what is an open university course

by Cassandra Watsica 6 min read

Open University offers the opportunity for anyone to enroll in a course without being admitted to the university. You can take courses on a space-available basis and earn college credit during the Fall and Spring semesters. Students registering through Open University do not need instructor or department approval to add a class.

Full Answer

How do I enroll in Open University?

Through Open University you can:

  • Sample a field before formal application to a degree program
  • Take professional development courses without formal enrollment in a degree program
  • Pursue personal interests in the arts, humanities, literature, philosophy and many other fields

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How to get to the Open University?

provide all the required details of the person applying ( Full name, Matriculation number, program, Faculty, Year of graduation, full address of destination, and designation of recipient (example: The Secretary, The Dean). Attach a photocopy of your National open University Certificate.

How good is Open University?

“Students at University Centre Shrewsbury, as part of the University of Chester, have been advised that it will remain open throughout the strike action and the majority of teaching and learning will proceed as normal.

Is an open university degree worth it?

The open university is perfect for those who are already working in an established career but want to gain a degree at the same time. I currently work in higher education but I fancy a career change however I need a degree to do so.

What does an open university means?

An open university is a university with an open-door academic policy, with minimal or no entry requirements. Open universities may employ specific teaching methods, such as open supported learning or distance education.

How does an Open University course work?

Each qualification is made up of 1, 2 or 3 stages. Each stage is made up of 120 credits of modules. Each module is worth 30 or 60 credits. You'll study your qualification on a module-by-module basis, so you sign up for only what you're going to study that year.

What is the difference between open university and regular university?

In open degree education, no entrance exam is there for the enrollment of the students. In regular degree education, the students are required to appear for the entrance exam that is conducted at the national, or the state, or at the university level itself.

Is the Open University a real degree?

The OU teaches through supported 'Open Learning' which incorporates flexible learning with one to one study support. An OU degree is equal in academic standard to a degree from any other British university.

Do I need a Levels for open university?

Although A Levels are primarily for those seeking to get into university, yes it is possible to get to university without A levels and qualify for a university course. An Access to Higher Education (Access to HE) course is a flexible way of getting into university and suits those who are returning to education.

Is open university hard?

Its certainly not 'easy' and anyone with an OU qualification will be taken very seriously by employers because they know that it demands commitment and self discipline to organise your life whilst studying like this.

What are the disadvantages of open university?

Disadvantages of the Open University 1) You don't have as much physical contact to build relationships with peers. This is slightly contrary to the previous advantage but of course less tutorials or classes means less physical meetups with students and sessions where the tutor fleshes things out in person.

Does open degree have value?

yes, open degree university have the same value as a regular degree university. open universities has been set up to provide education to those who are not able to attend regular classes. this much is the difference only. yes, open degree university have the same value as a regular degree university.

Which open university is best?

Here are top 5 best open universities in India.SOL, DU. Delhi University's distance education institute - School of Open Learning.IGNOU. Indira Gandhi National Open University, New Delhi.SCDL. Symbiosis Centre for Distance Learning, Pune.SMU DDE. Sikkim Manipal University Directorate of Distance Education.BRAOU.

Do employers look down on Open University degrees?

Do employers recognise distance learning degrees? Yes. Employers accept degrees achieved through distance learning, and view them the same as an identical qualification that was studied on campus.

Do employers care if your degree is online?

Do employers accept online degrees? In general, employers should treat an online degree the same as they would a campus-based degree. Most employers care far more about the quality of the school than the delivery format of the degree.

Is Open University Recognised in UK?

More specifically, the OU is fully accredited both in the UK and US. It's a recognized body in the UK, which is british legalese for fully accredited. And it's one of the few UK universities to also be regionally accredited in the US.

What is Open University?

Open University program allows students who haven’t been accepted at SJSU to enroll in university courses on a space-available basis. It’s a way for these students to attend San José State University to take individual courses to earn credits while waiting for admission.

Who may attend Open University?

Former San José State University students, SJSU alumni, members of the general community and disqualified students from SJSU or elsewhere may take courses. Currently-enrolled, matriculated (admitted) SJSU students or those who have been admitted for the current term are not eligible to enroll through Open University.

What is an open university?

The Open University ( OU) is a public research university and the largest university in the UK for undergraduate education. The majority of the OU's undergraduate students are based in the United Kingdom and principally study off- campus;

What is an open degree?

The Open degree may be awarded as a Bachelor of Arts Open, a Bachelor of Science Open (either with or without honours), a Master of Arts Open or a Master of Science Open. The Open degree is the most popular qualification at the university.

How many credits does OU have?

Unlike other universities, where students register for a programme, OU students register separately for individual modules (which may be 30 or 60 CATS credits (and formerly available in 10, 15, or 20 credits), equivalent to 15 or 30 ECTS credits). These modules may then be linked into degree programmes.

How are open university modules assessed?

Open University modules are often assessed using an equal weighting of examinations and coursework. The coursework component normally takes the form of between two and seven tutor marked assignments (TMAs) and, occasionally, may also include up to six multiple-choice or "missing word" 10-question interactive computer marked assignments (iCMAs). The examinable component is usually an invigilated three-hour paper regardless of the size of the module (although on some modules it can be up to three three-hour papers), but an increasing number of modules instead have an EMA (End of Module Assessment) which is similar to a TMA, in that it is completed at home, but is regarded as an exam for grading purposes.

How many credits are there in an open university module?

