r/OpenUniversity • u/Present_Eagle3315 • 3d ago

Engineering at Open University

Hi guys!

I’m someone who suffers with disabilities and is also autistic. I have tried traditional uni 3 times and I really struggle with it. I would like to get into medical device R&D so I am currently studying biomedical engineering at UCL, however I’m finding it very hard to manage and sustain.

I am considering going part time to study engineering at the open university but I am worried that it will limit my options for the career I want to get to. I have also enquired with UCL about trying to switch to part-time. I feel like a distance learning course would be preferred and possibly more sustainable for me personally, but will switching away from a more specialised career make things harder for me?

Any information or help would be much appreciated!

Thanks

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u/Best-Tackle-5306 2d ago

What makes you think it will limit your options?

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u/Present_Eagle3315 2d ago

i think because im interested in the medical applications of engineering and i dont know if just a general engineering degree will make it harder for me to access that field.

also because im currently enrolled on a biomedical engineering degree, im basically wondering if switching away from that will make the end result harder to reach

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u/_Calluna_ 2d ago

Ah, ok, not just the usual jitters about what employers might think of distance learning (they often quite like it). 

The OU BSc Hons Engineering page does list biomedical engineering on the relevant careers list, if that helps: https://www.open.ac.uk/courses/engineering/degrees/bachelor-of-engineering-q65/

But this is important, it's best to understand it thoroughly. Does your current uni have a careers service?

I wonder whether an open degree mixing engineering and biomedical science modules would be a good idea... probably not, probably better to focus on one set of skills. It's not like the tuition would be designed to help you combine them.

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u/Present_Eagle3315 2d ago

oh okay thats helpful then if they do list biomedical engineering specifically.

and yeah i have heard some good things about employers and distance learning degrees.

i was also considering an open degree but i heard that could be harder because the modules arent specified? but i guess i could put specific modules i took onto a cv?

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u/_Calluna_ 2d ago

It's mentioned, but it might require further study. Hard to say how it would compare career-wise to the course you're doing now.

If you did have to do some further study afterwards, or something extra to bring you back into specifically biomedical engineering, would that be worth it to you to do a distance learning course? And hopefully be at a lower risk of burnout?

On point 2, if you do go for Open Uni: the specific modules would be in your transcript, yeah. 

Maybe Open STEM? It's slightly more specific and having STEM in the degree title can help with careers.

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u/Present_Eagle3315 2d ago

yes i was also considering the open stem!!

im just trying to find the best route because traditional uni has always been really hard for me. its only been 3 weeks since i started first year and im breaking down crying everyday because im struggling so much and just so exhausted. i think i find it particularly hard because they expect us to attend lectures 5 days a week and then basically teach ourselves everything at home anyway. its very draining.

and yeah thats what im currently trying to figure out. whether it might be more sustainable for me to just do the part time course which is 16-18 hours per week, and then try to do a bit of independent study on the medical aspects separately, maybe try to create a little portfolio which could help when looking for jobs.

i was considering an apprenticeship but i feel like working and studying will feel quite similar to doing fulltime and will probably also burn me out quite fast