Single parent and studying for a degree

Jet

I have a friend who has 4 kids who wants to study for a degree via the OU.

Can anyone advise what sort of financial help she will get and what benefits she will keep / lose?

Her youngest child is 7, if that makes a difference.

Thanks.

mummyroysof3

i would advise using the financial support section on the OU website in order to work out what help they would get. Not sure how it would affect the benefits they get though if at all. hth

stiltwalker

Hi, I'm a stay at home mum with a nearly 2 yr old and a big bump and have just started my OU degree. My OH is on a lowish wage and I qualified for full financial support and a small non repayable bursry to help with books etc. It is dependant on doing a degree for vocational purposes ie with a view to help improving employment prospects at some point in future not just because you fancy studying whatever so I had to confirm this and put down which degree I was working towards (childhood and youth studies in my case so I can look for jobs within education with term time hours when the kids are at school) rather than doing the general one which you can pick and choose any units you fancy that make up the correct no of credits. Your friend will also need to apply in plenty of time as the applications for financial suport close earlier than applications for a course. I originally wanted to start last October but missed the deadline for financial support so ended up applying for the February start instead.

LuceB84

I've recently just started an OU degree in health and social care, as my partner and i have a low income then i also got full financial support which paid for my course fees and also a non repayable grant at the start of my course for £265. Also a extra grant can be applied for of £140 to be put towards the course grant to purchase a computer if your friend doesn't have access to one. As far as i'm aware it doesn't affect benefits but she would probably be best off discussing it with the jobcentre just to double check

podperson

If she's on low income/benefits then she should get financial help with the course and it shouldn't affect her benefits as it's not classed as 'full-time studying'. I've been doing courses for nearly 3 years now and in that time have been on tax credits and jobseekers and it hasn't affected either since I was still either working or looking for work while doing it.

Becles

I'm married with three children and have just finished a degree with the OU and it was really hard juggling study with work, children, housework etc.

Is she aware it's not easy and it's going to be a huge challenge for her? I wouldn't want her to take on too much as it's very time consuming and there is some pressure when assignments and exams are due.

Ms_Magnetite

Essentially, she will a grant for most, if not all the fees, a one off grant towards a computer (£250 ish), a yearly grant of around £250 and she will not lose benefits, as the OU is designed to be fitted around work, so they can't tell her she has to give it up to remain on benefits. At least, depending on how much central government cut from the OU's funding, that is what she will receive currently.

Start small and build up to study. There are special grants from the OU themselves for short courses (which don't attract central funding or grants).

It is worth it in the end, though, and she'll have so many useful skills to take to a future employer on top of a respected qualification. Plus quite a lot of confidence in herself as a result.

Poly,put_the_kettle_on

If she's studying more than 30 credits, she will have her fees paid. Depending on the course, most/all of the learning materials are supplied by the OU. She would also be entitled to a yearly course grant of £265, paid just after the course starts. None of that affects benefits.
There is also a PC grant available. This is currently £135, to be combined with the course grant. You have to purchase a new laptop/pc, and claim the £135 back afterwards. This however, could affect benefit, so she would need to check.

I'm currently doing a 60, and a 30 point course. The 30 point one is far less than half the work of the 60 pointer, as is often the case. However, in order to qualify for full help, she needs to "commit" to completing the degree in no more than twice the time of a full time student, so she'd have 6 years. Therefore for a 360pt degree, she'd need to take on 60 points a year.

HTH- the finance figures I've quoted are for this year.