Open University - Introduction to Social Sciences?

Question

I would like to take this course but I have a few concerns. I work full time and spend more than two hours a day commuting. Have you taken it? How much time do you need to study per day? I have a qualification more or less equivalent to an International Bacchalaureate in humanities and studied psychology at university before (but did not finish it...) do you think it will help me? Any advice would be really appreciated.

Answer 1

I am two thirds of the way through the Introduction to Humanities. I too work full time and spend nearly 4 hours a day commuting by bus. With this course there is a fair bit of reading to do, some of which I do while sat on the bus. I spend at least two evenings a week doing some of the written exercises, and part of Saturday or Sunday every week doing more exercises or the coursework that needs to submitted to my tutor.

The Introduction Courses the way onto one of the Degree Courses. It gets you into the habit of studying and working to other deadlines.

Answer 2

I've been studying with the Open University for 3 years now and am half way toward a Science degree.
It is hard work, and, I agree with the previous answer - 15 hrs a week is about average. The tutorials are good' more for the fact that you get to meet people who are also going through the same thing.
There will be highs and lows during the course - I usually think half way through a course ' Why am I doing this to myself ' but you can't beat the high when you finish that final TMA / exam.

Any prior study will be a great help but with an OU foundation you get so much supplementary material that if there is an area you feel weak on it will probably be there.

Good luck anyway I'm sure you'll enjoy it...

Swearl's

Answer 3

I am in my sixth year with the OU and have been working full time for the last two years of that. It is hard - no question. I had not studied since I finished A-levels six years previously and found the demands on my time very hard to cope with at first. For a 60-point course the weekly workload is realistically 15 hours minimum to keep ahead and avoid panic. On the other hand, it is incredibly rewarding and you learn very quickly about time management! I would whole-hearted recommend the OU to anyone serious about returning to study - the support is brilliant, especially if you go to tutorials, and the sense of achievement is huge.