Open University PC Grants- Unrealistic...

bestpud

wontonsoup wrote: »

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.

Why thank you; charmed I'm sure! :rolleyes:

Part time students get a one off course grant and nothing for computers.

As already said, you cannot study full time with the OU.

If you have already received student finance in the past, then full time funding would not be an option for you anyway.

lynzpower

Can I ask a little bit more about NUS for those helpful enough to share?

I wonder if anyone can advise. I'm going to be completing a degree completing 120 credit starting feb2010 ( hopefully)

Do i qualify for NUS? I would like a card after all there are many discounts etc you can get with NUS.

Would love to know more x

Rosie75

lynzpower wrote: »

Can I ask a little bit more about NUS for those helpful enough to share?

I wonder if anyone can advise. I'm going to be completing a degree completing 120 credit starting feb2010 ( hopefully)

Do i qualify for NUS? I would like a card after all there are many discounts etc you can get with NUS.

Would love to know more x

I'm pretty sure you can. It looks at though you order your card directly from the NUS website rather than picking it up from your local student union branch. See:
http://portal.kb.nus.org.uk/al/12/1/article.aspx?aid=1177&tab=faq&bt=4&r=0.5718027

Mich81

lynzpower wrote: »

Can I ask a little bit more about NUS for those helpful enough to share?

I wonder if anyone can advise. I'm going to be completing a degree completing 120 credit starting feb2010 ( hopefully)

Do i qualify for NUS? I would like a card after all there are many discounts etc you can get with NUS.

Would love to know more x

Yes, I'm only doing 60 points this year and just got my card through the post.

Just go onto the NUS site, and they need to know your OU identification number - you'll need to be able to upload a photograph of yourself for the card, and it costs £10, well worth it for the discounts you get.

If you've already registered then you may be able to get one now, as the card runs from September-August :T

Zziggi

lynzpower wrote: »

Can I ask a little bit more about NUS for those helpful enough to share?

I wonder if anyone can advise. I'm going to be completing a degree completing 120 credit starting feb2010 ( hopefully)

Do i qualify for NUS? I would like a card after all there are many discounts etc you can get with NUS.

Would love to know more x

Is it actually a NUS card you want or just a "student card"? Some place will accept the free OU student card for student discounts, other places insist on a NUS card. I've never had my OU student card refused and told I must show a NUS card.

You can get the free OU card by sending a passport photo & a photocopy of a letter as proof you are on the course (the letter welcoming you to your course?). You then send it to OUSA in Walton Hall. Your local regional office will be able to give you the address/phone number. I sent for mine within the last 2 weeks & i remember the address begin Loretta Sousa Membership Desk, OUSA membership services, OU, PO Box ???, Walton Hall, Milton Keynes, MK7 ???

bestpud

Rosie75 wrote: »

I'm pretty sure you can. It looks at though you order your card directly from the NUS website rather than picking it up from your local student union branch. See:
http://portal.kb.nus.org.uk/al/12/1/article.aspx?aid=1177&tab=faq&bt=4&r=0.5718027

Yes, you can get one, as said, but you have to collect it from your SU so they can verify you are a student.

It's always worth asking wherever you shop, as many places accept them (even some small independents), but they don't often adverstise the fact.

olly300

beverleyhdsn1983 wrote: »

Wow, well done. Thats actually reassuring because I was worrying slightly about non attendance but with three children under 4 its nigh on impossible.

Some courses give you the option of online tutorials which have varying amounts of interactivity.

This means you never have to leave your house, or in the case of some of the students I've had tutorials with, leave your office.

There are also OU forums where you can seek help and advice from other students.

kibs

Hi, tutorials are not compulsory. Never been to one yet as they interfere with other commitments. As yet I have not failed a course, there is other help available such as email/phone contact with tutors and various online groups. If you are a member of facebook, there are various groups there (sorry if I am not supposed to mention the sites name), then of course the OU itself has various forums. Other sources of help available is by calling the OU themselves.

Books - OU provide all the materials that you need. The only thing you will need in addition is paper, pens and basic stationary. IF you require any reading material, you can pick the books up cheaper from places such as ebay and gumtree, and of course you might get lucky and get them free from freecycle. Plus there is the local library.

You can pick up very decent laptops for less than £400 with a 3 year guarantee
http://www.studentstore.co.uk/default.aspx

The OU also provide links for free software such as KAZ for speed typing, and star office. But if you are a microsoft person and insist on having their office software then this can be obtained cheaply through

https://student.theultimatesteal.co.uk/ Which is £38.95

Or

http://www.software4students.co.uk/

You can also purchase a NUS discount card for £10. This gives you various discounts for various places, including 12% off at Rymans.

The residential also might not be compulsory, there are usually the online equivilants of these as well. The compulsory bit depends on the course, the same with day schools.

If I went to 'regular' University it would cost a lot more, considering the amount of student loans that I would also have to take out. You also do have the option of getting low cost loans from the OU, talk to them about this.

Impet_Limpet

bestpud wrote: »

Yes, you can get one, as said, but you have to collect it from your SU so they can verify you are a student.

This isn't necessary for the OU, they will always post your NUS card out to your home address as they don't have a SU. Your PI number acts as your verification of being a student. :j

bestpud

Martine1081 wrote: »

This isn't necessary for the OU, they will always post your NUS card out to your home address as they don't have a SU. Your PI number acts as your verification of being a student. :j

Oops, good point!

I had it in my head lynzpower was at a conventional uni! :doh: