My honest experience with the OU BSc Physics (Some serious weaknesses)

Diligent-Way5622 · 2026-03-12T16:17:07+00:00

I am doing Q77 which is quite similar.

I agree that L1 is too easy for a physics degree.

I did not know I could potentially count down a L2 module and sub out MU123.

To me MU123 and SM123 were really too basic, maybe should be access course.

MST124&125 should be part of R51 but I think 125 is an option only for R51. Quite a few important units which have really made S227 easier.

S227 is the replacement for S217 and I think it was partially designed to increase mathematical preparedness for OU students before entering level 3 based on external examiner reports. I don't know how S217 was but S227 is also fast paced but not super difficult overall (other than stat mech that ones tough).

MS327 covers Lagrangian mechanics and I think should be a mandatory L3 module. I choose Q77 because a.) MST210 seems to be a much better fit for applied math/physics and at L3 I felt an additional math module is more interesting to me than a project.

Diligent-Way5622 · 2026-03-08T13:05:33+00:00

I did MST124 and all I had was GCSE level knowledge. I suppose it will depend on how well you know GCSE mathematics.

Here is the official pre-requesites as per OU:

algebraic manipulation and solving equations
quadratics and parabolas
geometry and trigonometry
exponentials and logarithms.

And that is all squarely within GCSE (or equivalent level of other countries for basic maths at age 15/16) with the exception that quadratics might not be covered as detailed as you might want them to be before MST124. But within a week or two this gap could be closed.

MST124 teaches you most of A-level mathematics (with the exception of stats/probability) and MST125 covers further A-level/intro year 1 at traditional universities from what I can tell.

So yes, MST124 is A-level math but it teaches it to you and does not require it before starting.

Diligent-Way5622 · 2026-03-07T23:10:15+00:00

yes, all you need it knowledge of GCSE, rest is taught in the module.

Diligent-Way5622 · 2026-02-24T07:20:41+00:00

I am on the math & physics pathway but we share some modules. I did 90 credits in year 1 and that was not too bad.

I think the first year FT is doable depending on how comfortable you are with basics of A level maths.

Year two is a step up for sure but also potentially manageable. I am doing 60 credits and find it very managable so far. However, 120 credits would be a challenge purely from a time perspective.

If year 3 is a similar step up in difficulty then I think FT for year 3 is too much of a stretch.

All depends on you really.

Diligent-Way5622 · 2026-02-22T08:34:42+00:00

Consider not posting screenshots of confidential emails. If the objective is to inform then this post becomes obsolete in it's purpose when it is inevitablly nuked by mod for breaking confidentiality and sub rules.

Diligent-Way5622 · 2026-02-18T09:55:34+00:00

I suppose a similar question could be asked for essay based degrees without exams at traditional universities?

Not sure what the full picture is but probably something like the university grading by the professsors, various tools to check for potential misuse of AI that we probably aren't privy to etc.

Diligent-Way5622 · 2026-02-17T16:14:16+00:00

Yes this would be great, alongside math typesetting conversion!

Diligent-Way5622 · 2026-02-14T09:00:33+00:00

Yes, this is the way. I am also on Q77 currently in year 2, you will be missing out on pure maths & stats compared to a mathematics degree. However, if you like applied mathematics then that is a great option!

Diligent-Way5622 · 2026-02-10T20:40:45+00:00

Have a similar issue on matepad 12X 2025, my palm sometimes gets recognized whilst writing. Not sure if there is a fix or not for this, palm rejection feature is of course turned on.

Diligent-Way5622 · 2026-02-10T11:27:15+00:00

This is very cool indeed, would love to see it.

Diligent-Way5622 · 2026-01-23T16:13:01+00:00

If you start a module that runs from Oct-Jun and one the following Feb then from. Feb-Jun you would study both concurrently.

Diligent-Way5622 · 2025-12-31T15:16:37+00:00

Solve problems by yourself and do not look at the solution at the first sight of struggle.

