Open University Questions and Answers

bryaner · 05-10-2011 9:45am

Hello all

I've just started the TU100 my digital life course with the OU, I'm pretty computer literate (repairing, virus removal reloading operating systems etc) and was confident that I could get through the course within the the study guidelines etc, I've just had a look through the first two lots of TMA's and a lot of the questions seem mumbo jumbo ish and not really computer related.

Has anyone had experience in this type of course and any advice because the horrible feeling of failure has enveloped me and my confidence has dropped..

Cheers in advance, Bryan..

Coriolanus · 05-10-2011 10:41am

Talk to your mentor, classmates, there's also some other rescources available.

Sorry, haven't done that course.

El Weirdo · 06-10-2011 10:25pm

bryaner wrote: »

Hello all

I've just started the TU100 my digital life course with the OU, I'm pretty computer literate (repairing, virus removal reloading operating systems etc) and was confident that I could get through the course within the the study guidelines etc, I've just had a look through the first two lots of TMA's and a lot of the questions seem mumbo jumbo ish and not really computer related.

Has anyone had experience in this type of course and any advice because the horrible feeling of failure has enveloped me and my confidence has dropped..

Cheers in advance, Bryan..

I'm doing the same course. The questions on the first TMA all relate to the materials that you should have covered by the end of next week. Have you started reading the first part of the Block One book yet?

Also, as Nevore said, the course forums look pretty busy and there seems to be a willingness to support and give advice from everyone posting there. If you're particularly worried, it certainly won't do any harm to fire off an email to your course tutor.

bryaner · 07-10-2011 8:31pm

Thanks for the reply's, it's all starting to come together I hope..;)

El Weirdo · 10-10-2011 10:39pm

bryaner wrote: »

Thanks for the reply's, it's all starting to come together I hope..;)

Glad to hear it. Good luck!

HigsBoson · 14-10-2011 3:09pm

I think that TMA01 and TMA02 are just one assessment that has been split in two so that new students find it less pressure. They focus more on study skills where the next TMAs will focus more on the technical aspects of the course.

feet of flame · 16-10-2011 8:19pm

hi there, long time lurker first time poster. Just browsing the OU site and see that they are raising their fees for first time students in 2012 to £5000 per 120 credits of study for residents of the UK, anybody care to speculate what the charges for non UK students will be, the site says more info in early 2012.

L1011 · 16-10-2011 9:17pm

I would imagine they're going to rise but I doubt they're going to remain at their current roughly 180% of the "UK" (to be England) fees seeing as the price different was due to the UK govt funding. Could easily end up being much the same price, really depends what happens with the other UK nations.

TheyKnowMyIP · 19-10-2011 1:57am

feet of flame wrote: »

hi there, long time lurker first time poster. Just browsing the OU site and see that they are raising their fees for first time students in 2012 to £5000 per 120 credits of study for residents of the UK, anybody care to speculate what the charges for non UK students will be, the site says more info in early 2012.

For an online course, that is extortion. Not to mention the standards could slip.

HigsBoson · 19-10-2011 10:36am

They are not online courses, they Hetac accredited distance learning undergraduate modules, phew. There is a difference. The OU is a highly respected institution and well worth the price in my opinion.

lunacyfoundme · 23-11-2011 12:30pm

Has anyone done the Comuting and IT course? I have a query on the 'My Digital Life' module. I know it says compulsory on it but does that mean you can't use a credit transfer instead of it aswell.

I did a computing cert years ago and was going to get credit for it, but that module is the only one that I actually dont really want or feel the need to do anyway.

BKtje · 23-11-2011 3:58pm

There is a list somewhere which states which courses can be substituted (can't find it at the moment) but My Digital Life wasn't one of them.

I'm doing it at the moment and enjoying it even if I covered most of it already in UCD.

I'm not sure what is involved in a computing cert but this course has aspects of most courses that I did during my comp sci module and I imagine it will be vital in your understanding of later courses. I'm finding it fairly easy at the moment (seeing as I've seen studied most of it before) but still interesting.

