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“High quality study materials and good support..”

★★★★★

written by Greenspangle on 09/01/2014

Having also attended a 'physical' bricks & mortar university so I can compare the two. First the personal element - In both cases a sizeable part of the experience is dependant upon the tutor/lecturer assigned for each module you study and as that's an interpersonal thing it can vary quite a lot. If you're a relatively self-contained sort of person maybe less so but I've usually found that when you need advice/help from your tutor you 'really' need it. So best make sure that relatinship works for you right from the start, or get a transfer - usually easier to do that at the OU than a tranditional. Marking of assignments though I've always found reliable at both. The OU study materials are generally streets ahead of the equivalent handouts at bricks & mortar Uni's. They are targeted at the OU sylabus with laser like precision (obviously), they're designed to be studied (as opposed to just read like a textbook), and you most definitely can get an excellent exam result just from studying the OU course materials. And if you're really into a subject and want to broaden your reading - just get the reading list from a bricks & mortar uni! But remember, the OU exam is set on the OU sylabus - so stay focused! Both ways of getting a degree are hard work and in both cases it's more difficlt to get an outstanding result in the exam than the coursework. But as for fitting it round a busy/working life the OU wins every time.

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“Totally patronizing and unsupportive”

★☆☆☆☆

written by on 17/12/2013

I began a post-graduate degree with OU last year and it all began well. I had studied with OU before and had previously good experiences but this was totally different. Some months into the course I became ill and got behind. Despite my asking explicitly, my tutor gave me poor advice and by the time I realised, it was too late. The admin staff were completely unsympathetic and VERY PATRONISING. I lost over £3,000 AND HAVE NOTHING TO SHOW FOR IT. As a previous review stated, if you are ill, you are stuffed. Make sure you read all the small print but personally I wouldn't touch them with a barge pole and certainly do not recommend them.

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Peony's Comment

Written on: 21/04/2015

Depends what you are ill with. I do find they do grant extensions if you are unwell, but not for the final exam part.

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“The Open University will build you up, then totally...”

★☆☆☆☆

written by on 17/12/2013

The Open University will build you up, then totally demolish you. Their exam marking depends on the marker. If they feel mean, you will get low marks, otherwise you may have a chance. Assignment marks also vary according to the tutor; there is no consistency and remember: they will refuse to re-mark an exam, so be careful not to offend a tutor, or you will get no marks at all. They generally detest older students, so if you are ill or old - don't go there!!

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Sambrook7's Comment

Written on: 06/01/2014

It would be interesting to know what grade you came out with, because it sounds like you have a massive chip on your shoulder!

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Peony's Comment

Written on: 21/04/2015

I agree with you. There is no transparency with exams and you cannot challenge the marker.

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Mistymoo233's Comment

Written on: 21/02/2014

I totally agree with you I'm just over halfway through a module, and my tutor is beyond awful! There is no support, the feedback is contradictory within the assignment, it looks as though the tutor has only skimmed it because quite often the tutor gas missed vital points! I feel as though I'm throwing money away and am not at all confident I am going yo pass, despite having academics read and give me advice on my assignments and structure! I would not recommend OU.

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Worn_Out's Comment

Written on: 08/01/2014

How do you it depends on the marker? You never see your exam scripts after the exam or compare to other students scripts. Same with assignments you're not supposed to discuss TMA answers so how would you know that people with other tutors got different marking?
Most people do worse on the exam than TMAs as for the assignments you have access to resources and more time whereas exam it's all on you in 2or3hrs.

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“Brilliant way to study whilst working”

★★★★★

written by debjg on 27/11/2013

I have just completed my degree. I began ten years ago, and had to stop after four years when I found myself on my own, working and with two young children. After a four-year gap I decided to finish my degree doing a 30 point course each year and I am really proud of myself. You get out of it what you put in. Materials are well presented, library resources are huge & the tutors support you well. Sometimes completing the assignments on time was a real challenge, but I thrived on the pressure and in the end I have come away with a huge sense of personal achievement.

