Cheapest way to study for a Degree?

essexsi_2

Hi all,

I would like to study for a degree, just for personal satisfaction. I am not even sure what I would like to study!!! However I would like to do something constructive with my time instead of just vegging out infront of the TV all the time.

I have looked at the Open University but this still costs quite alot of money. Are there any cheaper options or methods that people have used.

I appreciate any input.

Cheers Si

terryw

The OU is likely to be the cheapest way to go. There are are schemes for remit of fees if you can fulfil the criteria. I really can't understand why anyone who wants a degree does not go via OU...........even if you have to pay the fees, you are able to work and do not not have to borrow megaamounts which have to be paid back later via student loans.

go for it

terryw

scubaangel

If you shop at tesco you can use the Clubcard Deals to get OU vouchers, Im about 1/3 of the way through a degree with the OU and have paid for around half of my courses that way.

Their financial aid is pretty good too if you qualify.

Sailor_Sam

Do you get any benefits ? I am doing a OU degree, started this year, but do not have to pay because i am on benefit

Woodyrocks

Sailor_Sam wrote: »

Do you get any benefits ? I am doing a OU degree, started this year, but do not have to pay because i am on benefit

Sam, are you getting ALL your degree paid for P/T I imagine? Can you please provide more info :beer:

bestpud

It depends on your income.

If you earn less than £16k and have no other source of income (ie partner etc) then you can get a HE grant to help cover tuition fees and books etc. You can get up to £1040 (roughly) a year for doing 50% of a part time course. It is on a sliding scale if your income is higher than that.

Many unis now run modules in the evening so that may be an option for you.

I would definitely check out the OU too though as sometimes you can get help even though it isn't immediately obvious. Again, it depends on your income though.

Oldernotwiser

Just to add that the OU criteria are based on household income. (I'm sure Bestpud meant this but I was just clarifying it).

uktyler

Woodyrocks wrote: »

Sam, are you getting ALL your degree paid for P/T I imagine? Can you please provide more info :beer:

I work, and our family income is about £18,000 a year. I get full financial support, which allows me to study for 120 points. (I was supposed to pay an extra £40, but they waived it this year, however you can pay with Tesco clubcard points). You need 360 for a degree, so it is the equivilant of full time study.

I also receive approx £250 a year towards study costs, and was give £250 towards a computer during my first year.

essexsi_2

Thanks all for taking the time to reply.

So, no secret MSE way to a degree then! I did fill out the OU online financial assistant form and it said I would be due £200. Is that each year or per course, it's just not very clear?

Just a couple of other questions if thats ok. I already have 120 credits from the first year of a Sports science degree that I had to drop out of. Would they take this as Accredited Prior Learning?

Also do you have to nominate that you want to do the degree or can you build up the certificates towards the degree? Again, its not exactly clear on the website! Does not bode well if I cannot even understand the website.

And I need to get a Tesco club card then!

Thanks for your help. Cheers Si

scubaangel

You can apply to have prior learning credits applied but I dont know if you would have to specify a degree path to do that.
Personally Im just taking courses without linking them to a final degree which I feel leaves me with more flexibility to change the final degree title, which at the moment for me could be BSc Sciences or BSc Natural Sciences. Although I think if you did choose to link your courses to a specific qualification you can unlink them again if you wanted to later on.
Once you register on a course you can see the qualifications it can link to and from there can plan a degree path or Certificate path and save it without actually committing yourself to doing it. Although again I didnt bother with that feature until Id done three or four short courses to narrow the options slightly.