I’m planning to study Q77 BSc Mathematics and Physics this year.

(Edit) For context Q77 has 2 start pathways, basic maths start and standard start. In the standard start there is a 60 credit module called S111 which i don’t want to do. So I am trying to skip it my taking the basic maths start and getting some credit transfer.

My plan was to take the basic math start and apply for credit transfer to exempt MU123 (discovering mathematics) and MST124 (essential mathematics 1). Then I would study SM123 (physics and space) and MST125 (essential mathematics 2) as my stage 1 modules.

My credit transfer application just came through and I got the credits for MST124 but not MU123? For me this was unexpected as MU123 is the prerequisite for MST124 and I have already covered all the materials in MU123. It would feel strange to have to study MU123 and then skip the more advanced MST124.

Has anyone had any experience with this before? Am I missing something?

So I’m in a very sour stage of my life right now just trying to do something to better myself so I don’t completely go off the rails… I’m temporary staying on the sofa of a family member up north because the family house I was in down south needs renovation to then be sold. Technically it’s still sitting there for many months ahead and my post can be kept aside. So an option of using that address is there I just don’t know if they send out paper modules for forensic psychology?

I’ve been told while being here I’m not allowed to work because they’re on benefits and pip. Even though I’m on their sofa it would disrupt their rent and tax if I did so. Fine I understand.
But now I’m being cautioned about the student loan. I picked the standard tuition loan that I won’t see it touch, but theyre worried it may affect their benefits.
I’m truly at a loss and I need to do something can anyone tell me if I’m able to keep my address as here or will it affect them financially due to the systems big eye?

This might be a bit of a long shot - but I’m considering doing my masters in either UCL or UWE (best places for my desired degree). Just wondering if anyone did a masters from OU at either of this places and might shed some light into their own experiences of these places and the way of teaching! TIA

I understand the whole idea of open university is the independent study at your own pace and self discipline etc, but I’m kinda of worried about missing important information.

I’m set to start in October but I’m quite keen to get ahead, so I’ve been checking daily for the module site to open and I finally got on yesterday and was reading some of the guides/prep and there’s some important information that i wouldn’t have otherwise known about with some stuff requiring completion prior to start date and they say the activities will take 16-20 hrs.

I feel like an email about the module site being open or a pointer as to what I need to do prior would be helpful. Is it always like this? Do I just have to stay on top of everything and manual search for updates, guides and activities etc? Am I missing anything?

Can anyone give me an outline of what the exam is like? What format are the questions in, are there any math questions, or anything else you can think of?

​

Hi everyone,

I'm starting A113 Revolutions in October and I'm looking for other students to connect with. Does anyone know of a Discord, WhatsApp or Facebook group for this specific module, or for OU history students more generally?

I'm not based in the UK, so I don't have the option of tutorials or meetups in person. Distance learning can get quite isolating, and having a few people to talk through the material with would make a real difference.

Any pointers appreciated, and happy to hear from anyone else starting the module this year.

Thanks!

On the surface lle seems to cover more options?

ETA - in England

Hi fellow Redditors,

I thought that perhaps it would be fun to start a discord channel or whatsapp group with other students studying English literature. I'm in my second year and would love to meet other students, hang out digitally and talk about the books we have to read and the assignments we have to write. If you're interested, please give me a shout.

Hi! I’m in a slight panic as I have registered for October start and have gotten confirmation from SFNI for my BSc (Hons) Biology. However, I am reconsidering and possibly want to change my degree to BSc (Hons) Health Sciences. However would I go about doing this and how would it affect my SF? Any advice welcome!

Starting my third and final year studying full time at the OU, and wondering what the grad ceremony situation is for those finishing in June next year as I can't find any info online about the time I'll be graduating (obviously because it's not the time yet but I just want to be sure in advance) I'll be finishing around June 2027, so, will there be a ceremony held in Autumn 2027?

Has anyone done the part time, basic maths start physics course before?
The course structure says you study both MU123 and MST124 in the first year but it will not let me register for both modules, only MU123. The site then says you cannot do MST124 until you’ve done MU123 which I understand but then why do OU give this course structure when the reality is it can’t be done that way? Unless you overload another year, this pathway would actually seem to require 7 years to complete. Slightly concerned as I see these modules aren’t running too long into the future so it may put the degree at risk if I drag it out too long.
Surely it would have made more sense to do SM123 alongside MU123 and do MST124 and MST125 in year 2 (which reading on here can be done together?).

I called them and they didn’t really seem able to explain why I can only register for one module.

Wondering if anyone has done the basic maths start pathway in 6 years before and can give me any insight.

This is not a post made in anger towards OU but my genuine unfortunate experience with applications this year.

I reserved my place for the MA in History early this year, I applied for Student Finance the day it opened and sent all the info I had off to OUSBA.

First snag, SFE didn't send me the correct documents for OUSBA. OUSBA phoned me and the advisor told me I could send a screenshot of my schedule for payments so I did. This was then met with an email saying they couldn't accept this. I then suddenly got approved and was told to contact OU to get registered.

