Studying with the Open University

I would tell anyone who wants to study with the Open University to do it. It is a very good way to study when you have to work and cannot take time off. I started my degree as a languages degree with German and English. The first course I did as an opener was Social Sciences. The Open University has many different courses and during my first year I got interested in Web Design. I took a couple of their courses and learned a lot. I would say that they were the most interesting courses for me. I also did a general computer studies course. After this, I realised that the extra courses had given me quite a few points towards a degree, so I changed my degree to an Open degree. This allows students to choose any courses that interest them. I still kept the German and one English course but because of the extra courses I did I was able to knock two years off the studying time and have finished my degree in 4 years instead of 6. Lots of the courses have residential schools in the summer for a week to give a taste of university life and to do some intensive studying in the subject. My residential school was in Jena in Germany. For me this was the highpoint of my degree. It was a very good experience studying in the Friedrich Schiller University. We stayed in very nice hotels and did work in the classroom during the morning. After lunch we could choose which area to study, for instance grammar. Then each day we had a visit to a local newspaper or factory. One day was a visit to Weimar where we visited Goethe's house and the city. After lunch we could do what we liked. I visited the Bauhaus exhibition. The original Bauhaus is now a college. I have also made a very good friend as a result of going to Jena. I wouldn't have missed the experience for anything. Many people find that studying with the Open University is addictive and they want to carry on. I know we study at home but we always have a tutor and I have always found them very accessible. One course I had face to face tutorials and for the German I chose online tutorials. There are forums for the students to discuss the course and ask others for help, etc. For me it was a very good experience and I am glad I did my degree. I took it many years after leaving school and working. Fifteen of my working years I spent in Germany, that is the reason I chose German as one of my subjects because I am now fluent. Now I want to teach in adult education and am taking a further qualification to that end. To anyone who is thinking of doing an online degree with the Open University, just do it. You won't regret it.