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Worn_Out's Response to debjg's Review

Written on: 08/01/2014

Congratulations well done!
The OU isn't perfect, the materials sometime vary in standard (or readability!) between courses but you get out what you put in. I think some people think it's meant to be easy............
In fact it's harder juggling around other commitments and the sense of achievement when its over must be nice! Hopefully I'll be getting that feeling sometime this year!!

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“poor disability support in Scotland”

★☆☆☆☆

written by on 20/11/2013

I started an OU course. My assessment for my disability was carried out 1 day before the course started. I am now almost two months into my course and no support has been offered by OU even though the report that was commissioned states I require support. I would suggest if you have a disability OU Scotland is not the place to study. I was advised to wait till I heard back . IT appears that the system is there to tick boxes and not actually assist students into parity. I have asked to be contacted to get an update and been advised I am one of many students and need to take my turn. I was aware I was returning to education not that I was returning to primary school.

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“Study that can fit in with your other commitments”

★★★☆☆

written by janesmith1975 on 24/10/2013

I have done a couple of basic introductory courses with the Open University and like the fact you can fit your study around your other commitments. It was probably easier for me as my courses were just for fun but I still needed to keep to the planned study weeks to be able to interact with fellow students. I found the course material interesting and easy to understand. I have heard a lot of negative comments about more advanced courses but I do think the Open University offers courses to a wide range of people who might not be able to considers studying otherwise. Definitely worth thinking about if you have to study and work, or have a young family or find studying at home easier to cope with.

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“STAY AWAY!”

★☆☆☆☆

written by sammyjjackson on 23/10/2013

i have just become a student to the ou and am so glad i qualified for the tuition fees is i had paid for this i would be livid and demanding a refund! on one of my courses sk143 there is no tutor (no tutor when learning cardiology! the hardest part of the body to learn!) no help whatsoever theirs a student adviser and i seriously don't know why he is there the one time i asked him for help he just sent me an email address to ask someone else!! he also deletes posts just for stating the truth that the lack of help is poor! you are basically handed a book and a dvd and told to get on with it! and have no one to turn to but to try and ask the other students for help but they have enough to do. And for my other module sdk125 where i do have a tutor but would rather struggle as she makes you feel like you are bothering her, talking down to you like you are thick, and very arrogant!!! and now after stupidly choosing the ou over college i have to wait until next September to start college which i will be doing as you actually get HELP!!!

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Worn_Out's Response to sammyjjackson's Review

Written on: 08/01/2014

It does say there is no tutor for SK143 in the module description which you should read thoroughly before registering. Also the hardest past of the body to learn is a bit subjective. ;)
Just sounds like you've had a bad experience but there are good tutors out there. Most my forums have been rich with students explaining things to each other but being level 1 module guess most people are new and just muddling along because they don't know. But the OU isn't for everyone as it's distance/part time learning it is isolating and there isn't as much support as physically attending education and everyone works differently. Sometimes I've missed having a 'proper' tutor to explain concepts and others they're only there to mark my assignments and post them back. There is a lot more responsibility on yourself to teach yourself the subject :( and that's not for everyone. However I do think the support should be more accessible and the rude weeded out.

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“93 on TMAs, 64 in exam, Grade 3!”

★☆☆☆☆

written by gps980 on 07/10/2013

Be warned. Open University give you the lowest of your two marks. You get 100% in the coursework and 69% in the exam you will get less than someone who gets 70% in both. This turns the exam into a horrific experience when all your work hinges on it. Furthermore the exam is a gruelling 3 hour experience with barely enough time to complete the paper. I would strongly recommend avoid the OU at all costs and seeking out a bricks and mortal uni, most of whom offer similar distance learning courses these days.

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Worn_Out's Response to gps980's Review

Written on: 08/01/2014

At a brick uni the exam often counts for 80odd % of the year so it's not that much different and you would often have more than 1 a day for a few days so it's stressful. However if there is a huge difference between TMA and exam some consideration must be used. But cheating and copying TMA is easier and generally they are easier as you have access to books, internet etc whilst doing them whereas in exam you are all alone!

