"Interrupted Study"/OU/Disabled Students

Zziggi

Question quite specific to OU students...

Can anyone help me please?

Someone I know is classed as a disabled student and studying with the OU. They are unlikely to complete this year's study due to illness (connected to their disability). I have heard the term "interrupted study" banded about in OU circles which i think means that if you are unable to finish your year of study you can restart it next academic year at the point where you leave it this year. Therefore any marks you have got for work this year will be carried over (and you won't have to re-do this work).

I know it's a long shot, but does anyone know anything more about this?

Does anyone know where there is a list of courses in which you can apply for "interrupted study" (i know it isn't all courses)?

And an even longer shot.... does anyone know how taking "interupted study" affects your DSA?

Thanks

eclipse

I don't know about the OU. But I thought I'd answer this question with my experiences as it is in some way relevant.

I started and completed my first year in 2003-2004 at university. I then started my second year but had to suspend my studies in December because of my disability (mental health problems). I then started my second year *again* last Sept (2005), but have sadly had to withdraw totally from uni this May because I really wasn't well enough.

Throughout all this time I have been entitled to keep the equipment provided to me from my LEA (e.g. laptop), and I didn't have any reduction in allowances (for e.g. printer ink, photocopying) even though I was repeating a year. And as far as I'm aware, I'm not required to pay any of this back either.

So re the DSA, I think that shouldn't be a problem. And I'm fairly certain that the OU can be flexible about suspending and re-starting - isn't flexibility the whole point of the OU in the first place?

Hope that helps in some way. Emily.

Zziggi

Thanks eclipse. Problem sorted now anyway.