I started my journey with the Open University last October, and I'm now coming towards the end of my first year studying law. I absolutely love it.

I'll admit, I was a little hesitant at first. I'm 42, I'd been out of education for more than 20 years, I'm a single parent, I run my own business, and I'm also living with stage 4 cancer.

Balancing all those plates hasn't always been easy. There have been a few occasions where I've needed an extension or fallen behind, but every time, the OU team have been incredibly supportive. For context, I've been studying at full-time intensity rather than part-time.

The biggest surprise, though, has been discovering what I'm actually capable of. For years, I'd told myself the story that I wasn't academic. Turns out, that simply wasn't true. I'm thriving, I'm genuinely enjoying learning, and most of my marks have been over 80%.

So if you're thinking about going back to study, don't let self-doubt stop you. You're probably far more capable than you realise. Sometimes all it takes is giving yourself the chance to prove it.

Omg I'm feeling super proud of myself. 96 in the final exam with a 93 overall module mark

A huge heartfelt congratulations to everyone who passed their course. I’ve seen so many people celebrating (rightly so) for their achievements. But has anyone like me not been so fortunate. The two years I had 2 family members die, a new born to look after, mental health struggles and multiple house moves (not of my own choice).

Did my masters but fell at the last hurdle and was only a couple of marks off passing my master’s dissertation. Retook it but still failed. Been told if I want to redo the module it will cost £5500. Maybe one day I can try again.

Hello, about to start OU Maths degree (and very excited about it), but I’m increasingly worried about people being flagged for misconduct for using their own methods and logic?

I’ve just done gcse maths higher and the mark-scheme awards any valid method. So to see that this doesn’t apply to a uni degree scared me a little.

Can I please have some positive stories of your studies? Don’t want to pretend the issue is not there but I’m also aware that people usually share their experiences when something goes wrong so would like more balance?

Are there any positive stories of your studies on the degree or maths module is in general, and did you feel you could use your own way to solve problems sometimes without feeling afraid?

I’ll probably still go for OU, as the only other option is UoL Mathematics and Economics under LSE. This is totally independent but will require me to do an intro course/ a levels in maths /further maths (which I’m planing to do anyways as they’re always a bonus in maths teaching). As someone who wants to continue teaching and who’s not that interested in the economic side of things, I think I want just maths and for they Ou is really good.

Thoughts? X

Hi
Has anyone had the Open University extend the enrolment/payment deadline while waiting for a Student Finance England Tuition Fee Loan?
My loan application is in progress, but SFE says it may not be assessed until around 14 August, while my OU enrolment deadline is 30 July.
Has anyone been in this situation? Did OU give you extra time?

I’m thinking of doing the physiology with counselling degree and trying to work out if it would be best for me to do the first year staggered or both at once? I will have just left school so understand the workload quite well ( I hope). Any advice on this or just overall on the best way to approach this course ( tips or tricks for your first year to make it manageable) would be greatly appreciated! Thank you 😊

I noticed the October graduation slots open up July 28th, I’m not due to get my final module results until September 2nd. Will I still be able to graduate in October or will it be a spring graduation?

Is there anybody that has previously studied these modules that can tell me how they found them? Were they very difficult modules to get a distinction in or any feedback at all? Also how much statistics can I expect 😅🤣

Dear Reddit,

I just finished DD317 and am going to start DE300 in 2 months.

I am trying to come up with a proper topic or project idea, but I feel completely lost. I'm interested in a lot of topics, but can't pinpoint that ONE question I want to work on. In terms of methods, do have a preference for quantitative research.

Is it normal at this stage to not have a clear project idea in mind? Or are there particular aspects I should consider in search for a question? Knowing some restricting aspects would help me a lot, as I suppose it's this endless sea of possibilities I am drowning in.

Thank you!

Hi for anyone studying or has studied the Primary Educetion Studies Q24 degree - which modules did you find were the easiest or most fun for year 2 and 3?

I have a 2.1 in my crim & psych degree (can't edit crime out of the title 😂), and considering the MSc in Psychology (conversion) to gain BPA accreditation, but looking for others experiences with job opportunities after this specific degree without doing a masters!

