Our system detected that your browser is blocking advertisements on our site. Please help support FoxesTalk by disabling any kind of ad blocker while browsing this site. Thank you.
Jump to content
Finnegan

Open University

By Finnegan, in General Chat

Recommended Posts

foxoffderby

foxoffderby

Posted
Posted

My wife is starting a MSc in Biomedical Sciences in October which with the OU. Its a 2 year course and she will be working at the same time. Its going to be tough for her and myself with a work life balance we have 9 year also. 

 

The short term sacrifice for both us will be worth it in the long term once qualified she will double her wages within 5 years.

Haydos

Haydos

Posted
Posted

That said, if it's a feasible and successful way to study a modern language then I'd definitely consider that.

 

Isn't that one thing you can do without the help of a university? Obviously a qualification is different but the amount of online resources out there for cheaper than a uni course would make that the go-to, no?

zak_lcfc

zak_lcfc

Posted
Posted

Isn't that one thing you can do without the help of a university? Obviously a qualification is different but the amount of online resources out there for cheaper than a uni course would make that the go-to, no?

 

I'm learning French alongside my degree and I've found that whilst online resources are helpful for maintaining or learning little things nothing comes close to actual interaction with other learners/Tutors, i felt I learnt a lot in 8 months in a classroom environment but the past 4 months off for summer I've struggled to develop what I know without. If you wanted to learn a language there are a few classes that go on around the city for fairly cheap prices per session but really face-to-face learning with a fluent speaker is for me the most useful way - I did look as some programmes but the best ones are expensive unless of course you can find ways to obtain them without paying!

Haydos

Haydos

Posted
Posted

I'm learning French alongside my degree and I've found that whilst online resources are helpful for maintaining or learning little things nothing comes close to actual interaction with other learners/Tutors, i felt I learnt a lot in 8 months in a classroom environment but the past 4 months off for summer I've struggled to develop what I know without. If you wanted to learn a language there are a few classes that go on around the city for fairly cheap prices per session but really face-to-face learning with a fluent speaker is for me the most useful way - I did look as some programmes but the best ones are expensive unless of course you can find ways to obtain them without paying!

 

Yeah that makes sense I guess, speaking it regularly and interacting did make it easier to learn than just reading and watching things.

ADK

ADK

Posted
Posted

I'd have thought the best way to learn a foreign language would be to relocate there. I reckon I learnt more German going on holiday there than I did doing it at school for 4 years.

FoxyPV

FoxyPV

Posted
Posted

Finners, if it's a language you after start with a free app called Duolingo. I use it a lunch in work and it engages the brain a good bit and has been recommended by a few bilingual friends. (I'm assuming you have a smartphone with data)

If you can distance learn from another uni it may be better as a couple of friends found it quite difficult (the OU felt as it had to make you work harder to prove yourself) saying that they both stuck it out and are working successfully in their respective professions.

Most unis will offer a part time masters if you already have a degree.

You could even take a professional development course that will allow you to change jobs and get work to pay for some of it.

Good luck.

Guest Col city fan

Guest Col city fan

Posted
Posted

I took my Masters degree the orthodox way, at DeMontfort. It was a super course, directly work-related and I had tons of support. I've heard only good things about the OU to be honest. You get allocated a personal tutor, I believe, and they are really supportive. I'm seriously thinking about taking an OU course in something completely different to my job..maybe accountancy or something, going part-time at work and starting to develop a new career as I get older.

Alf Bentley

Alf Bentley

Posted
Posted

I'm sure that it's quite feasible to do a languages degree via the OU now, unlike the pre-Internet 1990s when I went back and did mine (via a conventional uni). I assume that they'd use the technology that's become available, like video-conferencing & audio files. If so, that would offset the lack of personal contact time, which is more important with languages than some subjects. Though I think still arrange occasional seminars in the OU - they even did that back in the 70s, when my Dad did an OU degree.

