My First Year at The Open University Review | What an Open University Degree is ACTUALLY Like

I studied B100 for my first year & next year I'm going onto study W111 as part of an Open Degree.
Other Open Uni Videos: • Open University Journey
Check out my business:
www.stylishstudy.com
/ stylishstudy_
Find me on Instagram:
/ ellaharmony_

[@Juliukas101]

Thank you, Ella. I am looking to do the degree in French / international relations. I don't like conventional unis so this will be perfect for me. I am super excited to start.

[@amberjeffery8786]

Omg yess a new video! I am starting with the OU in October. Your videos are a god send for me

[@ellaharmony_]

oh Amber you’re too kind, I have another 3 scheduled so look out 👀 best of luck for october xx

[@amberjeffery8786]

@@ellaharmony_ Thankyou xx

[@louiejones1758]

Love these videos - I am starting at OU in October and these videos are really calming my nerves about doing an online degree haha thank you xxx

[@ellaharmony_]

Ah that’s so amazing! I’m so glad haha, what course are you doing? xx

[@louiejones1758]

@@ellaharmony_ I’m starting the BSc in Public Health and Wellbeing … something completely new but I’m looking forward to it! xx

[@beckybaker3998]

Evening, your video popped up as a suggestion just now....I too am starting with the OU in October. These videos will be such a great help to outline what we have in store for us:) thank you

[@ellaharmony_]

ah amazing! what course are you doing? good luck xx

[@beckybaker3998]

@@ellaharmony_ I've just signed up to do the Arts & Humanities...plan is to complete the degree then move onto teacher training. I'm an older student so I'm hoping I can still complete the work :)

[@ellaharmony_]

@@beckybaker3998 Amazing! Good luck xx

[@str4wberryshortcake]

this is so helpful! im starting my OU course in 6 days and ive been really anxious about what to expect

[@kierannm7646]

how is it? im planning on starting in october

[@summercrowson380]

I’m going into my 4th year of OU in October and your videos have been all I’ve been watching recently ❤️

[@ellaharmony_]

summer, you’re too kind! what course have you been studying? xx

[@summercrowson380]

@@ellaharmony_ I’m doing English language and literature. It’s very interesting. It does get a little bit more intense after the first module. But I’m sure your going to smash it 😁

[@ellaharmony_]

@@summercrowson380 i hope so, i’m ready to get stuck in this year 🫶🏻

[@jonojam]

Thanks for making these videos!

[@ellaharmony_]

thanks for watching 🤍

[@markgriffiths9377]

Just discovered this video among my recommendations as I started OU in the spring. Unlike you, unfortunately, my degree (Computing and IT) ONLY involves 30 credit modules, which means doing at least two of those per year to get the student loans I require (I believe they don't fund you beyond 6 years). This is tricky when it comes to balancing your time, esp when you're doing two different subjects simultaneously and the technology modules are crammed into 5 months so you're doing like 14 hours a week study on a 30 credit module while still keeping an eye on the other module, which is more spread out so you only need to spend about 8 hours a week. Props to you for just using 2 days a month and still getting a distinction lol. There was no EMA for my TM111 so I'm still waiting for my result and hoping I got a distinction. It will be close. So I finished TM111 in September and have recently started MU123, which is pretty basic and TM112 which is far from it lol. I'm a very slow worker unfortunately as I never know what will be important and what won't. So I take a shedload of notes, which isn't very smart but I get the feeling that if I were to take the route of only studying what was in the TMAs, I'd possibly suffer in the future? Like some of that stuff might come up later down the line but at a harder level and I'd like to be prepared for that eventuality - to be able to more readily understand these topics if they arise on level 2 or 3 modules. I can see why you chose that route though. You run your own business, so I imagine a lot of the course wasn't too difficult for you and you simply didn't have the time. I completely empathise with you regarding depression as I've had my issues there too. It makes finding the motivation that much more difficult so it helps to study like hell when I'm having a good day to make up for the days when I'll do little but watch KZbin vids, Netflix or Prime, etc. But I inadvertently managed to take a leaf out of your book by doing my first iCMA yesterday for MU123 without reading a single page of the textbook as it was only GCSE standard maths and that has always been my strongest subject. Computing and IT is rather more challenging. I can get to a solution but I'm really bad at showing workings or coming up with algorithms. I wish they could understand that some of us are different and can just do things (or can't do them at times in my case lol) without needing to go into a massive explanation of how or why. I just work things out in my head for maths and for IT, I like to get stuck into the programming language and use trial and error to see what works and what doesn't. I couldn't explain my working even if I wanted to lol. Anyway, I think your video will prove useful to many would-be OU students and even a career student like myself. There's always something new I can learn (and yes, lectures at brick unis are VERY different to OU tutorials and you often feel like they have nothing to do with what you've been studying in the classes where you ask questions and do group work, etc.). I also went from a pretty bad student to a good one. I failed quite a few exams at high school but have strangely never come close to failing a university assignment. I shouldn't keep saying that as I'll jinx myself lol. Anyway, apologies for the ramble, just wanted to put my perspective across and say that I appreciate your content and admire the fact you can manage studying with running a business. Mark

