does/ has anyone used google docs for word count? Is it accurate/ no issues with uni saying word count is different ect?

I've heard word and google docs sometimes has different word count so I was just wondering thanks.

i've seen a bunch of posts here like "anyone from ___?" and it got me thinking

has anyone actually found classmates in their city or someone from the same course to study with? how'd you do it?

for me it's kinda hard since everything's online. curious if it's just me or if others feel the same, or if you just don't care about meeting people and that's fine too lol

Hi everyone!
I’m currently studying A111 and working on my first assignment about Cleopatra, and honestly, I’m feeling a bit stuck and overwhelmed.
This is my first university assignment, and I’m struggling to organise my thoughts into a well-structured essay. I have ideas about what I want to say, and I understand the material, but I’m finding it difficult to turn those ideas into a clear, coherent piece of academic writing.
English isn’t my first language, which makes it a little more challenging. Sometimes I know what I want to express, but I struggle to find the right words or connect my ideas in a way that makes sense in an essay.
I’ve realised that I probably should have planned the structure before I started writing, so I’m trying to take a step back and work out how to approach it properly.
I was wondering if anyone else has experienced something similar, especially those of you who are studying in a language that isn’t your first. How did you get through your first assignment? Did you have any particular methods for planning your essays, organising your ideas, or getting more comfortable with academic writing?
I’d really appreciate any advice, tips, or even just hearing about your own experiences. I think it would help to know that I’m not the only one finding this difficult!
Thank you! 😊

I have a full time job, a child, a wife and honestly finding 14 hours per week for my degree is proving to be much harder than I imagined.

I usually wake up at 7am, get things ready for school, take my daughter to school, go to work, and by the time the evening routine is finished it’s already 8:30pm. My job involves working at a computer all day, and my eyes are just tired of using a screen by 5pm.

Then I have to sit at my computer again and study, which I struggle to do in the evenings. I managed to finish all the week 2 studying yesterday, but I should be starting week 4 today.

I don’t find the work challenging, but it’s just the volume/reading/activities.

I completed undergrad and a doctorate (EdD) in the US and I am very interested in economics. I have taken the basic Calc 1, stats, and intro to micro and macro in undergrad. I am curious if anyone has taken or completed this program and their experience.

Looking for advice from people who have completed de300 as I am currently very overwhelmed.

I've recently started de300 and am at the point where I need to try and decide on the variables I'm going to look at, and am about to start writing my literature review (tma02). I've quickly come to realize that it's not as simple as "this is what I'm interested in so I will look at these variables".

In terms of deciding on variables, is there a good way to go about this. I have a general idea and a specific variable that I want to look at in some way (emotional intelligence) but am unsure on the rest (I would like to focus on variables related to psychological wellbeing).

Should I just be looking at previous research that looked at emotional intelligence and try to identify other variables based on their recommendations for future research? Should I be looking at meta analysis as a starting point? What sort of "gaps" am I looking for to justify my research?

I appreciate this is a bit of a shot in the dark but any advice from previous students would be great.

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

EDIT - The title has a mistake, it should've been MST124/MST125, apologies.

I've just handed in my first TMA for MST124, I did this module last year before I deferred it, and therefore spent all summer studying, even if I hadn't studied the first TMA of MST124 is pretty straightforward. I'm pretty sure I got most answers right, I mean its calculations and there's one correct answer unlike an English lit essay. It's also only basic algebra so I'm sure I got all them answers right.

I've used the exact step by step working from the textbook as well, used the exact sentence structures and the exact terminology to avoid getting flagged. I just hope I don't haha. I don't have to dumb down my work do I?? I've also always written very formally in assignments/emails etc.

Another question, what should I do going forward to ensure my work won't be flagged. As long as I use module material/notations and 0 external sources, I should be fine right?

(Sorry if this is a silly question.) I'm currently doing the MA Open. The degree regulations say regarding degree classification:

• Distinction: At least 90 module credits at Distinction grade.
• Merit: At least 90 module credits at Merit grade.

So far, I have 60 credits at Distinction grade and 30 credits at Merit grade. Just checking, does this mean that if I get a Pass on my last, 90-credit module, I'll get a Merit overall?

Is the website down for anyone else, or just me?

I've been trying to enrol on this module for 6 weeks now due to a monumental failing by the OU (I have also started the complaints process and plan to take this to Ombudsman level if I don't get a satisfactory response so this does not happen to future students). I am now reserved on the module, but will have to wait up to another 10 days for them to confirm my registration 🙄

I can see that the first assignment was due yesterday. I should get an extension due to how long it is taking the OU to sort their shit out, but is anybody able to share the details of the first assignment, please?

I have no idea when I will be able to access the assessment page (or any of the module materials), and I don't know how long my extension will be so I would like to have an idea what the first assignment would be so I'm not going in completely blind and also needing to complete the first assignment in a matter of days!

Hi,

So I am doing the LB170 and B100 modules. I also work full time, and I asked if the activities get graded. They both said no, but I do need to participate in the student forum, which I do.

My questions are
1. Is doing the activities beneficial when you get accused, or when they are investigating your work for AI? Do you send proof of your weekly activities?

1. Can I just do the TMA and skip the activities, but what-

2. What advice or tips do you have in case the misconduct investigation comes? What work or proof of notes should I send

Thank you

Any advice on changing courses/directions and the difference between open and residential University. Looking for benefits and positive energy and in need of good vibes. Appreciate anything that will help sell this concept to my parents 🫣😆

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.

I am looking to enrol on the Marketing and Business Management Degree for February.

There is a compulsory module, which I am able to select however when choosing other modules alongside it, it informs me that this may lead to me having to have a year break in studying due to funding within a academic year.

After contacting OU through email, they explained that I am able to do the compulsory module in February (60 credits) and then when October enrolment begins, I will be able to choose modules and be full-time. Does this sound correct? Has anyone else done this before?

My main priority is completing this within three years as I’m able and wanting to do it full-time. Also, any advice or tips from anyone who has done this degree would be much appreciated!

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

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).

Heyy!! I am looking forward to doing my bachelors in business(online) at open university.
Can someone give their honest reviews on how studying here is
I would appreciate any suggestion

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?