L1011 · 07-12-2011 9:35pm

lunacyfoundme wrote: »

Has anyone done the Comuting and IT course? I have a query on the 'My Digital Life' module. I know it says compulsory on it but does that mean you can't use a credit transfer instead of it aswell.

I did a computing cert years ago and was going to get credit for it, but that module is the only one that I actually dont really want or feel the need to do anyway.

From my reading of it, credit transfer on Computing & IT is generally funneled towards the 30 credit "Accreditation of Certified Practitioners" modules at L1 and L2. Best option is the phone the credit transfer office - +44 (0)1908 653077 - and they'll tell you exactly.

The two compulsory modules at L1 are very much there to ensure you're actually capable of doing the course so I doubt they'll let you transfer for them. I'm working on the other one at the moment and although it seems ridiculous for an IT degree I can see why it's there - it'll weed out people who are unable to do assignments at all and help those who might be a bit crap at them to be able to do them.

Also the more transfers you do the harder it gets to get a 1.1 or 2.1 as transfers can't be graded, so you have no margin left.

L1011 · 21-12-2011 11:53pm

Anyone any experience in what documents you need to get tax relief back on OU fees?

I'll have 2,600 quid roughly spent on them this year so well over the relief threshold for part-time students (1k) and I'm down as studying towards a BSc which is one of the OU degrees that Revenue accept

But I can't see them returning 300 quid or so to me in a tax return without asking for documentation (admittedly, they've done it for medical expenses and never asked for any but still). Are print offs of the confirmation of payment and CC statements showing the euro conversion OK?

Swifty_N · 22-12-2011 9:17pm

MYOB wrote: »

Anyone any experience in what documents you need to get tax relief back on OU fees?

I'll have 2,600 quid roughly spent on them this year so well over the relief threshold for part-time students (1k) and I'm down as studying towards a BSc which is one of the OU degrees that Revenue accept

But I can't see them returning 300 quid or so to me in a tax return without asking for documentation (admittedly, they've done it for medical expenses and never asked for any but still). Are print offs of the confirmation of payment and CC statements showing the euro conversion OK?

You ring up the office in Holles St and ask them to send you out a letter for the years you want to claim for. Send that in to Revenue and they'll send you out a cheque. It's straightforward and you can claim for previous years.
Niamh

lunacyfoundme · 22-12-2011 10:17pm

Send that in to Revenue and they'll send you out a cheque

I signed up and paid for two modules in February 2012. Payment has already been taken. Can I calim for these for 2011 or do i have to wait til the end of next year?

Swifty_N · 22-12-2011 10:30pm

lunacyfoundme wrote: »

I signed up and paid for two modules in February 2012. Payment has already been taken. Can I calim for these for 2011 or do i have to wait til the end of next year?

I don't know for sure...but I know I claimed in the middle of the year at least once and they processed it quickly. Maybe drop the Revenue an email and ask?
Sorry I can't be of more help.

L1011 · 23-12-2011 4:22pm

Thanks for that. I'm in the same boat as goes paying for something in 2011 that's for 2012 so I'll need to contact Revenue I think... won't get my P60 to be able to do the rest of my claim for a few weeks anyway.

Anyusername · 02-01-2012 10:11pm

Looking at this degree with the OU. I have a Diploma in Business level 7 from an IT in Ireland. Does anyone know can I transfer into year 4 or any year of the open degree? . How many credits would my diploma give me? I would like to go on and do a Masters in Social Work. I am thinking of doing subjects do bring it up to a Degree in Social Science. Any one know if this is poss?

Thanks for your advice

Coriolanus · 02-01-2012 11:50pm

Some of the stuff on the their FAQ for credit transfer might answer your questions.

http://www3.open.ac.uk/contact/faq.aspx?t=S&cat=1-1SDO4V

Failing that, or someone on here biting, fill in the form here:
http://www3.open.ac.uk/contact/contactus.aspx?cid=192

with all the details of your current quals and what you want to do etc and you'll get a very thorough answer. I mainly deal with my tutor now but when I was first mulling stuff over the general staff were extremely indepth in their help.

