Open University Questions and Answers

brownmini · 20-08-2010 9:28pm

coup1917 wrote: »

Hey all,

I'm looking to start my next OU module in the next month hopefully and would really appreciate some advice or direction with my choice of course.
Basically my course history to date is:
M150 Data, Computing & Information
T175 Networked Living Information & Communication Technologies--Both Level 1s completed for a Cert in Computing & IT.

Have just completed a Level 3 T320 Ebusiness Technologies by the skin of my teeth so I'm just wondering if anyone has completed similar modules and what qualifications they are aiming for..?
My initial thoughts were to just go for a Diploma in IT, but have faced up to the fact I need a degree..
Would anyone advise specialising in a certain subject area, am considering working towards a BSc or BA open so I could vary my course modules but am not convinced on any option yet..
Any help would be greatly appreciated ( while there is currently good value on sterling...!!)..

M150 - good course .
T320 didnt do it ,.. did T324 instead - expected it to be half of the old T305 but it wasnt.
T325 looks nice though but might do some 10 pointers for a change.
T224, T263 are good.
MT262 was great!!

Suggest that you make up an excel spreadsheet of the fixed syllabi for
each named degree.
Identify the common subjects of the degrees that interest you and do
them.
Identify the final-year for each course too.
You may find that a course you want to do in two years time is scheduled
to be scrapped next year. This can affect your path.
Plan ahead. See if one course is the '2nd year' of another.

Eventually - you can then choose which branch you need to fill-in
when it comes to choosing the courses that arent common.
If at the end you choose to do a project and get a named degree thats
fine or just collect enough points and collect the OPEN one instead.

Just remembr that you can only use each course twice when it comes to obtaining a qualification.
i.e. You cant use each course to get a Cert, Diploma and then a Degree.

Happy studying ...

monkeypants · 23-08-2010 12:51pm

brownmini wrote: »

Just remembr that you can only use each course twice when it comes to obtaining a qualification.
i.e. You cant use each course to get a Cert, Diploma and then a Degree.

How do you then get the qualifications? Do you have to repeat the module(s)?

brownmini · 23-08-2010 7:44pm

monkeypants wrote: »

How do you then get the qualifications? Do you have to repeat the module(s)?

If you do the course for example Z999 and it's part of the required courses for several degrees/certs/diplomas... you can only use it and its points to gain two of those qualifications.
So if you want to get a degree using each course then only use it once for something else.

monkeypants · 24-08-2010 12:05pm

Okay, let me see if I can post up a specific example.

Module M50 seems to be a common level 1 module for a whole bunch of courses. So is Module T175.

I want to do both of them to get Degree B38. Module M123 is also a part of this.

That's three modules so far. Two of them are compulsory, the third isn't. I could do MST121 instead.

Once I've done M50 and T175, I can collect Certificate C47. When I complete M123 or MST121, I should also be able to collect Certificate C50.

Am I able to collect both certificates and still collect the degree? Or do I have to do one of the modules a second time?

30-08-2010 2:15pm

monkeypants wrote: »

Am I able to collect both certificates and still collect the degree? Or do I have to do one of the modules a second time?

I don't know but it sounds like if you want to get the degree at the end you would have to potentially not claim the intermediate certificates?

didntgotoplan · 30-08-2010 2:26pm

I know when I registered for the courses, they asked me to link the course to one qualification or more, with the possibility of adding/changing more qualifications at another stage.

For example, I'm doing the MST121 and MS221 this year which I linked to the Certificate in Mathematics. I will probably be aiming for the Bsc in Mathematics and Statistics, if I enjoy the OU experience this year.

brownmini · 30-08-2010 9:55pm

monkeypants wrote: »

Am I able to collect both certificates and still collect the degree? Or do I have to do one of the modules a second time?

The way I understand it - yes because you aren't
using the same course more than twice.

