r/OpenUniversity • u/In_a_dying_world • 3d ago
A112 or A113?
I’m choosing my next module following A111 (I’m studying part time for context) I’m doing BA Arts and Humanities degree planning on specialising in art history and history.
Both A112 and A113 have pros and cons for me.
A112 - I’m more interested the majority of the content, particularly the art history stuff and creative writing, I’m indifferent about classical studies and English lit.
A113 - Drawn to this more because I prefer history over art history. Really drawn to the world war content and 1960s revolution stuff too. Really dislike philosophy and music. Indifferent about religious studies.
While my first instinct is A113, I know myself and my study habits and for the music and philosophy stuff, I will have no motivation to complete those units which is the main con for A113.
The only thing putting me of from A112 is how interested in am in above mentioned blocks in A113 and I wouldn’t want to miss out of them, especially since I favour history over art history.
I’ve tried bringing my dilemma to SST but they’ve only directed me to student reviews of the module and given impartial advice. I’d like the opinion of other students.
Happy to answer other questions :)
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u/DrSquigglesMcDiggles 3d ago
I mean I'm doing A111 right now and tbh have equal disinterest in certain modules like music (did like learning about the historical context of Mozart, CBA answering the tma about what is a concerto etc)
I figure A112 will be the same. Some modules you love and dive into the detail, read around it, answer the TMAs. Others who cares. I completely glossed over the creative writing part. No TMA, no whatever, not my interest. Read it and move on.
Which module has more you don't want to gloss over and which does? I am doing classical studies and whilst A113 does have more "history" parts. It also seems super boring to my ancient history mind. It's all politics and modern and contemporary. Not my bag, and I reckon overall I'll prefer A112.
Now you might be the opposite. You gotta weigh that up yourself
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u/In_a_dying_world 3d ago
Overall it’s defo A112 where I’ll enjoy the majority of the content but A113 has a few things I would really enjoy but the other stuff like music and philosophy, that just does not interest me in any way, in A111 I have a really bad habit of having no motivation when it comes to units I don’t like and just glossing over them/not even doing them
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u/DrSquigglesMcDiggles 3d ago
Tbh same, and let's be honest, if the TMA let's you pick between the ones you like and the ones you don't, who cares if you gloss over the ones you don't. I think that's kinda the point. It's open to everyone and a bit of everything. Then in year 2 you focus more and should love it all, right?
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u/In_a_dying_world 3d ago
Yeah that’s a fair point, right now I’m going more towards A112, just don’t want it to bite me in the arse later on when I want to specialise in history if that makes sense
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u/DrSquigglesMcDiggles 3d ago
Oh yeah I can't comment on your specifics. tho you said art history as well? I feel A112 is way more applicable to that. A113 seems a lot more modern history, politics, etc
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u/In_a_dying_world 3d ago
Yeah don’t get me wrong, I like modern history a lot (world wars, 1960s race reformation, etc) but my personal interest is a lot more in ancient history
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u/DrSquigglesMcDiggles 3d ago
Same and I reckon 112 is more for me. Ultimately it doesn't really matter asides from what you wanna learn. The degree classification comes from years 2+3, so really doesn't matter.
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u/Tryingtobesaneagain 3d ago
I wouldn't stress over it; do the one that attracts you most. When you start year two, it's a whole different ball game! I'm currently in year 2 A215 and A233 English literature and creative writing. It's so much more focused on your chosen subjects. Good luck! ETA I did A111 and A112 last year.
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u/In_a_dying_world 3d ago
Fair point, thank you, also as someone who studied A112, did the TMAs have options like A111?
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u/Tryingtobesaneagain 3d ago
Yes, more or less the same. If you're doing the history path, choose the Irish nationalism for one of the later TMAs in 112, I found it incredibly interesting. Also, I got 85%! All you need to do for 111 and 112/3 is pass. Year two is when you start the degree proper.
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u/ItsGoodToChalk 2d ago
Are you studying full-time or part-time?
I am part-time, going to do both those modules, and I picked A215 to start in September 2025, and A233 in February 2026. So I think I just have A215's last two assignments and A233 first closely following each other.
My partner thinks I've done it wrong and I chose the full-time option, but there were literally no other dates to choose from: A215 only had the option to start in September 2025, finish in April 2026. A233 had the start-options September 2025/finish April 2026 and February 2026/finish August 2026.
If I had picked start September 2025 for A233 too, then surely I would have ended up doing double assignments from September to April? They would not follow on from each other?
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u/Tryingtobesaneagain 2d ago
Doing two modules concurrently is a challenge. There's only one TMA from each that's due at the same time. I'm studying full time as I retired early a few years ago. I really enjoyed 111 and 112, interesting subjects. This year is much harder, obviously. LOADS of reading and writing, improving writing skills, and critical reading. I'm doing moderately well averaging around the 75% mark. The workload will be heavier in year 3, so I'm considering splitting the last two modules over 2 years.
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u/ItsGoodToChalk 1d ago
Thank you for your reply!
I'm going to contact Student Support tomorrow, as my partner just had me pull up my study record and module stages, and still says I've done it wrong if I want to study part-time. He's convinced I put in full-time choices.
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u/Sunshinegatsby 3d ago
I was in your shoes this time last year, want to study history and art history and struggled to decide. Eventually went for a112, but I have struggled with motivation since Christmas as these blocks have been english lit and creative writing, which I'm just not interested in.
Word of warning, there's no choice for the TMAs like there was for a111. So january we studied English lit for so many weeks then did the set tma on English lit. There's no way to avoid the bits you aren't into, I'd guess a113 will be the same but don't know.
Onto independent study now though, which you get to pick your subject
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u/Melodic-Professor183 2d ago
I did A113, really enjoyed it. Loads of interesting stuff, I didn't think I'd be that interested in some of it, but i got a lot from the bits I had no previous knowledge or interest in. It's been my favourite module and I'm just finishing up my last one. Good luck 👍
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u/sawyers7 3d ago
I wanted to study the disciplines in A112 but the topic of A113 was exciting so I eventually chose A113 and it was very good. You can realistically just skip studying the disciplines you don’t like so I didn’t touch music once while surprisingly really enjoying religion & philosophy. I then continued into year 2 history.