Will getting an online degree hold me back?
Posted by thecruciblee@reddit | AskUK | View on Reddit | 85 comments
[removed]
Posted by thecruciblee@reddit | AskUK | View on Reddit | 85 comments
[removed]
mysilvermachine@reddit
The open university is usually very highly regarded by employers because of the personal organisation and motivation needed by graduates.
Low-Captain1721@reddit
Was the case but these days are long gone, the value of degrees dropping dramatically across the board as so many coming out with them.
Wgh555@reddit
This is true for degrees as a whole, but I think the point is that comparing between degrees the OU still really holds up due its high quality teaching and self motivated requirement
Why_you_so_wrong_@reddit
Depends what the industry is. For most professional careers it’s useless.
Significant-Prune-61@reddit
That’s wild to the point I’m going to call you a liar.
Why_you_so_wrong_@reddit
It’s not. It simply doesn’t carry much value. Maybe some industries it’s accepted but certainly not in anything professional.
Significant-Prune-61@reddit
Please stop posting lies.
Spare_Night_2695@reddit
Depends truly on context
Like if your working full time it’s viewed positively
If not , why ?
Why_you_so_wrong_@reddit
Yes it’s viewed semi positively but it’s just not useful. It’s cool if you want to do history or law because you enjoy it but it won’t get you anywhere
mysilvermachine@reddit
The statistics show otherwise… but somehow I don’t feel that facts are your strong point.
Why_you_so_wrong_@reddit
What statistics? Firstly, a lot of people get an OU degree just for their own personal interests so that will greatly skew any earnings or employment stats. OU is a great cheap option for leaning more about a subject, it’s not a great option if you intend to rely on your degree.
Maybe some industries might view it highly, but I would stay clear of those industries then…
mysilvermachine@reddit
All universities monitor the employment progress of their graduates. It’s a requirement of their funding.
Those stats are publically available - literally a google away.
I appreciate that’s more effort than spouting nonsense but there you go.
Why_you_so_wrong_@reddit
Employment stats mean nothing. Doesn’t differentiate between Tesco and Jane Street.
mysilvermachine@reddit
Don’t they ? Are you sure?
Why_you_so_wrong_@reddit
Positive
Why_you_so_wrong_@reddit
I’m posing facts. It isn’t just the OU. There are less than two dozen universities that produce graduates that are in any way marketable.
mysilvermachine@reddit
That is ridiculous nonsense.
Why_you_so_wrong_@reddit
It’s the truth
Significant-Prune-61@reddit
Stop telling lies please. None of these are facts - if they were facts you would be posting data. Not lies. You are a liar.
Low-Captain1721@reddit
Doing a an OU does suggest some positives however it has many negatives. However in the overall context of value of degrees these days it would certainly be a pass from me.
tonypconway@reddit
What negatives?
Why_you_so_wrong_@reddit
The general lack of professional reputation. Dodgy teaching and marking. Lack of academic integrity ect
FlameFoxx@reddit
Agreed, I skipped doing any sort of degree in favour of pushing up the career ladder
Significant-Prune-61@reddit
What negatives? And have you even started your a levels yet?
Low-Captain1721@reddit
I did A-Levels in the 90s & a degree at a redbrick uni soon after.
stonesco@reddit
Degree Apprenticeship to me is the better option here but these are hard to get into.
Either that or a Level 4/5 Apprenticeship that is Data Analytics related.
You’ll get a job out of it, despite the lower pinitially. Once you have finish the apprenticeship , you will be able to do move to a much better paid job.
ThrowRAkitty13@reddit
Apprenticeships work out for some people, but I did one and have been stuck when trying to find a better role elsewhere because the qualification and experienced I gained through an apprenticeship is no match for a degree.
stonesco@reddit
What apprenticeship did you do?
ThrowRAkitty13@reddit
It was a data/business apprenticeship at a financial services company.
stonesco@reddit
Did the company not give you the chance to do another apprenticeship at Degree Level?