Use each course once for the Certs and hold the second use for the degree.

brownmini · 30-08-2010 9:59pm

didntgotoplan wrote: »

For example, I'm doing the MST121 and MS221 this year which I linked to the

These two courses usually fit nicely.

monkeypants · 31-08-2010 9:40am

brownmini wrote: »

The way I understand it - yes because you aren't
using the same course more than twice.

If I collect both certs and the degree, I'd have used the M150 module three times. Suppose I do want to collect all three? I've done the work, why not? The only other option would be to do M150 a second time, which makes money for the OU and nothing else.

31-08-2010 2:24pm

monkeypants wrote: »

If I collect both certs and the degree, I'd have used the M150 module three times. Suppose I do want to collect all three? I've done the work, why not? The only other option would be to do M150 a second time, which makes money for the OU and nothing else.

I don't see why they would let you do a course a second time - you aren't learning anything new. You would probably have to do a different course to make up the points.

kagni · 31-08-2010 2:54pm

brownmini wrote: »

Just remembr that you can only use each course twice when it comes to obtaining a qualification.
i.e. You cant use each course to get a Cert, Diploma and then a Degree.

Happy studying ...

Thanks brownmini - I wasn't aware of this. Can you post a link to this info please.
I have only seen restrictions on the amount of unique study required for each qualification.
It doesn't affect me but I am surprised it isn't more clearly detailed on the OU site.

monkeypants · 01-09-2010 8:41am

I spoke to someone at the OU and they seemed to think that I could collect both certs. Meh. I have to do all three modules anyway, so I'll just go and do that and call the OU in two years when I'm done with them.

didntgotoplan · 01-09-2010 3:06pm

I was wondering about student benefits in relation to bus passes.

I will be working full time when doing the course and will be using buses to get around everyday, so I was wondering do we get student discounts for travel passes?
Will we get an Open University student card or is there another way to show them you are a student of OU?

I already was in college and I needed to show my student ID more or less every time I went in to get a monthly pass at the bus station.

BuffyBot · 01-09-2010 4:51pm

You can get an OU student ID, which Bus Eireann accept for student bus tickets.

monkeypants · 02-09-2010 1:12pm

BuffyBot wrote: »

You can get an OU student ID, which Bus Eireann accept for student bus tickets.

That might be useful all right.

Christ, I'm really going to be a student again!

didntgotoplan · 02-09-2010 10:30pm

Thanks! Any idea how I can get one from Open University? or will I just email them and ask?

A few other questions...
How long does it normal take for OU to sent stuff by post to Ireland?

Also, I'm looking to see which degree is nicer to do from anyone who has done them- the Mathematics and Statistics one or just the Mathematics? Reason being as they are both recognised degree's for the secondary teaching!

I know the Mathematics has a residential school, which doesn't bother me at the moment. Modules wise which one would people recommend is the least difficult to learn and understand?

I touched on Statistics in my first degree and thought it was a nice subject and I also enjoyed maths as a subject in the leaving.

hayser · 03-09-2010 7:51pm

didntgotoplan wrote: »

Thanks! Any idea how I can get one from Open University? or will I just email them and ask?

A few other questions...
How long does it normal take for OU to sent stuff by post to Ireland?

.

If you go to www.nus.com that is where you apply for an OU student card. You'll need to upload a photo of yourself and have a credit card to pay the 12 Euro fee. I think it's 15 if you want to add USIT to the card. It takes about 2 weeks altogether to have it processed and sent out.

Bobeagleburger · 04-09-2010 2:26pm

you also get a FREE student card from OU.

It works as a discount card too

bearhugs · 22-09-2010 7:48pm

Hi, just wondering if anyone can help me. I have an Arts degree and a HDip Ed. Am trying to apply for credit transfer in the Open University and got a letter from them today saying they need more information on the HDip, as in how many credits it is, level of course etc. Has anyone been in a similar position? What was the outcome? Obviously Ill get in touch with the awarding body of the qualifiactions but Id love to hear from anyone who already sorted their situation out? Thanks

monkeypants · 23-09-2010 4:12pm

hayser wrote: »

If you go to www.nus.com that is where you apply for an OU student card. You'll need to upload a photo of yourself and have a credit card to pay the 12 Euro fee. I think it's 15 if you want to add USIT to the card. It takes about 2 weeks altogether to have it processed and sent out.

