Open University Funding Questions from a Newbie!

rappion

Hi Everyone,

I'm seriously thinking about going to Open University to do courses towards a BSc Computing and Statistics starting with MU120 and M150. I'm sure it's the right course for me and I want to start in October this year.

I'm a little confused about the funding available though as some of the FAQs on the OU website seem to differ to posts I've seen on here so I wondered if I could ask for some answers to questions from you good people who have been through the application process for the OU before.

• When you register for the OU courses you want to do, does the OU send you the funding forms or do you have to find them yourself?
• Is the funding applied for through the OU or through your local council?
• The computer and internet grants - do you apply for them? do you buy a PC and send the receipt? or is it given to you as long as you've applied?
• Do you have to re-apply for funding each year if you're doing an overally course that lasts more than 1 year?
• I'm 32 now and had a stab at a degree 12 years ago which didn't work for me at the time. Does anyone know if this is likely to go against me when I apply for funding for this OU course? The uni and course were different and I'm not in the same local authority area now.
• Also, does anyone know if you are unsuccessful at an exam on an OU course, can you re-take it as part of the course fee or would you need to pay the full course fee again to retake?

Any help from anyone with past experience would be very greatfully apprciated as the financial application seems to be very confusing to me!

Thanks,

Steve

Misty_Blue

I don't know the answer to all your questions, but I can give you some info from my own recent experience.

When you register, there's a box to tick to say you want to apply for funding. The OU then send out the forms for you to fill in.

The funding is applied for through the OU.

The forms for the computer grants are sent out (I think to anyone who received funding) shortly before the start of the course. You have to provide a receipt to prove that you used the funding for the purpose for which it was intended.

I don't think the fact that you've done some degree studying before will count against you. You may even be able to credit transfer, depending on what you studied and how far you got.

Good luck - I recently started my first OU course and am loving it.

rinkydinkpanther

If you are required to do a resit or a resubmission, you pay a resit fee which is about £80. You are only allowed one resit, if you fail that then you would have to do the whole course again, and pay the whole course fee again.

rappion

Thankyou Misty Blue and rinkydink panther. That is great help!

What course are you taking Misty Blue?

redmel1621

rappion wrote: »

Hi Everyone,

I'm seriously thinking about going to Open University to do courses towards a BSc Computing and Statistics starting with MU120 and M150. I'm sure it's the right course for me and I want to start in October this year.

I'm a little confused about the funding available though as some of the FAQs on the OU website seem to differ to posts I've seen on here so I wondered if I could ask for some answers to questions from you good people who have been through the application process for the OU before.

• When you register for the OU courses you want to do, does the OU send you the funding forms or do you have to find them yourself?
• You select the option to say you require funding and they will send the forms out to you, alternatively there is a link where you can print them out...but there are a lot of pages!!!
• Is the funding applied for through the OU or through your local council?
• It is applied for through the Open University.
• The computer and internet grants - do you apply for them? do you buy a PC and send the receipt? or is it given to you as long as you've applied?
• You should receive a letter with the forms in, but if you don't get this by the start of the course, give them a ring and they will send one to you. You then need to send them proof that you have purchased a computer.
• Do you have to re-apply for funding each year if you're doing an overally course that lasts more than 1 year?
• Yes, each time you register for a new course you will have to state you want funding... but it is much simpler on subsequent years. The first time you apply you have to send them quite a lot of info.
• I'm 32 now and had a stab at a degree 12 years ago which didn't work for me at the time. Does anyone know if this is likely to go against me when I apply for funding for this OU course? The uni and course were different and I'm not in the same local authority area now.
• No, The Open University is classed as P/T study (even if doing 120pts) so the funding comes under different criteria. As long as you don't already hold a degree, it is fine.
• Also, does anyone know if you are unsuccessful at an exam on an OU course, can you re-take it as part of the course fee or would you need to pay the full course fee again to retake?
• You are able to have a re-sit, my husband did this with no additional charges. If you fail this one then you would have to retake, and pay for the whole course again.

Any help from anyone with past experience would be very greatfully apprciated as the financial application seems to be very confusing to me!

Thanks,

Steve

hope that helps

Mel x

Misty_Blue

rappion wrote: »

What course are you taking Misty Blue?

W100 - Rules, Right and Justice. Hopefully as part of an LLB (Hons).

rappion

Thanks Mel, that's an amazing help! I feel so much more confident applying now!

Misty_Blue wrote: »

W100 - Rules, Right and Justice. Hopefully as part of an LLB (Hons).

How are you finding it so far?

Misty_Blue

rappion wrote: »

How are you finding it so far?

Initially it was a bit of a struggle to actually open the first book, but once I started I really began to enjoy it. I've just had my first assignment back and got quite a good score, so that's encouraging as I've been out of education since my late teens - about 10 years.

It's early days for me, but from what I've experienced so far, I'd recommend the OU to anybody.

tonysgirl

I think there are specific criteria you have to meet to get funding, eg it has to be at a certain level or be a certain no. of points, I can't remember specifics sorry but I don't think you'll get funding for the smaller courses just the juicier ones.