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Rubyroo1's reply to Worn_Out's Comment

Written on: 06/03/2014

Oh god I am now confused!!! I am on the point of registering on the BSc Health Sciences course and am shocked by all the negativity about the OU. I am in my final year of a BA Humanities & Arts course at Leics Uni and I wanted to use the 120 Science credits I'd got from a few years ago, so it really appealed to me to be able to apply these credits. Am I making a mistake? I'm paying for this myself and its not cheap!

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Peony's reply to Rubyroo1's Comment

Written on: 21/04/2015

All i can say to you, talk to your current tutors. If I had my time over again, I would never had studied with the OU.

The words help you to 'become an independent learner' ought to have given me a clue, you are on your own with the OU.

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Peony's reply to Worn_Out's Comment

Written on: 21/04/2015

I do not accept the person has cheated. And tutors will pick up if you plagiarise other people's material and the OU have serious policies on this.

A student cheating and plagiarising will become banned by the OU.

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Worn_Out's reply to Peony's Comment

Written on: 22/07/2015

I'm not saying the person has cheated but that cheating does happen as the nature of the course is distance learning and you aren't as involved with a tutor like at a brick uni so cheating isn't always picked up on. There have been cases where TMA questions have appeared on online help sites etc. so exams have had to be reintroduced in subsequent presentations. So people could be using answers from there which aren't picked up my plagiarism detector when submit work especially if reworded or the TMA was done by hand (in the case of maths assignments). Also a TMA covers a brief sectionof the course wheareas the exam is supposed to test more of the course as a whole so good scores in one doesn't automatically indicate good scores in the other. They should reword the whole 50:50 thing as that peeves people off year after year.

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“Best experience”

★★★★★

written by on 07/10/2013

I don't understand the negative reviews either. I've had only a positive experience. The study materials are up to date and interesting. There is plenty of support from the tutors on the individual modules. They have a very helpful student support line and careers advice service. I'm finally being able to realise my dream of getting a degree - and going for an MSc. Some modules are harder work than others and there have been times when I have wanted to give up - especially when work and other life issues get in the way - but just thinking of the bigger picture got me through. Apart from the knowledge and interesting subject matter, I think you'll gain confidence in yourself and your abilities. I've just finished a 5,000 word research report for my one module. A few years ago I would never, ever, in a million years have thought I could have done something like that. I think if you're after knowledge and skills, instead of 3 years of partying at a brick uni, the OU is the way to go.

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“It's all about the money ”

★☆☆☆☆

written by on 03/10/2013

Over a number of years I did a few ou courses with the aim of eventually getting a degree. A couple of years ago I had to take some time off studying due to work. Now I'm ready to go back to the ou to start again I've found they've totally dumped the people who made them what they are in preference to the younger students who find it hard to afford a real uni experience. I've spent in excess of £1500 with the ou only to find that it will cost me a further 10k or more to get a degree So now I can't afford to continue and all the studying u did has gone to waste. If you are a young student. Take my advice. Go to an actual university. It's not all about the degree. It's about the experience you gain from interacting with thousands of people from across the globe. Sitting at home in your bedroom just doesn't cut it. From what you'll save with the ou, you'll loose out on wages over time as ou degrees, dispute what they tell you, are not as well thought of as a degree from a brick n mortar uni. Don't give them your money, cos that's all they're after.

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Peony's Comment

Written on: 21/04/2015

It is very isolating studying with the OU. I have never made a single friend in the OU, and it is a very lonely experience.

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“disability students stay clear”

★★☆☆☆

written by on 28/08/2013

the Open university don't care about disability students. I have first hand experience with this....if you make a complaint their procedure is to bully the student in to submission. I battled for my extra time in an exam due to dyslexia and wasn't given it. I only found that out at the end of the exam, this shocked me as I had sent away all the documentation, filled out tons of paper work and even spoke to the learning support directly....exam time came and nothing!....I asked about it and it was my fault.

