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Open University Questions and Answers

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  • Registered Users Posts: 472 ✭✭UrbanFox


    Lou2713 wrote: »
    Just wondering if anyone has any advice in relation to fees for studying with the OU from Ireland.

    I was all set to register for my first course at £630 for the module. I calculated this as €686.77 at today's rate. When I went to register, it said that the fee to sign up from Ireland was £1330 which is almost €1500!!
    I saw another thread where somebody said that its no longer expensive to study with OU due to the exchange rates but how can they justify this difference? Surely, the only difference would be in postage? It was fair enough when there was a huge gap between sterling and the euro but its rediculous now. Has anyone else queried this?

    I would appreciate any information as I was all set but I can't afford to pay more than double!

    There are three tiers of OU fees ; U.K., Republic of Ireland and Continental Europe.


  • Registered Users Posts: 15,371 ✭✭✭✭rainbowtrout


    Lou2713 wrote: »
    Just wondering if anyone has any advice in relation to fees for studying with the OU from Ireland.

    I was all set to register for my first course at £630 for the module. I calculated this as €686.77 at today's rate. When I went to register, it said that the fee to sign up from Ireland was £1330 which is almost €1500!!
    I saw another thread where somebody said that its no longer expensive to study with OU due to the exchange rates but how can they justify this difference? Surely, the only difference would be in postage? It was fair enough when there was a huge gap between sterling and the euro but its rediculous now. Has anyone else queried this?

    I would appreciate any information as I was all set but I can't afford to pay more than double!


    The UK government subsidise UK students for OU fees which is why their fees are much less, otherwise they would probably be paying similar to us.


  • Registered Users Posts: 1,173 ✭✭✭lolli


    Does anyone have a copy of the email that contained the schedule for tomorrow graduation in the Helix. I tried the link to print it off but the webpage is gone.


  • Registered Users Posts: 512 ✭✭✭gavkm27


    Sorry if this Question has been asked already,but why are the Uk and ROI prices nearly doubled for these courses,can't i just get the books etc. sent to Uk and passed on,or am i just thinking like a tight c**t


  • Registered Users Posts: 15,371 ✭✭✭✭rainbowtrout


    gavkm27 wrote: »
    Sorry if this Question has been asked already,but why are the Uk and ROI prices nearly doubled for these courses,can't i just get the books etc. sent to Uk and passed on,or am i just thinking like a tight c**t

    see post 63


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  • Registered Users Posts: 512 ✭✭✭gavkm27


    see post 63

    oh jaysus thats pretty shameful,i could have at least read back 2 posts,cheers :o


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 62 ✭✭D.Mar


    Hi my question is about the PGCE with the Open University. I'm just wondering if this course is respected by employers? I'm worried just because it's an online/distance course. I want to be a secondary school teacher, so is this course just as respected as doing the PGCE with one of the NUI universities? thanks in advance


  • Moderators, Education Moderators, Society & Culture Moderators Posts: 18,952 Mod ✭✭✭✭Moonbeam


    Yes it is a respected course .
    You need to be a UK resident to do it.

    Info about becoming a teacher in the UK -
    http://www.prospects.ac.uk/p/types_of_job/secondary_school_teacher_job_description.jsp


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 119 ✭✭mimmi


    DaisyPem wrote: »
    Hi my question is about the PGCE with the Open University. I'm just wondering if this course is respected by employers? I'm worried just because it's an online/distance course. I want to be a secondary school teacher, so is this course just as respected as doing the PGCE with one of the NUI universities? thanks in advance

    OU PGCE is only in certain Secondary Subjects e.g. maths, science, geography, modern languages, CDT.

    You can do the programme as an RoI resident and you will pay a fee, but your placement will be in Northern Ireland as places on the scheme are controlled by DENI.

    I doubt there are many people in the RoI who have done the programme, and those that have are probably around the border areas. I know that the TC has approved this programme, but they apply the 'individual case' assessment preocedure - as they do for all PGCE applicants. It is a very well designed and highly valued programme but it's just the logistics of doing placements that is a fundamental hurdle for RoI people.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 119 ✭✭mimmi


    gavkm27 wrote: »
    Sorry if this Question has been asked already,but why are the Uk and ROI prices nearly doubled for these courses,can't i just get the books etc. sent to Uk and passed on,or am i just thinking like a tight c**t

    Your not paying just for the books though, your fee covers tutor support and assssment of a course/programme that is validated at degree level - I assume you want a qaulifcation that stands up to scrutiny and has met quality assesment standards.

    Essentially the UK government funds, subsidises and encourages part-time degree learning where as in the RoI there is bugger all support apart from tax relief.


