MSE News: Open University pulls plug on Tesco-funded degrees

MrsManda

My courses with the OU were both level 1 short course science modules. They were important to me as I didn't have the A-level grades required for my degree programme and I hadn't studied at all since I took my A-levels in 2003. These courses allowed me to prove to the university (and myself) that I was still capable of learning, especially studying science and I got a place - I wouldn't have even got an interview without these.

The_Body_Shop_Debs

Hi can anyone tell me if the OU vouchers when issued have your name on them?
Kind regards
TBSD:beer:

Stryder

Yes

They are standard Tesco Clubcard deal vouchers with your name.

Just a note - Tesco said existing students should be able to get Level 1 courses on the vouchers - waiting for the OU to confirm
they look a little like this

Dinah93

We realised a new issue last night. Our OU vouchers are dated the 31st March, but the OU still don't have prices up on their website...

Stryder

Dinah93 wrote: »

We realised a new issue last night. Our OU vouchers are dated the 31st March, but the OU still don't have prices up on their website...

you mean you were given vouchers with 31st march 2010 as the expiry date?

When did you get them? phone Mr T and let us know how you did

MrsManda

Dinah93 wrote: »

We realised a new issue last night. Our OU vouchers are dated the 31st March, but the OU still don't have prices up on their website...

That's fine, give their customers services a ring. They'll take the voucher numbers, cancel them and send you new ones with a 2 year expiry date on them. We've just done that as we found a load of them from before we moved house - some ran out in 2008!

Dinah93

Stryder wrote: »

you mean you were given vouchers with 31st march 2010 as the expiry date?

When did you get them? phone Mr T and let us know how you did

Yes The OU vouchers they issued have the 31st March as expiry date. They no longer renew vouchers going out of time if they arre actual clubcard vouchers, as my mum discovered a few weeks ago. We're going to call the OU to start with, see if they won't take them now since if you register online it does seem to eventually give a price.

Stryder

well it seems less likely that I will get on my course next year as tesco now will not be sending the vouchers out until the 9th of may, not the 25th April like they stated earlier.

anyone else here smalls a rat. If they mess me around I will definately boycott them as they seem to be doing everything to annoy me. This is customer service of such poor levels its hard to believe. what is going on!

Stryder

further note - apparently there is an easter mailing so some people may get there vouchers early. However, dont think i will as my account page pays i should wait until after May 9th. think there is something very dodgy going on at Tescos. again

Dinah93

We've had our Easter mailing, only about £2.50 each, but it means we now have all the OU vouchers for my H2Bs courses next year save for £5 in real money we need to spend, going to send them off tomorrow. He's taken on extra modules next year to make the most of the vouchers while they're here, leaving only 4 remaining that we'll need to save up for to get his degree.