I'm pretty disheartened with the way my life has been going so l want to hear success stories from people who were in the worst of situations and managed to make progress in life.

Earlier today, the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) issued advice to UK organisations warning of a worldwide critical security issue (ncsc.gov.uk/news/critical-security-issue-affecting-php). Upon receiving the alert, The Open University (the OU) has taken the preventative measure to take several of our learning systems offline to safeguard students and staff from this identified threat. Learning systems include all module websites and online tutorials. Unfortunately, this means staff and students are not currently able to access our learning systems and any tutorials that were due to take place this evening (Wednesday 21 October 2026) will be rescheduled. We apologise for the inconvenience this has caused but we must act decisively in these situations to protect students and staff and OU systems. Like other organisations, we must wait for third-party security fixes to be put in place before we can restore our learning systems. Staff will be working throughout the night to try and restore our learning systems and we will update further at 8am (Thursday 22 October 2026).

Hi,

I completed MST124 last year and have just started MST224. I am finding that there are missing steps to examples and answers in the books compared to the level of detail in MST124. I understand that this is partly due to MST224 being a year two module. But as someone who really has to work ridiculously hard to understand the math, loosing this level of detail is feeling overwhelming. I am utilising online searching to try and fill the gaps, but this is time consuming. I have also booked onto tutorials to try and hopefully broaden my understanding. But at the moment I am often feeling a bit lost. Is anyone able to recommend some reliable resources that can help? Ideally ones that use step by step explanations but don't require hours of study on top of my current hours of study (there's only so much time in a day to life and study!).

Thank you

I’ve tried accessing the website on both my laptop and phone but keep receiving a 403 error. It occurred after I posted a message on the module tutor group forum and wasn’t able to edit the message after it was posted.
Is anyone else having issues accessing the website at the moment?

Hi all :)

I started my first module this october, and after seeing posts on here about accusations of misconduct including the use of AI to write TMAs, I’ve taken to occasionally screenshotting or screen recording my draft paper as I go.

I make a rough handwritten notes on a sticky pad, before typing my plan out in notes on the word doc on my ipad. Then I slowly manipulate the notes into full paragraphs, until my plan has been wrung dry.

Word on my ipad automatically saves as is, and i can’t really figure out how to save a separate draft copy of things? So would the occasional screen recording of my plan on word suffice, should I be questioned re: the legitimacy of my work? (i don’t actually use AI but I’m still concerned because I type kinda like a robot sometimes 🥲)

So for context, I work full time in an LA job that is flexible hybrid WFH/office working. I'm really efficient with my job and manage to stay up to date on paperwork which sometimes means I have quite a bit of downtime.

I have applied to do psychology with OU to start in Feb next year. I'm thinking of trying to do full time alongside my job? Can anyone who has studied it tell me if this is ridiculous or possible?

I already have a BA(Hons), MA and PGCE so I'm very familiar with the demands of uni but have not done OU before.

Hi all, looking for a bit of advice, may be a bit of a long one as I like to ramble!
My 3rd module starts in February 27, my 1st module was Oct 25 and second was Oct 26. I’ve tried to go on to apply for SFE and it states ‘You already have existing applications for all available academic years’.
If I’m correct is this due to me having to apply for an LLE once it’s open for applications or do I simply have to wait to do my 3rd module in October of 27?
Any help is appreciated!!

Hello, I’m looking for students who are doing this same course who’d want to join a WhatsApp group so that we can help each other out. Anybody interested?

Hi everyone! 😊

I’m a new Open University student enrolled in BSc (Honours) Psychology with Counselling (Q84), and I’m registered for SDK100: Science and health: an evidence-based approach.

I’m looking to connect with other OU students, especially those studying Psychology or starting SDK100 in February 2027. Are there any WhatsApp, Discord, or other student groups I could join?

I’d love to meet fellow students, make friends, share study tips, and support each other throughout the degree! 💗

Thank you!

Hello! I just had my dsa assessment. It’s my second one, my last being 2020 before I deferred. I had a question about the laptop costs. I paid 200 for a laptop back in 2020 so he said I don’t need to pay that again. I was wondering if I upgraded to a MacBook if I get dsa again obviously I don’t know yet. When you get the list do you pay the cost of the upgrade on top of the 200. For example a laptop is 350. Do you pay 200 plus that or take 200 from the cost if that makes sense. Basically is the 200 included in the price or not. I know I won’t know if student finance will accept me again sadly but kind of wanna prepare in case I’m lucky and they agree.

Hi guys

I recently posted about SFE and other funding however I was offered a level 3 lab apprenticeship.

I hold a level 3 but this is a good opportunity as it is a diagnostic lab and I would be a registered technician.

Im just wondering if I fund open uni myself entirely and pay it with the ou bank account if I could do both?

