Part time ou course

peppermintpaddy

Hi,

My situation is that I'm in receipt of income related esa, dla and housing benefit. I haven't worked for a long time due to my health. Whilst I still have the problems and more, I would like to try a part time degree course over 6 years with the open university. At the same time, I am worried about doing this because of my health and a very big concern is that I won't be able to finish. I believe that trying to do this course, part time, from home is ideal for me. I will be able to do a little when I feel I can and don't have to attend a university building. I was thinking of paying the tuition fees myself, as I am unsure if I will be able to 'keep up with the work' due to my illness and then have to go through the long process of reapplying for dla and esa. I would be a mature student. In an deal world I would like to complete the 6 years, get better and get a job. I just don't know whether to stop my benefits and go down the student loan road or keep on the road I am on. This all gets very comlpicated for me, information overload, the benefits system is such a maze for me. I would really appreciate any help or advice from you.

Best wishes

steveymp

A wee phone call to Citizens Advice may get all the details you need, you may be able to do this course with subsidies and continue on your benefits, they should know better for you, but good luck in your endeavours.

qurious

I studied for an ou course part time over quite a few years. As long as you are doing a 60 credit course per year and no more, this is regarded as part time and your benefits should not be affected. As regards paying yourself, you can do this through ousba who pays the upfront fee for the years course and then you pay them back monthly with a small interest fee added for the loan.

thefreckle

peppermintpaddy wrote: »

Hi,

My situation is that I'm in receipt of income related esa, dla and housing benefit. I haven't worked for a long time due to my health. Whilst I still have the problems and more, I would like to try a part time degree course over 6 years with the open university. At the same time, I am worried about doing this because of my health and a very big concern is that I won't be able to finish. I believe that trying to do this course, part time, from home is ideal for me. I will be able to do a little when I feel I can and don't have to attend a university building. I was thinking of paying the tuition fees myself, as I am unsure if I will be able to 'keep up with the work' due to my illness and then have to go through the long process of reapplying for dla and esa. I would be a mature student. In an deal world I would like to complete the 6 years, get better and get a job. I just don't know whether to stop my benefits and go down the student loan road or keep on the road I am on. This all gets very comlpicated for me, information overload, the benefits system is such a maze for me. I would really appreciate any help or advice from you.

Best wishes

Whilst the OU may be the best route for you, studying with one of the local universities may be a better financial option if that was a worry for you.


Student Finance NI fund part time students on their first degree programme up to about £1k per year (though if doing a course over 6 years you wouldn't need anywhere near that amount). The funding is means tested but if you're earning less than £16k or so per year (which I assume you are) then you're entitled to the full amount. They also have a non-means tested grant of around £300 per academic year (to cover books, parking, etc...). Student Finance NI have a website and if you were interested the form you'd need is the PTG1 form.


For OU, I think there's funding for full time distance learning courses, but not for part time unfortunately.


As I said, the OU may well be the best option for you, but it does not harm to know some options locally as well. The info above might help some others who are thinking of completing their first degree but are being held back by financial pressures.

maggiecon

OU courses are generally free if you are on benefits, my husband and I both done modules with them when we were in receipt of benefits.

This is only applicable if you don't already have a degree. Go on their website and use their eligibility checker and it will let you know if you have to pay.

winalot

i did OU study - the only way i would recommend it is if it is free - and even then if there is no other alternative.

wifeforlife

Go for it!!

You'll not be sorry, I'm currently doing a part time short course with OU at the moment and although I paid for it, as I work full time, I would highly recommend them.

The support is fantastic - however you will only get out of it what you put in.

Go onto their website, sign in and have a good read about everything, there is forums and places to ask people who have been through it what they've got out of it.

Also you'll definately get a bursary, just ensure you make the application before accepting the course