Anyone familiar with how funding for the OU works?

lauranurse

Hi again

Looks like I have opened a can of worms here!

I live in Oxfordshire, and I am on income support due to illness, so claim the benefits route rather than low income.

I finally got a reply from the OU, but it doesnt really help very much! They said I can get funding for level 1 courses as long as a course choice advisor agrees that there is a good reason for studying again at this level. Which I believe there is, as the OU DO recommend that if you are new to studying with them, regardless of if you have already studied at degree level, then you should start with a level 1 course. Unfortunately I find it difficult to use the phone so have had to email the OU again regarding whether they think my reason is good enough, so will have to wait a few more days for a reply.

As long as I can get funding then I am actually going to do 3 short courses now, which come to just over 30 points I think. Does this mean they are counted together when applying for funding or are counted as all individually being under 30 credits? I am so confused! I have emailed the OU about that too lol! But if anyone knows the answer, feel free to enlighten me!

As for never ending funding - I was under the understanding that they will fund you for a maximum of 6 years, after that you have to either fund yourself or stop studying?

Anyway, thanks for all your help

x

Pound

My understanding is that they will provide funding on the basis that you complete your degree within 6 years. If it becomes impossible or you don't intend to do it within than time then you're not eligible.

So if you had a 6 month gap and had no intention of increasing your points to do it within 6 years you would be inelligible.

Oldernotwiser

You're right about the 6 years funding if you're starting from scratch but I'm not sure how this works if you already have a DipHE.

aurorahelios

In England there is no government funding for the OU short courses so the funding for the OU short courses comes directly from a fund set up by the OU. As you are on benefits you would be able to claim it. Whether you would get funding is up to the OU because it is a discretionary award determined by them.

The courses would be treated separately so you would have to apply for funding for each of them. My gut feeling is they would consider you for funding but it would be unlikely they would offer funding for the full 3 courses, particularly as you've withdrawn from a course before.

It is not part of the 6 years funding because it comes from a different source so should have no bearing on whether you would be eligible for that funding.

Never ending funding does not exist in England and I'm sorry if my previous posts implied it does, the equivalent qualifications rule and the 6 year rule do restrict funding. Scotland is the only area of the UK which does not currently have stringent restrictions.

whitewing

I have absolutely no comments to add, but wanted to post so that I can find this thread again. OH really wants to do a degree and it looks like we may be able to get some help here.

lauranurse

Thanks aurora, that is very helpful.

Just to update, got a reply from the OU today and they WILL support my application to study at a lower level because they agree that it is best to start with the OU on an easier course than those offered at level 3. They recommend that I dont do all 3 at the same time though, as they would probably have similiar deadlines for assignments so I might find it a bit much! So I think I will probably stick with 2 for now!

So they are sending me a brochure with a form in the back that I can fill in for either the 2 or 3 courses I want to do, and apply for funding for them all at the same time. Which is brilliant.

I hope this information will help anyone in a similiar situation.

Whitewing, which degree does your OH want to do? I would definitely recommend to him that he starts off with a short course /openings course first, they can be counted towards his degree but are a much easier way of getting used to the OU and most of them dont have an exam either!

Oldernotwiser

lauranurse wrote: »

Thanks aurora, that is very helpful.

Just to update, got a reply from the OU today and they WILL support my application to study at a lower level because they agree that it is best to start with the OU on an easier course than those offered at level 3. They recommend that I dont do all 3 at the same time though, as they would probably have similiar deadlines for assignments so I might find it a bit much! So I think I will probably stick with 2 for now!

So they are sending me a brochure with a form in the back that I can fill in for either the 2 or 3 courses I want to do, and apply for funding for them all at the same time. Which is brilliant.

I hope this information will help anyone in a similiar situation.

Whitewing, which degree does your OH want to do? I would definitely recommend to him that he starts off with a short course /openings course first, they can be counted towards his degree but are a much easier way of getting used to the OU and most of them dont have an exam either!

This is really good news; I'm very happy to be wrong about the funding! Good luck.