Colours · 03-01-2012 6:47pm

Hi All,

this is kind of a stab in the dark but I'm wondering if anyone might know for definite whether it is or is not possible to register for a module even though it's past registration date and you've missed the cut off dates for say 2 of the TMA's for the course?

What has prompted this somewhat bizarre question is that I am currently working towards a Maths degree with the OU in which I have just registered for the last 2 of the 4 compulsory level 3 modules required for this degree which commence this February. I have not yet done either the compulsory (and only) level 1 course MST121 Using Mathematics or the level 2 course Exploring Mathematics but I have done all remaining compulsory Level 2 modules for this qualfication.

I did previous Maths study in another university against which I have applied for credit transfer. Although I have not yet been formally advised about how many credit points this previous study will go towards my OU Maths degree - the maximum amount for this named degree is 80 credit points which is what I am hoping for - it has more or less been confirmed to me that I will still have to do the level 2 MS221 course because it is a compulsory course in the OU Maths degree course B31. I would however be allowed to be exempt from having to study the compulsory Level 2 MST121 component.

Hope I didn't lose some of you in the above palaver but it paves the way for the point of my post which is this: because 1) the next commencement date of the MS221 course is not till October 2012 and 2) I am very confident that nothing in this Level 2 course will present a challenge to me since I've been on Level 3 material for a few years now and 3) I am anxious to get my degree at the earliest possible juncture .... is it ever possible to enter an OU course half way through?

I would be willing to pay full fees and hopefully there could be a special arrangement for me to do the TMAs which I missed. That way I could sit th exam this June and get this compulsory component out of the way instead of having to wait a year and a half to do it.

Is this all just crazy talk or does anyone think that what I've proposed might be feasible?

Thanks :-)

L1011 · 03-01-2012 9:44pm

Everything on their website says there is absolutely no way to do that. Someone on a module can't even submit a TMA after the cutoff date without it being agreed in advance.

There is also a very real possibility that there was no free spaces on the course to begin with.

Anyusername · 03-01-2012 11:36pm

Thanks for that. I don't think I will get too many credits going from the website. Will give them a ring.

Anyway, how does the whole thing work, do I need to do 12 modules in year 1 from level 1 , same in year 2 and same in year 3 or is that in any way right.? Would like to do an open degree to get a Bsc in Social Science or just do a degree in Social Science, I'm not sure if I will get any credits for my IT diploma in business but I will give them a buzz this week.

Thanks guys for the advice. Lot of info on the ou website. Hard to know where to start!

Coriolanus · 04-01-2012 12:04am

Example:
For a Degree in Edumacation you need 360 credits over 3 levels. Level 1 is entry level stuff, 2 intermediate, 3 advanced and so on. Modules are worth between 10 and 60 credits. Some of the modules are compulsory, like internet edumacation 101 and you have to do these ones and acheive a certain grade to qualify for a degree.

Anyusername · 04-01-2012 4:21pm

Nevore wrote: »

Example:
For a Degree in Edumacation you need 360 credits over 3 levels. Level 1 is entry level stuff, 2 intermediate, 3 advanced and so on. Modules are worth between 10 and 60 credits. Some of the modules are compulsory, like internet edumacation 101 and you have to do these ones and acheive a certain grade to qualify for a degree.

Thanks for that. Thinking of doing an open degree.does it have to be completed in 3 years? Is level 1s have to be done in year1 , level2 year 2 etc or could I do a level 1 module and a level 2 module at the same time? What is a pass mark is a cert diploma awarded at diff stages before completion of degree? Thanks

04-01-2012 7:19pm

Anyusername wrote: »

Thanks for that. Thinking of doing an open degree.does it have to be completed in 3 years? Is level 1s have to be done in year1 , level2 year 2 etc or could I do a level 1 module and a level 2 module at the same time? What is a pass mark is a cert diploma awarded at diff stages before completion of degree? Thanks

No it doesn't have to be done in three years

Some level 2 courses require that you have already completed a relevant level 1 course before you start but that doesn't stop you studying a level 2 course in one subject you have already studied at level 1 along with a level 1 course in a different one. Would you be studying full time? The website gives guidelines on how many hours each subject would typically take.

