Anyone studying with the Open University of the UK

[TigerDivision]

Hi all!

Thought of posting this here in the hope that some member in the UK could respond. Has anyone studied or is studying for a degree with the Open University? I am interested in their degrees in Management, Computer Science as well as their Open degrees. Would appreciate comments good or bad.

Thanks

 

[rosieb]

I've coached a friend, well actually my brother-in-law, through the OU CMS (Certificate of Management Studies)and I coached his wife through CMS, DMS and MBA at a local college. (I do have an MBA.)

I thought the OU course was well structured but... they supply all the material, so no research is needed - which limits the area of study.

MY Opinion - OU is good if you just want the qualification, you'll get a good grounding - but I don't think it's intellectualy stretching. And a lot depends on your local tutor. However they are well respected.

In my opinion, be VERY careful of local colleges offering CMS/DMS/MBA unless they are AMBA accredited. AMBA is the "gold standard" others can be (and often are) rubbish.

However a good university, aiming at AMBA, will probably offer best value for money.

Rosie
"Don't try to improve one thing by 100%, try to improve 100 things by 1%

 

[TigerDivision]

Hi Rosie

Thanks for your post. I thought that since they supply all the course materials plus a tutor it would save me money on buying text books and tuition costs. The exam cost is also included in the course fee. But are their degrees respected and of a high quality? How do they compare with the University of London for example?

I was also looking whether to enrol for the University of London's BSc external programme in Information Systems and Management but I wasn't too keen on taking certain modules such as Software Engineering even though I work in IT. I am 41 and do not wish to study certain modules which I know I will not find useful. My work is more to do with managing systems rather than developing them and I work in the private manufacturing industry. I thought that taking a degree which had a mix of business modules and modules relating to systems practice would help me more in my career.

Pierre

 

[rosieb]

Pierre

OU is a highly respected institution, as is University of London, either will give you a valuable qualification.

My comment on OU was purely personal bias and I have no experience of U of L.

One great advantage of the OU is the modular framework and the variety of options available. The OU holds a series of event where you can go along and talk to staff, I suggest you find out whether U of L do something similar.

Ultimately, I'd suggest you base your decision on course content. You're going to be spending a lot of time studying, it's a lot easier if you're interested in the subject.

Will your employer offer you any support? Funding and/or study leave.

Rosie
"Don't try to improve one thing by 100%, try to improve 100 things by 1%

 

[TigerDivision]

Hi Rosie

Thanks very much for your comments. I am based in Malta and so one of the main attractions of the OU is their distance learning services and materials which I've heard are of high quality. UOL also offer their degree courses via their external programme but all they give you are study guides and reading lists. The tuition you'd have to arrange yourself. Local tuition is not up to scratch here and I'm worried that I would not find them good enough. I am returning to studying after a very long time and so would need that extra help which I think only OU will provide.
I am now nearly 42 with personal commitments. If I embark on a degree course this would mean studying for the next 6-8 years! This scares me a bit. Will my brain be able to take it?

I will not be having any support from my employer i.e. funding and/or study leave.

But how are OU degrees looked at in the UK? Are they shown respect by the local industry there?

Many thanks
Pierre

 

[fredericofonseca]

I am also going to sugest Oscail (

http://www.oscail.ie)

as an alternative. The courses they give have the same value as the ones of DCU (

http://www.dcu.ie)

to whom Oscail is associated.

Although they say they do not allow foreign students on their documentation, this is not absolutely correct, and you may find the course more to your view.

They do supply course textbooks, and recomended readings.

In some of the subjects there is a highly interaction required with other students via their online services (

http://www.moddle.ie),

and workgroup is required in at least one of the subjects (but all feasible to do online/email)



Regards

Frederico Fonseca
SysSoft Integrated Ltd

http://www.syssoft-int.com

 

[TigerDivision]

Thanks Federico for this info. Looks interesting from what I've seen so far. My concern is whether their degrees are recognised across Europe and whether I'd be able to sit for their exams in my home country. Are you studying for one of their degrees?

Thanks
Pierre

 

[NickFerrar]

I guess part depends on the employer, some will likely just want any degree others will be much more selective and would expect an MBA to come from a small list of business schools.

My boss is on a remote learning degree to and it seems a nightmare the amount of work he has to do! It's more Computer Science though so he's having to do programming etc. as well which is all new to him. It's a 3-year BSc I think though so if the OU one is 6-8 years it might be a lot less stressful.

 

[TigerDivision]

It depends on how many modules one can study for. For example one can do the OU degree in 3-4 years but to do that one has to have plenty of spare time available something which I do not have! In that case an OU degree would take me 6-8 years to complete.

 

[KenCunningham]

As far as I am aware OU degrees are regarded as the equivalent of any other, certainly in the UK. Indeed, it is possible that they have added cache since most people obtaining them have various other committments to juggle, and must therefore be very determined to see the course through.

The OU do have open days in Milton Keynes if you could make it there. The courses also tend to offer on-site development weekends and weeks at various UK Universities - mainly out of term time. Hope this helps.

 

[rosieb]

Pierre

In that case I'd probably go for OU (my personal opinion only).

If you want to mix Information Management with Business Studies, I'd suggest you look at a course that allows you to concentrate on your areas if interest in IM and add in Strategy (critical), Finance (boring, but easy enough if you have a logical mind), Marketing (pretty self-evident stuff, but will give you all the "business models" that impress and the jargon to handle your Marketing Dept) and something on People Management(this is the really valuable one, on a day-to-day basis).

If you're not getting support from your employer, you'll need a great degfee of suport in your domestic life.

Rosie
"Don't try to improve one thing by 100%, try to improve 100 things by 1%

 

[fredericofonseca]

DCU (and hence Oscail) degrees are recognised on European countries, and each module you finish you get a ECTS credit certificate.

Yes I am doing their IT degree, (last 3 subjects this year).

As for the exams I am not sure. you may need to get here to do them.

Regards

Frederico Fonseca
SysSoft Integrated Ltd

http://www.syssoft-int.com

 

[TigerDivision]

Hi Federico

Thanks for your post. How did you find Oscail? How was their tuition services and their course materials? Was it of good high standard? Would appreciate your feedback on this.

Thanks
Pierre

 

[fredericofonseca]

course materials. -- acceptable. for the first 8 modules they are enough for you to have an acceptable grade.

Last 6 modules (degree lvl) further reading is required for most, depending on your work experience. 3 of the modules (HSA, MSA, MSB) require a LOT of outside investigation (look at

http://www.oscail.ie/students/IT/stuit.htm,

and search the instructional schedulles for example of the exams and assignment questions.).

Standard is acceptable in most subjects now, and they are raising it.


Tutoring is now done mainly online, with a few presential tutorials (up to 4 per year per subject) (not mandatory)
Tutors are as in all collegues. Either good or crap depending on the subject, your own knowledge, and on how you like to be helped and/or guided.
Overall I liked them, but had to request a change from a Computing tutor to another, as my original one was just making me sleeping on the tutorials. No issues where raised from Oscails when I requested the change.




Regards

Frederico Fonseca
SysSoft Integrated Ltd

http://www.syssoft-int.com