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Dynoblue's Comment

Written on: 29/08/2013

Yes!!! exactly..... couldn't of said it better myself they only care about their image! they do not care about their students well being! as long as you pay the money then your left...don't get my wrong the only saving grace was my tutor for MST121 she was lovely..but the MST121 materials were design my MFI a furniture manual company...when I was doing it a lot of students were having a hard time understanding the course books...OU just said tough luck! they already had our money and have met targets...who cares about the students...a tutor even agreed with me as he has had trouble with the upstairs bosses..... they paid for their image as a University!

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Peony's Comment

Written on: 21/04/2015

You should get a letter prior to the exam setting out what is being applied to you to help you.

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Issibelle's Comment

Written on: 19/09/2013

I respectfully disagree. My experience as a disabled student has been nothing but excellent. I've been granted extensions when I need them, my tutors are well informed of my situation and are very understanding. I'm soon to do my first exam with them, which has been arranged so I can take it from home, and i've also been allowed rest breaks, and to use a computer.

If it wasn't for the OU I'd be unable to continue my education, having found myself too unwell to cope with full time education at a traditional college/uni, and i'm about to start my fourth module with them.

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“Averaging 65% throughout and failed on EMA!!!??? ”

★☆☆☆☆

written by on 24/08/2013

I have been studying now with the OU for 4 years hoping to get a degree in management. I am currently 2 course away from completing and have received the grades for my current course which has left me speechless. I was averaging 65% on this course and have somehow failed the EMA. This makes no sense as the EMA was based on an initiative chosen early on in the course and built upon. To make matters worse they do not want to know when you query with them, everyone treats you like the plague as soon as you fail - even when you know you have been consistent. No support, no help, no one wants to listen to you - they pretend to understand but only speak through the veil of bureaucracy. I now feel like not continuing at all although I am not far off from completion. Bad bad bad experience - avoid at all costs... waste of time and money.

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Drinkingtheriver's Comment

Written on: 05/10/2013

Hi.
I am now on my second year at OU in Computer Science and I just got my result back for one EMA given me a second fail at it!!!! During the entire time of that module, I had an average of 78% on TMA's. I by total screw up left out one major question on the EMA. So failed it but got a resit. Now I got results for that back and failed again!! by one damn point!!!
No support, no help, no guidance and even on my other modules, I have an average of near 80% on my TMA's. I just want to finish this damn degree and go do my masters at a real place. In person!!

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Peony's Comment

Written on: 13/08/2015

For the first time ever, I am having this experience this year. not quite failed but almost, querying it, they don't read your appeal and just send a dismissive letter. I am nearing completion, but after finding it happening to others on my course plus other courses going back at least a couple of years, I am not putting myself through it again.
It affected my health, the shock of the unpleasant feedback which was full of sardonic comments. My tutor had given good feedback, professionally written.

I think the OU is driving its existing students away, maybe they think then they can attract the young ones.

They are sadly mistaken if they think the school leavers will put up with this treatment!

Anyway, its not just you its happened to, many others also.

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Betty-B's Comment

Written on: 26/11/2013

I am also in the same boat TMA'S 72, 73 and 75 yet EMA result is 20??. I have called there student services and all they can say is fill in a module query but I doubt they will reconsider!!! disgraceful. Stay away from The Open Univeristy!!!!

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“You will get back what you put in...”

★★★★★

written by on 20/08/2013

The OU is not an easy option. I have been studying for five years whilst raising my son alone and working so I know first hand it is not a walk in the park. I'm surprised by some of the negative reviews as I have always received fantastic support. We have all screwed up assignments or not left enough time but I have always received total understanding from my tutors when this has happened to me. Perhaps I am just lucky. The OU's mission is to be open to people, places, methods and ideas. It allows students both in the UK and internationally to realise their dreams. If you work hard, you will be rewarded. The OU has changed my life and continues to do so. It is easy to blame circumstances or tutors but ultimately, you will get back what you put in. Be prepared for late nights, early mornings, stress, fatigue and busy weekends. In return, the OU will change your life. I am a firm believer if you can complete a degree with the OU, you can do anything. Question is... are you up for the challenge?