Or they the kind of company that don’t promote any progression opportunities and expect you to stay in your role with no increase in pay?
In terms of you saying it is no match for a degree, is it stuff you realised when you went to Interviews (if you have been invited to one) / is it from the job requirements of Jobs you are looking for / being rejected from a job saying “You don’t meet the requirements”?
Although, this is a bit far fetched of me to ask, does the financial services have the letter F in its name by any chance?
Sorry, for all the question just interested.
ThrowRAkitty13@reddit
I have asked and asked to do another apprenticeship or any kind of professional training/cert/diploma at the same company but the answer is always no, the company even often offers internal apprenticeship programmes and when I found one that was most suitable to my role I asked my manager to do it but he said no.
I had the most minimal pay increase after completing it, if I had done the apprenticeship in any other department in the company I'm sure I'd be much better off as all other departments promote people quite often. The company is always having hiring freezes so moving internally also isn't an option and they're also only wanting really experienced professionals in niche areas at this point for their open roles, which you can't get without relevant experience.
The apprenticeship being no match for a degree was partly all the reasons you listed, I think a lot of companies also just don't put value on the apprenticeship qualifications. I couldn't even get another apprenticeship elsewhere at a higher level because the companies I applied to kept saying the apprenticeship qualification I had wasn't an equivalent to any A-level entry requirements they listed, even though it is, and I reached out to National Careers Service about this issue and they confirmed it was a legitimate equivalent. I'm just so stuck with what to do next.
The company doesn't have an F in it btw.
thecruciblee@reddit (OP)
I’m not based in the UK, are these apprenticeships open to international students? the reason I’m asking on r/AskUK is because I plan on doing my masters in the UK at some point.
insomnimax_99@reddit
Worth noting that you won’t be eligible for student finance, as student finance is residency based - you have to have lived in the UK for at least three years to get student loans from the government.
stonesco@reddit
No they are not.
Sorry. I thought you were living in the uk, my apologies.
Master-Potential-364@reddit
Where are you based?
thecruciblee@reddit (OP)
UAE
Master-Potential-364@reddit
As you are based in the UAE, I think it would be better for you to consider University of London Worldwide (the UoL's online platform). They offer a BSc in Data Science and Business Analytics under the academic direction of the London School of Economics. Take a look here:
https://onlinecourses.london.ac.uk/undergraduate/bsc-data-science-business-analytics-degree-online/
NoCrew6900@reddit
I'm gonna lie to you, getting an online degree won't hold you back; it will help you launch a career in a field you care so much about. Open and Essex online are great options to consider, but if you want practical experience through industry-internship opportunities, consider BYU-Pathway. They are one of the most affordable and flexible online colleges I know.
JBSven@reddit
I have an OU degree.
I also hire people regularly who also have them.
I also don't hire people with degrees from Cambridge. The degree gets you in the door, your character gets you the job.
Why_you_so_wrong_@reddit
If you don’t hire Cambridge degrees because of some weird principle then you are missing out
JBSven@reddit
What?
No I meant I don't hire or not hire someone based simply where they got the degree.
Why_you_so_wrong_@reddit
I agree, but I would generally hire an average Cambridge student over anything but the most exceptional OU candidate.
JBSven@reddit
I hire the best person who interviews. It's that simple.
I've known lots of Oxbridge people who are incredible academics but struggle (at least in my industry) with the actual work.
I've known degree apprenticeships who will absolutely go on to run companies and manage boards.
Your degree tells me you have the knowledge, your interview tells me how you apply it. I'm not hiring people because they went to a specific place.
Why_you_so_wrong_@reddit
See that’s the problem. The knowledge of an OU grad can’t hold a candle to an Oxbridge grad generally and it’s a lot easier to train people to be professional than train them to be smart.
JBSven@reddit
That's a wild generalisation. And very baseless. It's also a big stepping stone to discrediting hard working grads because they were unlucky with universities.
