universities and he regularly pointed students towards OU material because he thought it was of exceptional quality.
An OU degree is as good as any other. It may be rated better by some employers as, like others have said, you usually juggle studying with having a normal life.
As an 18 year old though university is much more than the degree you end up with. It's a halfway house between school and independent adult life. It's a way to grow up. It's a place to meet new friends and often form lifelong relationships.
If you're 'mature' you don't need all that other stuff and I think you should be proud to be studying with the OU. If however you're 18 and fresh out of A-levels, then I for one would find the OU a rather odd choice.
It is my understanding that an OU degree is seen by many as being worth more that most degrees from other universities other than Oxbridge. I believe that if you get a BA from Oxford it automatically becomes a masters after a set period of time.
The reason the OU degree is so highly regarded is because you have to motivate yourself.
Some of my friends, who have degrees, are quite envious of the feed back that I got from my tutor. The feed back that one gets from your tutor these days is far better than it was when assignments were delivered by post
Hi yvonnec,
Your question can be seen in relation to identity. It is how you see yourself in relation to others and how you are seen by others. To some extend this is not fixed and can be changed by you and by other OU students.
May I cite Ann Phoenix (2007, "Identities and diversities" in Mapping Psychology [ISBN 978 0 7492 1627 6] p. 65) an OU psychology course book.
"Social change occurs in two ways – through social creativity and/or social competition. An oft-cited example of social creativity is the ’Black is Beautiful’ slogan produced by the US Black Power movement of the 1960s and 1970s. This promoted a positive redefinition of the social identity of black people (the subordinate group). Social creativity can also involve promoting positive views of one’s own devalued group through comparison with another devalued group. Examples of this include homophobia expressed by some working-class people."
So in how we OU students see ourselves and talk to others about our experiences does, to some extend, determine how we OU students are seen by others. I for myself am as proud of my academic achievements as OU student as much as I am happy to have this opportunity to change my life.
Kind regards,
Joe
Well the best university is going to be the one whose course work is used by every other university in the country. That university is the OU. From the OU's own history page it states,
In the new millennium there is not a university in the land that does not make use of OU materials and study methods.
I have completed a BA., MA and Doctorate all with the OU. Over the period of time whilst working on my courses, I have compared my work with friends doing distance and part-time degrees at traditional universities, and found they were far behind and struggling for information. I can tell you that everyone who is 'in the know' is impressed with the far superior course work written by the OU. They also know that anyone who has gone through the OU system is certain to be capable of hard work and personal organisation. OU students are highly regarded by those who are knowledgeable.
The OU is known around the world for its academic excellence, far more than many other UK universities. Anyone who thinks otherwise in uninformed. I chose to stay with the OU for that very reason for all my later academic learning; I was so lucky not to go elsewhere.
Stay with the OU if you want the best, the latest and the greatest reward.
I'm now almost 2 months into my two modules with the University of Central Lancashire.
The Open University is most certainly better organised when it comes to distributing course materials etc - doing it by courier, whilst Central Lancashire do so by orinary mail. However, all the course material for the Central Lancashire modules is also available on-line though they were very lax in making it available to all students at the same time. Due to the volume of courses offered by the Open University, making all the material available on-line may not be a viable option.
Central Lancashire have recommended text books for their modules and my experience is that they are vital if you want to pass the course despite the claims that all you need is included in the course notes.
I do think, though, that the Open University should look at phasing out written exams in favour of all work being based on assessments. The assessments would be harder than exams to allow for students being able to access the course material and text books but would have the added advantage of covering more of the material covered in the course.
Alan
Hi all
Whenever I have told someone that I was studying with the Open University and have passed, they were really impressed. Generally, most people know the Open University so it is well known.
I have never found myself saying "just Open University" as in my opinion it is certainly as good as other universities and has so many positives about it, including not making myself bankrupt (my family is already struggling to survive with what little money we have and I really did not want to add to that financial stress), recognised qualifications and very helpful staff (I have never had any trouble at all and they have always been so helpful and rang back whenever they said they would) and the part that employers would feel is important - being able to manage your own workload/time management.
I feel the Open University has really helped me to achieve and also, their course materials are of very good quality and up-to-date.
Hello all,
I really need to check this out, my initial understanding was that every HE institution was aloud to develop their own material and grant qualifications to their own specifications. This would of course imply that a degree is not the same as a degree anywhere else. I was also under the impression that the red brick/Poly thing arose from the goverment demanding that somehow nearly 50% of school leavers should eventually attain a degree. This lead to mainy colleges changing into universities overnight and alot of suspect degrees being created. The OU is generally accepted as a worthy degree (equivelent to a good red brick) as the materials and assessments are comparable to a good brick uni. I think from a HR perspective, two candidates with 2.1 degrees look the same untill you look at their A levels and this is imediately reflected by the uni they attended as the entry requirements vary. Therefore an Oxbridge degree is respected more than a degree from any Poly type uni, but even though their are no entry qualification requirements, the OU is still held in high regard as it is hard to graduate whilst working. I need to check on some of these facts but I'm pretty sure there is no overall governing body like Edexel ect.. for GCSE and A levels.
I really think it doesn't matter which university you choose as long as you get your degree and you are good at what you do. Most employers are looking for reliable employees, having an OU degree might even be a plus. I certainly am proud of my OU masters degree because I know it wasn't easy to achieve, I had a lot of work to do in order to get it and I don't regret my choice at all.