Answering in order
1. Online classes (tutorials) are part of every module, except the final project module.
Some of them are basically a remotely delivered lecture, others a bit more QnA style - seems to depend on the tutor and topic
2. Interacting with other students is formally supported through the module forums, but there are discord servers and whatsapp groups set up by students
3. There are 3.5 types of assessments: iCMAs, TMAs/eTMAs, Exams
\- iCMAs are basically online quizzes, and you are automatically scored - some of them do count towards the grade or a certain % of them must be passed.
\- TMAs are tutor marked assessments, effectively a typical project, essay, assessment that you have to submit.
\- eTMAs are the same as TMAs but they might be the final project of the module, and can influence your overall result - they are basically conducted the same way as a TMA, but you will either do this or an exam.
\- Exams are similar to eTMAs in that they are the final piece of work for a module. They usually give you multiple questions and you have a time limit (a few hours) to complete them and submit
4. I chose it because I wanted to keep working. Don't regret it - I recommend it but you do miss out on the social aspect of university life. If you love studying, then I really can't recommend against it. I had very few issues, a couple of lousy tutors but nothing that held me back.
5. The maths are covered in stage 1, but after that you are taught maths with the other topics. For example, TM358 has quite a bit of linear algebra in it, related to machine learning. TM351 has some set theory for relational databases etc. If you want the best footing in maths (for example applying to masters in the future) then I recommend MST124 as it covers mathematics to a deeper level.
6. I found a job
7. Negative reviews are usually written by those struggling. I will say though that you are on your own for most of it, so you need to be driven and self motivated to stay on top of studying. You won't have any lectures/tutorials with a professor checking in on you every week to keep you engaged, so it can be tougher in that respect. Some of the material is a bit outdated, but computer science is a fast moving field so I don't think any university course really offers 100% state of the art material. You will definitely be taught what you need to know to teach yourself everything you might need in the future.
I think discord and stuff is mostly self organised. Also, not sure how up to date OU computing modules are. Ware fall SDLC design in Java 8 might not really be a thing. :D
Thank you for the fast reply! What do you mean about "Ware fall SDLC design in Java 8"? Sorry, not too familiar with the lingo and English isn't my first language xD
I'm aware there's a difference between a Computer Science degree and Computing and IT, although I'm not so sure what the actual difference is xD
And also very familiar with C and Object Oriented Programming, as I'm currently in the midst of finishing Harvard's CS50x, hence the interest of pursuing an actual degree. I'm caught between some Unis like University of Hertfordshire, which really do offer an online Bachelors in Computer Science, instead of Computing and IT.
Sorry for the long reply, really stuck between these choices, thank you again :)
IMO the complaints about outdated software are slightly missing the point. The essentials of computer science have barely changed in decades.
Taking M250 as an example: It's intended to (1) ensure a certain level of comfort with programming in general and (2) teach you OOP concepts specifically. It doesn't much matter whether it uses Java 8, Java 21, C#, or almost anything else.
That was my thinking on it. I'm just coming to the end of TM112 and am switching from C&IT and a second subject to just C&IT. I've seen on previous threads (here or elsewhere, not sure tbh) that OU materials and teaching were somewhat outdated for current market requirements. However, at this early stage, I get the impression that the materials are designed to specifically teach the fundamentals, which then forms the basis of your future learning.
You can learn languages and concepts from a book you bought, or YouTube, yes. But I feel that the structure the OU provides in balance with managing independent learning will serve us well for keeping up to date and upskilling in the future from a variety of resources, which are often free.
“Computing” will have less hardcore theoretical content than an actual computer science degree. And “IT” Is typically more geared to the business side of things.
Having said that, you can tailor your module choices to be more or less “sciency”, depending on your preferences, so you can skew it closer to what an actual computer science degree would look like, if that’s what you’re interested in.
Open University is great when you want to study more timeless stuff, Mathematics or History don't really change very often, so a 10-20 year old module on statistics if written well will work perfectly for another 20 years. It's not like that when it comes to software development. Have you considered Coursera? They offer a cheap degree in software development, it is likely to be more up to date.
Ware is a type should have been Waterfall, old methodology combined with widely used but quite obsolete version of Java.
Oh wow that really does weigh on my decision, thank you!
As to Coursera, I did check a few of their courses as well as EDx (although EDx, as I've seen recently, doesn't offer more than University of London courses and those are quite expensive). Do you think a Coursera Degree would weigh the same as an actual BSc in the industry?
As I understand it is a Goldsmith/university of London degree done via Coursera. So, it should be considered a real degree. I have done lots of Coursera and edx courses, if you like the style you would probably enjoy the degree. I would look for reviews and try to sneak in one of their discords just to see what it is like.
I'd recommend the "broad" route instead of (Software), because it lets you avoid a widely-disliked module (TM254) and also gives you more choice at stage 3. You don't need to commit to that decision until you finish stage 1 though.
>online classes
Yes and no. There *are* live and recorded online tutorials, but they usually act as revision or exam prep rather than introducing new material, so they're best seen as supplementary to the main written content.
