5 Top tips from other students

What I really wish I'd known before starting any module with The OU is that it's a really good idea to get in contact with your tutor for the module and find out when they're available, how they prefer to be contacted, how long they might take to respond, if they're responding by email, for example, because then you can plan ahead. You know that you have an assignment due in a week. Your tutor responds on Wednesdays and Fridays. So you know to get your email asking the question in by Wednesday so that they can give you an answer in good time for the assignment.

My top tip would be to set a realistic schedule that fits around you and your life. By setting time aside every day and sticking to it, it means you'll be on track to succeed. By having a good routine and structured time of study, it means you won't fall behind in your studies and will get into the pattern and habit of working your way through each week by setting realistic targets as well. You'll easily reach your goals and succeed in your studies. This would be my top tip. Make sure you set time aside every day. And stick to it so that you can make sure that you achieve your goals.

What I would say is being a distance student can be hard. It's quite solitary at times. You can feel lonely. What I found invaluable was support from friends, particularly friends who are also studying. So find people who are studying as well. It doesn't matter if it's the same course, just people that understand what you're going through as you're working through those materials.

My advice would be look at the information that your tutor gives you after each assignment. And certainly read it before you read your information on essays and the speech bubbles. It gives more clarity if you read what your tutor has written before you go into the essay. It works together, that information. If you don't understand anything in terms of an assignment, or you're really not sure, speak to your tutor first. Again, there is support there. So don't struggle alone. Don't leave things to the last minute. It will show.

One tip that I'd wish I'd known before I started, buy a diary. That is my tip, and you will be thankful for it, because OU students, even though we're super heroes, we have commitments and responsibilities. So the time management is a real thing. It is a real problem that we all face. So with that in mind, buying a diary will allow you to make a schedule. So that is my tip. Buy a diary, and make a schedule, and plan, plan, plan.