Obviously I understand if its a weigh in between both but any helpful advice would be appreciated 🥲

Im the first in my entirely family to do anything other than work after highschool so im kinda blind and dumb in all of this.

Thanks in advance

I handed in my final piece of work for my degree in on the 14th September, however according to the website the result will not be published until the 8th December.

According to my tutor the department aim to get the EMA marked within a few days after submission.

Not having the result and not having the degree is hindering my ability to apply for graduate schemes.

Why on earth does it take so long?

Hello.

I need some advice. I am doing a business degree and I am falling behind. I find it difficult to manage work and doing the degree. I have fallen back and I am still on week 1 on both my classes.

I can catch up but it may take time. Do I have to follow the diary or can I make sure I do the TMAs/forum group activities and then read the rest in my own time?

I also believe there is a break through winter, is this correct? If so, i can catch up during that period.

Thanks

Hi all,

I’m currently studying MST224 with the Open University and preparing for its third-year Electromagnetism module by studying the S217/S227 Core Physics material independently. I’ve bought a second-hand set of the S217 books to support this.

Does anyone know whether the S217 Equations Booklet, or an equivalent S227 formula handbook, is available? If so, where can I access it?

Just uploaded a draft of my TMA onto Turnitin and it's given me a 15% similarity score. The document that I uploaded did have the TMA question copy and pasted directly from the module website. Could this be a reason for the similarity score? I did not use AI. Is a 15% similarity score acceptable?

Hi, I’m hoping someone is able to help me with this!

I have just started my first year studying, my tuition fee loan was approved a few months ago when I applied, at this time I did not apply for a maintenance loan because I thought online students weren’t eligible.

I’ve only discovered that if you have a disability that stops you from being able to go to a brick uni, you can possibly get a maintenance loan.

I have a disability that affects my ability to go to a brick uni, so I was wondering how I could now apply for the maintenance loan and what the process is? I’m not sure if it’s possible as I have already been accepted for my tuition fee and would I of had to apply for it at the same time? I’m just a little lost to be honest so any help would be appreciated!!

hi guys i only started the modules 2 weeks ago when it opened, my first time doing uni, however this course really isn’t for me, i dont like it, i dont enjoy it. i want to go via an access course to a normal uni.

anyway, i paid for this course via student finance, no money has been paid to OU yet. If i withdraw now will they charge me? and would i be able to get student finance ever again?

How the fuck are we doing it?

The silence waiting for the tutor to move on is doing my head in. A 3 hour tutorial could be like 2/2.5 without the amount of waiting. Don’t know if I’m just being inpatient but so far the first one I attended I all ready knew a lot of the answers due to doing an access with them previously, would answer straight away then find myself getting disinterested in waiting for everyone else to answer.

(There was no tutorials in my access, only for TMA Prep)

I know there’s the “quite” ones but my tutor said they are pointless because you can’t interact.

Any tips to make them more bearable?

(Also don’t want act like a know it all by saying I know there’s answers to everything. Just started my course and just finished my access so a lot is repeated content, I know I’d be one to take longer to answer if I was just starting straight out with the degree like others)

Thinking about maybe going to OU to study one of the degrees above. Wanted to hear from current or grad students. Also wanted to know how it’s perceived by employers in tech to have a degree from OU. Has anyone gotten internships or job offers recently? Obviously the job market is terrible for everyone right now.

Hi guys!

I have recently applied for biomedical science hons and was just wanting to clarify a few things.

I applied for SFE this afternoon as well as booked onto my module.

When I was going through it said it only covers this one module.

Do I reapply every module or does it roll over to my next one? I understand that i have to put part time and everything i just dont quite understand all the logistics.

Also an add on: will this mess with my parents benefits or mine? Im on capacity to work so just a bit worried. I am going to phone both OU and UC just to quadruple check but any insight or tips about SFE disabled students allowance and student fund will be appreciated

TIA

I'll be starting this module in February 2027, after switching from a different degree subject. This will be my first time studying literature so I am a tad nervous. Is anyone else studying this module? How are you finding it?

We have been given TMA 01 and have been given lab work to do.

It’s the deadline for it and only myself 5 others have completed it. However…3 out of 6 results are the exact same?? I’ve gone back over the lab work for each section over and over and it is definitely not the numbers they’re putting down.

Is this mass copying somehow? I’ve emailed my tutor but I’m a bit baffled people haven’t actually done the work and are copying others.

We need those results for our TMA question and it seems very rigged.

Do I calculate the question based off the obviously rigged and incomplete data or my own calculations? There are another 14 students who haven’t done it.

Has anyone here completed this full time?
What was your experience like? Could you manage a full time job along side it?
What did you go on to do after completing this qualification?

Mine is supposed to come on the 21st of October, if anyone else has previously got it, did you guys get it on the expected date or a couple days afterwards?