On your earlier questions - generally there are limits to the amount of credits from previous study you can use to gain a degree.

Coriolanus · 05-01-2012 12:02am

You can usually use some of the modules for varying quals.

For example there's a cert I'm looking at that is composed of 2 x lvl2 @60 points modules. So I do that, and claim my cert, fine.
Later I decide to do my degree. When it comes time to calculate my credits, I can only use one of the modules that I used to claim my cert, not both.

But there's a lot of variation. Some have time limits on when you have to have done the course etc.

There's really only general principles so don't take any of this as gospel. You'll have to give a good read over of the prospectus for the area you're looking at.

Anyusername · 05-01-2012 12:45pm

Thanks will have a look at prospectus. Tbh not sure if going to do anything with them. Got a shock when heard the price 1320 per module to start now and jumps up to 2500 per module in oct. ! That is in sterling.

I think I am going to head the IT route and do two nights a week and maybe do a few fetac courses from cmit distance learning.

Coriolanus · 06-01-2012 12:01am

Well, you have to remember it's not subsidized. But even if you take, say a degree in Trinity and a degree in the OU, the disparity isn't that big. And when you're like me and have used a couple of your "free education" years in previous aborted attempts, it's actually far cheaper to go the OU route rather than paying full fees in an Irish Uni.
Still horses for courses and all that.

Slane Resident · 06-01-2012 11:49am

Anyusername wrote: »

Thanks will have a look at prospectus. Tbh not sure if going to do anything with them. Got a shock when heard the price 1320 per module to start now and jumps up to 2500 per module in oct. ! That is in sterling.

I think I am going to head the IT route and do two nights a week and maybe do a few fetac courses from cmit distance learning.

If you enrol now your fees are held at the current rate for the duration of your study. There will be some increases due to inflation etc but getting in now will avoid the price hike that's coming. I've just enrolled for that reason.

SionnachOghma · 27-01-2012 4:19pm

I was just on the OU website, glancing at their language courses. Unless I'm mistaking what their fees section says, a BEGINNERS Italian course (Level 1, 30 credits) costs £1250... can anyone confirm or refute this?

L1011 · 29-01-2012 4:15pm

SionnachOghma wrote: »

I was just on the OU website, glancing at their language courses. Unless I'm mistaking what their fees section says, a BEGINNERS Italian course (Level 1, 30 credits) costs £1250... can anyone confirm or refute this?

From September, all 30 module courses are going to be £1,250 for Irish students due to the UK govt removing block funding for English universities.

This is close enough to what people outside of Ireland paid before (its a bit more) but under the old block funding system, Ireland had lower fees than the rest of the world and the UK had lower fees than Ireland. Now England has equal fees to Ireland and R.O.W. whereas Wales/Scotland/NI still have subsidised ones.

As far as I know if you start a module before September you get in on the old fees (and anyone in on the old fees can keep them till the end) but there aren't many module starts before then anyway.

It'll be £1,250 for a level 3 advanced module as well, not that that helps the initial shock much...

brownmini · 20-02-2012 11:44pm

MYOB wrote: »

From September, all 30 module courses are going to be £1,250 for Irish students due to the UK govt removing block funding for English universities.

...

It'll be £1,250 for a level 3 advanced module as well, not that that helps the initial shock much...

Ouch!!
But this price hike might be fors brand new OU students who have just registered into the British system ????
If you are already in the OU the prices might be a little bit less (???).

I started when the Level 1 modules were around 600 pounds which I think ended up around 780 Euro.
Since then as you say, things just keep going up.
Last course was over 1200 Euro - but remember there is a ''tax back'' on OU courses.

