r/OpenUniversity

Hi, I've been struggling to land interviews over the last few months, even though I have 10+ YOE in my industry. Today I received feedback from a recruiter that his company saw my ongoing education as a red flag, even though I'm doing it as a hobby (studying physics, career is in CS) and this doesn't stop me from being available to work full time.

He then asked how long until I finish and how many hours a week, so because I'm planning to take my time (as this is a hobby) I said it's gonna take me a few more years, with around 7 hours a week, which is mostly over the weekend. Apparently this was a bad answer too.

Has anyone had similar experiences? Other companies might not even write back because an ongoing education is in my cv.

Okay. So. I had a pending result for DD105 crim, I rang up was assured it wasn’t plagiarism or ai usage and that there was just a delay. I finally received my results at 3am after a month of waiting… something doesn’t add up. Here are my TMA/assessment scores
CMA1 - 97
TMA1 - 78
TMA2 - 95
TMA3 - 59
TMA4 - 77
TMA5 - 97
EMA - 85
Good decent scores. But it says that my end of module result is 63. What???? HOW? The email says that this is the final grade and no further changes will be made and it doesn’t say I’ve been deducted anything I’m so confused is there a way to mark what it should’ve been and look at the difference I’m so confused right now

So I have been attempting to study at the OU for the past two years, with lots of things going on in my personal life I have not completed either year.

Very very excited to restart now I am in a much better place, and happy to be given the opportunity to do this too!

I want to get ahead before I start. How can this be done?

Hello

Studying from abroad here. I am looking into internship at others uk universities in my field and some require being in a UK University. I am not sure if anyone has done an 8 week paid internship with an open uni degree.

Is this a thing you have ever heard of?

Not the contents of the feedback, but the way your tutor presents their feedback and their general writing style. I've just gone back in to review and reflect on more of my previous feedback and I've realised my last tutor's writing style seems really strange, in my opinion anyway. An example copied and pasted with some redactions so its not identifiable:

"You could have explained the context by setting out what ABCD means and why it is important. You did this competently.  You could have referred to the XXX here, plus the YYY and the idea of ZZZ.  You did do all of this. Here is an example of a correct reference list. It is generic. Your own reference list was correct."

It all feels very X Factor-esque "Sorry I didn't like your performance.......because I LOVED your performance!" and I can't tell if that's what the tutor is going for purposefully as her method of lighthearted praise or not. There are some actionable points, genuine corrections and highlighting where I've left a gap incurring some lost marks, but the majority of the feedback is as above and its unnecessarily confusing to read. Have you had any tutors give feedback in a way that you disliked whether due to being unhelpful, or for other reasons?

Hi all, starting this degree in October and am wondering what level I need to be at with my maths. I'm currently 21 so did my GCSEs 5 years ago and received a Grade 9. I also did Level 3 Core Maths in college and received an A (the top grade) and did some introductory statistics modules during my first bachelors degree, which was in International Relations. I'm planning on doing a bit of review and catch up before October--what should I be most focused on? Am I currently behind? My first module on the course will be S111.

I'm studying A223 in September and have received the module books and bought the set book.

The set book is Kümin, B (ed) The European World 1500-1800. 4th Edition.

A223 Module Book 1 Individuals, Lives and Livings, references the set book a lot, asks the reader to refer to that and then come back. But a lot of the pages given in the module book don't match up with the ones in the set book. For example, A223 book 1 on p56 tells you to read pp91-98 in Kümin, which should be about the 'church and people at the close of the Middle Ages.' Going to pp.91-98 in Kümin, those pages are about health and sickness.

I have found a few more similar discrepancies in the module book, don't really need to list them all to make the point however.

I have the 4th edition of Kümin, the one required in the set books list. Double-checked the ISBNs.

I wonder if the module books are referring to an older edition of Kümin and as such doesn't align with the more recent 4th Edition?

I have emailed the Arts and Humanities people in Student Support. Am I being dumb or have missed something or overreacting?

So, I’m starting university full-time in October, and I’m honestly really excited about it… but at the same time, I’m starting to dread it a little too.

I’ve read that you’re expected to put around 32–35 hours a week into your studies, so I worked out that I could potentially do around 5 hours a day.

