The OU - distance learning done right

I left my previous college due to mental health issues and poor support from the college. Because of said health issues, I wanted to remain close to family and friends and stay in a familiar environment rather than move across the country. The Open University allowed me to study from a distance, the comfort of my own home, and freed up enough time to pursue treatment and also other interests.

An interesting curriculum that covers quite a variety of subjects. My first year involved a broad overview of the arts, my second year specifying more so on literature and creative writing, and then in my final year, I will move onto specialist topics of my choosing. It's very interesting to develop and hone my skills as a student of the arts.

Stage 1 OU Exam - an internal exam by the Open University, the first stage of my three-year degree course.

To my knowledge, the university does not provide internships but there are career fayres and opportunities to find employment both online and offline by attending events hosted by the university. I have not tried these so I cannot comment fully.

Graduation, career fayres, and student meetups are hosted throughout the year. The university's main event, hosted multiple times throughout the year because flexible courses mean varying graduation dates, is graduation ceremonies that are hosted across the UK.

Fees are paid via the UK Student Loans Company or through personal finances. You pay in bulk. Fees are lower than in other universities.

The university does not have any scholarship programs to my knowledge. People can apply for financial aid towards books and supplies.

The exam structure is nice and straightforward. Final grades for each module each year are dependent upon a split between TMAs (essays assigned throughout the year), EMAs (an end-of-year essay or project), and for some modules a final exam. We receive advanced notification of exam subjects.

Faculty are hit or miss. It depends on your tutor. I have been lucky with mine.

Because it is a distance university, there is no campus hostel or accommodation arranged by the university. There are however Facebook groups for younger students to try and pool together for accommodation in their respective cities, but only if interested. Most do not.