Online study/qualifications possible open university course

[Rosie glow]

I'm thinking about doing an online qualification and wondered if anybody has any recommendations
I come from a hospitality background I qualified as a chef when I left school and about 10 years ago I did an online hotel management course with stonebridge I enjoyed it but it wasn't that indepth and I would like one that I can really get my teeth in too
I've been looking at open university courses I work part time so can easily fit in a part time course I've not yet decided what I want to study has anyone done an ou course or a course with a different company any advice or recommendations welcome thank you

 

[Snippysnips]

Haven't done a online course but what I'll say is whatever you choose check to see if the qualifications are recognised if it has a strange name, it's maybe harder for places to give unrecognised qualifications these days but a few years ago I wanted to do a animal type course, I had to pay for it which I expected but for some reason I felt like I needed to check it out, back then the job centre had someone who could help out with courses an they let me know that I was basically paying for paper that no one would recognise so I'd never get a job with it

 

[LaBlonde]

I'm thinking about doing an online qualification and wondered if anybody has any recommendations
I come from a hospitality background I qualified as a chef when I left school and about 10 years ago I did an online hotel management course with stonebridge I enjoyed it but it wasn't that indepth and I would like one that I can really get my teeth in too
I've been looking at open university courses I work part time so can easily fit in a part time course I've not yet decided what I want to study has anyone done an ou course or a course with a different company any advice or recommendations welcome thank you

a friend of mine has just completed a criminology degree with the OU and my mum is doing a history degree with them right now!

both would highly recommend it. my mother is doing it as a way to keep busy in retirement and is really enjoying the set-up, how you can work it around other commitments and being able to talk with other people in the tutorial groups etc. she’s actually made two close friends from the groups already. both said to ignore any social media groups or message boards though as they get stressful!

if you have any questions i’m happy to ask them for you

 

[Lizzie Mintdrop]

My friend did her degree and master's with OU, she did it whilst working and really appreciated the way it was managed by them. My niece works for OU on student support, you get a lot of support from them, if and when you need it.

They have a few free short courses you can do if you want to try it out before committing to paying for a course so you can see how you get on doing it online

 

[Rosie glow]

Haven't done a online course but what I'll say is whatever you choose check to see if the qualifications are recognised if it has a strange name, it's maybe harder for places to give unrecognised qualifications these days but a few years ago I wanted to do a animal type course, I had to pay for it which I expected but for some reason I felt like I needed to check it out, back then the job centre had someone who could help out with courses an they let me know that I was basically paying for paper that no one would recognise so I'd never get a job with it

I never thought of that thank you will definitely do research on that one
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My friend did her degree and master's with OU, she did it whilst working and really appreciated the way it was managed by them. My niece works for OU on student support, you get a lot of support from them, if and when you need it.

They have a few free short courses you can do if you want to try it out before committing to paying for a course so you can see how you get on doing it online

Thank you Yes a taster course is a really good idea before committing will definitely look in to that too

 

[Rosie glow]

a friend of mine has just completed a criminology degree with the OU and my mum is doing a history degree with them right now!

both would highly recommend it. my mother is doing it as a way to keep busy in retirement and is really enjoying the set-up, how you can work it around other commitments and being able to talk with other people in the tutorial groups etc. she’s actually made two close friends from the groups already. both said to ignore any social media groups or message boards though as they get stressful!

if you have any questions i’m happy to ask them for you

Oh that's brilliant thank you

 

[Elle Woods]

I have completed a degree with the OU and I was working full time alongside doing so. I would highly recommend. The tutors are so helpful, they understand people are doing this in their spare time so don’t “overload”. Obviously there are strict assignment dates but the rest of the study I found easy to fit in my own schedule.
There’s also tons of Facebook and WhatsApp groups with other students so you feel less alone.

 

[mochibean]

I highly recommend the OU. I just completed my degree with them and thinking of doing another with them as well.

I worked alongside my degree and didn't find it too hard to make time for it. Tutors were good and students made facebook groups which are more useful than the tutor group forums IMO.

Courses generally start in Feb or Oct so you have plenty of time to think about it, and you can choose whether to do part-time or full-time study.

 

[Rosie glow]

I highly recommend the OU. I just completed my degree with them and thinking of doing another with them as well.

I worked alongside my degree and didn't find it too hard to make time for it. Tutors were good and students made facebook groups which are more useful than the tutor group forums IMO.

Courses generally start in Feb or Oct so you have plenty of time to think about it, and you can choose whether to do part-time or full-time study.

Thank you that's very helpful I won't beable to start just yet so good to know they have a couple of start times

 

[WhatABore]

I am just about to start my degree with the OU on the 4th!
Everyone has given such good reviews of it!

 

[princessmaire80]

I have two OU degrees, a BA (Hons) named degree and a BSc degree without honours.
I’m very grateful to the OU as they gave me a chance when no-one else would.

 

[Rosie glow]

I am just about to start my degree with the OU on the 4th!
Everyone has given such good reviews of it!

Thank you for reply yes reveiws are good
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I have two OU degrees, a BA (Hons) named degree and a BSc degree without honours.
I’m very grateful to the OU as they gave me a chance when no-one else would.

Thankyou for reply ou definitely seems the way to go

 

[Former_Antelopee]

I've been looking at doing an extra qualification I'd like to just do an pgcert but they are so expensive and I don't want to ask my work for that much. From what I've read you can get student finance for a master's but not for anything lower?
They also have it where you can just take one module from the course which is £1-2k

 

[RocksOff]

Have a look at Future Learn (ing??) @Rosie glow

 

[WhatABore]

I've been looking at doing an extra qualification I'd like to just do an pgcert but they are so expensive and I don't want to ask my work for that much. From what I've read you can get student finance for a master's but not for anything lower?
They also have it where you can just take one module from the course which is £1-2k

Student finance will cover a postgraduate degree and a masters but not pgcert. Looks like they're around £6-7K for the full course

 

[Former_Antelopee]

Student finance will cover a postgraduate degree and a masters but not pgcert. Looks like they're around £6-7K for the full course

When I've looked about masters it didn't seem they covered it all? Although it would be part time whilst working so maybe why? Is it the PGdip they will help with?

 

[WhatABore]

When I've looked about masters it didn't seem they covered it all? Although it would be part time whilst working so maybe why? Is it the PGdip they will help with?

They only cover full standalone Masters degrees so MA, MSc, MBA, MPhil, MRes etc that are usually 180 credits. They do cover part time for a masters. But they don't cover PG Certa, PG Dips or other top up courses unfortunately

 

[Former_Antelopee]

They only cover full standalone Masters degrees so MA, MSc, MBA, MPhil, MRes etc that are usually 180 credits. They do cover part time for a masters. But they don't cover PG Certa, PG Dips or other top up courses unfortunately

Just been looking and all the masters degrees are a few grand more than the funding I could get. I'll probably just end up doing some small course work will pay for. Thank you

 

[lazy arse]

Another one in favour of the OU here. I'm in my 5th year of a part time honours degree in environmental science. I live in Wales, the Welsh government pay for my course fees and am able to get a grant of £3000 yearly. This is because I didn't already have a degree, maybe worth checking out with student finance. The OU also has their free learning site Open Learn which is really good too. They include some modules from their degree courses and lots of short courses that are worth looking at.