NationStates Jolt Archive

just got back from Christmas stuff and was wondering about open university and NS experiences/opinions on the courses

this is mainly because I know someone who is currently doing a degree there and looking at her work it looks kind of fun (in an "oh I don't realize I would have to work" way)

so should I do it or should I just wait till next September and do it at the local college on a part time course? (because I'd rather put the effort in and it be worth it)

also does NS count as studying? :p

If you're working full-time, have you asked if work will finance it?

Knowing someone who works in another department from me and is working for a degree, it does take up most of his free time. But, on the plus side, he doesn't have to stop working, and our company is paying for him to do it.

If you're working full-time, have you asked if work will finance it?

I'm able to qualify for a grant as I don't earn enough (which it turns out can be pretty high for this) though if all else fails I will have the taxpayers give it to me through the military

and no sadly work is rather anti-learning

Knowing someone who works in another department from me and is working for a degree, it does take up most of his free time. But, on the plus side, he doesn't have to stop working, and our company is paying for him to do it.

it really depends on what your choosing to study as it all comes down to its use

I'm able to qualify for a grant as I don't earn enough (which it turns out can be pretty high for this) though if all else fails I will have the taxpayers give it to me through the military

and no sadly work is rather anti-learning

Well, you're getting something then. And where do you work, out of interest?

it really depends on what your choosing to study as it all comes down to its use

True, although a lot of larger companies give out vouchers to spend on outside-work activities. At least, the companies I've dealt with do.

Well, you're getting something then. And where do you work, out of interest?

yeah mostly just seeing is its actually worth the paper its printed on and officially Barclay's Fraud till Monday (because I can only stands so much)

True, although a lot of larger companies give out vouchers to spend on outside-work activities. At least, the companies I've dealt with do.

yeah I will have to find one of those

yeah mostly just seeing is its actually worth the paper its printed on and officially Barclay's Fraud till Monday (because I can only stands so much)

Ouch. Tell 'em to stick it. Hate that bank anyway.

yeah I will have to find one of those

Well, I'm with RWE npower, and to be honest, I'd probably go work for them after university - they gave me 3 free tickets to the Osprey's vs London Irish game (decent seats too), and recently gave me a £100 voucher to go for my driving lessons with. Conclusion: if you can, try to find someone international. They're usually full of money.

Ouch. Tell 'em to stick it. Hate that bank anyway.

oh yes I'm sully aware for I was one of the guys who call you up when we suspect fraud (if your second name is Davies never get anything to do with banks)

Well, I'm with RWE npower, and to be honest, I'd probably go work for them after university - they gave me 3 free tickets to the Osprey's vs London Irish game (decent seats too), and recently gave me a £100 voucher to go for my driving lessons with. Conclusion: if you can, try to find someone international. They're usually full of money.

ah but I live in Northamptonshire its McDonald's or Nationwide

though really I have a job a small bookshop lined up so I may stick with easy living

oh yes I'm sully aware for I was one of the guys who call you up when we suspect fraud (if you second name is Davies never get anything to do with banks)

Just as well it isn't. Get a lot of trouble with the Davies then?

ah but I live in Northamptonshire its McDonald's or Nationwide

though really I have a job a small bookshop lined up so I may stick with easy living

Nationwide is a good company to work for. I know several people that do, and they're based in my home town! [/loyalty]

Just as well it isn't. Get a lot of trouble with the Davies then?

supercomputers capable of learning seem to ;)

though I have said too much

Nationwide is a good company to work for. I know several people that do, and they're based in my home town! [/loyalty]

depends on how much coke you do really :p

supercomputers capable of learning seem to ;)

though I have said too much

*plots*

depends on how much coke you do really :p

Too true :p especially with some of the people that work there!

Actually Open University degrees are pretty good...and the OU are very much into research as well...

