Open University Questions and Answers

shakeydude wrote: »

thanks for bringing this thread back up npc 100, I had forgotten that I had submitted it.

I am looking to do some maths course part time and if it could push on to actuary in years to come how bad but I just want something to test myself in the evenings rather than spending my time on boards.:P

I am an engineer so I have a good maths basis behind me but OU seems to be the best option for doing a maths and/or stats degree by distance learning. Surely someone else has done something similare on boards....

I'm doing the Maths and Stats degree with OU and the moment and I find them great. I did three modules over the last 18 months and i'm doing another 3 starting in February. I find the materials really well laid out and the tutorials are really good. I'm hoping to finish the degree in 3 years.

most modules run from february - october with a few running from october - june. the first module that you would have to do has 2 starts one in october and one in february, i recommend starting that one next october and then sign up for the follow on in february. modules are done at level 1, 2 and 3 which is basically equivalent to first, second and third year of a regular college. you can see the complete list of modules and compulsory/elective modules here.

http://www3.open.ac.uk/courses/bin/p12.dll?Q01B36

you have to gain 360 credits for the degree, 300 of these must be from the courses listed including the compulsory ones and 60 remaining credits can be either more maths or anything you want. if you already have a degree you can use it for free credit transfer to make up the last 60 credits (and save a bit of money)

modules are either 30 or 60 credits - most in maths are 30. OU recommends 8 hours per week on the 30 credit modules and 16 on the 60 credit modules. it really depends on your own ability and experience. The first maths module is about equivalent to leaving cert higher level maths so although i started the course in october, they sent out the materials in august and i had it finished by christmas which left me more time for the modules i was starting in february. the ones i'm doing this year are going to be more time consuming.

i already have a science degree and I'm a teacher so i'm not finding the maths so far too difficult and of course i've a lot of time in the summer to work at it, but there are plenty doing it with regular 9 to 5 jobs that don't have as much time off. I was always interested in maths but never got to study it and i picked the maths and stats over their other maths degrees because it doesn't have a summer school (available in UK only, so involves travelling) and it's recognised here for teaching purposes.

cost - £755 per 30 credit module, so it is expensive, but that includes everything. as sterling is weakening at the moment my fees for next year are going to work out a lot cheaper than last year. at today's exchange rates a 30 credit module is working out around €810.

PM if you want any more information.

Hi Rainbow,

I am planning on doing OU maths in order to become a maths teacher.
however i could just do pure maths via the OU or go for a mix as you did Math/Stats.

Option 2 would seems a bit easier as stats I believe is abit easier than going down the pure maths route.

why did you do the mix of stats and maths? why not pure maths?
And how are you finding the course?
Are you doing the degree in order to teach maths in post primary?

Thanks,
the46gang

do they have to contact the Open University or is it the other way around? Also how much of a time lapse is there between finishing your degree and being able to get a transcript? The reason I am asking is I am due to be finished in October of this year and there is a master's degree I'd love to do starting in February 2010 but is four months enough time to get my transcript and a copy of my degree certificate from them? Thanks in advance.

The simple answer is no (unless it's from your employer etc).

You can claim tax relief however (do a search on this forum for lots of threads about it)

hiya, well, i don't have much to tell you but i am starting the same myself unfortunately they don't do the introduction to psychology which starts in march, that might have been handy as a kind of introduction to the topics covered.

It seems a bit more expensive to do the course in Ireland too and not within the UK. I wonder if we qualify for grants at all, maybe someone knows?

Shouldn't do - unless the qualifcation has a specific validity limit on it (generally listed on the web page) then you can have gaps of all sorts. I think the longest gap I recall was somebody coming back to a qualification having last done an OU course in the late 70's.

This thread is to keep the large quantity of OU related threads in one place for easy reference. Post Away.

Is this a joke? How would a course in business and humanities be of any use to you if you want to work with addicts?

Also, this thread is about the Open University, which is not the university you are applying to (you don't do any interview to get onto their courses).

Doubtful, I'd say - but only NUIG can answer for certain.