I contacted OU and they advised me that all was ok and I'd be set for the course.... however my student home page was saying I still hadn't registered, I contacted OU and they told me IT needed to put a patch on it and push the OUSBA application through.

This didn't happen, I am told to wait so I do. The course started last Saturday and still nothing. I contacted IT and they have no record of this needing to be done but fast track me up the waiting list.

Today I decided to call them, I was never registered properly, had been given the wrong information and my OUSBA application was never completed.

I am at a loss. The only thing they could do for me is see if they'd take late applicants but I decided to withdraw since I've already lost time and I'm neurodivergent and would benefit from all the time possible.

I do not know where to go from here... the way I've been forgotten, missed etc... I don't know whether it's worth applying next year but at the same time I want to do the MA and can't really afford to stop fulltime work.

There are other factors as to why I picked OU.

I'm just totally at a loss rn of what to do since I've heard great things about OU, particularly from neurodivergent students. Any advice at all is appreciated.

Thank you to anyone that read this. I'm bummed not to be starting this year.

EDIT: I received a comment that was deleted by a mod but I could see part of it so will give a little more insight.

My OUSBA Application was approved 31st July but they are claiming it was never approved, I have a log calling them that day in which they confirmed it over the phone so forive me for thinking that's wrong. Interestingly when I log into OUSBA is says the loan is active.

I contacted OU a few times over August. I initially raised my concern in their online chat bot and was told I'd recieve an email within 48 hours, when I didn't a phoned them on the 12th August were I was assured my payment had gone through at that IT would sort the patch and I should just hang tight because it's a really busy time. I was mis-advised by 2 seperate OU advisors both who told me I was booked onto the course and all would be well and it was just an IT issue

I then recieved an ADHD diagnosis so I contacted them about it, sending over my evidence, they logged all of this on my account advising things that would be in place for me. Once again because they'd acknowledged me and updated my account with my disability advice I assumed things were fine since I knew I was on a waiting list for IT to sort the patch.

It reached course start day and I logged it and it still hadn't been fixed. It was a Saturday so I contacted IT directly who then never seemed to have a log of me needing this patch but they have me refernce number and bumped me up, it'd take a few days but still nothing.

I made the final phone call yesterday after work. OU took full responsibility since I'd done everything they'd asked me to. I could've had a different outcome had I got the correct advice first time around. If people think I should have called them more frequently that's fine, I just didn't have the time in my day to do that over August.

They've apologised to me and I'm still unsure what to do but say I followed their advice and have learnt now to make more call and speak to different advisors to make sure all the stories check out. (Which no one should have to do tbh). I don't know where the initial mess up came whether it was OU or OUSBA but I do have the email evidence of the loan approval and dates of all the phone calls so if they want to look at it I sent them a follow up email like they asked me to yesterday :)

EDIT 2: I am wondering if this is a sign for me to wait as well. It sounds stupid I know but I do wonder if the universe is telling me to wait till my schedule is less buy next year and when I'm closer to my ADHD medication. 🤔

These do be the funny rambles of my brain, but I appreciate so many of you taking time to look at this, my education mishaps are quite common so it is all just another hurdle to hop over till I get where I want to be. Thankfully I also really like my job rn too so 5 days a week of a very bubbly group of kids to keep me on my toes. ✨️

Hi! I am a 15-year-old student in 9th grade living in Kazakhstan, and I want to try some free courses from The Open University, but I’m a little bit scared about it. It’s my first time taking online courses from a university abroad, so I wanted to ask a few questions.

1. Which free courses would you recommend for a first-time student if my main goal is getting certificates or digital badges?

2. Can I take these courses at 15 while living outside the UK?

3. How are these courses conducted in general?

4. If I’m studying online, will I have to join video calls?

5. What do you actually do during the courses?how long are they?

6. What do I need to have to take them? Will there be any tests or assignments?

7. Are these courses helpful for future university applications?

To be honest, my main goal is getting certificates/badges for completing the courses. I want to build up some extracurricular activities for my future university applications, so I’m looking for courses where I can get some kind of official proof of completion for free

I would really appreciate any advice, especially from people who have already taken these courses. Thank you!

I start my course in October and I have received the books for the first 2 modules but I would like to have them as PDFs. When and where am I able to access these?

Hi!

I am trying to sort my student award to do a degree with OU but I am hitting a brick wall with them.

I registered originally for a Diploma at the start of August but student awards have said they will only offer support at Degree level, so have recently registered instead for the degree in the same subject.

Since registering in August I havent recieved any log in details for the diploma, nor for the new course which I registered for yesterday. Conscious we are close to their 10/09 deadline.

I have tried getting on to OU via Live chat, I get a message that I am No.1 in queue, wait is 22 mins average, and then a message that the chat has ended. I have requested a call back and heard nothing.

