Open university

[no-no]

Hi everyone!
So I've been so busy renovating my house the last three years and it's finally coming to and end in the new year which will result in having a lot more spare time during the evening and weekend so I was thinking maybe it would be a good time to get back in to education and study something with OU just to get my mind working again!
I'm a plumber who has GSCEs and an NVQ3 but that's as far as my grades go.
How do people find studying while working full time? I don't have children but I have hobbies, gym, cars, gardening sort of thing. I've seen that a part time course is 16-18 hours study a week which sounds achievable!
How have you found studying after being away from school/collage for almost 10 years (feeling old now )?
How do you find OU in general?
Thanks!

What is it you’re looking to study? I would only do a course that would tangibly increase job prospects as it’s just so expensive. Is there anything else you’re interested in that you could do a course in elsewhere? Many establishments are now offering online teaching due to the current situation and they run throughout the year.

I would also recommend doing a free/low cost course online or at your local adult learning centre to get a feel for it. Look at The Skills Toolkit page on the National Careers Service or just search for free courses, plenty on offer from different universities around the world, the OU has a load on their site, too!

 

[bubbadabut]

I did OU (Languages) while I was working full-time, though this was approx 14 years ago, Found it excellent, good support, good course material, and it pretty much helped me achieve my dream of working in Madrid.

 

[vanillaswirl]

I left full time work to return to education to do an undergraduate degree after leaving school 11 years ago, so not quite what you are planning but hopefully the message could still apply.
It's definitely an adjustment , especially with it being online (doing a face-to-face course but online due to covid). But personally after a few weeks I got into the swing of it. I think so long as you are disciplined it should be okay.
I was slightly unaware of how much self-directed study I would be required to do and wish I had known this to better prepare myself in those early weeks where I felt a little bit lost.

 

[mochibean]

Hi everyone!
So I've been so busy renovating my house the last three years and it's finally coming to and end in the new year which will result in having a lot more spare time during the evening and weekend so I was thinking maybe it would be a good time to get back in to education and study something with OU just to get my mind working again!
I'm a plumber who has GSCEs and an NVQ3 but that's as far as my grades go.
How do people find studying while working full time? I don't have children but I have hobbies, gym, cars, gardening sort of thing. I've seen that a part time course is 16-18 hours study a week which sounds achievable!
How have you found studying after being away from school/collage for almost 10 years (feeling old now )?
How do you find OU in general?
Thanks!

I'm currently doing my second year at uni whilst working 20 hours a week. I still have time to study my Japanese in my free time.

This is the first thing I've done in my 10 years since leaving school and I've really outdone myself. Honestly OU is brilliant, I'm loving my course and it's made me realise that if I apply myself I can do anything. I left school with 0 GCSE's, had a really bad time and I was able to apply to OU.

You get pretty much left to your own devices with OU. You get assigned a tutor which you can speak to and there's a forum for OU students. I recommend joining facebook groups for your course as well as that's where everyone posts the most and it's great to meet some of your fellow students. I was surprised as I was one of the youngest at 26! They also have tutorials online and day schools however I've not been able to attend as they've all been moved online bc of covid.

I found the study itself really good. The content is engaging, my first module was a little bit of a mixed bag of arts and humanities. I'm doing English Language and Literature so it was a bit irrelevant but still interesting and now my second module I'm onto the good stuff. It's certainly worth it for me, as I want a career in future. Those who have done it just for something to do have loved it just as much though and I don't know anyone who's regretted it, hated it or had a particularly hard time.

I recommend it, just do it. It was a bit of a rushed decision for me and I have 0 regrets.

 

[Shaunaftw]

Mine is paid for by Student Finance. I live in England, I'm not sure where abouts you are as I know the funding rules vary depending on England/Wales/Scotland etc. I applied through Student Finance England, then they pay the Uni directly. You can also pay yourself if you're able or an employer can sponsor you.

I'm in Wales! Is the process easy to apply for finance? I'm only really looking to have the course covered if I'm being honest as my income could cover laptop, recourse ect!

 

[Shaunaftw]

Thanks both for your responses! I've registered interest but the course doesn't start until October 2021! How does funding work? If you have a full time job is there help to pay towards your course? This is all very new to me!
I'm so glad it's helped you get to where you want to be! If I'm being totally honest, I love and I'm good at my job but it's not something I really want to be doing in a few years time when it's taking a physical strain so it will be nice to have other options behind me!

 

[Shaunaftw]

Oh, I'm not very clued up on Wales but I'm sure if you Google search Student Finance Wales, or go on the OU contact us page and speak to them on webchat they will be able to help!

In terms of the application process, I found it so easy! You give them all your details, plus details of the course etc, then around a week or so later I had a letter confirming the amount, when it would be paid to the OU (it gets paid in three segments through the year) and that was it! Each year you have to reapply if studying part time, but it's much quicker in the second, third year etc as they already have most your details so it's just a case of giving them the details on the next part of the course.

I am not earning enough to pay it back either yet, which is kind of a bonus!

Haha I did read somewhere that the threshold is above 26k so I will be paying it back although I don't think it's a massive amount! Thanks so much for your help, I've been a bit anxious about doing it because I went to college at 16, did my apprenticeship and I've been in the same job since!

 

[Shaunaftw]

What is it you’re looking to study? I would only do a course that would tangibly increase job prospects as it’s just so expensive. Is there anything else you’re interested in that you could do a course in elsewhere? Many establishments are now offering online teaching due to the current situation and they run throughout the year.

