Full time student and OU study - am I eligible for OU financial assistance?

alyth

oh I remember now, you posted about having benefits removed or something didn't you, because you were at college. I've worked with civil engineers on and off for years, in temp jobs, it's sounds a fascinating job. Go for it!

I cannot do maths, at college I was so proud of myself when I managed Access 3 maths, I have no idea what the equivalent english qualification to that is, I suspect primary school age!

If it's any inspiration to you, my 61 year old mother is doing her Masters in Maths (or something similar) through the OU. I think I got the studying bug from her as she studies obsessively as well - probably the sign of a sad and lonely life!

GEEGEE8

Yeah, I got made redundant a week ago and the job centre has kicked up a fuss because I go to college. Very poor really, considering I did a full time job ontop of college for all of the year. & also, they aren't even paying me JSA because I had a private income protection policy to cover loss of earnings..! lol - dammit.

I love English too. I would like to do it, but maths would be more beneficial for me. Science would be good too, but I think I'd prefer maths to science.

Civil Engineering is brilliant. I'm 26 and I had no idea what I wanted to do, took this course on a whim really cos OH pressurised me to get my life sorted out lol - can't thank him enough!

My ex was also someone that put me off bettering myself.

Masters in maths! good for her!

I will get funding for one more year, I just want to UCAS points really. If I don't get in this year, I'll go next year.

alyth

ah you're a girlie - in that case I've worked with two or three female civil engineers and they've been really inspirational, one of them was the daughter of a boss and she was out in Australia working as a civil engineering student, must have been some kind of exchange programme.

my mother was the one who got me started on OU, I had recently split after 15 years, went to her graduation, and the guest speaker was a female astronaut who was born in Scotland, and I was just hooked on learning from then. From then I realised that I was doing okay, so jacked in my job, went on the access course, hindsight's a great thing and I got my unconditional from my college/uni based on my OU studies, nothing to do with my access course, which again in hindsight has been trying and perhaps not what I had expected. But you live and learn, hopefully in August I will get three highers out of it!

I think you have to follow your dreams, I'm hitting a big birthday soon and whilst I do have my wobbles, I'm getting better at recognising that everyone has those, and I am retaining so much more knowledge than I think I know. So I would say go for it, there are ways round things, if you don't get the UCAS points go through an access course or clearing.

GEEGEE8

Yeah, a girly think everyone thinks it's a boy in my avatar piccy.. either that or they think I'm gay when I go on about my boyfriend hahaha!

My tutor is female and she is inspirational, she worked on big contracts as a site manager for years, so much she has done. Amazing.

Female astronaut, that is a big task to get to I bet! Bet you have to be good at maths huh..

Are highers the same as A levels?

I'm applying for Uni, not sure if I will get in, it'll cost me £9 to find out, so it's got to be worth a try. If not, free OU for a year, and I can do 2 x 30 point courses in the year and that's more than enough points for applying next year

Big birthday.. eeek! Altho, you have loads of studies to do, that big doggie to look after, and all us on MSE to talk to..

Better than a moaning OH and nothing to look forward to

I would do access course etc, but if I go full time I need some sort of funding to keep me going, which I can't get until uni.

eklynne

alyth wrote: »

I'm well aware of the time required for my degree, I can assure you that I am not kidding myself on. I am looking to study with the OU for at least the first year of my degree then continue with short courses over the summer periods from uni. I've studied with the OU for the last couple of years so am familiar with their requirements. As I've been combining an OU course with my access course I think I can manage to continue the two.

Sorry, I really wasn't being rude or cheeky. I just think it's a bit ambitious. Also, it might be worthwhile taking into account that Uni staff won't be thrilled at trying to help you if you're struggling when they find out that you are undertaking more education elsewhere. Have you been to Uni before? Would you be undertaking 2 degrees concurrently? That is a BIG ask. Trust me. And I would say nigh on impossible when you get into your dissertation year.
You're going straight from access right?

alyth

I'n only planning on doing some OU courses during the summer recess from uni and probably first and second year of my degree. I study for pleasure, I have a lot of spare time and studying fills that!

kiran13xtreme

GEEGEE8 and Alyth... great inspiration for me...

My final year of college sucked big time even though I got excellent grades stuff going on made me take a break but i wanted to also improve my confidence with my maths after taking the starting with maths opening course... I can't believe the amount of confidence it has given. It also meant for the first time I went out of my way to open the maths text book!

Sadly, I have finished the course and hoping to go full time uni, I did go to the OU open day and asked the same question and the advisor replied that the OU cannot give any financial support if you already enrol full time somewhere else. The other issues is that I need to gain permission from the uni to allow me to do the OU course... that socks!

I was impressed by the OU but i feel disheartened. It felt like it was a place where i can catch up where the state education failed me.

Anyway let's see what happens