Student review [#35989] for Psychology
at The Open University Business School

My experience with severe mental and physical health issues has made The Open University the perfect choice for me, not only for my career but for my general wellbeing as well.
The Open University gives me the opportunity to take part in education, to learn about and push myself in a course that interests me, without worrying about my mental or physical health. Or whether I would be fit enough to attend a seminar or lecture the following day. If I have a bad day, I can still complete my course without interruptions or worrying about what content I might miss, as everything I’m learning about or need to know is on my laptop, right where I need it.
However, this could be a slight disadvantage for some people studying at the Open University. Studying at Uni is already quite independent, but OU takes it one step further which some people might find quite difficult. As you do distance learning with OU, you need to manage your own timetable, study in your own time, complete the course in your own way, which might be a weakness for someone who struggles with being self-sufficient. For me, this was fine since it allows me to soak up the content more deeply. However, OU might not be the right place for someone who is easily distracted and finds it difficult to push themselves.
Furthermore, you won’t be able to build relationships with peers as much due to a lack of physical contact. Due to the fact that everything is online, there are very few opportunities to meet with students and to discuss things in person with tutors. To put it simply, studying with the OU is about you and your degree, and nothing more (such as making friends or building relationships).
But having always wanted to study Psychology, which I felt I didn’t have a chance to do due to my health, I didn’t have a problem with it. As far as meeting new people was concerned, I had no interest. My goal was just to earn a psychology degree, so the OU was perfect for me. It was the perfect Uni since I never have to worry about my mental or physical health when studying. Even if I have a bad day on Sunday, unable to go out the next day, I can still learn my course from home the following Monday. It’s perfect. Though it may sound dramatic, the OU helped me rebuild myself during a difficult time. Although I felt like I couldn’t accomplish much some days, knowing that I was working towards a degree gave me a lot of confidence.