is the open university any good ?

Question

i am thinking about doing a degree with the open university, maybe law i am not sure yet.

is the open university any good do employers consider them to be the same as degrees from proper unis?

would i be better off going to another uni?

Answer 1

In reference to some of the other answers, let me just clarify first of all that you mean the Open University (www.open.ac.uk), not just any random 'open university'; in other words, the well established and globally highly regarded pioneer of distance learning?



In which case, as some who happens to have an LLB (Hons) from Open University, I can tell you that it was absolutely top-notch, especially their learning materials are second-to-none. I did mine alongside a busy professional work life plus family commitments, so distance learning was the only option for me, but in hindsight I would be happy to recommend the Open University law programme for anyone irrespective of their circumstances.



...having said which, it's not quite the same as doing a law degree at Oxbridge, is it now? Anyone who tries to tell you otherwise is fibbing. If you want to land a plum solicitor's training contract or a barrister's pupillage at a leading law firm, your chances go up about ten-fold if you have an Oxbridge (or at least Russell Group) vs. Open Uni degree under your belt (and no, it shouldn't be like that perhaps, but that's the reality even in this day and age), not to mention if you want to end up as a QC or some such big wig at the top of the legal profession. So in that sense nobody can really claim that the Open Uni degree is the 'same' as those others.



Mind you, it doesn't cost anywhere near the same, either, so in that sense the value-for-money that you get may be as good or even better than from some other law schools.



I think you need to be clear why you're doing a law degree first of all; I for one never wanted to practice law, I just did it for my own enlightenment, and the Open Uni served that purpose brilliantly. You also need to be clear on why you would want to study by the distance mode as opposed to the conventional full-time one; there are major pros and cons to both, and you want to make your choice for the right reasons.

Answer 2

The Open University IS a proper university and its degrees are fully accredited as for all UK universities. It is a very highly regarded University and employers appreciate, not only the degrees themselves, but the evidence of an ability to be motivated, organised and hard working that is implied by successfully combining high level distance learning study with other responsibilities such as work or childcare.



(Where the Open University differs from other universities is that it all its courses are delivered part time through distance learning and it has a remit of widening access to tertiary education so it doesn't have the same admissions requirements and offers some other smaller types of courses that can lead on to degree study.)



If you want to study part time while working or looking after children the Open University is an extrememly good choice. If you want to study full time and would be eligible for student maintenance loans and/or grants to allow you to do so then obviously you wouldn't choose the Open University because they don't have any full time courses. (You can complete in a flexible time frame but distance learning is never classed as full time regrdless of how much time you spend studying, it is on contact hours.) If there are other universities that offer degrees which you are interested in part time then you need to think about what you want from the experience. You have to be more self-motivated with the OU because you don't have a schedule and contact hours. If you slack off no one will moan at you, you just won't attain a degree. You also don't get the student experience if that is something you are looking for. The advantage is the courses are brilliantly designed to be very accessible and you have flexibility in when you learn and no travelling time. TBH there aren't a lot of degree course offered part time at traditional universities anyway so if you did prefer to attend physical classes you might be better looking for a part time HND at an FE college. Then you can do a top up year at university to earn a full degree. I dont think that's available in law though, although there is a post graduate diploma in Law (law conversion course) you can study to become a lawyer with a degree in another subject such as history or English Literature.

Answer 3

What on the planet is an "open university?" A community college with a different name? There are no law degrees possible except from accredited law schools.

Answer 4

Are you talking about open admission? If so yes they are good depending on the school itself. I have known many people who became doctors, lawyers and engineers from these schools. All you have to do is research the quality of their programs, teaching and passing rates. At the end of the day how successful you are after college depends on you.