Actually Open University degrees are pretty good...and the OU are very much into research as well...

this is where my research has led me, however is it better than actually just going to school? (because if at all possible I'm too cool for skool)

this is where my research has led me, however is it better than actually just going to school? (because if at all possible I'm too cool for skool)

Depends...what are you looking for when you go to university...

Depends...what are you looking for when you go to university...

well I was thinking of giving it a go on politics and criminology* (seeing as how I'm kind of in the middle in psychology at the moment)

*this is a duel subject so I have to do politics as well in first year so no I don't plan to copy and pasting stuff off NSg:p

well I was thinking of giving it a go on politics and criminology* (seeing as how I'm kind of in the middle in psychology at the moment)

*this is a duel subject so I have to do politics as well in first year so no I don't plan to copy and pasting stuff off NSg:p

yeah...I was thinking more about socially....are you going to do what I did and prop up the Union bar for two years or work and fit your course around that...or work and do your degree remotely...

If you can work hard and you are interested in studying, the Open University is fantastic. All the courses I have taken (mostly maths/science/physics so far, but planning arts courses in the future) have been really well put together. There's a good combination of text books, activities, practical materials and online/dvd work to keep you interested, plenty of help and advice in planning your time and coping with the workload, easy access to your tutor and plenty of interaction with other students.

It is hard work, but it is very rewarding indeed and I recommend that you call up your regional centre and talk to them. They will help you to understand what's involved as well as showing you course materials so that you can be confident in choosing a course. Employers tend to like Open Univeristy degrees because they recognise the hard work and discipline that goes into earning one whilst working full time, and you can meet lots of interesting people. Go for it, and good luck :D

The name scares me --- Open University --- This isn't one of those non-traditional places that gives you credit for "life experience", is it?

The name scares me --- Open University --- This isn't one of those non-traditional places that gives you credit for "life experience", is it?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Open_University

That's all you need to know really..

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Open_University

That's all you need to know really..

I see they do require "life experience" for admission into post-grad programs. That's a minus. Do UK universities have any sort of academic accreditation (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Educational_accreditation)?

I see they do require "life experience" for admission into post-grad programs. That's a minus. Do UK universities have any sort of academic accreditation (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Educational_accreditation)?

From your link :

[edit] United Kingdom
In the UK it is illegal to offer a qualification that is or might seem to be UK degree unless the awarding body is recognised by the Secretary of State, a Royal Charter or Act of Parliament to grant degrees.[36] Prosecutions under the Education Reform Act are rare, as many unaccredited awarding bodies are based outside UK jurisdiction. It is also worth noting in this context that the Business Names Act 1985 made it an offence for any business in the UK to use the word "university" in its name without the formal approval of the Privy Council.[37]

Private higher (HE) and further education (FE) institutions (here distinguished from the qualifications that they offer) are unregulated, but may choose to become accredited by various non-regulatory bodies such as the British Accreditation Council or the British Council in order to demonstrate third-party assessment of the quality of education they offer. The Universities Funding Council, and Polytechnics and Colleges Funding Council established in the UK under the 1988 Education Reform Act[38] have responsibility for the public funding of the FE and HE sector.

Prosecutions under legislation other than the Education Reform Act 1988 do occur. In 2004 Thames Valley College in London was prosecuted under the Trade Descriptions Act for offering degrees from the 'University of North America', a limited liability company set up by themselves in the US with no academic staff and no premises other than a mail forwarding service.[39]

From your link :
So what does the first paragraph mean? That all an institution needs is some paperwork from the national government? Is that a one-time thing, or is there some periodic review?

I figure the Open University is no worse than places like University of Phoenix, Chapman College, etc in the US. Mail order degrees are fine, if you can get someone to honor them.

Ohhh, don't you fucking dare compare the open university with that phoenix crap.lol jk.

Ohhh, don't you fucking dare compare the open university with that phoenix crap.lol jk.
That's what I'm looking for --- a frame of reference to evaluate the Open University.

Phoenix sells accredited degrees. So do any number of places. What makes Open University different?

That's what I'm looking for --- a frame of reference to evaluate the Open University.