I couldn't care less where someone went. If someone has an excellent interview and can produce great case studies of their experiences - that person gets the job.
My team(s) are a whole mixture of people and they perform well.
Why_you_so_wrong_@reddit
It’s not baseless OUs academic standards are scraping the bottom of the barrel so it’s essentially a useless degree. Interviewing is only one data point. Equally OU might be fine for less intellectually rigorous roles but for anything that requires serious thought there are less than two dozen unis worth hiring from.
JBSven@reddit
Scraping the bottom of the barrel?
Yeah, no. At least in my industry - it's held quite high. But You clearly have a chip on your shoulder here.
Why_you_so_wrong_@reddit
Speaks volumes about your industry then…
JBSven@reddit
Engineering consultancy.
You know that well known industry.
The way you speak about degrees like goldust tell me you peaked at 21 and you don't know how to move on.
Why_you_so_wrong_@reddit
No, I interview semi-regularly. I know what quality looks like and it’s not OU.
Necessary_Money_9757@reddit
Do Open University. It's regarded very highly by employers and the public.
thecruciblee@reddit (OP)
Thank you for your response! I’m also considering Nexford university, they have a BBA programme which starts off online and then you have the option to complete in person at constructor university, Germany. Have you heard of this?
dmmjrb@reddit
I listened to an FT podcast yesterday where they talked about an FT journalist who had analysed student outcomes for Business degrees and they were terrible. Definitely a big red flag.
Necessary_Money_9757@reddit
I haven't but it sounds good.
The advantage of Open University is that everyone has heard of it. They also have standards and a reputation to uphold so tend to operate quite sensibly.
I don't agree with it, but an online degree from a lesser known university might not be seen as positively.
There is a certain advantage to just being able to state what you're doing and everyone immediately knows what it is. It might sound silly, but if your Aunt Marge asks what you're up to, you might be happier saying "I'm doing a degree at the Open University" rather than "I'm doing a BBA with a year at a constructor university in Germany".
Good luck!
Why_you_so_wrong_@reddit
No it isn’t. Poor advice.
Necessary_Money_9757@reddit
You are wrong. The Open University is very well regarded because it proves a serious, genuine effort on the part of the student.
Why_you_so_wrong_@reddit
That might be true in theory but definitely isn’t in reality. The academic standards aren’t there, the marking is ridiculous and getting a first/2:1 from a top 20-ish uni is a far harder achievement.
Mountain_Celery_5890@reddit
I would go with the open university as it has a good recommendation. If you don’t end up going with one of them two options though I would avoid the university of London.
ameliasophia@reddit
I would definitely recommend OU - I did my law degree there and afterwards got a full scholarship to do the LPC and a training contract. Completely changed my life, I’d be stuck doing childcare still if I hadn’t.
Low-Captain1721@reddit
I would really question whether a degree is what you really want or need to be honest.
Degrees etc effectively devalued year on year as so many coming out with them. Skint Unis overselling courses to increasingly average students complicit in the equation.
So many recent graduates struggling to find a minimum wage job.
The days of a degree for the sake of a degree is long gone.
Unis do overmarket themselves in general with suspect subjective manipulated stats so if you do decide to do a degree then do your research and chose a Uni with proven experience of actually delivering in your field.
College courses are often far more valued by employers as they give students the skills they are actually seeking.
thecruciblee@reddit (OP)
It is mainly just to tick a box so I don’t get weeded out of the initial screening for a role. I’ve already got the skills down to apply for data analyst roles, however the market is rough and a degree to list on my resume might give me a leg up.
Low-Captain1721@reddit
Tbh I would question that but at the end of day it's up to you. For the vast majority of people degrees are no longer worthwhile. The HE model well & truly burst.
david9640@reddit
I think it depends on your circumstances.
I had an undergraduate law degree, but was working in a temporary IT position, that I had managed to move into by being useful IT wise whilst in a customer service role for the company.