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“Would never go back to a brick uni”

★★★★★

written by tawahi on 09/07/2013

I have started studying at a prestigious uni, but then dropped out and decided to try the OU until I know what I want to do. Being extremely skeptical and critical about education, I was very positively surprised by the OU. Through exercises, online activities and well-designed tutor marked assignments you really learn how to write essays and exams and choose a way of studying that is best for you. You can always contact your tutor, most tutorials I went to were very helpful and I feel that the design of the curricula really contributed to me consolidating course material I recognize that OU studying might not be for everyone but especially for people who didn't enjoy uni being centre of their lives, people who are independent learners this is a great experience.

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“feel disappointed by my experience with OU”

★★☆☆☆

written by olarie on 02/07/2013

Recently studied a module in retail management and was given half the amount of time to complete assignments as I had with a module in computing I had taken previously. I failed the EMA due to starting a new job and not having enough time to study for it. The OU doesn't give extensions for EMAs so if you have problems when doing this you just have to fail the whole module, and in my case the whole course. I did find the course materials in both modules I took interesting and well thought out and the questions asked in assignments really effective but felt that the tutor support wasn't really there other than them posting things on the tutor group forum. Effectively you are just teaching yourself a lot of the time. I am no longer wishing to complete a qualification with the OU and regret not going to a bricks and mortar university which I will be doing in September and hope to get more support with study there. I think that you have to have a tremendous amount of self discipline in order to teach yourself and complete assignments in the short amount of time that the OU give you.

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“Expect to work, it is a university!”

★★★★☆

written by on 14/06/2013

I have done now two modules and doing my third. I am so far very happy with my tutors and their support. But it is a lot of work, I think people should realize it is a university so it comes with a great amount of studying. But then again, I am doing it to gain knowledge and eventually a degree. Compared to other universities it is cheaper, but true, it isn't free. But I think people are willing to invest for their education, at least if they are taking it seriously. Me - I am glad with the way it works, good tutors, great material ... for me it works!

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“Lack of Support”

★☆☆☆☆

written by on 11/06/2013

I joined the OU a few years ago. Whilst things are generally fine up to level 2 courses, support and tutorials, on level 3 courses the support is not face to face but in cyber space and no classroom based teaching. Hmmmm alot of money for poor structure and lack of common sense approach to students. Come OU it not like solving the unified field theory is it??? Harder courses more tutorials or don't do them. Very disappointed......very! PS I have an honours degree already and find some of the distance learning challenging so I wounder what other think who have a less formal education behind them.

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“Gave me my life back after poor schooling”

★★★★★

written by on 14/05/2013

Like many little people in this country I was educated to work in a factory. We where taught or often battered in to slavishly obeying the rules however illogical they may be. Any attempt to we made to develop our individual personalities was crushed on the altar of maintaining good order. I sadly and not unexpectedly failed to secure the required qualifications to go in to further education. At the age of 35 I decided my time had come and I began a Bsc with this distinguished organisation. I have read reviews from people who obviously think that education is the reserve of the few. Fortunately the faculty of this grand institution do not see the world in such limited terms and granted my degree. The organisation literally gave me a second chance and I love it warts and all. x

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“Happy student”

★★★★★

written by martin82 on 05/05/2013

I'm just about to finish my MSc in computing for commerce. To be honest, it's quite surprising to see so many negative reviews here; my experience has been exactly opposite: tutors were helpful, materials mostly pretty good and compared to other options I had, this was the best value for money. Before starting, make sure that you understand the time needed - this was the biggest problem for me; demanding job and a young family forced me to postpone the MSc thesis. Overall, I can only recommend!