The thing is that I’m also starting a full-time job, which will typically be 9am-5pm. That means my plan at the moment is to study from around 5pm–10pm every day, including Saturdays and Sundays.

When I originally decided to do both, I knew it was going to be a lot, and I obviously knew what I was signing myself up for. But now that October is getting closer, I’m starting to freak out a little and wondering whether it’s actually realistic.

It’s not really the studying itself that worries me — I’m genuinely looking forward to the degree — it’s trying to fit everything in without completely burning myself out.

For those of you who work full-time while studying full-time, how do you manage it?
How do you structure your days/week? Do you actually study every evening, or do you find that you can be more flexible with the hours?

I’d really appreciate any tips, advice or personal experiences. I’d love to hear how you made it work (or what you wish you’d done differently).

Thanks!

Hello,

I am a digital marketing student currently conducting research as a part of the LSE Digital Marketing Career Accelerator project on how people discover, assess and participate in data, technology and social-impact challenges. 

This survey takes approximately 10 minutes. It asks about your awareness and experience of competitions, hackathons and similar initiatives, followed by your reaction to one example challenge.

Participation is voluntary. Please do not provide confidential or sensitive information. Responses will be analysed in aggregate for an academic employer project and may inform recommendations made to the organisation involved.

If you're interested, please clink the link at the top of the post.

I am looking to study BSc (honours) Psychology: D110, and the compulsory module D120.

When choosing the start date, it says I have selected both, however when I go to the next page, it’s telling me I’ve only selected D110.

https://preview.redd.it/f5smfzw3qckh1.png?width=1884&format=png&auto=webp&s=d9af918a248470bc5a51973f2887fba27c83a05b

Is this normal? I want to be studying both not just D110. Or do I need to contact the support team?

Thanks in advance

I submitted everything 30th July and got notice on 3rd August my app is with the department.

I havent heard anything and was wondering if i should chase or leave it. Deadline is 10th September so don't want to leave it too late

Hello all, I am starting MST224 (Mathematical Methods) in October and I am aware that this is an examination module, not EMA. Coming up after is T272 (Core Engineering B), which is also an examination module but with some written questions in there too.

I am curious as to how these exams work - do I have to print out the papers, work through them, take photos then upload images of my answers and workings? Or does it have to be done on the laptop? I worry because trying to type out all my workings for advanced equations will be time consuming and somewhat inefficient. I would prefer to hand write but I don’t know how they would see my answers, how does this part of the exam process work?

Many thanks for any info 👍

Hi all!

I have just submitted my EMA for DE300, has anyone else submitted theirs yet? I am so anxious about it, I thought I’d be excited but I’m just full of dread.

Edit / Update: I'll be enrolling at Q31 as I have just learned about mathematical maturity which can only be achieved by Pure Mathematics.

Choosing between BSc Mathematics (Q31) and BSc Maths & Statistics (Q36), and my honest priority is maximising my chances of a First.

From the qualification structures, the two can be built almost identically: M248 at Stage 2, then M343, M348 and MST368 all fit at Stage 3 on both.

The real difference is the compulsory module you can’t dodge. Q31 forces M208 (Pure mathematics), Q36 forces M347 (Mathematical statistics). They count the same toward classification (60 credits single-weighted vs 30 double-weighted), so it comes down to which one is harder to get a Grade 1 in.

For anyone who’s done these:

How realistic is a distinction in M208 vs M347 in practice?

Which modules were your reliable distinction banks: M248, M249, M343, M348, MST368, ME620?

If you took M347 after M248/M249/M343, did the stats background make it manageable, or is it brutal regardless?

Grateful for any grades or experience, even rough ones.

Hi! I’m starting both modules in October and wondering if anyone that’s done it before has any advice? Thanks!

Hi! I'm Elya, and I am going to be studying A111 in Oct!

I am turning 18 in September, and I am part of a group chat, but I feel so much younger, and I'm extremely anxious (unfortunately) so being a part of such a huge group makes me less likely to participate in chats.

So, any younger OU students starting in October, feel free to message me or comment on this post!

Hopefully, I can find someone (or a few people) around my age that I click with, so that distance learning feels less lonely! 😄

Any news on D112 books. I know D113 textbooks etc have been sent out. Just wondering if anyone knows when D112 will follow suit?