This post is inspired by a message that I received from a reader and she writes:

“Hello 🙂 Thank you for all the useful information. I’m considering starting a psychology degree with OU. Are you studying full time? If so, is it better to start one module in October and next in February or both at the same time? Is it very demanding? Thanks “

First, I will address her questions before going into how and why I chose my Psychology degree.

Yes, I am studying full-time with the OU.

I am studying both modules at the same time and they are both October starts.  However, you can split the two modules into October and February starts, if that is more convenient for you.

Yes, doing 2 modules at the same time is very demanding, in my opinion.  However, although I also work part-time, I do not have major family commitments, such as raising children, that may increase demands on my time and energy.  Having said that, I see a lot of OU psychology students in the forums and groups who work full-time, study full time AND are raising children! Phew!! I can’t imagine how challenging and demanding that must be, and they have my full respect.

Whether you choose to split your modules or study full/part time honestly depends on you, your circumstances and your long term goals.

WHY I CHOSE PSYCHOLOGY

I have always been interested in psychology, the brain, and human behaviour, but my background was in digital marketing for several years.
Following the end of a long-term significant relationship, I wanted to turn a new chapter in my life and this coincided with the start of the Covid 19 pandemic in 2020.
Early in 2021, I had a chance encounter with acclaimed psychologist Simon Baron-Cohen which became a catalyst that made me even more interested in taking a psychology degree.  And then I became very sick with severe bronchitis that required hospitalisation.  I was in hospital for several months and it was from my hospital bed that I made the decision to apply to study Psychology and so from my hospital bed,  I sent in my application to the OU to study BSc. Psychology and it gave me something to look forward to and to work towards, which helped me in my resolve to get better.

HOW I CHOSE MY PSYCHOLOGY DEGREE

Another reason why I chose to take a BSc Psychology degree at that time was that I was researching and looking into the patterns of historical global pandemics and deduced that they all had a duration of approximately three years.

So I thought, “Well, this Covid 19 pandemic will probably take just as long, so I might as well be productive with this period where we would be in lockdown or under restrictions by enrolling in a distance learning, online study degree that can be done from home.”

I researched many UK universities and online BSc Psychology courses, and after ensuring that the degree was valid and accredited by the BPS (British Psychological Society), I chose to take my BSc Psychology degree with the Open University.

The OU is a very flexible way to study and there is the option to spread your mandatory 6 modules across six years, giving you ample time to focus on study.  However, I did not want to spend that much time in gaining my degree as I realised that in order to practice as a Clinical Psychologist, I would need to also get a doctorate (another 4-6 years) and perhaps a Masters (1-2 years) in between.  I have no time to waste and want to decrease my years of study as much as I reasonably can, so I made the decision to study full time, taking 2 modules each year so that I can finish and gain my degree within 3 years, instead of 5-6 years.  I do not have children and so that frees up time for me to dedicate to my studies, and I work part-time, which also helps.  However, like I mentioned earlier, I have seen OU students who study full-time, and juggle their studies with parenting obligations and full-time jobs.  It is very challenging and demanding, but it can be done.

 YEAR 1 SUMMARY: BSC PSYCHOLOGY DEGREE

YEAR 2 SUMMARY: BSC PSYCHOLOGY DEGREE

As I am now entering Year 3 of my degree, aka final year, I am glad that I made the decision to go for it and enroll in a BSc. Psychology degree, and I am glad that I chose the Open University to study with.

Thank you for reading!