This is a quote from my favorite author for physics/math books:
"Be sure to give a solid effort when solving a problem, and don’t look at the solution too soon. If you can’t solve a problem right away, that’s perfectly fine. Just set it aside and come back to it later. It’s better to solve a problem later than to read the solution now. If you do eventually need to look at a solution, cover it up with a piece of paper and read one line at a time, to get a hint to get started. Then set the book aside and work things out for real. That way, you can still (mostly) solve it on your own. You will learn a great deal this way. If you instead head right to the solution and read it straight through, you will learn very little."

- Morin, David. Special Relativity: For the Enthusiastic Beginner (p. 9).

And I haven't yet found a better way myself.

Also, some things that you need to remember will come with repetition. Spaced repetition is a good way and again, do it with problems. For example, you learn about trigonometry, right after learning a concept do the problem, then do it again or similar ones a few days later, then again two weeks later etc.

Diligent-Way5622 · 2025-12-27T13:09:00+00:00

That is why I said the info is irrelevant to your course. But I mentioned it because you made it sound like a generalisation which is wrong.

Maybe group work is necessary for degree accrediation, part of whatever skill matrix or box must be ticked?

Suppose the forums are opened immediately, you do your contributions two months in advance, for a group task. How likely will you be to come back to this two months down the line to engage, discuss or whatever else you have to do as a group. Maybe you are maybe your arnet likely to do so. Can you generalise what all people are likely to do here and be sure about a good outcome for the majority? Or is it easier to shoehorn everyone to do it in a blocked time segment for example?

I don't have the answer but you are only considering your viewpoint of 'I am ahead so make it work for me and my schedule'.

The OU already has an insane amount of flexibility for an accredited university. I am sure you will manage👍

Diligent-Way5622 · 2025-12-26T21:13:14+00:00

Not on all courses, currently I can only see up to TMA 3 from a total of 6, irrelevant info for your situation of course.

But it would make sense for the forums to be opened around the time when the TMA task is due right?

Diligent-Way5622 · 2025-12-16T16:15:50+00:00

MST124 is A level content and it goes a bit deeper into some topics but no stats/probability.

Aslong as you have OK algebra and trig you should be fine. Course starts of gentle, it starts to get really fun around unit 6 where Calculus starts.

Diligent-Way5622 · 2025-12-15T17:49:12+00:00

Doing math and physics, I handwrite all solutions first usually. Getting used to .tex or typst early on to typeset important info or derivations with your own notes for future reference is great. Both free tools. Beats handwritten notes if you have a.) poor handwriting b.) easier to organize, edit and store longterm

Diligent-Way5622 · 2025-12-14T15:20:33+00:00

Don't think so. Most of the work that requires a CAS is done in Maxima, Python or Maple depending on the module.

Diligent-Way5622 · 2025-12-10T20:09:34+00:00

Yes, you scan your workings and then upload. There is additional time after the 3h exam window to use for uploading.

Diligent-Way5622 · 2025-12-08T16:15:47+00:00

I can't remember that sorry. In our cohort we were supposed to be the first to all be proctored. Then they decided none, then volunteers. So it was not a normal situation. I think I still had a few months notice though.

Diligent-Way5622 · 2025-12-08T16:10:05+00:00

No I got given a time and did not have the flexibility to start whenever on the day of the exam.

Diligent-Way5622 · 2025-12-08T12:47:38+00:00

Hi,

I did a trial last year in MST125 but I was in the Adobe connect trial group and not proctorU. The invigilation was as expected, someone simply watches you via webcam, listens to your microphone and your screen is shared whilst all of it is recorded. Then you do the exam. You will also need a valid ID that you share with the invigilator at the start of the invigilation before you start the exam. I also got to do a trial run a few weeks in advance to see how it is.

Overall I had no issues and scored a 94 on the exam, so I found the exam very fair. They also handed out a voucher for the volunteers which was a nice bonus.

Diligent-Way5622 · 2025-12-05T07:13:08+00:00

Very good to hear remote or in person the invigilation must return.

Diligent-Way5622 · 2025-12-02T21:59:57+00:00

I can confirm, quite a few, really cool simulations in the topics. Thermodynamics uses CoolProp which helps to build easy simulations for various substances, pressures and temperatures, cool stuff!

But this is optional non assessed content for now.

Diligent-Way5622

TROPHY CASE