Similar to Open University but cheaper?

catkins

First of all I apologise if this is on the wrong thread but I couldn't decide where to put it and I know this board gets lots of views.

I am in my late 50's and don't work, partly due to my health. I try and keep myself busy during the day - walking my dog, reading, doing crosswords, suduko etc, knitting, cooking, bit of housework but I feel I want to do something more. I did do some volunteer work in a charity shop which I loved but the Manager was a real pain and because I couldn't make it a couple of times due to my health (I always phoned and said I couldn't get in) started being funny to me (he made anyone who didn't go in have a back to work interview even though we were volunteers!!). Anyway that has put me off of doing anything like that again even though I know other Managers would not be such a***holes.

I was thinking about doing some sort of learning. I left school at 17 with a few GCE's but have never done any sort of course of learning since. I loved English and History in particular at school.

I have just looked at the Open University and there is just no way I can afford their fees, also I can't afford evening classes as my husband works so wouldn't qualify for any reductions.

Does anyone know of anything similar but cheaper? It doesn't have to be to gain a qualification such as GCE although that would be nice.

foreign_correspondent

How about the University of the Third Age? - http://www.u3a.org.uk/ - as I understand it, there is no set lower age limit, but it is for people who have ended their working life, or, alternatively, the Workers Educaitonal Association (open to all, not just workers!) http://www.wea.org.uk/

Good luck!

ostrichnomore_2

If you are just looking to do this for personal satisfaction

Open University has a large number of free courses that are extracts from their main courses. find them here: http://www.open.edu/openlearn/

Or if you want to do full courses:
Open University also has a scheme called Access to Success, for people with household income of under £25k. The first Access year costs only £25, and the second year is also at a reduced rate (although not quite as generous). However, there is also a National Scholarship programme that covers the cost of both years. Full details here: http://www3.open.ac.uk/study/undergraduate/qualification/ways-to-pay/access-to-success.htm

There's also coursera - offering free online short courses from various universities see - https://www.coursera.org/

Lara44

If you don't need a qualification you can take a range of courses online at a distance for free. This article describes the free courses (called MOOCS) a bit more. HTH

catkins

foreign_correspondent wrote: »

How about the University of the Third Age? - http://www.u3a.org.uk/ - as I understand it, there is no set lower age limit, but it is for people who have ended their working life, or, alternatively, the Workers Educaitonal Association (open to all, not just workers!) http://www.wea.org.uk/

Good luck!

Never heard of this. Will look into it so thanks for the info.

ostrichnomore wrote: »

If you are just looking to do this for personal satisfaction

Open University has a large number of free courses that are extracts from their main courses. find them here: http://www.open.edu/openlearn/

Or if you want to do full courses:
Open University also has a scheme called Access to Success, for people with household income of under £25k. The first Access year costs only £25, and the second year is also at a reduced rate (although not quite as generous). However, there is also a National Scholarship programme that covers the cost of both years. Full details here: http://www3.open.ac.uk/study/undergraduate/qualification/ways-to-pay/access-to-success.htm

There's also coursera - offering free online short courses from various universities see - https://www.coursera.org/

I didn't realise the OU did free courses. Will look into that. It would be nice to maybe take an exam but I think as it is so long since I did any real learning that I should start off gently and see how I get on. I am obviously not used to sitting down and studying and I am the sort of person who is easily distracted. I come on this site intending to spend half an hour and end up still on it hours later sometimes.

Our household income is not under £25k so that wouldn't apply.

Lara44 wrote: »

If you don't need a qualification you can take a range of courses online at a distance for free. This article describes the free courses (called MOOCS) a bit more. HTH

Thanks for this. I remember something about this on breakfast tv a while ago but I couldn't remember what they were called

geekgirl

There are also some free online courses being run in conjunction with the Open University. Find them here Future Learn.

Dunroamin

OU courses are now funded by student loans which don't start to be repaid until you earn £21,000. As you don't work, presumably you won't have this income so you're unlikely to ever have to make any repayments and the debt will be wiped out.

I'd enrol with the OU and go for it!

http://www3.open.ac.uk/study/undergraduate/qualification/ways-to-pay/england.htm#part-time