Emma Roberts

When Emma Roberts finished high school, she initially attended a traditional in-person university for a year but quickly realised that it wasn’t the right studying experience or environment for her.

First-Class Honours degree graduate, Emma, aged 22 and from the coastal town of Methil in Fife, found that studying with The Open University (OU) in Scotland was a much better fit for her.

Welcoming the freedom to study with the OU in a way that best suited her own learning style, she explains: “I always liked seeing the materials for myself, taking my own notes, and being able to do my own research and discuss parts of the modules with my fellow students over the forums at any time.

“My in-person university was more focused on just verbally explaining everything in the course, which is not really how I learn. The OU also allowed me to focus on studying rather than worry about the stereotypical partying aspect of university life.”

‘Amazing tutors’

Emma decided to opt to study for an OU Bachelor of Arts (Honours) Open Degree because she wanted to gain transferable knowledge and skills and didn’t know the exact path of study she wanted to take, later deciding to focus on creative writing and the English language.  

Emma was particularly delighted to have the opportunity to study the creative writing course, which hadn’t previously been an option at her former university.

“I’ve loved creative writing all my life, and despite always being good at, and studying, English at school, I didn’t feel like there was a lot of creative writing taught. I always wanted to learn more about creative writing and have a real chance to improve my craft,” she says.

My tutors were amazing and were always active on the forums, giving extra advice and inspiration, and gave excellent feedback to help me improve my assessments each time."
Emma Roberts, OU in Scotland Graduate

She shares that her dream is to become a published author and plans to move into a career involving writing as her next step after graduating.  

Discussing her studying experience, she adds: “I learned so much about the English language, linguistics, and how language links to culture. As for creative writing, not only did I improve my prose writing, but I also got to learn scriptwriting for the first time.”

At the same time, Emma found the OU tutors were “amazing” and found her fellow students were very supportive in the creative writing module online forums.

She highlights: “My tutors were always active on the forums, giving extra advice and inspiration, and gave excellent feedback to help me improve my assessments each time. They were supportive and didn’t hesitate to reassure me about contacting them or asking questions if I needed to, both of which can feel quite daunting when you start studying.”

‘Grown more confident’ 

Towards the end of her studies, Emma learnt about the opportunity to become a student buddy, providing moral support and guidance to fellow students at the start of their learning journey.

After being accepted to support a buddy studying the exploring languages and cultures module she’d previously studied, she says: “Being a buddy has helped grow my communication and confidence further. I’m still a student buddy now.  

My advice to anyone thinking about studying with The Open University is to go for it. To remember that you're never on your own, that tutors are always there to help you, and fellow students waiting in the forums for you, including me."
Emma Roberts, OU in Scotland Graduate

“I think my fellow students feel reassured by the presence of someone who has already studied the subject. They don’t feel as daunted going into OU study and how it works.”

During her studies, Emma has also built her self-belief as a writer, commenting: “I grew more confident as I submitted more task responses to the forum, and as I received each assessment’s results. Each result also helped quell any doubts I had about my creative writing and its quality.”

Looking ahead to graduating soon, Emma concludes: “I’m thrilled. I always wanted to achieve a degree, and after leaving the in-person university I wondered if I’d ever be able to achieve one.  

"When I found the OU in Scotland, my goal was to finish my degree and do my best, so to be awarded a First-Class Honours degree is amazing.”