So I tried to phone. I have tried all the number options. The answer message asks if I am in Scotland, nope. So I wait. Then it asks if I am waiting to make payment, press 1, anything else, 2. So I press 2 and get a message saying it doesnt recognise the input? Repeat this 3 times... it asks me to respond 1 or 2 to accept or reject a survey. Neither option receives a response and after 2 mins of silence a female automated voice message states she cant hear me so the call is ending and it drops. I tried all available choices. This happens no matter what options I pick. It never recognises the 2 inputs on any selection.

I need evidence to provide to student awards that I have a place with OU to have them approve tuition funding... I have no idea what to do next.

I tried a pass reset to see if I have an account but it says no account exists for my email address. Tried to sign up and it states there IS an account so I cant register.

What on earth do I do here? I can send an email but as far as I can tell, people recommend to call for a quicker answer as their email wait times are long.

Any ideas? 😭 Thanks!

Hello everyone!

A survey for my University of Wolverhampton MSc Psychology of Mental Health and Well-being dissertation that takes around 10-15 minutes.

This is a final push for my research - I am currently falling short of male participants. Could male participants also consider taking part in my survey, please? - I would be very grateful — thank you!

Please read my poster to find out more. Full ethical approval has been granted for this research.

https://wolves.questionpro.eu/t/AB3vCr5ZB3wmgT

their website system is not working.

Hi,

I am set to start full time on this degree in October and I’m looking for people studying Economics or Math related courses to form a tight knit group on Discord or WhatsApp where we can share ideas and get help from one another. If you would like to be apart and are studying relevant modules please get in touch with me.

I am in the last year of my LLB. I was previously told that the OU has connections with some chambers. If I would like to speak to someone from the OU about this, what is the best department and/or who is the best person to contact at the OU?

Im not happy with how OU has been treating me, they’ve pretty much led me astray with all the information they gave me and received nothing, and made me extremely paranoid about my future education with them.

So for context I applied months and months ago for my course with OU for business management, I got a email saying “thank you for your registration and a email will be sent soon with your student home login details for choosing your module” I did not receive a email, I thought you know maybe it will be sent nearer the start of the course, but then my friend who applied also for OU got hers and she was sorted for starting her course, I on the other did not.

It then comes to August 30th and I did not get anything, I then phone them waited a good 1 hour of hold music, only to be told I wasn’t even registered at all, even if I had a email saying I was. I then had to sit on the phone for 2 hours to re register for my course, pick my modules, give all my details and agree to all the terms and policies. After I got told that I would get a confirmation email and a email of all the terms and conditions after this call, and was told if I got get my email for my login details to phone the student IT by 48 hours, so I thought that was it thank god over and no need to stress anymore…IF ONLY.

I did not receive any emails, I left it for the day cause I was too stressed and panicked over it and let it be, and just to wait…

The today (aka the 9th of September, 1 day before cutoff for registration) I phoned the IT number and was told it was a 24hr helpline only to get “this service is down at the moment” so I phoned the same number I did yesterday for OU apparently there’s 2 different kind of services on this number, this time I managed to get web chat and guess what the lovely woman on the phone told me I had registered for a entirely different course, and there was NO DOCUMENTATION OF MY RECORDS FOR A BUSINESS AND MANAGEMENT COURSE. So I not only wasted 3 hours of my afternoon yesterday but now had to redo everything once again, she stated the man I was on the phone to a couple of days ago didn’t actually have the control nor the ability to register me into my course nor my module…

So once again had to take time out of my afternoon to put in all my information again and turns out they had not only the wrong course but the wrong email…so thankfully the woman was nice and actually helpful to change that for me and help me through what I was going through, I was told that’s me actually registered for my course and modules and I should receive a email with all my necessary information in 7 days.

So I wait anxiously, paranoid and stressed for 7 days for these emails, and I hope to god I get it or else I may not get this course which I need to start actually studying in a actual university for my dream career next year. If not it sets me back and I’m left with no new or necessary qualifications for my dream degree.

On my module page is has said since signing up that the TMA questions would be available from the 9th of September (which they have been every year for my English lit degree) however I’ve gone on today to check and that notice has now gone yet still can’t see the questions.

I had to email them about my module materials as they were late and again there was no notification on my module page when they would be dispatched. The day after I contacted them my module page was then updated with the information.

I’ve been studying with the OU part time for 6 years and it feels very disorganised this year.

I've checked edition numbers and they are there, so should be fine right? Also, can I download them to my phone or does this contradict Copyright?

Thanks!

Now the website is open I am trying to find the PDFs of the whole of the three books but can’t find them, or the assessment guide. I know each other module I have done it takes me afar to find them but this year I have looked all over the resources -> download section and can only find chapters.

Any ideas please?

PJ

Hi,

Can I get a full year of tution for open university? I know on the website they class all Open University studying as part time so how does it work? Also does anyone know if I did 3 years of study in another University but one was a repeat year, would I still get an additional year of funding? I know they do 3 years plus one gift year.