A lot of the jobs I was applying to required a degree in Computer Science. So, I completed an online Computer Science MSc.
It opened the door for me - since I suddenly had both some experience and a degree on my CV.
thecruciblee@reddit (OP)
What do you think is the better alternative? you mentioned college courses, can you tell me more?
Low-Captain1721@reddit
In general college courses are a better option however its down to you to do the research depending on exactly what you want.
JeffSergeant@reddit
If you want to get onto a graduate scheme with a large audit or accounting practice; or with an employer in Cambridge, they can be very snobby about where you got your degree. Otherwise no.
pahanginan@reddit
I don't think people will know the difference unless they specifically look for Open University.
MysteriousTable6394@reddit
No it won't. If those two universities are the ones that you've whittled it down to, then I'd choose the Open University.
If it's just those two you've found so far, continue to do research. It doesn't matter where your Online studies is done, as long as the teaching is good and is accredited.
I say this as someone who ended up doing a Foundation degree at the OU, and subsequently topped up my degree at another university online. I'm now doing my Masters online at the Uni I topped up my degree in.
All places had international students and they seemed to enjoy it as much as I did.
thecruciblee@reddit (OP)
Thank you so much for your response! I’m also looking at Nexford university, they have a pathway which begins online but I can continue the programme in person at Constructor University, Germany.
MysteriousTable6394@reddit
Just ensure that all of your research is done before applying! Check reviews online, university league tables, all of it. I only say this because although there has been an increase of online studies, not all are credible.
As myself and others have said, the OU would be the best option, but those who have links to or the degree is given by reputable and/or well known unis would be just as good.
thecruciblee@reddit (OP)
Do you think it’s possible to get accepted onto a masters degree at a Russell Group university for example after getting a bachelors at the OU?
MysteriousTable6394@reddit
Yes, as long as you meet their requirements
DameKumquat@reddit
Certainly, people do. Whether you'd want to immediately, or prefer to get more work experience first, is another question - or a part-time MSc while working.
DosMojitosPorFavor@reddit
I loved studying with the OU and it is much cheaper than a traditional brick uni too.
I highly recommend.
thecruciblee@reddit (OP)
did it help with your career?
Brian_from_accounts@reddit
Ai will do data analysis better than humans in a few years time.
thecruciblee@reddit (OP)
that’s true. I started learning mainly out of interest, I really enjoy it. What other skills do you think I could learn to be more marketable?
Rich-Peak-3902@reddit
Unless you can easily afford it, £25,000 is a lot to spend just out of interest.
thecruciblee@reddit (OP)
or is there a subject that you think is more worth pursuing at degree level?
aesop_fables@reddit
My CIO has her masters from Open University.
boomerangchampion@reddit
No it won't. If anything it might give you an advantage, it shows you had the determination to get through an online course without living in the University environment to encourage you.
Having a degree isn't a guarantee for success though. Whether it's worth the effort & cost is unfortunately something you need to consider.
Low-Captain1721@reddit
Having a degree isn't even an indication of potential success these days..
ams3000@reddit
Open is well regarded. Good luck.
Leading_Nectarine776@reddit
No, it will not hold you back. I would recommend Open University because it is internationally known and has great partnerships with various excellent universities.
I would advise against an online degree from another uni, just because I would worry about the quality of teaching you may receive. Remember that universities are a business, and so this can lead to poor quality teaching / administration. I should caveat that this is a gut feeling and I have no experience with online degrees from other unis.
I think studying part time is incredibly impressive, shows determination and ambition. I think any employer would agree.
AutoModerator@reddit
Please help keep AskUK welcoming!
When replying to submission/post please make genuine efforts to answer the question given. Please no jokes, judgements, etc. If a post is marked 'Serious Answers Only' you may receive a ban for violating this rule.
Don't be a dick to each other. If getting heated, just block and move on.
This is a strictly no-politics subreddit!
Please help us by reporting comments that break these rules.
I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please contact the moderators of this subreddit if you have any questions or concerns.