 

One thing you might miss out on by doing a languages degree via the OU would be the year abroad - it really is a time when your spoken use/comprehension of the language improves massively due to the constant exposure, provided you don't cocoon yourself away with a load of English speakers. Depending on commitments and cash, you could always go abroad in the summer, though - or look for a job abroad after graduating.

 

I'm not an employer but have the impression that OU degrees are well respected and seen as a good quality qualification. Any decent employer would surely give an applicant a lot of credit just for having the drive and self-discipline to complete the thing. That said, I did my languages degree between 30 and 34 (at a conventional uni), and employers certainly weren't rushing to offer me good jobs....but maybe that was just something about me! Of the European languages, apparently Spanish is the one most in demand among employers, though I assume that also applies to the main Chinese languages, if you're feeling adventurous.

 

A mate of mine dropped out of a degree at the University of East Anglia, then later went back and completed it via the OU. He reckoned that the standard expected by the OU was higher than that expected by UEA.

 

As for time, don't they reckon that you should allow 16 hours study per week per module - and it takes about 6/7 years to complete at that rate? So, presumably 30+ hours per week to complete in 3 years? That sounds like heavy-going to do it in 3 years...but 6/7 years is a long time to wait for the qualification, unless making enjoyable use of your time is the main aim. Might not need to be quite that diligent, though.

 

Would it be possible to combine psychology and a language? I'm sure the prospectus will clarify all this stuff. Good luck, anyway.

Master Fox

Master Fox

Posted
Posted

I've done both. The OU have some excellent courses but it wasn't for me. I went the normal route and decided to do a full time degree at the age of 28 at a proper uni. In my first two years i worked 25 hours a week doing a professional role for half decent money, plus student loans on top and still managed to attend every lecture and get decent grades. The third year was tough and i didn't work much for cash at all and was pretty poor the entire year, but made it through it all with really good grades. If I wasn't in a hurry to graduate, my advice is go to a proper uni as a part time student. Its practically the same with less stress and the tuition fees are cheaper and you get to keep learning for additional year. Good luck.

lavrentis

lavrentis

Posted
Posted

To some extent mobile app development but I come from a music/media background in my current and previous work so I'd like to use that experience whether that be developing audio processing tools/media delivery tools or news and sport production applications. A friend of mine developed a program in house here that basically automatically vision mixes the studio cameras from Aux sends in the desk with rules that govern the way it mixes them, so that sort of thing potentially.

Any advice as I know you've been studying in this area?

Learn good code design, it's good to be able to program but it's better IMO if you design code well. Oo and mvc is key now

  • 6 months later...
Hollism

Hollism

Posted
Posted

Has anyone studied with the OU before? I've enrolled to start a degree with them in October, since I never finished my A levels. Feels like a big commitment, but I'm really looking forward to it :)

Guest Kopfkino

Guest Kopfkino

Posted
Posted

Has anyone studied with the OU before? I've enrolled to start a degree with them in October, since I never finished my A levels. Feels like a big commitment, but I'm really looking forward to it :)

What are you going to study?

Tommy G

Tommy G

Posted
Posted

Has anyone on here got an MBA? I've already got ACA so thought I would consider this to help promotion opportunities in the future.

Vlad the Fox

Vlad the Fox

Posted
Posted

How many credits are you doing per year?

60, I'm struggling to fit that in so to do more would for me be madness. I have met people along the way doing two degrees side by side before, I honestly don't know how they find the time or organise themselves, one was an headmistress.

Hollism

Hollism

Posted
Posted

60, I'm struggling to fit that in so to do more would for me be madness. I have met people along the way doing two degrees side by side before, I honestly don't know how they find the time or organise themselves, one was an headmistress.

I'm going for 120, and dropping my work hours down to 30, possibly less if needed. But I don't have any kids or any kind of real responsibilities so it seems doable at the minute.

Archived

This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.

Go to topic listing

  • Recently Browsing   0 members

    • No registered users viewing this page.
×
×
  • Create New...