My friend is on an OU course
and (according to them, so likely to be biased) they're rated as highly as any Russell Group university by employers
( Cap'n Tallbeard, Fri 12 Jan 2007, 14:21, archived)

What's the Russell Group?

( Moon Girl Technologies horrendous beanbag, Fri 12 Jan 2007, 14:23, archived)

I think it's universities like Durham, Bristol, Edinburgh, Warwick
that are generally considered to be very good

EDIT: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Russell_Group Durham's not a member
( Cap'n Tallbeard, Fri 12 Jan 2007, 14:25, archived)