days in the life of an Open University student - a blog

Now I've got the BSc(Hons) in Computing and Design and wrapped up everything I feel like this is it for now for me and the OU. What with the fee increases (understandable but not something I can justify spending 'for fun') and general life changes I'll stop here for now with the 3 (!) degrees I have and pursue other things at least for a while.

... I hope everyone got what they wished for! :-)

I'm not currently OU-ing so have been a bit quiet on the TMAs/exams/results (for the first time in a while!) but apparently some of the results are coming out...

My certificate for the BSc(Hons) Computing and Design came through the post today! It's nice to finally have the product of all those years of work, though it doesn't seem any more 'real' even now. The certificate itself is rather nice, printed on certificate paper (I'm sure they used to be on thicker paper or card?) with an OU logo, watermarks and the details of the degree (name and 'First-class honours') on it.

After the dust had settled on the results I went back a bit later and the qualifications (as well as the actual course results) had worked their way through the system. I did confirm my degree, and now hold a BSc(Hons) in Computing and Design, First Class!

The results are out (a couple of days early) and I'm pleased to report I've achieved a Pass on both... 'as expected' although there was always the (hypothetical) possibility of something having gone wrong somewhere... I now have the Certificate in IT and Computing and have been invited to confirm my degree!

Into the final week of waiting for these results, I'd hope with M150 and T175 I won't have any nasty surprises, but don't want to assume. The fact that I 'should' now have another degree in the bag doesn't seem real at the moment and won't until I get the results (and even then I'll live in fear of the OU discovering some mistake and rescinding them!)

With just over a week until the final results are out and the degree (touch wood) going through the system I need to decide whether to include M263 within the courses counting towards the degree. I have the required 360 points without this but have included it at the moment as it gives a more 'theoretical' computer science perspective into the maths of it, efficiency and proof etc.

The OU criteria for classification of an honours degree (as First / 2.i / 2.ii / Third) are transparent and follow a formula but I always seem to end up needing a few attempts at the calculation anyway. (Luckily the OU administrators have a computer to do this stuff!)

I received an email and StudentHome message that (subject to successful results which I'm currently awaiting) I could provisionally book a graduation ceremony. The ceremony 'cycle' starts earlier in the year as many people finish their last course in October and get the qualification in December but there's still a few ceremonies (UK and abroad) I could attend.

I make it only about 3 weeks until the results for M150 and T175 (and for any other courses people were doing in the same period) should be out, as I have a message on StudentHome saying to expect them by August 5th.