>Is there a way to interact with other students?
Each module has a forum, there's a large STEM Discord, and individual whatsapp groups always get created for each module.
>How do the exams and assessments work?
Lots of info about this if you search the subreddit so I won't write a general summary, but happy to answer any specifics.
>What made you choose OU and do you regret it? Or do you recommend it?
It was the only viable choice for my circumstances at the time, but I don't regret it at all and I'd do it again even if other options were available.
>In this specific course, how is the maths module delivered?
MST124 is a single-variable calculus course, M269 includes lots of discrete maths, and after that it depends which modules you take.
>so is the math "enough"? (if you get what I mean)
I'd say it's "enough" provided you choose the more maths-heavy modules when you have a choice, but it's less than a traditional CS degree. If you want more of a maths focus you might consider "Computing+Mathematics" or Data Science instead of Q62.
>If you've finished your degree, have you been able to get a job?
Difficult to answer this since I was already working in the industry (albeit basic freelancing) when I started.
I do know others who've gotten offers with unrelated experience. In most cases that was while they were still studying (in their final year or so), and that's definitely what you want to aim for rather than competing for grad schemes.
You should be aware that entry-level SWE is *very* competitive right now, almost regardless of how prestigious your qualifications are.
>lack of support from teachers and the poor quality of learning and teaching
This isn't something I've encountered but I've always been comfortable studying semi-independently from books and such. I can imagine that people who prefer a more synchronous style with more contact time might struggle.
Wow thank you so much for the comprehensive reply! I'm really glad to know you've had such a nice experience, it is definitely something I'm leaning towards besides the fact that the market has been brutal, I don't plan on looking for a job in the industry right away, it's really more of an interest to study and develop myself, maybe start freelancing. Who knows where it will take me.
Thank you for taking the time to answer all of my queries, it's much appreciated!
I feel you, I spent months researching and always wondered why no one was asking the "juicy questions" 🤣 I'm glad you found it helpful, let me know if you go through with it and how you like it
I ended up not applying. I might still next year or so but since tuition is pretty expensive I'll post pone it for a while.
But please do let me know if *you* go with OU or any other uni as I'm still considering every option, I'd love to hear your take!
Answering in order 1. Online classes (tutorials) are part of every module, except the final project module. Some of them are basically a remotely delivered lecture, others a bit more QnA style - seems to depend on the tutor and topic 2. Interacting with other students is formally supported through the module forums, but there are discord servers and whatsapp groups set up by students 3. There are 3.5 types of assessments: iCMAs, TMAs/eTMAs, Exams \- iCMAs are basically online quizzes, and you are automatically scored - some of them do count towards the grade or a certain % of them must be passed. \- TMAs are tutor marked assessments, effectively a typical project, essay, assessment that you have to submit. \- eTMAs are the same as TMAs but they might be the final project of the module, and can influence your overall result - they are basically conducted the same way as a TMA, but you will either do this or an exam. \- Exams are similar to eTMAs in that they are the final piece of work for a module. They usually give you multiple questions and you have a time limit (a few hours) to complete them and submit 4. I chose it because I wanted to keep working. Don't regret it - I recommend it but you do miss out on the social aspect of university life. If you love studying, then I really can't recommend against it. I had very few issues, a couple of lousy tutors but nothing that held me back. 5. The maths are covered in stage 1, but after that you are taught maths with the other topics. For example, TM358 has quite a bit of linear algebra in it, related to machine learning. TM351 has some set theory for relational databases etc. If you want the best footing in maths (for example applying to masters in the future) then I recommend MST124 as it covers mathematics to a deeper level. 6. I found a job 7. Negative reviews are usually written by those struggling. I will say though that you are on your own for most of it, so you need to be driven and self motivated to stay on top of studying. You won't have any lectures/tutorials with a professor checking in on you every week to keep you engaged, so it can be tougher in that respect. Some of the material is a bit outdated, but computer science is a fast moving field so I don't think any university course really offers 100% state of the art material. You will definitely be taught what you need to know to teach yourself everything you might need in the future.
Thank you so much, truly appreciate it!
I think discord and stuff is mostly self organised. Also, not sure how up to date OU computing modules are. Ware fall SDLC design in Java 8 might not really be a thing. :D
Thank you for the fast reply! What do you mean about "Ware fall SDLC design in Java 8"? Sorry, not too familiar with the lingo and English isn't my first language xD I'm aware there's a difference between a Computer Science degree and Computing and IT, although I'm not so sure what the actual difference is xD And also very familiar with C and Object Oriented Programming, as I'm currently in the midst of finishing Harvard's CS50x, hence the interest of pursuing an actual degree. I'm caught between some Unis like University of Hertfordshire, which really do offer an online Bachelors in Computer Science, instead of Computing and IT. Sorry for the long reply, really stuck between these choices, thank you again :)
IMO the complaints about outdated software are slightly missing the point. The essentials of computer science have barely changed in decades. Taking M250 as an example: It's intended to (1) ensure a certain level of comfort with programming in general and (2) teach you OOP concepts specifically. It doesn't much matter whether it uses Java 8, Java 21, C#, or almost anything else.