You sure about the URL? I'm getting an american company website.

kagni · 23-09-2010 11:12pm

monkeypants wrote: »

You sure about the URL? I'm getting an american company website.

Try here - http://www.nus.org.uk/

monkeypants · 24-09-2010 7:55am

rarnes1 wrote: »

you also get a FREE student card from OU.

It works as a discount card too

When do you get this? I've received all my materials and there's no card included. Do I have to apply for it?

Bobeagleburger · 26-09-2010 5:10pm

monkeypants wrote: »

When do you get this? I've received all my materials and there's no card included. Do I have to apply for it?

Yeah, you need a small cover letter, stating your course and course code/ PI number and a couple of passport photos.

Afaik, you need a stamped address envelope too.

Student card

If you want an OUSA membership card, ask the Research School for a certificate of registration, then send that, a passport-sized photograph and a postage stamp (if you use an off campus address) with a covering letter to OUSA.

http://www3.open.ac.uk/rdse-handbook/p2_5.shtml

SeaFields · 22-10-2010 11:38am

Have every intention of starting a OU course early next year. However, the prospectus, its like a nerds wet dream!

I dunno what to do. Continue in my area of expertise from my other postgrad study and do a postgrad course or start from scratch and do something completely different.

:(

Anyone else face similar difficulties? How did you solve it? Possible a question that I can only answer myself.

Oh the stress!

DON_08 · 01-11-2010 7:57pm

I wish to do a Bsc in Maths and was looking at the details on this. Well I really want to do a full-time masters - but can't get accepted onto a course without a pure maths degree so see this as an option.

I already have an Hons degree in Actuarial Maths and Statistics - but from the blurb on the website I can only use that for 80 credits and only 30 for the compulsory level 1 maths module. I have also done the Actuarial exams by distance learning - so familiar with the study way.

I have looked through the syllabus of the compulsory level 2 modules, and I have covered most if not all of the topics. I'm afraid to start this as it might end up boring the pants off me - and seems a waste.

I would love to do more modules on the level 3 options - rather than use the extra 50 credits from the previous degree.

Has anyone ever come up with the same problem and were OU anyway flexible on this?

Duff Man Jr. · 30-11-2010 4:03am

I just registered and paid for my first module(S104). I want to reg for another, should I wait untill they post out the confirmation first? Because I haven't got my OU Personal Identifier yes there might be two copies of me in their system. Deadline is 3 weeks away, so no need for panic stations just yet.

Thanks

mbiking123 · 23-12-2010 6:43pm

For anybody interested in M364 or M366, I have posted the course results. M364 is a relatively easy course yet 24% failed.

M366 is a difficult course, had a much lower failure rate. It appears a number of students (overall) did not bother to even turn up for exam

Some subject can be more difficult than others, M364 and M366 are both 30 credit course but the time required was substantially different

BaronVon · 25-04-2011 5:02pm

Hi all,

Looking to start Using mathematics (MST121) in October. The course consists of 5 Tutor-marked assignments (TMAs) and 3 Computer-marked assignments (CMAs). It ends in June. There is no exam.

Problem is, I'm getting married at the end of May and intend to be honeymooning for most, if not all, of June.

Do people know if I could finish the course earlier? Are students informed of all the assignments at the start?

Any help much appreciated.

BuffyBot · 26-04-2011 11:44am

Yes, generally you receive all the assignments at the start and there should be no problem having them completed early.

aphex™ · 26-04-2011 1:17pm

My experience is the opposite to Buffybot. For example, on the course websites for the two courses I'm currently doing I cannot see any TMA 04.

However I have no doubt that with some careful planning and work you could easily take a month off study.

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