Is Open University worth it?

Marlena002

I've been in touch with a program director at Trinity and was told that before being admitted into the postgrad program I like, I may be required to do a module or two at the Open University.

I'm American so firstly I have no idea what the OU really even is, or how this would work? Second I'm a bit wary because it seems a little expensive, and taking the module is no guarantee I'd even be admitted to Trinity, it would just mean I'd have a slightly better chance of being asked to interview.

Is the whole thing even worth it? If I end up applying to other programs across the UK, will a module from the OU help my application at all? I don't quite get how this process works

Gae

I know a guy who did a whole BA with the Open University. He went on to do a masters in Trinity and has had quite a successful career. It has quite a good reputation (better than any other distance-learning places I can think of, anyway), but I don't think it beats a bricks-and-mortar university.

Is it worth it? That depends entirely on you and the situation you're in. It might help people advise you if they knew what course it is.

jackthelad321

I am currently studying a module with the OU.

This is what I know: the quality of education is very good. In some ways it is superior to a bricks and mortar Uni (waiting for the backlash here) as they lead you through everything and don't allow you to make too many errors or go off track.

Some will call it spoon feeding, but I disagree. By keeping you closely involved, through booklets on areas that are often overlooked by universities (step-by-step breakdown of concepts - critical thinking, essay writing, study habits, study reflection, to name but a few) it actually has increased my skills considerably and I found in regular university that you got very little, if any, guidance in these and were expected to figure it out by yourself.

Again, some ciritics will say that being left to your own devices it the best approach, no spoonfeeding etc., but again once you see how it's done it should be impossible, or at least improbable, to maintain that position.

The fees seem high, especially compared to the UK, but I am happy with the education. Another thing I have found: the feedback on assignments is very good and far more detailed that I remember in NUIG. While it is distance learning there is a great amount of support, tutorials, online forums and it's as much as you want really. Again in some ways there is more contact with your tutor and far less felling that you are annoying them or an aside to the important things they are conducting.

So there are some bad aspects but I can't cover them now gotta run but will check back with you later!

Edit: So, to continue, there are some bad elements. Luck will prob. play a part - my tutor is very good and experienced and contactable, but there a grumblings of different modules and diff tutors. This is always the case but especially important, so a possibility for concern, as you have one tutor for the whole module. Good is great, but a bad tutor is going to be a constant headache.

In some regards, though they encourage critical thinking, in practice they ask you (at least at the level two module I'm taking) to largely regurgitate what you have been given in the books. There is scope for deep processing and analysis, and of course those who do that get the highest marks, but the independent research spirit in the module I am taking isn't as strong as in NUIG or otehr Unis. Now, this can be a strength as you rarely use material that isn't relevant and again it comes back to that point I made about perceptions of spoonfeeding. In reality it isn't, i don't believe, but going outside of the course and bringing in multiple sources wasn't rewarded when I tried it and they have made clear that sticking to the course materials is what is being asked of us.

The distance learning aspect is trying. It depends on the person and some people are very meticulously organised and in fairness the structure of materials online means that it is very easy, provided you have time and motivation, to keep up with the course and knowing what to cover. The people are very varied and diverse and it's a different learning experience to universities where, if I am being honest, you get a lot of arrogant psuedo-intellectualism from people generally too young to know better. Not so with mothers, fathers and people who are trying to learn to better themselves and don't generally have any ideas about themselves. I know that you aren't asking me to assess the type of people who are in the course, but they all seem very nice, down to earth, and the attitudes and mindsets are generally healthier that you are likely to encounter in typical university, and the difference is palpable to me.

All of this is based on my own experience of the OU module I am taking, 'exploring psychology'. The tutor I have is very experienced, which is a tremendous benefit, especially according to some who have had much worse modules. Inevitably it is a bit of a lottery as your tutor is so vital.

All in all, a good education, and a very healthy learning environment. The standard of teaching and materials are every bit as good as any other 3rd level institute.

Edit again: just saw your last question about OU helping in the UK. Absolutely. They are a UK based university so if anything I believe it would have more sway in those Unis than even here. Unless there is a prevailing attitude (unknown to me) that the OU is a bad, overpriced education, which I am almost 100% certain is not the case at all, in Ireland or the UK. The more you do to show your determination, the more likely they are going to take a chance on you, imo.

Good luck. I'd say go for it! Jesus, any level of education is a great thing and imagine the head start you can be getting while sharpening your skills.

bayareayogi

I'm currently studying module SDK125 with the OU and in my opinion it is totally worth it. The course work is very challenging but we have a fantastic tutor and there are a variety of support structures to ensure you can ask as many questions as necessary to understand the work (tutor group forums, tutor support, online tutorials, DVD tutorials, and the course books and study guides).

SDK125 definitely encourages critical thinking and although (as with all courses) there is a degree of regurgitating what has been learnt, the majority of assignments require that we understand and apply all the principles (chemistry, biology, epidemiology, maths etc). So it is by no means easy.

I have really enjoyed it and have nothing but praise for the OU. However it is very challenging to be left completely to your own devices with regards to making time to study the coursework. You do have to be very organised and very disciplined.

I think completing something through the OU will be looked on very favourably because it demonstrates not only that you understand the subjects, but that you are disciplined and organised too!

Hope this helps. Best of luck!!

ArnoldLayne

The OU is a great institution, the quality of teching in a cert course I did was excellent and they are well recognised accross the UK

StudentDad

Yes the OU is definitely worth it

SD

thunderdog

I'm also thinking of doing an OU course at the end of this year. Im finishing up a phd and my plan is to do a Maths course through the OU next year. I did 2 years of Maths in my science degree (maths made up a third of the course for the first two years). Just wondering what sort of qualification would I come out with at the end of doing an OU course in Maths. Would it be a degree??