Recognition Certificates

Recognition of Open University qualification?

I have just registered for an Open University course. They say their degrees and certificates are highly considered by employers, is it so in your experience? I'm now worried they may not be worth the paper they are written on. I'm doing it for myself mainly rather than to gain an official qualification, but I would like to know what your experiences are. Thanks :)

Public Comments

1. All universities, even the lowest of the low, claim employers love their degrees. Open Uni I consider more to be a hobby uni, something to learn for yourself and to pass the time in your retirement. If you NEED the degree for career reasons, then I urge you to do it the proper way and attend a proper uni. Dont take short cuts on such a thing! If you are interested in delving deeper and have a career already OU is fine.
2. monkeyhijinx doesn't know what he's talking about, believe me. An OU degree is regarded as one of the best you can achieve. It tells employers that you are a committed person, prepared to dedicate yourself to attaining something in the most adverse of circumstances, with little support, whilst continuing with your day to day life. Not easy to do. In other words you are an achiever.
3. I can think of three people I know who got an Open University degree. One studied Law and is a solicitor, One studied a PGCE and is a teacher and one studied engineering and is a mechanical engineer! I think that speaks for itself! Also, I know one of the tutors and they are very helpful and dedicated. Good Luck!
4. contrary to what the first poster said, the open university is by no means a 'short cut', as doing an OU degree part time will take twice as long as a full time degree at a brick uni! the open university is in place for people who want to earn degrees that are not in a position to go to full time university - the qualification you will earn is just as valuable as a degree from any other standard university. Any degree will be hard work, but as most people studying with the OU have other things to work around (families, jobs etc) it can take extra motivation, time management, planning and dedication - all of which are very attractive traits to an employer when i was at school my English teacher (head of the department) told me he did his degree on the OU, and he certainly did alright for himself! The only problem with the OU is people like monkeyhijinx who will tell you that it is just a hobby. Well for one thing, if it is just a hobby (you said yourself, you were doing it more for yourself than the qualification) then it is a great hobby to have! But not everyone is so narrowminded, and most will respect you for your deisre to learn and improve yourself while you earna fully recognised degree. Good luck with your studies!!
5. An open University degree is worth a lot and it shows employers that you have an awful lot of self discipline and motivation. Good Luck to you.
6. My brother in law's boss did an OU Masters degree and then was accepted onto a PHD at Harvard, one of the best universities in America.
7. Their qualifications are well recognized by employers as employers acknowledge that it takes superb time management skills, dedication, self confidence and self reliance as well as ability to act on ones own self initiative to complete a degree with the Open University. The Open University courses are widely highly regarded with many major global corporations sponsoring their employees on such courses to aid their careers. The ranking of classification is higher than other conventional 'brick' unis i.e. a 2:2 with the OU is actually a 2:1 in other universities!! The ability to work and gain valuable work experience and thereby work references is also a strong selling point for OU graduates. I am in my 6th and final year with the OU and have got jobs on the strength of me being an OU student. The courses I have completed are: DD100, A211, D201, B200, D315 and D318 (current). I highly recommend it as it has helped me in confidence, new skills, social life and gaining higher ranking jobs and higher salaries. Go for it and GOOD LUCK!! PS: monkeyhijinx's opinions echo the fears voiced over the OU in the 70's but his type of opinion is very firmly in the minority. I have never heard this opinion in my whole 6-8 years with the Open University. Also overwhelming evidence is against him!!!