Open University degree general opinion?

We · 24-11-2009 08:23PM #1

Just wondering what the general outlook on OU engineering degrees is like.. My dad tells me that while they are accredited etc. they arent given the same 'respect', shall we say, as other Universities. Thoughts?

Also, what if it came to somebody with an OU engineering Hons degree, and a Masters of engineering from somewhere else with a bit more prestige? Do you think whatever stigma there is associated with OU degrees would be looked passed in favour of the Masters ?

Really hope that this isnt the case at all, because I actually really like the idea of doing an OU degree and being classed in the same group as all the trin/ucd/dcu/etc. engineers

Cheeble · 25-11-2009 09:45AM

In my experience, people with OU degrees often come with very different backgrounds to those who've been through the "mainstream" route. Often, they start at a disadvantage compared to mainstream candidates for reasons other than their degree.

For example, an fresh OU graduate who is trying to get into a new profession aged 35 can find themselves struggling to compete with twenty-somethings in the same situation.

The degree itself might well be of the same quality as any other, but it's hard to compare the prospects for the graduates because of their different circumstances. This may be why they are viewed differently (which could mean either better, or worse depending on your point of view).

Cheeble-eers

Open University degree general opinion?

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