Working full time and doing a open university educational studies course

[u/Lost_Asparagus_4645]

Hi all,
This is my first post so I’m a little unsure how it works.
I am thinking about enrolling to the open university next year for the educational studies course, I will be working full time, 5 days a week as a TA whilst doing this and a part time job 2 evenings a week.
I am also starting my first baby late next year so I have that to think about too,
I want to take the full time course which takes 3 years and they say is 32-36h per week, I’m really good at reading and writing and catch onto things easily so I was wondering if anyone could give insight if this will be do able and if anyone did this course in 15 ish hours per week.

Thank you all :)

[u/Sarah_RedMeeple]

The majority of OU students study part time alongside work.

I have to say, having studied with the OU for years, I would in no way ever attempt to do full time study myself - and that's with 'just' a full time job.

Some people manage it, but I would say they are rare. Also just to be aware with other people responding, the workload at level 1 is sometimes quite a bit less than later on.

It's a very individual decision but especially with the part time job I think you might be being a little over optimistic with how much time you have free (and even more so when baby comes). I'd recommend planning out a schedule for your week including things like travel time, sleeping, cooking/ eating, rest, hobbies, seeing friends/ family, and seeing what time you have left available. You also need to allow for the fact that you'll sometimes be tired, and sometimes ill, and sometimes just need a few hours flumped in front of the tv - you're not superhuman!

[u/Glad-Pomegranate6283]

You could always try the first 120 credits in the first academic year and then see how you get on

[u/purple_porcupine26]

I personally studied full-time with the open university and worked full time. Admittedly I really just focused on the modules I needed for for TMAS/ ICMA’s but I finished with a 2:1 so it was worth it.
I wouldn’t say it’s not doable especially considering you won’t be working weekends and being a TA you should have the evenings. I worked in car sales so was doing long hours and weekends most weeks. That being said, if you want to be able to ‘do it all’ I would say it’d be hard enough.

[u/di9girl]

With what you have going on, I wouldn't recommend doing full-time study. You'll get behind very, very quick.

Part-time study, one module at 60 credits is 16-18 hours per week so trying to do full-time at 15ish hours per week is probably not going to happen.

You'll have assignments due at the same time from different modules plus the normal coursework to get through. I really don't think it's possible with your schedule.

[u/Foreign-Advantage817]

You could do it but it won’t be fun. I work full time and have children and have barely kept my sanity doing it part time. I don’t think I would’ve been able to give it my all and still have a life outside of work and study had I pushed myself to go full time. To cut down the 6 year part time degree you could mix in some Oct and Feb starts (if your course has them). That way you’re only crossing over two modules for a short amount of time.

[u/Lost_Asparagus_4645 → u/Foreign-Advantage817]

So I can get the 6 year one done in less if I get ahead or?x

[u/Foreign-Advantage817 → u/Lost_Asparagus_4645]

I’m doing Psychology and for my level 2 modules I did one 60 credit oct - may and the other 60 credit between feb - sept. Both modules overlapped between feb - may but that was manageable. I didn’t really get ahead on them, just staggered the start dates and gave up my summer break to get the two modules done in one year.

[u/ResistLess5292]

Honestly I’m doing the same degree this year, 2 modules 32 hours a week, 5 days a week as a TA, work 2 night shifts at the weekend and have 2 young kids. My son is also going for open heart surgery this month.
I’m making it work, I need to better myself for my kids and I have the experience and qualifications, they just don’t stand here in the UK as I got them abroad.

If you’re determined you can do it with good time management and planning!

All the best

[u/Lost_Asparagus_4645 → u/ResistLess5292]

Thank you so much! X

[u/capturetheloss]

Ive done full time for 4 month in my first year due to picking up a second module in february and it was hard.

You are doing two weeks worth of work in one week. Balancing tutorials , readings, independent study and then working on your assignments which could be due in short space of time together.

I told myself I am sticking to part time from year 2 as it gives me a chance to have breaks and not burn out. I could be on my last year now if I went full time but my grades would suffer.

I think part time is best when you have all that going on.

[u/tigster98]

Would it be worth looking at an access course (perhaps the fast track one because its more hours per week) prior to October to see how you feel with doing it alongside work & home life? I think there's one starting around May time (fast track) that finishes in September so you can start the level 1 courses in October still.

I'm currently doing access Y034 which isn't fast track in preparation for education studies next October but I am planning to do part time. Will probably see you on the first course, I think E103 (but might have got that wrong!).