[@ellaharmony_]

ah amazing to hear your story Mark thanks so much for watching 💫

[@sophielouise3460]

I’m going to start your course in October!!

[@HollyClitherow]

Did you get maintenance loans for studying open university?

[@RachelLT]

@@HollyClitherow Only if you're studying there because you physically can't attend a standard brick university because of disability. Hope this helps x

[@carissajae2410]

Heyyy! Would love to hear more about how time consuming it is as you progress through your degree? I think this knowledge is what a lot of people are looking for. I would be like you - attempting to study smart and not hard! I will be working pretty much fulltime and studying part time. My mental health is historically not the strongest with study pressure. I have a lot of breakdowns and then it affects my self worth and I just spiral. I’ve never had these issues just in the workforce. Thank you so much for your videos! ❤️

[@chengkeenavarro693]

Thanks, Ella!

[@aqeelmir5639]

Great video - 😊

[@melissastar9634]

I'm hopefully starting OU in October 2024!

[@najmaahmed530]

I’m doing biology with the OU in the autumn. Your videos are amazing :)

[@ellaharmony_]

Thank you Najma, you’re too kind! Best of luck for your course 🤍

[@ellainett5437]

I’m doing biology with OU in October too!! haven’t found anything on bio with OU on KZbin yet!! :(

[@najmaahmed530]

@@ellainett5437 me neither :( glad I’m not alone lol 😭 good luck!!

[@kourtneyh3110]

Im doing biology too I haven’t found anything on yt or tick tok about it xx

[@fozia6231]

I love your videos! Any chance you could give us tips on how to do the TMA's? I start in October and cannot wait! x

[@ellaharmony_]

ah thank you & amazing! of course x

[@kieralouise6037]

I’m starting in feb 2024, long way away but excited to get stuck in, im expecting my first son in july (2023) and hoping that this is the best educational route as a full time mommy :)

[@shannon-rosemcnamara5975]

awe yay this is what i’m doing i had my son in april! :)

[@ItsKP412]

Is it too late to apply now for Feb 2024? im having my little one this november

[@emmashaw3446]

​@kashenedacres7543 I enrolled last week for Feb 2024 so you're definitely not too late! ❤ best of luck with the little one!

[@griffinreader6207]

I have eight days to finish my application for a BA Hons in English Literature and Creative Writing, and I am so close to just tapping out already. I dropped out of college at 17 and I'm 20 now and don't know whether I am just destined to be that one person that never finishes anything. I'm so confused about how to apply for my loan, if I can even afford it, and how I enrol on modules and save my place in advance. 🤯my mind is so crazy rn 🥺😅😱🤦‍♀

[@chloepugh8037]

This was me! I have never finished anything apart from sixth form but I barely went. I have just fully enrolled and completed my financing etc for the open uni if you need help? I have forced myself to do something, I’m 24 and feel super old to be dong uni🤣

[@griffinreader6207]

@@chloepugh8037 I'm going to wait until after the September enrollments for February, I didn't leave myself enough time since the deadline is the 8th of Sep. I just didn't realise applying for a student loan was going to be so complicated. I'm not telling anyone in my family that I'm applying yet, but because I still live with my parents it's something I need to account for the loan 🤯 If I want to study part-time do I just pick one module for stage one, and then enrol? The next year the next part, so it's one module a year? Not old at all!! 😅only four years ahead of me

[@salmaishak1343]

@@griffinreader6207 students actually usually have the whole forst mont o stidying to fix theor student loan appli 7 ation if it still hasnt been done sometimes people have to redo them so call them if you feel like it will be good

[@Lynn-pp8vn]

Hi hi, I am looking to apply to Open University's 1-year certificate program to prepare for a master's degree. The master's degree admission requires around 30 credits of relevant studies, and Open University's certificate gives 120 credits for these subjects. My question is, are they counting credits the same way? FYI: the master's degree that I'm interested in asks for 120 credits within 2 years of full-time study and thesis takes up 30 credits.