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  • Closed Accounts Posts: 92 ✭✭zesman


    I'm thinking of doing a degree in Arts and Humanities in the Open University. Has anyone out there taken this course in the past and how did they get on?


  • Moderators, Motoring & Transport Moderators Posts: 24,924 Mod ✭✭✭✭BuffyBot


    Yes, and fine :)

    Any specific questions? Might help folks narrow down their answers! ;)


  • Registered Users Posts: 120 ✭✭Fiona500


    Has anyone used the OU's disability services? I would just like to know if you found them polite and easy to deal with? I have had some problems with this service in other schools in the past and want to make sure that they fully explain what one is entitled to and work to ensure that you get it?


    Also wondering if anyone has gotten a job using their OU degree , or if anyone has met with difficulties get a job because they don't have a degree from a traditionally uni?

    Cheers! :D


  • Moderators, Motoring & Transport Moderators Posts: 24,924 Mod ✭✭✭✭BuffyBot


    From what I heard from other students, they had nothing but praise for OU's disability services team. Never had any reason to use them myself, but any interaction I heard of seemed to be pretty positive. Unlike many other institutions, they've been dealing with disabled students since day 1, and been dealing with a lot of them due to the nature of the university.

    As for job prospects - people, in my experience, have either been a) fine about it or b) fascinated with it and the work/commitment it involved. I also got offers (from pretty good universities) of further post-graduate study, so I'd say it's pretty well regarded/recognised. :)


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 3 env.student


    Just wondering if anyone here has completed either the Environmental control and public health (T210) or the Environmental monitoring, modeling and control(T308) courses. I'm trying to decide on whether to do these courses or do a fire engineering level 8 course in my IT. One of my lecturers told me OU courses were very hard and not to take it on without being ready for a hard slog. I dont mind a bit of hard work, I've been in college for the last 3 years so I am used to it but I dont want to get in over my head, I dont think I would be though btut I'd love to hear from anyone who has completed either of these courses.

    Hi Motherfunker
    I completed T210 last year and am half way through T308.
    Your lecturer is right; it is a hard slog! But I'm working f/t. If you're not working f/t then its managable. I am really enjoying the course but a good grounding in science is a necessity.
    t210 was tough going with a lot of experiments to do at home and there was an exam at the end
    T308 is really hard going I find at the moment. BUT it has a project which replaces an exam which is better for I.
    Its also VERY expensive. Its about €1400 or more for T210 and the same again for T308.
    PM me if you've any questions.
    For the record, I work for a prestigious company and a lot of my peers have OU qualifications!


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 495 ✭✭tolteq


    Has anybody done this course? I have a BSc in Psychology and am wondering if it is a good post-graduate course to do. I would like maybe to do a PhD after.


  • Registered Users Posts: 10,846 ✭✭✭✭eth0_


    Well it's up there with masters in psych research methods from "real life" uni's, so I would go for it if I were you.

    It'll be really helpful for getting onto a further postgrad course as a lot of psych grads tend to be weak in that area, which is a disadvantage if doing a PhD :)


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 119 ✭✭Stay_in_Kampuchea


    Just a quick question, are the degrees actually worth anything for the OU my brother just ripped the piss outta me for considering it...please tell me they are....


  • Moderators, Motoring & Transport Moderators Posts: 24,924 Mod ✭✭✭✭BuffyBot


    Same as any other UK university (and better than many). If you read this thread, even more so in some peoples eyes.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 262 ✭✭coup1917


    Just a quick question, are the degrees actually worth anything for the OU my brother just ripped the piss outta me for considering it...please tell me they are....


    You're brother obviously aint working in the real world too long if at all.....
    If you are working full time, OU is probably one of the best qualifications you can have. Employers also view those who study OU while working as having a high level of self discipline....

    P.S.... I work for a company with a significant number of employees having moved up the ladder through OU quals.......


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  • Registered Users Posts: 49 Fergus08


    Just a quick question, are the degrees actually worth anything for the OU my brother just ripped the piss outta me for considering it...please tell me they are....

    Read throught the whole thread you'll see get plenty of answers to this particular question.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 2 Coco chanelle


    Hi
    This is my first time on the site, is there anyone studying cognitive psychology with the Open University at the moment or perhaps last year?


  • Registered Users Posts: 393 ✭✭hayser


    Hi
    This is my first time on the site, is there anyone studying cognitive psychology with the Open University at the moment or perhaps last year?