Open University modules have associated with them a number of Credit Accumulation and Transfer Scheme (CATS) credits – usually 30 or 60 – depending on the quantity of the material in the module and a level (1, 2, 3, or 4) corresponding to the complexity, with 120 credits roughly equating to the year of study for a full-time student.

What is the Open University Students Association?

The Open University Students Association is the equivalent of a students' union for the Open University, and is a registered charity wholly funded by the Open University (OU). The association is governed by a Board of Trustees and a Central Executive Committee.

What is the teaching method of the Open University?

Teaching methods. The Open University in Belfast. The OU uses a variety of methods for teaching, including written and audio materials, the Internet, disc-based software and television programmes on DVD. Course-based television broadcasts by the BBC, which started on 3 January 1971, ceased on 15 December 2006.

What is open university?

Open University is a CSU system-wide program that allows anyone, on a space-available-basis, to take undergraduate and graduate classes without being formally admitted to California State University San Marcos. The program is available fall and spring semesters. Registration is easy and fees are the same regardless of whether you are a California resident, out-of-state resident, or an international visitor. Credits earned through Open University may be applied to degree work and transferred to other universities and colleges.

Can you enroll in a university without permission?

Students who have been disqualified, either academically or administratively, may not enroll in any regular campus session (e.g. , open university) without permission from the Office of Registration and Records and may be denied admission to other educational programs operated or sponsored by the University.

How many hours of study do you need to complete a module?

Credits measure the workload required for the successful completion of a module or qualification. One credit represents about 10 hours of study over the duration of the course. You are awarded credits after you have successfully completed a module.

How many credits are in a module?

Modules are the most important part of your qualification – each one covers a key area of your studies. Each module is worth 30 or 60 credits. You’ll need to build up a set number of credits to complete your qualification. Each qualification is made up of one, two or three 120-credit stages.

Winter Session 2022

Schedule viewable at fullerton.edu/schedule on September 20, 2021. Early enrollment starts October 25, 2021.

Spring 2022

Schedule viewable at fullerton.edu/schedule on October 4, 2021. The Spring 2022 enrollment period is January 10 - February 7, 2022.

Summer Session 2022

Schedule viewable at fullerton.edu/schedule on March 1, 2022. Enrollment for all sessions begins April 4, 2022.

Fall 2021

Schedule viewable at fullerton.edu/schedule on March 22, 2021. The Fall 2021 enrollment period is August 9 - September 7, 2021.

Course content

This free course is for students who are enrolled to start their first undergraduate Open University module. If you have not yet enrolled on an OU module you will not be able to complete all the activities. You should visit the public OU website to find out more about our modules.

Course learning outcomes

understand how distance study at The Open University (OU) works and what to expect when you start

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Take your learning further

Making the decision to study can be a big step, which is why you'll want a trusted University. The Open University has 50 years’ experience delivering flexible learning and 170,000 students are studying with us right now. Take a look at all Open University courses.

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Overview

The Open University (OU) is a British public research university and the largest university in the United Kingdom by number of students. The majority of the OU's undergraduate students are based in the United Kingdom and principally study off-campus; many of its courses (both undergraduate and postgraduate) can also be studied anywhere in the world. There are also a number of full-time postgra…

History

The Open University was founded by the Labour government under Prime Minister Harold Wilson. Wilson was a strong advocate, using the vision of Michael Young. Planning commenced in 1965 under Minister of State for Education Jennie Lee, who established a model for the OU as one of widening access to the highest standards of scholarship in higher education, and set u…

Organisation and administration

The majority of staff are part-time associate lecturers and, as of the 2009–10 academic year, almost 8,000 work for the OU. There are also 1,286 (mostly full-time) salaried academic employees (central academics based at Walton Hall and staff tutors based in a variety of regional locations) who are research active and responsible for the production and presentation of teaching materials, 1,9…

Academic profile

The OU uses a variety of methods for teaching, including written and audio materials, the Internet, disc-based software and television programmes on DVD. Course-based television broadcasts by the BBC, which started on 3 January 1971, ceased on 15 December 2006. Materials comprise originally authored work by in-house and external academic contributors, and from third-party mat…

Research

Like other UK universities, the OU actively engages in research. The OU's Planetary and Space Sciences Research Institute has become particularly well known to the public through its involvement in space missions. In October 2006, the Cassini-Huygens mission including 15 people from the OU received the 2006 "Laurels for Team Achievement Award" from the International Academy of Astr…

Students

In the 2019–20 academic year, there were 175,719 enrolled students.
In 2019/20, 99,834 students were from England, 14,903 were from Scotland, 6,668 from Wales, 3,667 from Northern Ireland and 4,900 from the European Union, with others elsewhere. 60% of undergraduates were female, with 53% of those taking postgraduate modules being male. 22,664 of students in 2015–1…

Notable current and former academics

• Jocelyn Bell Burnell led the physics department at the OU for 10 years.
• Robin Wilson is an emeritus professor in the Department of Mathematics.
• Colin Pillinger was a founding member of the Planetary and Space Sciences Research Institute at OU.

In fiction

The Open University has been featured in many films and television programmes. The plot of Educating Rita surrounds the working-class titular character aiming to "improve" herself by studying English literature. She attends private tutorials run by alcoholic lecturer Frank.
Television characters have also followed OU courses. These include Anne Bryce in the BBC sit-com Ever Decreasing Circles, Yvonne Sparrow in Goodnight Sweetheart and George Bulman in Bulman, i…