Open University.

[Dan00001]

Hi,

I'm considering enrolling in open university. Has anyone here enrolled in open university? I'm highly motivated but I've not had any formal education for 20~ years. I'm unsure whether to complete a 30 week 'Access Course', which is like an introductory course aimed towards people like myself who have been out of formal education for a long time, or whether I jump straight in to a degree?

Thanks you.

 

[nigelp]

Yes. I completed a degree with them many years ago while I was working. I did S103 as the first course and it was tough going and challenging but also very rewarding. I would start with the level one courses with the OU because that will give you 60 points towards your degree or whatever, and also help you understand how the OU works etc. I left school at 16 and still dived straight in with the OU. They have lots of resources to help and if you are motivated it is fine.

 

[Dan00001]

The access course doesn't earn you any points, the access course I would go on would give me an introductory into business and law. It would also allow me some time to figure out exactly what I want to do, with the downside being it's an extra 30 weeks with no formal qualification or points at the end of it.

 

[nigelp]

The access course doesn't earn you any points, the access course I would go on would give me an introductory into business and law. It would also allow me some time to figure out exactly what I want to do, with the downside being it's an extra 30 weeks with no formal qualification or points at the end of it.

That’s why I would just dive into the OU course.

 

[Pattree]

Yes, definitely do the access course if only to see how it fits your lifestyle and whether you can keep to schedules and stick it out. It used to cost a lot less than a foundation course if you chucked it.

My wife took a BSc Hons Physics route and the access course got her back up to GCE level maths and helped with academic English presentation.

I’ve just asked her and she says “Definitely”.

 

[Dan00001]

Thank you Pattree, I think I do want to do an access course. For instance, I want to do a degree in probably business, and there are 9 different degrees in various business subjects. An access course will help me decide. Also, I was wrong, you do actually get 30 credits for the access course.

Thank you to your wife, also.

 

[TeeDee]

Have also thought of doing OU - will follow with interest

 

[Pattree]

As a former employer I would tend towards employing an OU graduate over one with a traditional university degree; all other requirements being equal. It demonstrates a high level of personal discipline, commitment and organisation.

 

[Dan00001]

Have also thought of doing OU - will follow with interest

I was initially looking to go to college, which would mean me physically attending classes either 1 day a week, 3 days a week, or 2 nights a week, but for me, OU seem ideal, as I have my own small business, a small garden centre, so I will get tonnes of time to study whilst I'm in work, in-between serving customers etc.

 

[TeeDee]

I was initially looking to go to college, which would mean me physically attending classes either 1 day a week, 3 days a week, or 2 nights a week, but for me, OU seem ideal, as I have my own small business, a small garden centre, so I will get tonnes of time to study whilst I'm in work, in-between serving customers etc.

I think - alot depends on the 'why' behind the thinking / intention - for me , I can't see it forwarding my current workplace position - but more to scratch an itch / knock a chip off my shoulder. And as such , if its the latter - isn't there a different way to fix that??

However - if you've genuine reason to do so , application of the end with mind - I think thats a great decision.

 

[Paul_B]

My Mum did an OU degree in the very earliest days of its existence. In fact she could have been among the first round of graduates too. She got inteviewed IIRC by the Guardian due to being one of the early ones. Also being a working mum too she made for good print in those times when women were becoming more aware of their value and potential rather than as a wife and mother. Anyway she did Social Sciences that were highly fashionable back then.

I had a mate with dyslexia and other issues do one in business while doing all her other things (IIRC nursing job, bank nursing on top and she had a trade with her own business on the side. On top of that something with a union and she started an OU degree. She got it in large print due to dyslexia and got allowances for that. I bet she got it too.

I think they are very good and after my BEng and later masters I did think about retraining with a few further masters / postgrad level courses. I didn't as financially I couldn;'t afford it back then. However like i do I had a good read through the information on their courses and the access courses are generally recommended to people out of education for some time. Also, they do a learning techniques course, or did, that teaches you how to study, prep essays, etc. They are worth doing and IIRC are very cheap.

BTW IIRC OU also do some free courses online. These are kind of taster courses but they are worth seeking and looking at doing while you are making your mind up or while waiting for the course to start. I cannot recall what they are actually called but IIRC I signed up to an OU site and logged on to access the course I did for free.

 

[Paul_B]

IIRC Dan your business has a seasonal element to custom / income and is with is it your Dad? IIRC you mentioned it in some thread. It sounded to me like you are looking at something else, kind of a new direction or change in life. This OU degree idea is a good one but if you are in a kind of flux or state of change then perhaps before committing you need to work out your reasons for doing it and the expected outcomes. Also where you are in life and other fluffy / touchy feelie kind of things (not my strength though in case it was not obvious). Basically OU degree is a cost and needs commitment to get done. If it is an idea to make a change then perhaps it is not the right idea, I cannot say.

Put simply be aware of the work it will involve. It is not easy neither. You need to commit and in my mind I think you need to do it for the right reasons. Just as an escape or to prove a point or without purpose is perhaps a bit of a waste of time and money. I do not know anything about you but I do think that it could be good or not. I know it was not right for me but I had the decision made for me by not affording it. If i could afford it I might have gone ahead and not finished it as I was doing it to escape my life without an idea of how it would help with that.

