Open University PC Grants- Unrealistic...

beverleyhdsn1983

You can get a decent laptop for £250, an all in one printer scanner for less than £40. The books can be bought on ebay at a fractiob altho not needed for some courses. Im in my 2nd year and have never been to a tutorial and have managed very well on TMA's so far.

~*~Louisa~*~

the pc grant is deffinatly £140? i think lmao it was £100 something

Im applying to the access to learning fund for EVERYthing else because even with the £260 the traveling to tutarials and day schools would cost that (Im doing a single 60 point course and i have 2 day schools and 4 tutorials during the whole year) dont forget tutarials are optional although reccomended

I know some tutor groups set up there own monthly/weekly study sessions too

bestpud

wontonsoup wrote: »

I commence a course with the Open University in October and the funding is very minimal when compared to attending any other university. I have £140 PC Grant and £260 course grant to last the entire year and to purchase a computer, peripherals (Printer, Scanner etc.), set books, travel to lectures, travel to residential schools that are located around the country and computer software. It is absolutely impossible as you have to buy the computer new!

I know there is an access to learning fund, but do not know how that works and how much you can get from it. I am currently on incapacity benefit due to illness and cannot work, even though I am constantly searching for jobs I may be able to do from home.

If anyone has any advice or tips, I would be very grateful. Please no nasty comments.

I'm not sure what you mean by the funding being less than other unis?

If you studied the equivalent course at a traditional uni, you'd only get the £260 course grant and nothing for a computer...

Full time funding is different, but you aren't doing a full time course.

olly300

The OU recommend software for you to use that is free.

However if you have a specific need for certain software people on this board or the IT board can recommend you a free product that has the same/similar functionality.

To be honest with printers you are better off not printing stuff out. This is because ink cartridges tend to be expensive for cheap printers i.e. those that cost under £50. I would strongly suggest you ensure you check the monitor you get is easy to read from as this will save you money. (And will also limit the amount of paper you have in your house.)

As regards to a scanner I've had one for years and that is the functionality in my printer/scanner/fax that I rarely use. This is due to being able to get a lot of documents online or emailed to me.

If you want more help from people I suggest you tell people what course you are doing. I know from the language courses I'm doing I was told specifically not to buy one of the set books as it was a waste of money.

flower24

~*~Louisa~*~ wrote: »

the pc grant is deffinatly £140? i think lmao it was £100 something

Im applying to the access to learning fund for EVERYthing else because even with the £260 the traveling to tutarials and day schools would cost that (Im doing a single 60 point course and i have 2 day schools and 4 tutorials during the whole year) dont forget tutarials are optional although reccomended

I know some tutor groups set up there own monthly/weekly study sessions too

it must have gone down then this year as I got £245 in feb, and £255 study grant

wontonsoup

bestpud wrote: »

I'm not sure what you mean by the funding being less than other unis?

If you studied the equivalent course at a traditional uni, you'd only get the £260 course grant and nothing for a computer...

Full time funding is different, but you aren't doing a full time course.

You have no idea what you are on about. I got (as do millions of others) a good couple of thousand in grants at university. You do get a hell of a lot of support at university, not here. And you get grants throughout the year, not just a one off payment, which is entirely unrealistic. You also have the option of low interest student loans from the government, not here.

I am doing a full time course actually, I am studying 120 points which is FULL TIME, please do not comment on things you do not know, it is very irritating.

welshmoneylover

In Wales we get £1075 :rotfl:per academic year for the grant.

Was going to finish my degree next year, but decided to split my final 120 points to 60 each :beer:

We do not get the computer grant tho,

wontonsoup

immynjoesmum wrote: »

When I got the PC grant it was £240, are you sure you haven't got £240? The total of your PC grant and study grant should come to £500. (That was only in Feb by the way). We're on JSA atm and I'm sorry but I can afford everything needed for my course. You shouldn't need a printer as most courses actually want you to send your assignments via the internet. I don't have one. If you ever did need to print any work then there's the library. Tutorials are not compulsary but for a 60 point course I had 1 tutorial per month, so if you're doing two courses probably 2 tutorials a month, I don't think that'll break the bank.

I wish it was £240, it's only £140. The total comes to £400. I understand your situation and thanks for your advice. Good luck with the course!

wontonsoup

EmmEve wrote: »

wow wish i could get ANY funding. I can't afford to do a course.

I'm sure you can, unless you're miss moneybags

wontonsoup

PasturesNew wrote: »

When I did some OU degree courses there were no grants... you either coughed up or you didn't do it. Which, actually, meant mostly I didn't do it.

I'm now getting the impression there's lots of grants etc ... and am going to be looking into it again.

As for lectures ... there weren't any when I did courses with them. There was one residential school that was compulsory (first year, one week).

What course are you on?

There isn't a lot of grants available, trust me. If £400 is a lot of funding, then look in to it I personally cannot afford to buy anything other than a few pens and paper. There is an access to learning fund which I wanted to know about but no one seems to be able to help on that one...