Open University FAQ and Information Thread!

I'd change the 'how much does it cost' section because I'd guess the majority of people still thinking about whether or not to start with the OU may have missed registration dates for Jan/Feb starts and so will have to start on the 2012 loan system, which means no more free degrees for low earners unfortunately.

Good idea to have a thread to collate all the FAQs though!

Yes, good idea Agent Smirnoff! I've said before that we could do with a FAQ sticky about OU topics. I was reading that the OU is already the largest university in the country for 18-25 age group and it's possible that many more in that group may be signing up once the loan system kicks in.

Oh well that's true! So what happens with us current students now? I am currently doing SK185 and I am applying for B120 now.

It starts in Jan 2012....... will I not get that module for free?

What happens if you just want to study random modules that interest you but don't want a degree? I hope I get B120 for free!

If you are currently registered for a degree and all courses you now sign up for can be linked to that degree then you will qualify for transition arrangements and financial support, regardless of whether you then actually fulfill and/or claim said degree.

If it is just "random modules" that you're interested in but they "fit" into a named degree then link them to that when registering. Otherwise link them into an Open degree instead.

Just beware of the points limits for levels and the total points of 360 for an Honours degree cannot be exceeded under transition fees.

Well I am in the process of studying for my first OU Course .......

So if I select a random degree and take all the modules I want then its free for me?

Even beyond September 2012 right? What happens if you say do a load of science , engineering , maths and business courses and selected Open Degree but all of a sudden want a Science degree?

Well I am in the process of studying for my first OU Course .......

So if I select a random degree and take all the modules I want then its free for me?

Even beyond September 2012 right? What happens if you say do a load of science , engineering , maths and business courses and selected Open Degree but all of a sudden want a Science degree?

Hi,

My first OU course doesn't start until January, does anyone know when I will be able to apply for a NUS Extra card? When I tried to apply it said 'start date of course' and the options only went up to 2011, does that mean I won't be able to get a card until September next year?

Also, I've only applied to two courses so far and I've been granted financial support on both of those but from what I've read in this thread I'm wondering whether I will get finance for the courses I apply for next year and the year after to complete my degree?

Any help will be appreciated. Thanks

Hi,

My first OU course doesn't start until January, does anyone know when I will be able to apply for a NUS Extra card? When I tried to apply it said 'start date of course' and the options only went up to 2011, does that mean I won't be able to get a card until September next year?

Also, I've only applied to two courses so far and I've been granted financial support on both of those but from what I've read in this thread I'm wondering whether I will get finance for the courses I apply for next year and the year after to complete my degree?

Any help will be appreciated. Thanks

You could still switch to a science degree but you'd have to make sure that you did all the compulsory or compulsory optional modules for it. And you'd need to get them done by 2017.

If you qualified for financial support for the duration of studying to your degree then yes you would get it all "for free". However there is a time limit imposed on the financial support provision that you can only take up to twice the time taken for equivalent full-time study.
In simple terms... if a full-time degree in your chosen subject takes 3 years then you would only be able to get financial support for up to 6 years maximum.
This doesn't prevent you from continuing your study to degree level beyond those 6 years but you would no longer qualify for funding.

You will need to inform the OU of your chosen degree shortly (early 2012 is being mentioned) but you would still be able to transfer to any other degree of your choice provided your studied courses meet the requirements for it.
You could study a bit of everything under the sun and link them all to the Open degree, or start with say science and change your mind later then transfer it all to an Open degree as long as your points are in the appropriate levels etc.

Hope that makes sense

Thanks for the help guys!

Think I may just select any course.

I wouldn't mind doing Law modules

For financial support, read this page!.

As for the NUS card, I think I always applied a couple of months before my course started I think, as soon as I was registered...but mine have always been the same year (so I applied for my NUS card in August when my next module started Sept/Oct). If you can't select 2012 yet you may not be able to apply. You could try just doing it with 2011 start date and seeing what happens though!

Just use the date where you registered for the course/finalised everything/got some sort of confimation as a start date. If you get your course materials before your course (IE: December or November 2011) what is to stop you from working ahead (like I did when SK185 started in September and I got my pack in August) therefore as far as anyone is concerned... your start date is the date where you start working.

So apply for the NUS Card now I suppose. You won't be able to select 2012 for a while.

As for financial support..... If the course starts before September 2012 and everything kicks in...... select the kind of degree or qualification that you want and choose everything etc...... You will get the normal Financial Support package.

I've received a long e-mail from the Open Uni explaining that my first year would count towards 120 credits of an Open Uni degree, and 60 credits of a named degree. I'm debating which one to take and if it will affect my employment opportunities in the long run. Then again, I want to graduate asap (would be at the end of 2013 with an Open degree). Anyone know what they would do in my situation?

Sorry, perhaps I didn't make it clear enough. I've done a year at university, and I've been told by the OU that this would mean that I am exempt from 120 credits at level 1 of the Open Degree.

120 credits is supposed to be the equivalent of a year's full time study. I have no other commitments, so I don't think it would be unreasonable, but I'm e-mailing them atm asking for their opinion as I've done distance learning before so I'm used to the structure. I don't really know what kind of career I want, although I'd like to do a Masters in something related to English/creative writing.

Sorry, perhaps I didn't make it clear enough. I've done a year at university, and I've been told by the OU that this would mean that I am exempt from 120 credits at level 1 of the Open Degree.

120 credits is supposed to be the equivalent of a year's full time study. I have no other commitments, so I don't think it would be unreasonable, but I'm e-mailing them atm asking for their opinion as I've done distance learning before so I'm used to the structure. I don't really know what kind of career I want, although I'd like to do a Masters in something related to English/creative writing.

Are you working part time? Which subject are you studying?