Having spent most of my adult life living and working abroad I found myself back in the UK in 2010. Coming back to live in my hometown, Hornsea, had never really been my intention but life's funny like that!
I stumbled back into Higher Education, mainly to pass time and because, being unemployed, the access course with the OU was free. The first module I took was 'Starting with Psychology' in 2011. I thoroughly enjoyed the course and, to my utter amazement, passed with distinction. I went on to study towards a degree in BA/BSc (Honours) Criminology and Psychological Studies which is now on hold at 135 points. I just don't have the self discipline for distance learning!
Here are 10 reasons to opt for the Open University (although I am not sure that I would agree with them all)
1. The Open University offers over 300 undergraduate qualifications including named degrees, for example, BSc (Hons) Psychology and the popular Open Degree.
2. The chance to get your degree without the debt - At The Open University, you study part time when and where it suits you so you can have a full time job and not rack up huge debt. Fees are paid module by module and there is financial support available depending on your circumstances.
The average cost of an Open University degree is around £4,00 for the 2010/2011 academic year.
3. Credibility with employers - some qualifications are linked to industry professional bodies; many employers sponsor their staff to study with The Open University. 2/3rds of the FTSE 100 companies have sponsored staff on Open University courses. 4. Employability of Open University graduates - more than 80% of Open University students are employed within six months of graduating. The Open University also offers an award-winning careers advisory service to students. 5. Support - there is a range of support for Open University students online, face to face and by phone from Open University tutors, study advisors and other students. 6. Flexibility of Open University study - students can earn as they learn, and study at their own pace. For young students, this means they can achieve a degree at the same time as building up work experience. 7. High levels of student satisfaction - The Open University is continually ranked as one of the top UK universities for student satisfaction according to the National Student Survey 2010. 8. Sense of community - The Open University has a lively student community and is the most popular UK University on Facebook. Since the first students were admitted, over two million people have studied with The Open University. 9. A popular university - increasing numbers of younger people are choosing to study with The Open University rather than campus universities. Last year, over 32,000 of the 250,000 Open University students were under 25. 10. Leading multi-media technology - The Open University uses high end and popular technology such as iPods to deliver courses. It is one of the few UK universities to have its own YouTube channel and materials on iTunesU.
10 fascinating facts about the OU
The Open University was founded in 1969 and took its first 24,000 students in 1971.
The Archers, Brookside, Ever Decreasing Circles, Birds of a Feather and Goodnight Sweetheart have all had OU students written into their plots.
One of actress Julie Walters’ first major film roles was portraying an OU student opposite Michael Caine in Educating Rita.
The OU is the largest provider of law graduates in the UK
The OU is one of a handful of universities to have won University Challenge twice, in 1985 and 1999, and is in joint third position in the all-time points list.
Well-known names who have tutored for the OU include former Prime Minister Gordon Brown, actress Glenda Jackson and broadcaster Anna Ford
In 2015 the OU held degree ceremonies in 13 towns and cities across the UK and Ireland.
The OU is the UK’s only university dedicated to distance learning
The Open University is rated one of the best in the UK for student satisfaction in the National Student Survey. The OU is one of only four UK universities to have consistently achieved more than 90% in the survey’s history
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