5 tips for studying independently | The Open University

[@CarnoDane]

thank you. I'm 47 and left school when I was about 14 with no GCSEs. I have just enrolled with the OU to complete an access course in sciences to go on towards a degree in science( biology). I am so excited and scared. but really looking forward to it.

[@shabscorner2341]

That's amazing! Good luck! ❤️

[@heartcaptorkitten705]

I recommend using this course to gain credits to go to another uni tbh. The ou seem to prey on the 'access audience'

[@burtonmacready7369]

Oh you bloody gem, thank you for this! I started doing my psychology degree like 6 or 7 years ago but only did the first year as I found it hard with being back at work and having two young girls (one being autistic) fast forward now and I just re-enrolled to carry on finally but I remember how overwhelming I would find studying and just being generally useless at organising so I knew I need to get my butt in gear and get properly prepared for it this time lol. This has been a great help. Also how are you finding doing a 60 cred plus two 30 creds? I was thinking about doing this next year (depending how I cope with just the one 60 cred this year) as a way to reduce how long it will take.

[@shabscorner2341]

It is hard I'm not going to lie! I found it easier to do two 60 credits over one 60 and 2 30s if that makes sense! A lot more to think about and it was very confusing at times. I hope you enjoy getting back into studying!

[@tylaelworthy8484]

Hey, just wanted to say that this was super helpful, thank you! I am starting a masters with the OU and began fully studying this week. These were great tips, thank you!!

[@shabscorner2341]

Ah fabulous enjoy!

[@Effy_star]

Thank you so much for this, I have just joined OU on the same course as you! I am so using your tips!

[@oliviadamaso6716]

Great video! Thank you for the tips 😁

[@southlondonreader7877]

Great video ! I have just started my 1st year and this video will be so helpful for me going forward, I am attempting to film and upload my OU journey too, so i'll keep an eye out for any of your future videos x

[@shabscorner2341]

Ah I am so glad! I have another video up about studying full time and working so feel free to have a look at that as well! I have some other videos in the pipe line but good luck with yours studies and I will keep an eye out for yours as well x

[@steveebbage808]

Great advice on this video! I’m about to get the final module result of my degree in a week. - Ou combined STEM. What’s your degree subject?

[@omgitsnishaaa]

what do you study? and how are you finding the ou? i am currently finishing off my first year there and deferring! distance learning is not for me lol.. funny saying that because now we don’t really have a choice.

[@shabscorner2341]

I study psychology and honestly have mixed feelings about the OU. I tried a brick university for a year and absolutely hated it. So the OU is better in that sense however I feel that it is harder because you are teaching yourself I struggle sometimes to understand the material and becuase i am so awkward I don't like bothering my tutors even though that is their job! If you aren't enjoying it then deferring is probably the best thing to do at the moment. If you can go to a brick uni you may be able to carry over the credits you earnt at the OU so you don't have to start again?

[@omgitsnishaaa]

Shabs Corner that’s what i’m planning to do but everything is going maniac because of coronavirus! it’s all a hassle now

[@georgeday2256]

Thanks for this, great tips! I’m planning on starting in October and I’m wondering how you pace your degree? I know there’s 60 or 30 credits per module and 120 completes a stage, so would you simultaneously take two modules from October and finish them both in March, or do you take one from October and then one from April to September? I appreciate any feedback on this cus I haven’t seen on videos on pacing

[@shabscorner2341]

Hiya, you have a couple choices, you can run them staggered but this does lead to an overlap. So you start one module in the October which will run until June/July and the other module would start in the the February and run until September. Alternatively you can take them both so that they stary in October and finish in June time. Or you can do it over 6 years and take one module per year. I have done it both ways. My first year I staggered my modules which has its pros and cons and this year I did 1 60 credit module and 2 30 credit modules all starting in October as well - again this has its pros and cons. I will likely do a video chatting about pacing soon as I have had a few people ask for this so I will go into more detail regarding the pros and cons in that 😊 I hope this helped!

[@georgeday2256]

Shabs Corner OK great, thanks. That makes a lot of sense. I suppose starting one in October and one in February is good for spreading the load thin but it’ll mean constant study throughout the year 😀

[@elisewilkes3878]

How much did you study ahead, between when the study website opened, to when the term officially started? 📖

[@shabscorner2341]

Hiya, I went in and had a look at the module and worked out when things were due in but didn't actually start 'studying' until the term started x

[@heartcaptorkitten705]

Study ahead and don't tell your tutor incase they decide to withhold info from you in order to make you fall behind like mine did :) you never know if you're gonna get a tutor like that or a tutor who expects you to be ahead all the time

[@ummyahya3366]

Thank you for this video, it is very helpful... I am just struggling to be organised, something always seems pop up out of the ordinary but I do enjoy studying. I wanted to ask is it possible to do more than 60 credits as a part-time student using my student loan. As, last year I wanted to do 90 credits and I was told that I may not be able to get funding for it as a part-time student so have been doing 60 credits but next year I would like to up my credits. The advisor told me that ou was designed for part-time students but so many people are doing more than 60 credits. I am confused.

[@shabscorner2341]

Hi lovely, that sounds confusing! I am pretty sure you could do 90 credits and use student finance. It's still classed as a part time tuition fee loan not full time. If you apply for 90 credits and then do your finance make sure to tick the box on sfe that says something about allowing them to adjust the amount you borrow. They should then cover the full 90 credits. I do 120 credits a year so I can't see why 90 would be a problem? You could ask student finance England? They are really helpful in the phone! Good luck!

[@ummyahya3366]

Thank you so much.

[@heartcaptorkitten705]

sis.. i study 7 days a week.. 9am-9pm........

[@rachaelparker3064]

At the ou?

[@heartcaptorkitten705]

@@rachaelparker3064 yes.

[@KittyNeptune]

same! helps that I enjoy my studies! Going onto my 2nd year now x

[@windler763]

most people at the OU also have to work full time, hence it being called an "open university". glad that you can study full time as it must be so much easier, but most can't