OU Does Microsoft....

[GrumbleDook]

Simple answer is down to how much time you have.

 

Typical OU degree is 360 points (with honours) and depending on the degree you want to do there are fixed courses to do, and at fixed levels (level 1, level 2 and level 3).

 

A typical person might choose to opt to do 60 points a year ... this could be a single 60 point course or 2x 30 points courses (or even 1x 30 and 3x 10) ... you usually have to do at least 60 points from each level (1, 2, &3) but it varies a bit. Some folk will push themselves and do 90 or 120 points in a year (basically, the equivalent of doing 1 year of a full-time degree course at Uni) ... remembering that level 1 courses are easier and take less study time than level 3 courses.

 

I was doing Computing and ICT but am moving over to an open Degree now to have more flexibility of courses (I *really* don't want to do a bunch of Maths/programming courses). Depending on what degree you are on you have a set amount of time to 'cash in' a course you have done. With the BSc(Hons) in Computing and ICT one of my courses is now defunct, but I can still cash it in with an Open degree as long as I complete it within x years.

 

The OU do have advisors and they also hold open days regionally ... well worth getting along to one to chat with people (and get tips on studying).

[john]

That helps make it clear Tony thanks

 

This open degree is it recognised widely by employers ? Just I really wouldn't want to take a load of maths or programming which has put me off a lot of degrees from many providers as I found maths at school bad enough and programming just isn't for me.

[kaphc]

I did an Open BSc(Hons) degree and also did the Diploma in Computing and Diploma in Information Technology along the way. I have only used the qualification to go for one job since but found that it was as recognised as any other degree. The place that the OU fills in the market seems to be changing rapidly and acceptance is becoming more and more widespread as many youngsters choose to do a degree this way and work to pay for their studies rather than go to a "conventional" university.

 

For the record, I took 5 years to do my degree whilst working full-time. The last two years I did more courses but that was my choice to speed things up.

 

When I did my degree (1997 - 2001) the choice of courses was very theoretical, lots of Maths and Programming as Tony has said. Never have I programmed in SmallTalk or C++ again! There seems to be a big shift in the OU Computing dept now towards more practical courses such as TM128 and others which provide skills for use in most workplaces.