Does this make any sense or has any relation to where you are.

PS good luck if you go ahead, I wish you well with it. As I said OU is an amazing organisation in my opinion.

 

[Dan00001]

Thank you. Yes, that is correct, a small garden centre which is currently seasonal and who I do with my dad.

There's basically two reasons why I want to do a degree in business.

1. It will help me run our current business, which we have invested dearly in, with both time and money, we've built the business up from a couple of tables of plants to weekly deliveries on an arctic lorry direct from Holland, we have bought about 2 acres of land, have now had drawings made to move business on to land and build a cafe, and planning application going in this year, so it would help me better understand business and run and expand our business, and..

2. I'm now 35 with no formal qualifications past GCSE. If our business fails, I have nothing to turn to that I have any interest in doing. I don't want to turn to physical labour/building type jobs, which is probably the obvious route for a male with no qualifications, and need something more stimulating than working in a supermarket or McDonalds etc. Although I have no qualifications since GCSE (I had very little direction or advice from anyone from a young age), I am quite smart and can be very motivated, and generally a fast learner.

Basically, for whatever reason, I've suddenly reached a point in life where I'm concerned for my future and my ability to provide a good life for myself and my family, I wish this was a concern 20 years ago but the way I see it now is that, fingers crossed, I have another 35+ years of working, that's another lifetime that has already passed, I don't want another 20 years to go by and then think I wish I had gone back to study and gained some qualifications 20 years ago.

 

[Broch]

My wife did a BSc in Environmental Science with the OU and I did an MBA. She was working full time as a teacher at the time and I was running my own company when I did mine. I have to say, I look back now and wonder how the hell we did it; it's not easy working and bringing up the kids especially when my business often demanded 60 or 80 hour weeks out of me. But, I don't regret it at all.

Personally, I would go straight into B100 (60 credits) which is the introduction course for all the business management qualifications - you can then choose to specialise once you've got an idea of your interests and a better grasp of how much time a 30 credit or 60 credit course demands.

OU says 'This is a key introductory OU level 1 module. OU level 1 modules provide core subject knowledge and study skills needed for both higher education and distance learning to help you progress to modules at OU level 2.'

The study material I had was exceptional - I don't know what they provide now though.

You only have until the 11th (2 days) to enrol for this year's intake - but I guess you knew that.

 

[Dan00001]

My wife did a BSc in Environmental Science with the OU and I did an MBA. She was working full time as a teacher at the time and I was running my own company when I did mine. I have to say, I look back now and wonder how the hell we did it; it's not easy working and bringing up the kids especially when my business often demanded 60 or 80 hour weeks out of me. But, I don't regret it at all.

Personally, I would go straight into B100 (60 credits) which is the introduction course for all the business management qualifications - you can then choose to specialise once you've got an idea of your interests and a better grasp of how much time a 30 credit or 60 credit course demands.

OU says 'This is a key introductory OU level 1 module. OU level 1 modules provide core subject knowledge and study skills needed for both higher education and distance learning to help you progress to modules at OU level 2.'

The study material I had was exceptional - I don't know what they provide now though.

You only have until the 11th (2 days) to enrol for this year's intake - but I guess you knew that.

That is interesting, I hadn't looked at B100. Will have a look at that, now.

 

[TeeDee]

Can I ask what I feel is a reasonable question although it may show my rather binary financial side - How much will it cost? and how or what are the terms of the finance ? How much does it work out to a month if arranged that way?

Honest newb question - no idea myself.

 

[Broch]

Can I ask what I feel is a reasonable question although it may show my rather binary financial side - How much will it cost? and how or what are the terms of the finance ? How much does it work out to a month if arranged that way?

Honest newb question - no idea myself.

Depends where you live but for England:

https://www.open.ac.uk/courses/fees-and-funding/

 

[Broch]

I should point out that the Inland Revenue did not see my course as being tax deductible but would have seen it as a valid expense if I was sponsoring an employee

 

[TeeDee]

I should point out that the Inland Revenue did not see my course as being tax deductible but would have seen it as a valid expense if I was sponsoring an employee

I have a question - sorry if it feel like a thread HiJack

If you were going to employ someone new - and you had Two candidates - One with a degree unrelated to the industry that they were applying for an the other without a degree but equally no experience of the industry that they were applying for - would you favour the graduate?

And If so can I ask why?

 

[Dan00001]

I have a question - sorry if it feel like a thread HiJack

If you were going to employ someone new - and you had Two candidates - One with a degree unrelated to the industry that they were applying for an the other without a degree but equally no experience of the industry that they were applying for - would you favour the graduate?

And If so can I ask why?

Carry on, ask away.

If you move to Wales, you'll get cheaper education. For example, Access module- Wales: £329 England: £973

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I've spoken to a few people at OU today, including having a good chat with one of the business course teachers and I now know the path I'm going to take. I'm going to enrol on the Access module, which she recommended, but what I didn't realise is that there is no requirement to finish the access module, and I can even finish it alongside the degree module. What this means is, I can start the access module in October, and then at the end of January, I can enrol on the B100 introduction to business module. I don't have to wait until October next year. This seems the best of both worlds, I can ease in to education slowly, I can get a better understanding of where I actually want to go with my education, and I can begin a degree in 4 months instead of what I thought would be 12 months time.