Distance Learning

[Clever Hans]

Lots of course material for you to peruse for free here.

The course material and tutors are generally top notch, though as previously stated, some courses in Tech can get a bit stale.

You will need to be very self disciplined with space (social and physical) to study as it takes a lot of hours out of your week, depending on the amount you take on.

Most of your time will be spent studying on your own, with (possibly) a weekly or monthly lecture according to the course, though many students team up as study partners.

For the normal world, its as good as any other, but perceptions of the degrees worth in certain situations will vary; I mean, if you decide to factor in the employment options later, it may have lower market value at employers who look for the 'right' academic background, whatever that is.

[mudskipper]

I'm studying with the OU. Highly recommended with the following caveats:

If you're doing something IT related, it's possible that the material is going to be a bit out of date. Check when the course was written. I'm doing art history, and even that seems out of date when we're looking at gender issues, other cultures and display issues (half the module!) as things have changed so much in the last 10 years. So probably worth checking what, if anything, the OU do to keep tech stuff up to date.

Did a post grad module (project management) many years ago - it was interesting and taught basic planning / critical path / resource allocation / risk assessment techniques, but I imagine would be a bit to basic for anyone with any real experience - the courses are aimed at people with no real prior knowledge.

Currently doing undergrad art history and really enjoying it. The amount of work does depend on what you're doing. For a 60 point course, they reckon 16 hours a week. At level 1, I was probably spending 5 hours a week, but the level 2 courses definitely required a lot more effort. Just signed up for level 3 Renaissance Art for next year, but reliably informed it shouldn't be any more work than level 2.

Post grad modules are also a lot more expensive than the undergrad. If you choose a level 1 module, you can pay with tesco vouchers too!

[DaveB]

Was it an undergrad degree? How many hours a week did you typically out into it?

It was an undergrad course.

I probably averaged 20-25 hours a month on it, most of it compressed into two or three days before each deadline. Others on the course were doing a lot more. I spend my days reading reference material and writing reports and I enjoy writing about subjects that interest me so going back to academic study wasn't too much a of a leap. Others found it a lot harder.

There were group tutorials local to me once a month and they were well worth going to, just to sound out your approach to answering that months assignments if nothing else, as well as making sure you were understanding the meaning of some of the terminaology and framing of the course material.

[oracleslave]

I did an OU course last year, was supposed to be the start of doing a full degree with them but then got made redundant so no-one to pay for it now

Found it avery good, very interesting and a way of focussing on somethiong totally unrealated to work (I was studying Law.)

It was hard work though, and you will need to be organised and make sure you manage your time to fit everything in. Writing a couple of thousand words on a subject may not sound like much, but you can run out of time very quickly if you arn't carefull!

Was it an undergrad degree? How many hours a week did you typically out into it?

[DaveB]

I did an OU course last year, was supposed to be the start of doing a full degree with them but then got made redundant so no-one to pay for it now

Found it avery good, very interesting and a way of focussing on somethiong totally unrealated to work (I was studying Law.)

It was hard work though, and you will need to be organised and make sure you manage your time to fit everything in. Writing a couple of thousand words on a subject may not sound like much, but you can run out of time very quickly if you arn't carefull!

[Zippy]

Am thinking of having ago at an MSC through the Open University starting in November. It's not really motivated by job prospects or major career moves or anything, just something I feel like doing.

Anyone on here still studying part-time, anyone used the Open University or similar.

Thoughts/Experiences/Abuse all welcome.

OS

Didn't use the OU but I did study part-time and really enjoyed it. I did find it difficult finding time to do all the work, while keeping everyone else happy ("no, I can't go to the pub. I've got a paper to write" did not go down well).
I'd say go for it though!

[SimonMac]

Am thinking of having ago at an MSC through the Open University starting in November. It's not really motivated by job prospects or major career moves or anything, just something I feel like doing.

Anyone on here still studying part-time, anyone used the Open University or similar.

Thoughts/Experiences/Abuse all welcome.

OS

I have just been accepted up to do my MSc through distance learning starting September, although gone for Edinburgh Napier rather than the OU.

[Spacecadet]

You do risk becoming a MSC technical bore though, finding that you will attempt to correct other CUKKERS posts on CUK with some non-sensical ramblings about authors and definitions of terms.

Like SpaceCadet(bloody relational databases indeed)

[MarillionFan]

Am thinking of having ago at an MSC through the Open University starting in November. It's not really motivated by job prospects or major career moves or anything, just something I feel like doing.

Anyone on here still studying part-time, anyone used the Open University or similar.

Thoughts/Experiences/Abuse all welcome.

OS

You do risk becoming a MSC technical bore though, finding that you will attempt to correct other CUKKERS posts on CUK with some non-sensical ramblings about authors and definitions of terms.

Like SpaceCadet(bloody relational databases indeed)

[Spacecadet]

Studying part time

Tutorials are all done via conference call which is good if you CBA that week, you can just dial in and tune out
Online reference material is so good now I don't find myself wishing I could easily get to the library

ACM.org is quite good if you're doing anything computer related

[oracleslave]

Am thinking of having ago at an MSC through the Open University starting in November. It's not really motivated by job prospects or major career moves or anything, just something I feel like doing.

Anyone on here still studying part-time, anyone used the Open University or similar.

Thoughts/Experiences/Abuse all welcome.

OS