[@alexopinionchannel9783]

I’m doing a degree apprenticeship. I work in public health, 24 and doing a Bsc in public health. Free degree with a good salary

[@None23.]

Please i want to be apply in nursing the same why i need some information

[@xRoRox]

I was stressing so badly about the 36 hours per week they estimated. To the point I was ready for cancelling my course before it even started (signed up in April so had 5 months to stew over it lol) After a few weeks I realised I only need about 6 hours per week to get above 75% on the TMA’s. Now I’ve worked out the exam structure and what they’re looking for. Now I’m just doing the essays because they literally give you the page numbers you need to use. Realistically I’m spending all my time on essays instead of learning everything. That said, I did read the books before the course started so there’s no point re-reading things that aren’t even in the exams. Psychology 1st year in case anyone is wondering

[@mbrunnen04]

How's it going so far? would you recommend it?

[@xRoRox]

@@mbrunnen04 it’s going ok but one of my tutors isn’t that good. Essay feedback is very vague and sometimes not even relevant. My other tutor is great though. I’m considering reducing to part time or not continuing to be honest. I don’t think the full degree will benefit my career as much as I initially thought. But it has helped me decide on what I’d like to do. I’d recommend going into it with an open mind and being aware that it’s a bit of a lottery when it comes to tutors

[@rhiannakendrick9588]

wow your comment has calmed me down so much, i have to work 5 days per week to earn enough money and was so scared only having two days to do my course

[@xRoRox]

@@rhiannakendrick9588 which course are you taking?

[@rhiannakendrick9588]

@@xRoRox criminology & psychology

[@bahadora]

I'm BA in ENGLISH LITERATURE first year .. I need a study friend

[@alicegiddings8366]

@bahadora I have just enrolled in the same thing 🎉😊

[@MissHannahHerbert]

Absolutely cacking my pants...

[@ellaharmony_]

You've got this!

[@budhadityamondal9276]

Are you single ? Im serious

[@Muluue]

You don't just ask people this it's creepy 😭

[@addyrose4055]

​@sdfsdfgfdh The thing is this person clearly doesn't know the creator and the first thing they ask is this it is uncomfortable for so many women. You probably are male and don't actually care about how weird and scary some people can be online. Not saying this comment is one of those but it happens so often so yes it is a weird thing to ask someone you don't know.... you probably have never had so many messages from men who don't know you asking for pictures, if you're single, if you wanna meet and more. It does make women uncomfortable probably why the creator never replied but did to everyone else 💀 men in general don't understand this so respect when people point it out.

[@Muluue]

@sdfsdfgfdh when did I say I was offended? That came from you.

[@Muluue]

@sdfsdfgfdh yes if you meet them in person and you get to know them sure asking is respectful if you want more but online on a video not even remotely asking for anything is wrong. Get to know the person just because you don't find it uncomfortable doesn't mean others think the same??? Just because you're happy to make people uncomfortable doesn't mean you should, this is not really a situation to ask if someone is single. 'Grow up' people are allowed to have different opinions. I assume you are a man or you would understand what its like for women. As you probably have never had men constantly asking you inappropriate things you have no say on the matter. So maybe you should grow up as I'm allowed to have an opinion

[@addyrose4055]

​@sdfsdfgfdh sorry but just because you find it okay doesn't mean it is. Women are constantly harassed by men online and offline. This may be seemingly 'respectful' but it isn't. People just trying to live their life and always asked things by men about their sexuality and ITS THE FIRST THING THEY ASK. you need to open your eyes to the bigger picture. This shouldn't be seen as respectful it makes people feel so uncomfortable. Learn what it is like for women who constantly have to go through this because men think they have a right for everything these days. Educate yourself.

[@bernhardpolley8325]

【ｐｒｏｍｏｓｍ】