Is the Open University worth it?

Covid has had a major impact on how most businesses work but it's also had an impact on education. With the majority of universities over the last few years teaching online in some aspect more people have turned to online degrees. But there is a stigma with online degrees and most people are unsure if online degrees are as valuable as degrees you study in university. Our blog today will be looking at whether the Open University degree program is worth taking part in or if you should stick to a traditional degree.

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What is the Open University?

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The Open University is a place where students can go to do real degrees while doing them online. This is known as distance learning because you don't have to physically be in a class.

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The Open University is one of the largest providers of open learning courses and according to them over 2 million students have studied with them in many different subjects such as Law, Computing, Business and Finance. The Open University provides both undergraduate and postgraduate study and is very flexible in its learning paths as you can take your degree over many years making it affordable and suitable for those who need to work while studying.

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Is the Open University degree respected or not?

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There used to be a stigma that distance learning wasn't as good as the real thing but as covid has shown us distance learning is just as effective as being there in person so therefore an Open University degree is respected.

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Open University degrees require the same level of study as a regular degree and you will be awarded the same degree at the end of your study as someone who would have gained one at university too. The Open University degree program is no easier than a traditional degree and someone who earns a degree from the Open University can be proud of their achievement.

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Studying at the Open University does require commitment too, often students of the Open University will space their study out over more years than a traditional university program. This is a big selling point of studying at the Open University as it allows you to make your study more affordable while allowing you to work while studying too. With the cost of living crisis distance learning such as getting a degree from the open university could be a more affordable option than going to university.

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Should you go to the Open University or a traditional university?

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Open University and traditional university will have their advantages and disadvantages for Students.

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If you prefer to be more social and enjoy nights out with your classmates then perhaps the traditional university route would be more suitable for you. However, if learning while being able to work and keep the costs down on learning is more important than going on nights out then the Open University is probably the better choice for you. If you do go to university you will need to worry about accommodation, storage, transport and much more. While going to the Open University while studying at home will cut down on that.

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Do employers respect degrees from the Open University?

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The whole point of university is to learn and enhance your career prospects, so if a degree isn't respected then it's not worth doing. And while some jobs will require you to go to university, most jobs for graduates won't. A distance learning degree is exactly the same as a normal degree and employers will respect them the same.

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Final thoughts on the Open University

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The world has changed because of Covid so don't be put off distance learning from places like the Open University. If you want to study over a few years or study while living at home then enrolling in a course from the Open University is a great choice.

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If you prefer to stay at university and learn face to face then a traditional university is also a great choice to improve your career prospects. Whatever you choose just be sure to enjoy your time studying and as always if you need personal storage talk to us.