want to study OU but already full time student

supersaverkerry

Hi everyone

I am currently doing K101 with Open University. This course is paid up so no worries there.

I have registered for a level 3 access course at the local college for September and although it is only 2 days a week it is counted as full time.

I am also registered for my next module of OU to start in October and as our income is £22,000 I am eligible for a fee grant and a study grant.

But what I am thinking is will they allow a grant to someone who is already a full time student elsewhere?

Also I plan to start a part time job in December if all goes well, so what happens then, if I have already had the grant do they take money back off us as my income has gone up?

If anyone can help that would be great :beer:

Dunroamin

Before answering your specific questions, what is the reason for studying both with the OU and doing an Access course?

alyth

I did it the opposite way, I'm a full time uni student despite only having 6 hours of classes a week, and enquired with the OU about whether I could do my uni degree and a few OU modules - my income being less than the amount the OU take into account for fee payment. It got very complicated so in the end I rang the OU and the answer was no - if you receive a student loan then you're not eligible for OU funding for a course.

However I am in Scotland and the OU applies different regulations between Scotland and England. The best thing really is to call the OU for advice.

supersaverkerry

My reason for doing both is, I already started with OU back in 2008 and began working towards an open degree. I want to see this through. I am now doing the access course because I am considering going into nursing when my little ones are older and I will need GCSE science for this, the science course would cost me £500 however as I am under 25 I can do a level 3 access course for free as i do not already hold a level 3, this is the last year I can do this as I will be 25 shortly. The course negates the need for GCSE science as it is a science for the health professions access course.

I enjoy learning and want to carry on my OU studies, I do not have the time to learn more than one course at a time in a brick college and also if I study this year I get transitional fee with OU rather than having to change to the massive new fees which I would be unable to afford.

Alyth - I not sure my situation would be the same as yours though? I am not a full time uni/higher ed student, my access course is a college course, its further ed not higher and to my knowledge I will not get a student loan either. My course fee will ve paid but that is under the level 3 entitlement scheme.

If it comes to it I will just pay via OUSBA, but of course if i can get any help with fees that will be great as it takes the pressure off a bit.

Dunroamin

supersaverkerry wrote: »

My reason for doing both is, I already started with OU back in 2008 and began working towards an open degree. I want to see this through. I am now doing the access course because I am considering going into nursing when my little ones are older and I will need GCSE science for this, the science course would cost me £500 however as I am under 25 I can do a level 3 access course for free as i do not already hold a level 3, this is the last year I can do this as I will be 25 shortly. The course negates the need for GCSE science as it is a science for the health professions access course.

I enjoy learning and want to carry on my OU studies, I do not have the time to learn more than one course at a time in a brick college and also if I study this year I get transitional fee with OU rather than having to change to the massive new fees which I would be unable to afford.

Alyth - I not sure my situation would be the same as yours though? I am not a full time uni/higher ed student, my access course is a college course, its further ed not higher and to my knowledge I will not get a student loan either. My course fee will ve paid but that is under the level 3 entitlement scheme.

If it comes to it I will just pay via OUSBA, but of course if i can get any help with fees that will be great as it takes the pressure off a bit.

That makes sense but I wonder whether you've asked the university where you want to study nursing whether they will accept an OU science course instead of the GCSE? As you're working towards an open degree you could do this and, even if you end up doing the whole degree with the OU, you could still get funding to do an NHS nursing degree in the future.

Apart from the funding situation, you would also avoid the problem of the Access course "expiring" before you're ready to train to nurse. Many degree courses at bricks and mortar are happy to accept one or more OU units instead of traditional qualifications so it really is worth enquiring about this.

popadom

I have completed some Open University modules but last year Idecided to go to college so I could go to a brick and mortar university. Iundertook an access course . I tried to do both and in the end,by November I had to give up. I’m not the sort to normally do that as I have inthe past have two open university modules overlap and completed them as well ascompleting another distance learning course. But on an Access course it isreally intense.


I know you want to finish it, but I would ask if you coulddefer. How long have you got left until you complete your OU course? As someelse has said, Access courses expire, and I think they are only valid for 3years.

As I had already got my Open University grant, I wasn’t eligiblefor any student grants while in college, so you would want to check this out as it may have changed.

With the Open University they assess you on the point inwhich you asked to be assessed. So it doesn’t matter if you later get a job.

honey10

If you aren't actually receiving any financial support from your college for your access course, then you can still get financial support from the OU to do your degree.

However, I would register with the more important (in your eyes) first just in case of hiccups.

Currently I'm registered for an OU module, a Vision2Learn qualification and (fingers crossed) an Access course, all 'free'.
Apparently this is because I'm under 25, so I would imagine it's the same for you.

Also, I would look into the Adult Learner Grant, it's up to £30 a week for attending your course, the college told me about it.

Dunroamin

honey10 wrote: »

Also, I would look into the Adult Learner Grant, it's up to £30 a week for attending your course, the college told me about it.

Unfortunately the ALG is no longer available.

honey10

Dunroamin wrote: »

Unfortunately the ALG is no longer available.

Is it not called something else now? The college offered me something, but I wasn't taking much notice if I'm honest.

Dunroamin

honey10 wrote: »

Is it not called something else now? The college offered me something, but I wasn't taking much notice if I'm honest.

There's now something called Discretionary Learner Support http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/EducationAndLearning/AdultLearning/FinancialHelpForAdultLearners/DG_10033131

Unlike the ALG, this is (as the name implies) discretionary and will vary from college to college.

nimbo

If you get a degree from the OU you will be entitled to less support when studying for your degree in nursing.

You may want to see it through but it may be in your interests to let it fall fallow, if you want to get a degree in nursing.

Also will you really honestly have the time, energy and inclination?