Anyone familiar with how funding for the OU works?

redmel1621

Hi

I would just apply for the funding.
I know someone who has also completed two years of full time university study who know recieves funding. The only difference is he hasn't used the credit he already gained towards his degree with the OU as it is in a completely different field.

Don't quote me on this but i'm sure the funding for part-time study comes out of a different kitty than that for full-time, therefore has different criteria to adhere to.

Hope you are successful The OU is great.

Mel x

Oldernotwiser

redmel1621 wrote: »

Hi

I would just apply for the funding.
I know someone who has also completed two years of full time university study who know recieves funding. The only difference is he hasn't used the credit he already gained towards his degree with the OU as it is in a completely different field.

Don't quote me on this but i'm sure the funding for part-time study comes out of a different kitty than that for full-time, therefore has different criteria to adhere to.

Hope you are successful The OU is great.

Mel x

I think that the OP needs to get the funding sorted first; there's not much point in her getting the funding for 2 level 1 courses and then finding that she's used all her allocation and then can't afford to do the level 3 courses she needs to get her degree!
I've no idea if this is the case but it does need sorting before she embarks on this route.

foreign_correspondent

the fact that you are studying for equivalent or lower qualifications than you have now may make a difference - although read the whole thing as some courses are exempt
http://www2.open.ac.uk/ousa/OUSA%20News/ELQ-BriefingNoteV15_2.doc
but I think the only way to find out is to put in an apllication for funding and see how they assess it.

aurorahelios

Funding for the OU is provided on a course by course basis. The rules are slightly different depending on where in the UK you live. The OU do have downloadable financial booklets for each of the regions that explain the funding rules for the region you live in.

Assuming you've looked at those and you're still unsure I would recommend you apply for the courses anyway. The initial registration isn't binding, you will be asked how you are paying -select the financial award and apply for it. If you apply for the financial award you have a period of time where they hold your registration place open for you to allow your financial award application. If you are refused an award don't send in your signed registration document and you will not be liable for any fees.

aurorahelios

Oldernotwiser wrote: »

I think that the OP needs to get the funding sorted first; there's not much point in her getting the funding for 2 level 1 courses and then finding that she's used all her allocation and then can't afford to do the level 3 courses she needs to get her degree!
I've no idea if this is the case but it does need sorting before she embarks on this route.

If you are awarded funding for a level 1 course you will still receive funding for level 3 courses provided your circumstances have not changed or there are no rule changes in the meantime.

Oldernotwiser

aurorahelios wrote: »

If you are awarded funding for a level 1 course you will still receive funding for level 3 courses provided your circumstances have not changed or there are no rule changes in the meantime.

This would, of course normally be true. However, the OP has already had 2 years of public funding for a Dip HE course (perhaps you missed this) which is where the confusion arises.

aurorahelios

Oldernotwiser wrote: »

This would, of course normally be true. However, the OP has already had 2 years of public funding for a Dip HE course (perhaps you missed this) which is where the confusion arises.

There is no confusion, the OP does not yet have a degree so the equivalent learning rules do not yet apply for her level 3 courses. To gain her degree she will require a minimum amount of 360 points and 120 points must be at level 3 so she will be entitled to claim financial assistance for these courses if she needs it. Any financial assistance given at levels 1 and 2 are disregarded because they are at a lower educational level.

The fact that the OP has started a level 3 previously and withdrawn will not effect the outcome of financial assistance this time. However, if somebody continually starts courses and then drops them funding will be refused.

Oldernotwiser

aurorahelios wrote: »

There is no confusion, the OP does not yet have a degree so the equivalent learning rules do not yet apply for her level 3 courses. To gain her degree she will require a minimum amount of 360 points and 120 points must be at level 3 so she will be entitled to claim financial assistance for these courses if she needs it. Any financial assistance given at levels 1 and 2 are disregarded because they are at a lower educational level.

You may be right, I've said I'm not sure and that the OP must get accurate advice from the OU. The only thing is, by your logic, people could do OU units ad infinitum, endlessly putting off doing their second level 3 course so that they could say that they hadn't yet got a degree. I'm sure that there must be something in the rules that stops that.

The OP already has 240 points from her Dip HE so I'm not sure whether she'd get funding for an additional 120 points at level 1, as well as the necessary 120 points at level 3. Sometimes it's best to admit to not being sure about something when one doesn't know the correct answer. If you're in that area with the OU and know you're definitely right then I apologise, otherwise I think that the OP should err on the side of caution until she gets a definitive reply from the oU.

aurorahelios

Oldernotwiser wrote: »

The only thing is, by your logic, people could do OU units ad infinitum, endlessly putting off doing their second level 3 course so that they could say that they hadn't yet got a degree. I'm sure that there must be something in the rules that stops that.

Technically yes, in fact, in a roundabout way I did this under the rules at the time. The way OU study works it is modular and you link courses to a degree, if the courses you've done are not linked then no degree will be offered. I had 180 credit points from my time at a traditional university and a further 180 points from studying with the OU including the obligatory 120 points at level 3 but because I had not linked them and claimed my degree I was able to secure funding for another course.

The new rules introduced in England and Northern Ireland governing equivalent qualifications should stop this happening by preventing somebody from continually studying at a lower level. The OP may fall foul of these rules for going back to study at level 1 but whatever the outcome of that, there should be no impact on their future eligibility for level 3 assistance.

In Scotland there is no such rule and despite the fact that I now have a degree, could claim another and have started on a third I am still eligible to claim financial assistance. Unfair? very:rolleyes: but thats the rules and I will continue to take advantage of free education while it is offered:T

aurorahelios

lauranurse having read your post again I notice you are looking to obtain funding for short courses. In England courses less than 30 points have different funding rules and my understanding is that you have to be in receipt of certain benefits to receive that funding.

It would be helpful if you could clarify where in the UK you live and whether you are intending to apply for financial assistance through the low income route or benefit route.