Phoenix sells accredited degrees. So do any number of places. What makes Open University different?

Only basing it on the local university but what they mean by open is the public can take a class without having to sign up to be a student. It costs more then the usual class fees.....

So what does the first paragraph mean? That all an institution needs is some paperwork from the national government? Is that a one-time thing, or is there some periodic review?

Not exactly "some paperwork". The assent of the Secretary of State, a Royal Charter, or an Act of Parliament is needed. This is not easy to obtain.

You will note, as well, that the permission of the Privy Council is needed before an institution can call itself a university. That would be incredibely difficult to obtain for a non-reputable institution.

I figure the Open University is no worse than places like University of Phoenix, Chapman College, etc in the US. Mail order degrees are fine, if you can get someone to honor them.

Most definitely not a mail order degree. You spend years working towards it, and have to submit work regularly. In addition, they are recognised as being worthwhile degrees to have.

yeah...I was thinking more about socially....are you going to do what I did and prop up the Union bar for two years or work and fit your course around that...or work and do your degree remotely...

oh dear I hope you don't go to Uni bars, the folk there are a tad playing with themselves no?

and I'm going to have to work around a job because otherwise I can't buy fancy things and go on vacation every 5 minuets, though by all means I am very lazy and would probably do everything last minuet

That's what I'm looking for --- a frame of reference to evaluate the Open University.

Phoenix sells accredited degrees. So do any number of places. What makes Open University different?

The Open University don't sell degrees, they sell education. It's called "Open" because anybody over the age of 18 can sign up for a level 1 course (roughly equivalent in standard to the first year of a conventional university) regardless of previous academic achievement. One must, however, pass the course to progress to levels 2 and 3*, and one cannot earn a degree without passing modules at level 3. It is open access learning and is recognised as being academically valuable. It is designed for, and used by, those who were unable to attend conventional universities, or whose desire to learn persists into adulthood; those in the forces, those who are disabled, those who live in remote areas, those whose elementary education let them down and so on.

Take a look at the wikipedia link provided earlier, and at http://www.open.ac.uk/ and please don't compare it to those places that sell degree certificates.

*One may receive credit for academic awards already earned; e.g. a previously earned degree in a relevant subject.

SInce I have been an OU allumini (or however you spell it)

OU degrees are the same as the degrees offered by other United Kingdom universities

In order to qualify for an honours level degree, you need:

120 study points at level 1: equal to a full years full time study for 1st yr student
120 study points at level 2: equal to a full years full time study for 2nd yr student
120 study points at level 3: equal to a full years full time study for 3rd yr student
totalling 360 study points
If you want a named hons degree, then you have to do the set courses for that named degree.
you can mix and match a bit with the level 1/2 stuff depending on your ability eg 60 points at level 1 and 180 points at level 2, but you must have the 120 points at level 3 for the homs degree

A normal degree consists of
120 at level 1
240 at level 2

Again each 120 points is the same as a full years study at a full time university

There are other awards available eg diplomas, Msc's MA's etc etc

When you study, you are reccomended to take on 60 points of study per year if you are in full time employment.
This can take the form of either one 60 point course or 2 30 point courses
The 60 point course usually has 7 assignments to do plus 1 exam. you must score an average of over 40% in both to pass the course
The 30 point course are usually 4 assignments spread over the year plus an exam at the end, again 40% in both coursework and exam to pass

It in no way is comparable to a 'buy your degree' place,because although its distance learning plus you pay for the courses, the OU keeps tight control of the marking.
EG every course tutor has to submit the students assignments to the OU after marking so the OU can keep tabs on them and spot any dodgey business.....

From personal experience , it is bloody hard work , especially the level 3 stuff, because usually you are by yourself when you try and figure out what the heck the course is trying to teach you and you dont usually have the luxury of other students to help
And trying to do a stressful full time job at the same time can really f*** you up :eek:

Boris Dip.Comp. Nearly to a Bsc(hons)