I loved this course and would happily recommend it to anyone studying a science/life sciences/natural sciences degree. It's in-depth enough to be fascinating but holistic enough to be a broad learning curve. The exam was true to the specimen paper and didn't contain nasty surprises (thankfully). I was supported by a lovely tutor and a great tutor group.
Sheilagh Margaret Rawlins
Course starting: October 2011
Review posted: December 2012
I thoroughly enjoyed studying this module, it was interesting and relevent to my job as a midwife. However, preparing for the exam was tough as there was a lot of studying and a lot to remember - but, I got a distinction so it was all worth it in the end!
Course starting: October 2011
Review posted: October 2012
Great module! Loved it from start to finish. The module material was well written and the depth of information given was fantastic but not too over bearing.
The exam topics are vast but the essay element is narrowed down so you can pick a topic from four choices which allows you to concentrate on the other two elements of the exam.
Overall my favourite module, passed with a grade 1 and the information I have learned has given me solid basis for my Level 3 biology modules.
Amy Willey
Course starting: October 2011
Review posted: August 2012
I thoroughly recommend this course to anyone considering biology / life sciences or psychology studies. The materials were good (and in book form) and my tutor was great. I can't get to tutorials because of work commitments but my tutor responded to my emails very promptly and efficiently and that makes a big difference.
I panicked a bit over the exam but managed a really good grade and am over the moon. Well worth the money and the effort and a really good launch pad for further study.
Sheilagh Margaret Rawlins
Course starting: October 2011
Review posted: August 2012
I really enjoyed this course. At times it was frustrating because the detail stopped just at the point where it was getting really interesting. The course book is extremely well written and I found the questions at the end of each chapter really helped to consolidate the material in my mind. They formed the basis for exam revision which worked very well. You come away with a broad overview of the main body systems and how they fit together. Excellent!
Vivien Shaw
Course starting: October 2011
Review posted: August 2012
Overall I enjoyed this course, even though it was a lot of reading and quite hard at times. Attention needs to be paid to detail and try to gain an understanding of each topic as you go along. I would recommend having done a foundation course or an A level in Biology before attempting this course. I did the course having studied biology at a much lower level quite a few years ago; however, it is possible to do the course in this way and pass. It would have been much easier to have the background knowledge. Attending Tutorials is helpful on this course, as this helps to gain a perspective and relate the interactions within the body. The Tutor was extremely helpful and was able to offer help in order to fill in the missing background knowledge.
Course starting: October 2011
Review posted: August 2012
Fantastic course, had an equally fantastic tutor who was there to help with whatever study query I had. A bit strict with the markings, but she was the one who really taught me how to write a proper essay and it has helped me tremendously ever since for my other courses.
It is a course doable alongside another one, providing that you do not fall behind with the reading and keep up with the study planner. My previous experience with anatomy and physiology helped, although it was almost 20 years since I left college and sat an exam.
The tutorials were a great help, especially the one for revision. The final exam was not as bad as I thought it was going to be. Only had a week for revision, but still managed a grade 2 pass for the course which I was really chuffed about!
Course starting: October 2010
Review posted: June 2012
This was a brilliant course, very well written and with superb tutor support. I took it as my first Level 2 course, fully expecting to struggle on it. Thanks to the excellent quality of the course materials and input from the tutor via forums it turned out to be an unfounded expectation.
The TMAs are stretching but really help to consolidate your understanding at the end of each section. I hadn't sat an exam in some 20 years, but it was fine. The invigilating team really do talk you through the process in baby-steps, so the whole process is easy to follow. As for the actual exam, I must have done something right because I walked away with a distinction!
A big bonus is that several weeks before the exam, the course team releases information about subjects that are likely to be included in the essay choice. While you aren't given the actual essay subject, you do have the opportunity to intensively revise an area so that you can confidently tackle one of the four possible essays - in my case I dived into the immunology section and it paid dividends when I got to the essay section.
Just be sure to have ice-packs handy, because your hand WILL hurt after three hours of writing (if like me you type all day long and seldom write manually).
Linda Margaret Sears
Course starting: October 2010
Review posted: April 2012
Fantastic course, a great start to my OU studies given a biological background. Gave me confidence to move on to Level 3 courses which I found considerably more challenging. A very interesting course for anyone with an interest in how the human body works. My only criticism would be that it wasn't very in depth, however this is balanced out by in-depth Level 3 courses.
Course starting: October 2010
Review posted: January 2012
Although I enjoyed this course and I found out things about the human body that I couln't even contemplate, it was very hard work. I would advise you not to study it along with another course as I would compare the work load to a 60-credit course. I did this course along with 'Challenging Ideas in Mental Health' and did find it quite hard going. Human Biology is a great course but it is very detailed and the TMAs are quite challenging. However in saying all that I did pass the two courses but would have preferred to pass with a higher score.
Course starting: October 2010
Review posted: September 2011
This is a challenging and fascinating course - what amazing beings we are. A prior knowledge of human biology would help but isn't totally necessary as everything is explained well. I would recommend attending the tutorials as it helped to clarify parts which I didn't quite understand.
I would also recommend taking good notes to help with revision. I found it hard to revise four complex text books and wished I had made revision cards as I had gone along - a lesson to take onto the next course! The exam was hard but not as daunting as at first feared - first exam in some 20 years. Would advise the purchase of past papers to get an idea of the layout and wording of questions.
I had a fantastic supportive tutor which made a big difference. I would definitely recommend Human Biology but be in no doubt it is at times very hard work.
Helen Claire Houghton
Course starting: October 2010
Review posted: August 2011
I really enjoyed this course. Some of the subjects covered were taxing but this keeps the course from being dull. An excellent mix of subject matter. The TMAs were hard but managable and the exam was the same. If you have a keen interest in biology or how the body works, embark on this course, it is 1st class.
Course starting: October 2010
Review posted: August 2011
SK277 is by far my favourite course so far. It is extremely well written, as it uses case studies as practical applications in real healthcare situations. The tutor was brilliant and the tutorials were very informative. The day school I attended really prepared me for the exam.
I particularly liked the fact that the learning outcomes are so clearly stated at the beginning of each chapter and the course content is in four smallish books, so they were easy to carry around and dip into on the bus or when sitting in the park. The chapters were also organised in a way that felt right, as each section covered a particular system and then systems were linked together very well.
Laura Marguerite Finlay
Course starting: October 2009
Review posted: May 2011
Thoroughly enjoyed the course, including all the hard work! Was disappointed to fail the June diet, but relieved to pass in the October examination.
Margaret Isabel McConnell
Course starting: October 2010
Review posted: February 2011
I enjoyed the course. There was plenty of helpful information and the tutor support was excellent. Personally I found that A level Biology helped, but I think you could get through with O level Biology/Human Biology. Do use the resources and you will get through the exam.
Claire Nell Hawthorn
Course starting: October 2009
Review posted: December 2010
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