    I haven't studied cognitive psychology but I have just recently started the Applying Psychology module with the Open University. If you're thinking of studying with them I can't recommend them highly enough.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 2 Coco chanelle


    Thanks for the reply, I am on the home straight with the OU as it were and my last module for the post grad (conversion) diploma is cognitive psychology and while my grades have been very good for my previous modules I am finding level 3 hard. I had been warned that level 3 was not comparable with level 2, as this is my last module and will mostly determine my final grade I was looking for grinds from someone who has already completed this module to ensure a first or a 2:1 grade. Your right the OU are great to study with but I must say I find distance learning isolating somtimes. Anyway if anyone can help please let me know.
    Thanks


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 119 ✭✭Stay_in_Kampuchea


    What's the story with this Open degree thing?
    Do the Public Appointments Service here recognise theese aswell?!


  • Moderators, Motoring & Transport Moderators Posts: 24,924 Mod ✭✭✭✭BuffyBot


    What's the story with this Open degree thing?

    An open degree is just that - instead of choosing to study one or two specfic areas (for example English or Biology to get a named degree [i.e. BA in English Literature or BSc in Biology], you choose any courses you wish (within certain restrictions). So you could do some English courses combined with Biology or IT or Maths etc and you get a BA or BSc depending on what kind of courses you choose.

    While academically it'll all be of the same standard as named degrees, for career purposes I'd imagine a named degree would be more relevant if you want to pursue a certain career path or gain entry into a specific Masters course etc.
    Do the Public Appointments Service here recognise theese aswell?!

    Well again, they're the same as any other degree from the OU, but as with anything life, check it with them, then check it again to be sure.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 119 ✭✭mimmi


    All OU degrees are mapped onto the National Qualifcations Framework by HETAC, so if an employer just asks for a Level 8 degree, an OU degree would be the same as any other. Obviously depending on the job role an employer may want to ask for a specific degree e.g. applied social care fro care worker.

    In my expereince named degrees are not the be all, it's context and relevance to a job and more importantly the skills you have developed e.g. critical thinking, problem solving, self directed working etc that are generally what employers are often interested in. In terms of the Public Appointments Service only specialist roles may require a specific degree but for CO,EO and AO entry, aptitude testing is clearly key to the selection procedure and a degree just ckecks an educational level box.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 119 ✭✭mimmi


    tolteq wrote: »
    Has anybody done this course? I have a BSc in Psychology and am wondering if it is a good post-graduate course to do. I would like maybe to do a PhD after.

    In the UK you cann't get onto a PhD is social science without an M.Res, but in Ireland it is different, you can go from UG to PhD study and your OU degree has certainly given you very good research skills. You don't say what class of degree you have, but if you have a 2:1 or above I wouldn't bother with the Research Methods course, try and focus on the area you want to conduct research and look at college websites and see what's happening in their research areas or maybe look at a more specific applied psychology courses or research masters.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 37 theprizelamb


    Hi all

    Just a quick question on the points criteria.

    Was looking up a course on maths and stats, where the degree is awarded on gaining 360 points, accumulated from a the various tiers.

    For instance it states that the degree is awarded provided that 30 points are from level 1, and 90 are from compulsory level 2 courses. However, there is only one course in level 1 and 3 courses in level 2, all worth 30 points each. Does this mean i need to get 100% in these courses to get the required standard.

    I was thinking that perhaps it means that i need to of participated in courses that add up to 360 points, and then the level of the qualification is awarded on on how many points i gained out of the amount available.

    Any clarification on this would be of great use.


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  • Registered Users Posts: 15,371 ✭✭✭✭rainbowtrout


    Hi all


    I was thinking that perhaps it means that i need to of participated in courses that add up to 360 points, and then the level of the qualification is awarded on on how many points i gained out of the amount available.

    Any clarification on this would be of great use.


    This is exactly what it means. you need 360 credits and each module is assigned a number of credits (30 or 60 normally) so you need to complete X amount of modules to total 360 including compulsory modules like you pointed out. I'm doing that degree at the moment. I've done MST121 (30), MS221(30) and M208 (60) so I have 120 credits worth of modules completed. I'm doing M248, M373 and MT365 this year. Each is worth 30 credits, so that's another 90 I'll have at the end of this year. So that totals 210 credits completed. I've accumulated another 60 from my previous degree, so that makes 270, so I need another 90 which I'm going to get from doing another 3 modules next year worth 30 credits each.

    Credits essentially tell you how much work is in each module, a 60 credit module has twice as much work in it (volume wise) as a 30 credit module.


    The qualification you get is awarded based on the grades you get in each module which are averaged. You get a Grade 1/Distinction, Grade 2, Grade 3 or Grade 4, which are equivalent to an A, B,C, or D in a module depending on how you do in your assignments and end of year exam in each module. It's the average of these grades that determines the qualification you get. i.e A First Class Honours Degree, Second Class Honours Grade 1, Second Class Honours Grade 2 or Pass.


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