Does Previous O.U Degree Count for Sudent Finance

yogi01

Hi,

I did an Open University degree about 8 years ago and completed it although it took me 7 years. I studied whilst working full time and recieved no funding apart from about £200 a year from my employer as part of a general education contribution for any education course for all employees.
My question is when I do the student finance calculator at Directgov it asks if I have a previous Higher Education qualification, which I have, albeit I had no 'Student Finance' to support it or attended a conventional uni studying full time. Will I be entitled to the full Tuition / Maintenance Loan / Grant, as I'm considering undertaking a 2 year Foundation degree at local college full time this Sept?

Many thanks for any advice.

Taiko

No, you are ineligible. As you were awarded a qualification, it will count against you.

yogi01

Thanks, does it matter that I never recieved full, or any funding, from the OU or Student Finance during my distance learning studies, all self study from home and full time employment? I paid about £3.5k out of my own pocket to fund it.

copa_feela

yogi01 wrote: »

Thanks, does it matter that I never recieved full, or any funding, from the OU or Student Finance during my distance learning studies, all self study from home and full time employment? I paid about £3.5k out of my own pocket to fund it.

It does not matter, if you have an Honours degree you are not eligible for "first degree" funding.

yogi01

Thanks, I do understand and appreciate your feedback, it just seems unfair that as I had no "first degree funding" I will be treated exactly the same as anyone who previously studied full time, and funded through the conventional degree route.

Oldernotwiser

yogi01 wrote: »

Thanks, I do understand and appreciate your feedback, it just seems unfair that as I had no "first degree funding" I will be treated exactly the same as anyone who previously studied full time, and funded through the conventional degree route.

Although you may have paid for the course yourself it was enormously subsidised and so you are deemed to have already received public funding for. It's no consolation but the same thing applies for students who've done a degree at a bricks and mortar university, paid their own fees and received no grants or loans.

Sorry.