Either way - I enjoyed all the OU stuff.
Even the "Orienteering around UCD" one year to find some ''rectory'' (or something like that) in the grounds when the exam hall had to be moved further in from the roadway. (sports all not available that day/week).

L1011 · 22-02-2012 1:16am

brownmini wrote: »

Ouch!!
But this price hike might be fors brand new OU students who have just registered into the British system ????
If you are already in the OU the prices might be a little bit less (???).

If you're already in, prices are staying the same (plus inflation at UK CPI but no more); I did mention that. You need to keep doing at least one module a year and the exemption eventually runs out.

In theory if you managed to get on a May start course you should be classed as "in" but I'm not sure if that's even possible.

Emzi007 · 03-03-2012 11:10pm

Anyone any idea on the nursing courses run by the ou online how do they work out??

ronano · 04-03-2012 3:32pm

anyone have any tips/advice on getting admitted to the may intake so as to avoid the increased fees?

L1011 · 04-03-2012 11:37pm

ronano wrote: »

anyone have any tips/advice on getting admitted to the may intake so as to avoid the increased fees?

Apply & pay for a May start module now or as soon as you can get the funds, and make sure to mark what degree course you intend to study towards

There are no further interviews or anything, once you've paid you're in, bar there being some serious problems (e.g. nobody else doing the course!).

lunacyfoundme · 31-03-2012 7:11pm

Has anyone else done M256 Software Dev with Java?

The next one is starting in Feb 2013 but I have to do M250 Java first (according to the description of M256) which starts in October. The next M256 isn't until April 2014.

Does anyone know if 4 months of M250 is enough Java to be able to tackle M256?

poker--addict · 27-04-2012 12:13am

these new fees really are a kick in the teeth

not sure I can afford to begin to study at the OU

ene · 29-04-2012 9:27pm

i am doing the degree in health and social care.... anyone else in the same boat?

OakeyDokey · 19-05-2012 8:06pm

Hey what way do people find the best to pay for their fees?

Ol' Donie · 18-08-2012 12:47pm

According to their website they have an open day from 11-4 in the ifsc today. Gonna pop along and have a look.

Cunning Stunt · 01-01-2013 5:48pm

Hi all,
I am also considering taking up a course with the OU, however I am living abroad and not in a position to attend in person for any lectures (I have read from past students that they attended classes / tutorials ever 6 wks or so...).
Would this be an issue or would they understand? Thanks

ene · 01-01-2013 6:30pm

the ou have no problem if you dont attend tutorials!

i am on my third module and i only attended tutorials for one of them!

breghall · 17-01-2013 9:14am

anyone taking on U116 in Feb?

JoePie · 11-02-2013 1:36pm

Hey all.

I'm considering the Open Degree, so I registered and everything. When I got the registration email from OU, the username was blank and I never had any chance to set a password, so I can't log into StudentHome (I think it's called), to have a look at the modules to register for.

I've gotten onto OU about it, but the automated reply said it could be at least 4 days, if not longer before they get back to me. So I'm just wondering if I've missed out on something completely obvious here. I have my PI, but I can't reset my password using that either as it's not recognised.

BuffyBot · 11-02-2013 2:42pm

Probably a printing error. Have you phoned them? The Computing Helpdesk were quite responsive when I was studying with them (as were pretty much all the teams at the OU)

+44 (0) 1908 653972

JoePie · 11-02-2013 2:50pm

Cool, cheers.

Got an email saying my query has been passed along and will be dealt with in the next 24 hours there a little while ago. I'm in no rush anyway. Gotta do this work in this job some time I suppose.

sudzs · 04-09-2013 1:54pm

Can anyone tell me if the textbooks the short stand alone courses (10 credits) are available online? I did a short course a couple of years ago and can't remember if I could access the textbook online or not.

Thanks!

breghall · 06-09-2013 9:16pm

Don't know about short courses but for my first year course all my text books were posted out and also have access online to the same books via their student pages.

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