OU Fees - can someone confirm these please?

alyth

I want to study through the OU for a BA in English, and booked and paid for a couple of months ago and 10 point course. I've since changed jobs and my salary's down to £15K. Upon checking the OU site tonight, am I right in thinking that I will get my course fees now paid for me - sorry for being stupid, I've filled in the information and the site came up that I could get up to a 60 point course per year free.

Does anyone on here get their fees paid for them like this? Thanks.

Oldernotwiser

alyth wrote: »

I want to study through the OU for a BA in English, and booked and paid for a couple of months ago and 10 point course. I've since changed jobs and my salary's down to £15K. Upon checking the OU site tonight, am I right in thinking that I will get my course fees now paid for me - sorry for being stupid, I've filled in the information and the site came up that I could get up to a 60 point course per year free.

Does anyone on here get their fees paid for them like this? Thanks.

The rules for funding are different for short courses(10 points) than they are for full 60 point courses. I don't have time to check at the moment, but don't assume because 60 points is funded, that 10 points will be as well. Also, OU funding is based on houshold income rather than individual income, which may affect you.

alyth

Thanks - I put in for doing a 60 point course per year, and I live on my own so there's just my income - I know I did it right when I put in the calculations, I just wondered whether anyone had received their fees paid for me - it just quite simply seems to good to be true - I've been desperate to do my degree for years, but could never afford it!

Sneezy

Hi Alyth, i found this on the OU's website: - i don't know if its any use to you(?)

The OU provides financial awards for courses of less than 30 credit points that do not attract any support from the government course fee grant scheme. As this funding is limited, only those students who are unemployed or on certain benefits will generally receive support for these course fees.

http://www3.open.ac.uk/contact/faq.aspx?t=S&cat=1-2IH24G&sol=1-33MLP1

Oldernotwiser

That's the information I was talkingabout!

Alyth, don't worry. With the proviso that we've mentioned, you really will get your OU fees paid for you!
Good Luck.

SWMBO

Yes, I've had funding for 30 & 60 point courses. You can also apply for a one off grant for a computer & internet access. For 10 point courses if you're not eligible for funding (by being on benefits) you can pay using Tesco vouchers.

alyth

oh that is fantastic, thank you all so much - I was staring at the screen for ages last night trying to work out whether it was true or not!

What a fantastic start to the year for me!

welshmoneylover

I got funding for £930 worth of course fees and a grant of £1050 but I live in Wales so I think its more generous down here.

Tesco Clubcard vouchers paid for the balance as well as hard cash!

Sue

elle.woodz

I got funding second year in the row. Mine has been full grant because both years I have been doing 120 points, I still have to pay extra £300 because my courses cost more than the grant (£1180 max per academic year if you do more than 90 points).
Plus, if you qualify you may receive non repayment grant of £250 per academic year towards various study costs.
There is also £245 towards purchase of computer (but one per student only). (I live in London).

Oh and funding is based on previous tax year earnings. Of course if you earn above the threshold you can still can get some financial support.

There is a lot of money and support to get

Ibizavic

I earn below 15k a year and i got full funding for my 60 point course plus the non repayable grant of £255 and funding for a new computer too. The OU are fantastic I would never have had the chance of doing a degree if I had to fund myself through the 5-6 years its going to take me to complete my degree but if you contact the student support people, they are very helpful and will point you in the right direction. Good luck with your course

giggles_alot

Thanks everyone, i also have spent all day looking at courses and trying not to get excitied (thinking the funding was too good to be true).

The course i'm looking at is due to start in Feb 09, its says applications have closed but places maybe available, how likely do you think it is i could get a place? and would i get funding applications in the that time spam?