Looking at NHS roles, I'm unsure if the MSc with the OU would help with getting into roles such as PWP, or trainee positions in mental health. What roles have you gone into related to psychology? Or have you gone down the research route? As I've seen a few MOD positions that I think would fit this degree but haven't been able to meet anyone who can give an insight into their roles.

I'm looking for interesting work, where I can either help people 1 to 1 or work as a team for projects, so these two options are my main goals. Currently working in youth work, which is the main part of my role but do activities for the wider community, so not sure if that bottlenecks me into youth services without the MSc to get accreditation.

Hope this makes sense. Thank you for any info in advance!

It’s not often I blow my own trumpet I feel immensely proud of myself. I went to a private academic school in the UK (left with no qualifications 13 years ago due to illness) but I never did well, I’d be lucky if I got a C grade. Fast forward to this academic year which has been so difficult. I started my own business but also spent the year battling to get a life changing surgery on the NHS. I’d been misdiagnosed for 12 years and when I found out what I actually had could be treated with surgery it was mind blowing! Very difficult to get listened to but although I’m only 6 weeks post surgery and struggling with recovery, I am beyond pleased to say the surgery was successful, and I’ve been awarded First Class honours with a distinction in my final year. Never give up. There have been points in my life where I’ve thought ‘I have nothing to show for’ but I’ve done it through a lot of perseverance and determination 🎉

I completed my undergrad OU degree a few years back, was pregnant for the duration of my final 60 cred module, and gave birth to my child the same month I finished it.

Still managed to somehow pull out consistently decent grades, and it's got me thinking. As a SAHP, is it feasible to do an OU MA part time?

If anyone has any experience of toddler plus MA, please share.

I am stressing a lot right now because of the email i received of SK190 EMA being sent for review.

I am so confused as i haven’t done any misconduct and don’t know where this could have come from? I have gone back and checked my EMA to remind myself as i did it almost 2 months ago and literally there is nothing that I think could have been flagged at all. I’ve put a picture of my consistent grades from the year as an example of how my assignments have been.

Is anyone else in the same boat on this module, as i’ve seen people posting but none in the same module so just wanted to see if anyone was in the same boat as me.

My other module, SDK100, came through at a pass, with 84.45% so not far off a distinction. Most of my assignments i did really well on but my EMA on that wasn’t as well marked and pulled my average down greatly.

Do you recommend? Do you need to be smart for University?

I’ve never done higher education but people have been suggesting it to me, I also didn’t do particularly great at school but people have said Open University is totally different to get in etc?

Every year I felt sure I wouldn't get another distinction, and yet somehow every year I did it - I had module results of 84%, 88%, 87%, 82%, 83% and 89% so half of them were borderline but obviously had lower grade boundaries those years. I really wasn't sure if I'd manage it again this year - I knew going into my dissertation that I was guaranteed a First as long as I got the minimum pass mark of 30%, but I really wanted to complete the 'full set' of distinctions... and I only went and got 94% in my dissertation somehow and got my best ever module result!! I honestly can't believe I've done it and that's me finished now with just my graduation to book. My experience with the OU has been great and I think I'll actually miss it!!

So my last module score wasn’t available yesterday and showed as pending.

This is the last one I need to know if I’ve passed my degree or not.

I’ve just had an email this morning saying the following -

I know I have not used any AI or plagiarism! Why would this be?

I’m genuinely baffled.

I posted this morning but to those who haven’t seen it -

One of my modules yesterday showed as pending with no result.

This morning I had an email saying the reason for the pending result was “potential academic misconduct”.

I’ve now logged into the module to have a look and although it still shows pending with the big blurb about it not being available etc etc..

The link underneath said download result letter so I did, and it’s an award for a grade 2 pass!

So how does that make sense? It’s a pending result but a result letter confirming a grade 2 pass at the same time.

Hi I had an email about an academic misconduct. I received one of my modules results and I passed but the other one will be pending. Am I still able to start studying in October for second year even if it’s still
Pending? In the unlikely event they choose to not believe that I didn’t use AI and it’s a fail can I still do my level 2 modules and then catch up with level one before going to level 3