Financial help/grant for a computer while at the OU

MyAnda_2

Hi all,

I'm an undergraduate student at Open Uni about to start a Health and Social Care degree. Problem is I don't have a computer of my own to study on. I am on job seekers at the mo and really struggling to find a job, I have no kids and technically no home (Currently in a caravan).
This degree was meant to be the start to my new life but i know im really going to struggle without a computer.
Does anybody know of any help I could get? Or any grants I may be eligible for?
Any advice would be so greatly appreciated!!!!

Thanks,
Myanda.

Lokolo

Go to the local library? Ebay? Old computer will only cost £50 odd. Or freecycle.

MyAnda_2

My local library is a £4.00 bus ride away, which I know doesn't seem like much but I only have £53 a week.... and I did buy one on ebay, but turns out it was just mish-mash of spare parts put into a housing, worked for about a month then died! And as for freecycle, ive never seen a computer on there, but I'll certainly keep my eyes peeled!

Ive been looking into grants, and theres loads out there, just that to qualify for most of them you either have to be a foreign student or a lone parent!

melancholly

how are you accessing the internet at the moment? you must have some form of computer to do that?

what budget could you afford?

MyAnda_2

Im on my friends laptop atm, i've borrowed it while shes away on holiday (lucky beggar), but i cant keep borrowing other peoples computers so wanted to get my own... and as for budget, I haven't really got one until i find out if i have qualified for full financial support, then i may have maybe £100 or there abouts.
Was looking to apply for the PC grant the open uni do but they've stopped it

melancholly

hmm... for £100 i don't know. perhaps try ringing some of the BHF furniture and electrical shops. i don't know if they have computers though.

laptops direct have some refurbished desktops for under £150, but i think you'd need to get a monitor separately (although an old CRT one should be easy enough to find for free).

does the OU give you access to other uni libraries?

MyAnda_2

BHF as in british heart foundation? Hmm didnt think of them, I'll have a ring round, thanks....

The last one i bought was suppose to be a 'refurb' but then screwed up so im a little wary of them...

And as for the other uni libraries, im not sure, but they are further away than the local library..

Harlowe

Well the course grant is 265 pounds you can get a decent netbook for cheap if you hunt around, course books will be about £20-30 but again if you hunt around you can get them for cheaper maybe if you can save a bit each week you could add towards the £265 as you won't get the course grant until 3 weeks after the course starts so gives you plenty of time to look around sorry its not a better suggest I'm in the same position.

lin473

MyAnda wrote: »

Hi all,

I'm an undergraduate student at Open Uni about to start a Health and Social Care degree. Problem is I don't have a computer of my own to study on. I am on job seekers at the mo and really struggling to find a job, I have no kids and technically no home (Currently in a caravan).
This degree was meant to be the start to my new life but i know im really going to struggle without a computer.
Does anybody know of any help I could get? Or any grants I may be eligible for?
Any advice would be so greatly appreciated!!!!

Thanks,
Myanda.

It certainly used to be the case as my son was on a low income when he started his OU degree and he got a grant for a laptop.
That was a few years ago though.
I would think it would be best to ring and ask, as many people who reply to threads like this give a negative reply without really knowing the factual answer to the question.

Harlowe

PC grant has been axed as I've enquired myself at OU, I guess you could ask about access to learning fund but not too sure what entitlements there are so like others said I would phone them and ask I'm afraid there is very little available but worth a try, good luck with it.

merlin68

I got mine from an OU grant 3 years ago it was £250 and i added the course grant of £250 and got a decent computer.