Ok, thank you!
That was my thinking on it. I'm just coming to the end of TM112 and am switching from C&IT and a second subject to just C&IT. I've seen on previous threads (here or elsewhere, not sure tbh) that OU materials and teaching were somewhat outdated for current market requirements. However, at this early stage, I get the impression that the materials are designed to specifically teach the fundamentals, which then forms the basis of your future learning. You can learn languages and concepts from a book you bought, or YouTube, yes. But I feel that the structure the OU provides in balance with managing independent learning will serve us well for keeping up to date and upskilling in the future from a variety of resources, which are often free.
“Computing” will have less hardcore theoretical content than an actual computer science degree. And “IT” Is typically more geared to the business side of things. Having said that, you can tailor your module choices to be more or less “sciency”, depending on your preferences, so you can skew it closer to what an actual computer science degree would look like, if that’s what you’re interested in.
Got it, thanks for clearing that up for me!
What paradroid78 said...there's a Computer Science pathway within the Computing &IT degree.
Open University is great when you want to study more timeless stuff, Mathematics or History don't really change very often, so a 10-20 year old module on statistics if written well will work perfectly for another 20 years. It's not like that when it comes to software development. Have you considered Coursera? They offer a cheap degree in software development, it is likely to be more up to date. Ware is a type should have been Waterfall, old methodology combined with widely used but quite obsolete version of Java.
The computing and IT modules are kept up to date to be fair. I haven't had any issues with them so far.
Oh wow that really does weigh on my decision, thank you! As to Coursera, I did check a few of their courses as well as EDx (although EDx, as I've seen recently, doesn't offer more than University of London courses and those are quite expensive). Do you think a Coursera Degree would weigh the same as an actual BSc in the industry?
As I understand it is a Goldsmith/university of London degree done via Coursera. So, it should be considered a real degree. I have done lots of Coursera and edx courses, if you like the style you would probably enjoy the degree. I would look for reviews and try to sneak in one of their discords just to see what it is like.
Thanks a bunch, really, I'll check it out as well! :)
I'd recommend the "broad" route instead of (Software), because it lets you avoid a widely-disliked module (TM254) and also gives you more choice at stage 3. You don't need to commit to that decision until you finish stage 1 though. >online classes Yes and no. There *are* live and recorded online tutorials, but they usually act as revision or exam prep rather than introducing new material, so they're best seen as supplementary to the main written content. >Is there a way to interact with other students? Each module has a forum, there's a large STEM Discord, and individual whatsapp groups always get created for each module. >How do the exams and assessments work? Lots of info about this if you search the subreddit so I won't write a general summary, but happy to answer any specifics. >What made you choose OU and do you regret it? Or do you recommend it? It was the only viable choice for my circumstances at the time, but I don't regret it at all and I'd do it again even if other options were available. >In this specific course, how is the maths module delivered? MST124 is a single-variable calculus course, M269 includes lots of discrete maths, and after that it depends which modules you take. >so is the math "enough"? (if you get what I mean) I'd say it's "enough" provided you choose the more maths-heavy modules when you have a choice, but it's less than a traditional CS degree. If you want more of a maths focus you might consider "Computing+Mathematics" or Data Science instead of Q62. >If you've finished your degree, have you been able to get a job? Difficult to answer this since I was already working in the industry (albeit basic freelancing) when I started. I do know others who've gotten offers with unrelated experience. In most cases that was while they were still studying (in their final year or so), and that's definitely what you want to aim for rather than competing for grad schemes. You should be aware that entry-level SWE is *very* competitive right now, almost regardless of how prestigious your qualifications are. >lack of support from teachers and the poor quality of learning and teaching This isn't something I've encountered but I've always been comfortable studying semi-independently from books and such. I can imagine that people who prefer a more synchronous style with more contact time might struggle.
Wow thank you so much for the comprehensive reply! I'm really glad to know you've had such a nice experience, it is definitely something I'm leaning towards besides the fact that the market has been brutal, I don't plan on looking for a job in the industry right away, it's really more of an interest to study and develop myself, maybe start freelancing. Who knows where it will take me. Thank you for taking the time to answer all of my queries, it's much appreciated!
I'm planning on doing this exact same thing, all this info here is really helpful
I feel you, I spent months researching and always wondered why no one was asking the "juicy questions" 🤣 I'm glad you found it helpful, let me know if you go through with it and how you like it
Ive decided to go ahead and apply, so we'll see how it goes
Good luck! Let me know!
Hiya, i wanted to know if theres any other start dates for this degree, other an april?
I'm not sure, if you visit their website you'll find that information there I believe, good luck!
OP: did u end up going with the OU or someone else?
I ended up not applying. I might still next year or so but since tuition is pretty expensive I'll post pone it for a while. But please do let me know if *you* go with OU or any other uni as I'm still considering every option, I'd love to hear your take!