I would also recommend doing a free/low cost course online or at your local adult learning centre to get a feel for it. Look at The Skills Toolkit page on the National Careers Service or just search for free courses, plenty on offer from different universities around the world, the OU has a load on their site, too!

I'd think the only thing I could study to further my current career would be teaching and if I'm being totally honest I can't think of anything worse and I'd imagine I'd be taking a pay cut to do that!

I'm surprised you say how expensive it is when so many people flitter on and off uni courses for years.

 

[Shaunaftw]

Hi everyone!
So I've been so busy renovating my house the last three years and it's finally coming to and end in the new year which will result in having a lot more spare time during the evening and weekend so I was thinking maybe it would be a good time to get back in to education and study something with OU just to get my mind working again!
I'm a plumber who has GSCEs and an NVQ3 but that's as far as my grades go.
How do people find studying while working full time? I don't have children but I have hobbies, gym, cars, gardening sort of thing. I've seen that a part time course is 16-18 hours study a week which sounds achievable!
How have you found studying after being away from school/collage for almost 10 years (feeling old now )?
How do you find OU in general?
Thanks!

 

[37BBL]

I've done 4 courses via the OU, although this was about 10 years ago pre children. I was working full time though and I found it manageable.
I paid for my own courses so unsure on funding. There was less support than I expected, although I suppose it is something you need to be more independent at.

I know they do a load of free courses, you could always try a couple and see how you manage your time on those.

 

[no-no]

I'd think the only thing I could study to further my current career would be teaching and if I'm being totally honest I can't think of anything worse and I'd imagine I'd be taking a pay cut to do that!

I'm surprised you say how expensive it is when so many people flitter on and off uni courses for years.

It doesn’t have to be in your current field but learning something that’s more of a vocation and doesn’t require a degree might be better than undertaking one that thousands of others have. You typically have to be prepared to work at the bottom rung once finished, could you afford to do that? Lots of things to consider. OU modules in themselves aren’t worth much.

I’m just over the threshold for paying back and it basically only clears the interest. It’s a lot each month when it’s barely making a dent. I don’t know any people who can afford to flitter on and off uni courses these days

 

[WilmaHun]

Thanks both for your responses! I've registered interest but the course doesn't start until October 2021! How does funding work? If you have a full time job is there help to pay towards your course? This is all very new to me!
I'm so glad it's helped you get to where you want to be! If I'm being totally honest, I love and I'm good at my job but it's not something I really want to be doing in a few years time when it's taking a physical strain so it will be nice to have other options behind me!

Mine is paid for by Student Finance. I live in England, I'm not sure where abouts you are as I know the funding rules vary depending on England/Wales/Scotland etc. I applied through Student Finance England, then they pay the Uni directly. You can also pay yourself if you're able or an employer can sponsor you.

 

[WilmaHun]

I work full time (40 hours) and am now in my 4th year of studying part time. I found the first two years of my course fitted in really well around work, but as the years go on and the course intensifies I am finding it harder and harder to fit in everything! That being said, I have been happy with all of my assignment results to date, so the intensity of the course isn't affecting my performance even if sometimes I feel like I can't do it!

It is a massive adjustment at first, having to prioritise your time for studying however you'll soon get into the swing of it. There is an online study planner which you can follow so you know where you need to be each week. Don't panic if you fall behind the study planner though - I find myself "behind" for most of the year if I'm honest! I just use the break weeks (Christmas, Easter etc) to catch up where I can.

They used to have face-to-face day schools which I found incredibly useful, but due to covid obviously they've had to be cancelled. There's plenty of opportunity for online tutorials though and although not compulsory, I would recommend attending these if you can. (The thing I find most useful is that a lot of the online tutorials are recorded so if you can't make it to one, for example due to work commitments, you can go back later and watch the recording - particularly helpful around assignment time!)

I have always been really lucky tutor wise and found mine to be very supportive though I have spoken to some other students who've not been so lucky - Student Support are always on hand to help with any issues like that though!

 

[WilmaHun]

I'm in Wales! Is the process easy to apply for finance? I'm only really looking to have the course covered if I'm being honest as my income could cover laptop, recourse ect!

Oh, I'm not very clued up on Wales but I'm sure if you Google search Student Finance Wales, or go on the OU contact us page and speak to them on webchat they will be able to help!

In terms of the application process, I found it so easy! You give them all your details, plus details of the course etc, then around a week or so later I had a letter confirming the amount, when it would be paid to the OU (it gets paid in three segments through the year) and that was it! Each year you have to reapply if studying part time, but it's much quicker in the second, third year etc as they already have most your details so it's just a case of giving them the details on the next part of the course.

I am not earning enough to pay it back either yet, which is kind of a bonus!

 

[mochibean]

I'd think the only thing I could study to further my current career would be teaching and if I'm being totally honest I can't think of anything worse and I'd imagine I'd be taking a pay cut to do that!

I'm surprised you say how expensive it is when so many people flitter on and off uni courses for years.

I really don't think it's expensive personally. £3k per module isn't too bad, 2 modules = 1 year so that's just over £6k. 3000 cheaper than a traditional uni.

People flitter off because they're not paying for it, student finance is. You only have to pay that back when earning over a certain amount and for many that won't be the case. In my experience anyway.