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“OU issues of Tutors and Marking remain the same”

★★★☆☆

written by SouthEastLondoner on 27/04/2013

Just reading the reviews here and it appears that the OU are still pretty arrogant in their attitude towards tutor quality and marking. I did my Honours degree during the 2000s, when it was a heck of a lot cheaper, and many of the issues on this review site are the same as I experienced. Tutors: I had some excellent tutors who really took the role seriously and were genuinely interested in the students and helping them achieve. Marks were always accompanied by constructive feedback. What was interesting was how the large class sizes at the first tutorial remained constant throughout the year when the tutor was good. Then you had the atrocious tutors, only there for their own personal financial benefit and no interest in the course or the students, rudeness was often experienced, and as stated elsewhere, ridiculous rules about contact. Marking and class sizes suffered across the student group during these modules. Marks: Marking was inconsistent throughout the course, with variations commonplace. Experienced OU tutors would openly talk about marking issues because of changing guidelines from Milton Keynes. New Courses: My advice is to avoid any course that has recently started or has been going over 5 years. Stories of using students as guinea pigs for new courses to test ideas were commonplace when I studied there and out of date theories for older courses make both worth avoiding in my opinion. The OU inferiority complex: Throughout my various studies with OU I always felt there was a bit of an inferiority complex emanating out Milton Keynes, as if bosses were more concerned with being taken seriously as a University by other institutions. People who worked at OU, from the Chancellor down, never appeared brave enough to tackle the issues consistently being raised. Rudeness from Milton Keynes, which is mentioned many times on this site, is consistent with my experience and that of classmates. Milton Keynes staff always sounded so miserable. I did my MA at a Russell Group university after deciding that the OU had had enough of my money. The experience was vastly different and much more rewarding in my view. I do not regret my OU degree, but the OU leadership need to wake up to a changed world and support the students more and improve the quality of tutors. Borrowing from Marx; I think there is a danger that as the OU squeezes through more of their value range sausages while disregarding the clear issues that still exist, more the risk of finding horsemeat in the product.

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Twitcher001's Response to SouthEastLondoner's Review

Written on: 30/04/2013

I'm a current student at the OU, studying Computer Science. I couldn't agree more with this review it is very accurate.

I'm in a first edition of a module TT284 and it is terrible. We are being used as guinea pigs for new teaching methods. Currently, we have practical activities and there are no answers supplied to questions and exercises. So you can imagine what it can be like when you get stuck. I've paid £465 for this module as I'm on transitional fees. The full fee is approx £1250, I would feel sick with the poor quality if I'd have paid that.

Additionally, the quality of tutors varies greatly. The good ones are great and the bad ones are very bad, arrogance is a good word to describe their behavior in regards to students .

I've done 8 module now and for me the ratio of good to bad tutors is at about 50% good. The bad ones are just there for the money and don't care about you. I have to hassle the hell out of them and some times I'm just ignored. I have also experienced a lot of rudeness from the OU when I've complained about bad tutors.

I couldn't recommend my Java modules more though they are very good as are the tutors for them.

My main reason for studying with the OU was that I will not have any debt when I finish. If you're to start now this may not be the case, as full time students will have to pay approx £5000 a year and I wouldn't recommend it for that price. My girlfriend attends Liverpool uni and she loves it. She has great tutors and enjoys a good social life. You don't really meet people at the OU so be aware of that no matter what their marketing tells you.

If you want to save money the OU does have some very good degrees to choose from. However, take into account the above.

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Currentstudent13's Response to SouthEastLondoner's Review

Written on: 18/06/2013

Inconsistency of marking! Indeed. I've just changed modules and therefore tutor, and exactly the same essay style that scored me high marks previously is now, it seems, not acceptable. Worse still, there's no real feedback with this tutor,just comments to the effect that something is wrong and would be 'better' if done per her suggestion. Different, sure, but better? Perhaps in her opinion. I think a lot of the low-level tutors assume they are dealing with children. The good news? In a couple of months I get to leave her feedback! :-)

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