Confused about OU course fees

loulou123

Hello i am hoping to do a OU course starting in a couple of months.

I have just been onto their site and run through the eligibility checker and i am able to get a full grant for course fees as i am on a low income and have a disability.

My question is that the course i want to do may take me a year or so to complete, and in that time i am hoping to move in with my boyfriend (still live with parents at the moment. He earns more than me and our combined income will be over the threshold.

So would i pay the course fees or not, as it asks me to enter last years gross earnings on the checker and obviously last year that is just my earnings. Or would it be a case of having to start paying the course once we move in together (am thinking late this year/early next year at moment.)

Am completely confused and wanted to work this out before i apply for the grant as dont want to get into trouble for doing it wrong!

Gingerbiscuit_2

Hi, Ive done lots of course with OU and got a grant while I was working to cover some of the costs. I would send it off for the next course based on what you earn know. There is always going to be some changes payrise/get layed off etc.
Most OU course are 9m though Im guessing your next start date will be in october. You cant really put your partners wage yet and as you are not living with him then its still telling the truth.
Hope that helps, the OU have helpline if you want to check details but im pretty sure even thought woulnt ask you to base payments upon what might or might not happen in a year.

Oldernotwiser

It will be just your income for the module you start this year but you will be assessed on total household income once he has moved in for other modules you start in the future. When this happens, bear in mind that the OU allows you to spread the cost of the fees over the period of the course.

loulou123

Thank you both for your quick replys.

Guess thinking it about it now, anything could happen to anyone during a year so they would kind of have to base it on your circumstances now wouldnt they? Or no-one would ever know what to put!