The Open University degree - same as 'normal' degree?

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vtmil
vtmil Posts: 282 Forumite
in Student MoneySaving
hi, I have nearly finished my first year of ou courses and cant decide if to carry on. I suppose i just a dubious whether an employer would look on an Open University degree the same as a degree from a 'proper' university? I am planning(a few years down the line) to become a teacher, so would i still be able to use the degree to do initial teacher training in a school? And do you get a graded degree such as a 2:1 or 2:2?


Thanks peeps

x
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  • surfcat
    surfcat Posts: 734 Forumite
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    It often depends. Many employers will look on an OU degree very highly because you have to be so much more self-motivated to actually run the course. Does depend on subject however.
  • iwanttosave_2
    iwanttosave_2 Posts: 34,292 Forumite
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    vtmil wrote:
    hi, I have nearly finished my first year of ou courses and cant decide if to carry on. I suppose i just a dubious whether an employer would look on an Open University degree the same as a degree from a 'proper' university? I am planning(a few years down the line) to become a teacher, so would i still be able to use the degree to do initial teacher training in a school? And do you get a graded degree such as a 2:1 or 2:2?


    Thanks peeps

    x
    You have to do the open degree with honours to get a 2:1, 2:2 style grade as far as I am aware, which is an extra 60 points from an open degree. OU degree are looked on very highly from what I have heard
    Work like you don't need money,
    Love like you've never been hurt,
    And dance like no one's watching
    Save the cheerleader, save the world!
  • wigginsmum
    wigginsmum Posts: 4,150 Forumite
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    My DH did an OU degree to become a teacher.
    The ability of skinny old ladies to carry huge loads is phenomenal. An ant can carry one hundred times its own weight, but there is no known limit to the lifting power of the average tiny eighty-year-old Spanish peasant grandmother.
  • aurora_borealis_2
    aurora_borealis_2 Posts: 13,477 Forumite
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    I did an OU degree and received a classification after 360 points.
    You need to get 85% for a first.

    I went on to do postgraduate qualifications at a redbrick uni and was given a bursary on the strength of my OU degree. They are very highly respected in academia, and probably by most employers these days.
    de do-do-do, de dar-dar-dar ;)
  • vtmil
    vtmil Posts: 282 Forumite
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    oh thanks everyone that has made me feel a lot more positive! I'm awaiting my results to DD100 an Introduction to social science at the mo, and im also 3/4 of the way through B200 Understanding business behavior so looks like i'll be booking next years couses now! thanks peeps
    x
  • alanobrien
    alanobrien Posts: 3,308 Forumite
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    My first degree (dont ask ;) )was with the OU and my employer valued it highly because it was done entirely in my own time so it showed dedication to education.
  • Seraphim
    Seraphim Posts: 246 Forumite
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    OU degrees are definitely really well-respected in most places. They show proven self-motivation and commitment which employers look favourably on. I know a lot of OU students who have gotten jobs even though they haven't finished their degrees, just on the strength that they are doing their degree via the OU.

    If you haven't already, get yourself on First Class and take a look around the OUSA conferences (via Signpost....please feel free to PM me if you haven't a clue what I'm talking about!!)

    *fingers crossed* will be doing my MSc with the OU next year :)
  • iwanttosave_2
    iwanttosave_2 Posts: 34,292 Forumite
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    I am only on my first course, I am doing KX100 health and social care, and have already booked to do SK227 human biology which I am really looking forward too. :j

    I think OU degrees are respected as well because in my opinion they can be harder than normal degrees because you dont have a tutor there and then to ask questions, I can only contact my tutor though email (which takes days) or on a mbile.
    Work like you don't need money,
    Love like you've never been hurt,
    And dance like no one's watching
    Save the cheerleader, save the world!
  • Whats_my_age_again
    Whats_my_age_again Posts: 160 Forumite
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    I did my business studies degree through the OU, did both DD100 and B200. I have since learned that it was the fact that I had an OU degree as opposed to any other degree that got me my current job as opposed to the other applicant.
    D'Oh!
  • vtmil
    vtmil Posts: 282 Forumite
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    wow i didn't realise the ou was so valued! Ive just applied for a job as a teaching assistant part time so hopefully my open uni courses will help. Thanks everyone, i feel like im going somewhere now!
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