Student review [#97656] for Information and Communication Technology
at The Open University - OU

The Open University is genuinely strong on flexibility. If you’re working, caring for someone, or just don’t fit the traditional university mould, it’s hard to beat. Studying at your own pace, logging in when it suits you, and not having to put your life on hold is a big win. I think the materials are usually well structured, and mostly the tutors are accessible, and for self-motivated people it can really be empowering to take control of how and when you learn, and do it in the most comfortable way. Especially in this day and age . It opens doors that would otherwise shut.
But that said, it’s not all rosy. The freedom can anlso be isolating if you’re not disciplined, and I think some courses are over-simplified. Also a few degrees do carry a “Mickey Mouse” reputation, whether fair or not, and that can affect how seriously they’re taken by employers. You’re also paying proper university money without the campus experience or peer experience that pushes some people to raise their game. So the Bottom line is the OU works brilliantly for the right person and the right subject, but it’s not a magic solution and it definitely rewards those who are clear-eyed, organised, and selective about what they study.