Mature Student Open University Financial Help 31 August 2022 at 2:28PM in Benefits & tax credits 18 replies 1.1K views

bwesting

Hi

Firstly im sorry if this is in the wrong category, I couldn't find the exact one it would fit into!

Brief outline!

Im 37 in the Uk, just left the NHS after 8 years for health reasons, mental and physical, and had decided to retrain via The Open University. Student loan for courses is fine, no problems with getting that but I only found out today that I wouldn't be eligible for any living costs help due to it being distance learning!? This is ridiculous. Distance learning is by far the best option for me due to health but also the fact I have a son and I'm almost 38. I have no desire to go away to university and live the student life and I haven't studied for a long time so would rather do so by myself.

I want to get my degree done in 3 years and not the 6 years a part time student would take. Ive worked all my life apart from a few smaller gaps in my younger age and I certainly don't want to claim benefits as there are others out there that need them far more than I do. The only one I'm in the process of claiming is PIP.

But I feel completely deflated to have found out I'm not going to get any financial help from the government because I'm studying with The OU. Its basically made it impossible for me to do so. The point in leaving my job was to try and get better mentally and physically so the thought of doing a degree part time for 5/6 years whilst also trying to work a job to get some money sounds terrible right now.

Im not a scrounger and I don't expect freebies to be thrown at me for nothing but I didn't expect to not be eligible for any help at all.

Sorry, that wasn't a 'brief' outline at all! If any one who knows about this kind of thing has any information or help, id be very much obliged and grateful. Apologies for the whining sounding post, just feel rather disappointed.

Thank You!

Ben

MalMonroe

Hi, I also studied at Uni as a full time mature student (although I was a bit older than you, 48 at the time) and received exactly the same financial help as any other undergrad. 

Currently my daughter is living with me while she's studying for an MA (not at the OU) and she is entitled to - and is receiving - exactly the same financial help as any other MA student in the UK - tuition and living costs. 

Who has told you that you are not eligible for financial help? Students at the OU are not supposed to be treated any differently from other students.

Are any other universities who offer the course you want to take also offering distance learning? Some of them do, the OU is not your only option for studying from home, so it might be worth your while to do some research on that.

Have you seen this message, taken from the following link -   https://www.open.ac.uk/courses/fees-and-funding

"All OU students are considered part-time students. That means, even if you choose to study at full-time equivalent intensity, you’ll be a part-time student and your eligibility to claim existing state benefits and/or to fund your studies with a Part-Time Tuition Fee loan will usually be unaffected."

There's also this link - https://www.open.ac.uk/choose/openplus/fees-and-financial-support

You can make further enquiries at  -  [email protected]

The information in the following link may also be useful - https://www.gov.uk/mature-student-university-funding

I hope this is somewhat helpful. And also that you manage to enrol on the course you want with financial support. Good luck with everything.

bwesting

Hi

Thanks so much for the reply and all that info, very much appreciated!!

In answer to your question, the Government Student Finance website said that due to The OU being distance learning, I would not be eligible for a cost of living grant/loan. Id had no idea that was going to be an issue before I started applying for my student finance loan.

I'm certainly not work-shy and completely understand people quite regularly work part-time to fund uni but with the health issues, I was very much hoping to be able to do one or the other and not both at the same time.

Yes, I've emailed the Open University and hopefully, they manage to get back to me before the window closes for registration but very much appreciate those links you have sent! I will go and have a look at that last link you sent right now.

Thank You again

All the best

Ben

sheramber

You must apply to the student finance body in your country for tuition fees (please note that OU students are not eligible for maintenance grants, except in Wales where grants for living costs are available):

https://www.ucas.com/undergraduate/what-and-where-study/distance-learning/fees-and-funding-distance-learning

bwesting

Hi, thank you and yes my application is for England. And yes that is what I had read, only for Wales. This doesn't make much sense to me but I guess not a lot to do about it. Considering this Country is suffering from a lack of qualified workers in multiple sectors you would think they would make it financially easier for people to study but there you go.

Thanks for the info and link!

Ben

Murphybear

Good luck with your OU studies.  I love the OU but am a bit biased as I worked for them in Milton Keynes for a few years 

bwesting

Thank you very much. Application and student finance application are completed so hopefully those will go through without any issues.....

Thanks Again

poppy12345

bwesting said:

Thank you very much. Application and student finance application are completed so hopefully those will go through without any issues.....

Thanks Again

You won't be eligible for any maintenance loans being a OU student living in England.

huckster

Large numbers of people including those with health conditions study part time with OU and also have a part-time job.  It is actually an option people take to keep an employment history up to date on a CV, as it makes it so much easier to gain the job that they want after gaining the degree they studied hard for.  Remember that in 3 years + time, you would be competing with other job candidates and employers may choose those who have an up to date employment history, as it may give them reassurance about reliability, work ethic etc.

Use a benefits calculator such as Entitledto or Turn2us to calculate what benefits you can claim.  If you work part-time, you can get help under Universal Credit with childcare costs e.g school breakfast/after school clubs.  And if you claim Universal Credit, you would be better off working due to work allowance and taper rate.  Most people who claim Universal Credit are working, so it is not the same as jobseekers old benefits.

NedS

MalMonroe said:

"All OU students are considered part-time students. That means, even if you choose to study at full-time equivalent intensity, you’ll be a part-time student and your eligibility to claim existing state benefits and/or to fund your studies with a Part-Time Tuition Fee loan will usually be unaffected."

This is a little misleading. Anyone studying at the OU and claiming UC who is in the Intensive Work Search regime must still be available to meet their commitments of looking for work, normally for 35h/week if there are no easements. This means that any study must be performed outside of their work search activities. It is difficult to see how anyone could possibly "choose to study at full-time equivalent intensity"  and still meet their work search commitments. UC does not exist to support students. Qualifying students can claim UC only if they are able to meet their work search requirements.

Spoonie_Turtle

OP if you are unable to work (or find it difficult) because of your health, if you do claim UC you should get a fit note from your GP and report your condition(s) straight away.  After 28 days you would be referred for a Work Capability Assessment, which then determines what level of work search requirements they expect of you.  If assessed as having Limited Capability for work and Work-Related Activity (LCWRA), you would have an extra ~£360 a month in your UC award payable from the 4th month.

How old is your son?  That would also have a bearing on what expectations UC would have of you.